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Wildcat News is a presentation of Walkerville Public Schools in partnership with Oceana County Press.
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
WALKERVILLE — Mandy Achterhof’s youthful energy inspires her students, and her inspirational energy has yielded worthy recognition.
Achterhof, 27, received the United Way of the Lakeshore Distinguished Educator Award, which is awarded annually to educators in Oceana, Muskegon and Newaygo counties.
The Walkerville High School 2015 graduate began working in the school system eight years ago as a paraprofessional, and she is now the English language arts teacher for third, fourth and fifth grades
“This is my eighth year here. I started out as a parapro; worked as a sub; and then started teaching about four years ago,” she said.
Achterhof attended Walkerville Public Schools beginning in fifth grade when her family moved to Walkerville in 2007. “I grew up here,” she said.
As a Wildcat student, she played basketball, volleyball, track and softball. She is now the varsity girls basketball coach and middle school track coach. She is also the student council advisor.
In addition to coaching the Wildcats, she took on yet another coaching role at a neighboring school — Pentwater, which also happens to be Walkerville’s sports rival. Achterhof assists coaching the varsity Pentwater boys soccer team with her dad, Ralph Achterhof.
“When I first went over there, the kids said, ‘What are you doing, Miss?’” she said with a laugh.
She recently took over as the Walkerville Youth Rec director, overseeing the community’s recreational sports programs.
“I like to stay busy,” she said.
After graduating from Walkerville, Achterhof attended Grace Christian University in Grand Rapids where she played basketball.
After two years, she transferred to Concordia University online to complete her degree in elementary education with a focus on upper elementary.
“It’s an honor,” she said of receiving the award. “The United Way does a lot for this area, too. To win an award from them is a really great honor. I love what I do, and it’s nice to have that recognition.”
Honored teachers receive school supplies through the United Way of the Lakeshore’s Stuff the Bus campaign.
Achterhof said she received “three big boxes” of supplies along with an Amazon gift card.
“I find it very important to develop good relationships with the kids because when the kids like you and they want to be in class, that makes the learning and teaching that much easier. I try to attend as many sporting events for the kids as possible — even the kids in middle school who I used to have as students. I go to their football games and volleyball games and try to support them as much as I can.”
Achterhof lives in Walkerville — about two minutes from the school and “kitty corner” from her parents’ home.
“I love being here. Going to school here and being in the community for so long, I have a really big spot for Walkerville in my heart. I try to spend as much time with the kids as I can, and when they come up with different ideas for events, I always try to figure out a way — just trying to build that Wildcat pride and spirit.
“When you have that balance of: they know what to expect from me and I know what to expect from them, it helps the classroom environment run much smoother.
“I am very blessed — we have a lot of really great kids. We have a ton of good community support, too.”
Other Oceana area educators receiving the Distinguished Educator Award include:
Hart: Kelli Gross
Pentwater: Lucy Macher
Shelby: Karen McLouth
Hesperia: Roxanne Kammer
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