Rusback remembers her first day of teaching

By Meg Williams : Michelle Rusback teaches 4th grade at Waterway Elementary School. She has been teaching 19 years with the last 13 being in Horry County. Previously, she taught six years in Florida. Michelle is married to Tom Rusback and they have one daughter, Maddie.

Michelle graduated in 1992 from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio, earning a bachelors degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. She was inspired to teach by her dad. He taught high school for 43 years before retiring just a few years ago.

“Watching your students’ faces light up when they get it for the first time” is her most rewarding aspect of teaching. She also loves hearing from students she taught years ago. One of the best accolades she receives is “when they remember something I taught them about life, it’s not always about the school work.”

Funny stories are in abundance when you have taught 19 years, However, Mrs. Rusbacks’ favorite comes from her very first day of teaching. As the class was lining up for lunch, a student asked, “Are you sure you are really a teacher?” Seems her inexperience was evident to her sweet students. Every year on the first day of school, Michelle thinks about that comment and that student. She still keeps in contact with him after 19 years. He holds a special place in her heart. What an example of her heart.

Michelle says her older brother Jim is the most influential person in her life. He is a paramedic and firefighter and loves his job. He is “not only my brother, but my best friend too.”

Erin Hanson produced her favorite quote. “What if I fail? Oh, my darling, but what if you fly?” The use of this quote in the educational field has benefited many students and colleagues alike with its powerful incentive.

In Mrs. Rusbacks’ spare time she loves to go to the beach, bake and spend time with her family. She also loves to read and is a huge fan of two children books: Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech and The Velveteen Rabbit.

Waterway is fortunate to have Mrs. Rusback and all her experience in their school family.