The final bell rings, and the hallways fill with students from every direction, filing out of classrooms and through the building doors as they head to catch up with friends, say goodbyes, and feel the excitement in the air. This is the start of a much-awaited summer break for hundreds of students. Students who will go off to many different adventures for the months to come, some enjoying a break by simply relaxing, many working jobs, and for some, leaving the life they’ve always known as they move on to the next chapter of their lives. But as the students bustle out of the building, the teachers wave goodbye, then head back into their classrooms where they have impacted many lives over the past course of a year. Which leads us to wonder, what do teachers really do over summer break?
High School Agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor, McKenzie Gettler said her summers are packed full of FFA activities ranging from fairs and contests to training the next year’s officer team.
“My favorite part of summer is definitely taking naps, but in my free time when I’m not at school or doing FFA things, I love to watch my kid’s athletic events, garden, ride horses, and go on vacations,” said Gettler.
While some teachers’ jobs require them to be at the school more during the summer, others find themselves taking the opportunity to have many different experiences, from traveling, to concerts, you can find them doing it all.
Social studies teacher, Hannah Mills, said this summer she is attending two music festivals, three other concerts, traveling to many different places, some of which are Las Vegas, Denver, and Chicago. She also has a wedding to attend and will spend a week grading the AP Government exams.
Mills said, “I really enjoy sitting by the pool, relaxing, and eating a sub sandwich in the summertime. I definitely miss my students and having a routine, but summer is a nice break to relax and reset.”
From traveling the nation and making memories to simply finding extra ways to make money and stay occupied, teachers are constantly keeping themselves busy, whether or not school is in session.
Carter Tryon, a high school science teacher, spends his summers busy finding ways to make some extra money.
“This summer, I will be a baseball umpire as well as doing yardwork and landscaping for some people. I like summer because it is a nice reset and allows me to do my different summer projects and also go on some vacations.”
When that final bell rings, and each student files out the doors, we can be sure a piece of the ADM faculty’s heart leaves with them as they wish their students a safe and fun summer. Next time you hear that bell and wave your teachers goodbye, remember just how interesting their summer plans could be, and always be sure to ask them about their life beyond the classroom, because after all, they might be just as excited for that final bell.
![Rhyan Miller is the April student of the month. Miller is the daughter of Charity and Rich Miller, and has maintained a 3.925 GPA. Her three favorite classes in high school have been drama as literature, Prostart II, and news journalism. Miller participates in cross country, theater, individual and large group speech, the prostart team, student council, NHS, silver cord, and track. She feels that her experiences in those activities have made her more extroverted, sharing that she is "not afraid of [her] own voice anymore." Miller plans to attend Winona State University to major in psychology and minor in political science. Her advice to others is to "Fake it 'till you make it." She feels she was selected as student of the month due to her increased active presence in the classroom. She is also thankful for the good parking spot. In honor of her achievements, Raccoon Valley Bank has donated $100 to the ADM Scholarship Foundation.](https://blackandredgister.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260427_104331-1200x900.jpg)
