Most students have a teacher who stands out to them or changes their life. After all, being an inspiration to students is one of the benefits of the job. Throughout a school day, students are met with different challenges, workloads and stressors. The people they are surrounded by matter. Having someone in their life who can brighten their day can significantly change their high school experience. A person like math teacher Timothy Larsen is a shining example of what it means to be a great educator.
Not many students actually look forward to school every day. School involves early mornings and a building filled with people they may not always get along with. When students see Larsen, he often has a positive impact on their day. His students are the highest priority for him and give him the drive to get up and work.
“My favorite thing is the students,” Larsen said. “I love being in the classroom and messing around with them.”
Every day, he strives to create a better classroom environment for his students. As an AP Statistics teacher, Larsen teaches a college-level class. The coursework is rarely easy, but his dedication to his students helps them leave his classroom feeling confident about what they just learned. He cares about his work and what he is teaching, which relates to his students’ success. Having a dedicated and enthusiastic teacher helps them stay interested in what they are learning and engaged throughout class.
Larsen’s teaching style is unique, and it thrives on participation from his students. He works hard to make every student feel seen and understood. Larsen makes it a point to work with students one-on-one, and he consistently checks in with every individual student in his classes.
“I try to get where students are coming from while also doing my job,” Larsen said. “I blend having fun with making sure people are doing what they are supposed to do.”
Larsen was raised in a blue collar family, where he was one of the three out of 20 cousins who went to college. When he started to teach, he knew that he did not want to be traditional or boring. He prioritizes keeping an engaging classroom for his students.
Senior Nathan Foss is currently in Larsen’s AP Statistics class. It is one of his favorite classes led by one of his favorite teachers. He has only known him since the beginning of the school year, but he can admire Larsen’s dedication and devotion to his job.
“You can tell he really cares about teaching, and he’ll call you out if you’re not trying your hardest,” Foss said. “His enthusiasm and drive to help us understand the material is what makes him a great teacher.”
In addition to excelling at his job, Larsen is the lead singer in his band, The Bare Hambones. They practice once a week and sometimes more if they have a concert coming up.
Currently, they are working on their third album, which Larsen estimated will be released by the end of this year.
Larsen started his band on his 40th birthday in 2012. His friends and the music they make together are some of his biggest passions, and he works hard to maintain a healthy balance between his band and his professional responsibilities at school. He has been a part of multiple bands before his current group, but he wanted to try something different as he approached 40.
“Instead of having a ‘Let’s call Tim old party,’ I wanted to start another band,” Larsen said. “I wanted to sing this time, so I invited some former bandmates and we started playing.”
In addition to being the lead singer, Larsen also plays the piano. His band has played at numerous venues, including the main stage at Elburn Days this past summer. Foss is one of the many students who has listened to their music and thoroughly enjoyed it.
“I love how his band contrasts,” Foss said. “At the start of a song, it will be very short and then explode into a passionate tale about whatever they are describing.”
Larsen’s dedication to a successful band and school career is admired by so many of the people around him, as it is not an easy balance.
Larsen met his wife, Nikki, in 1992. They taught together at DeKalb High School before moving to Kaneland. She has been with him through his successes and struggles, and she is part of the reason he is who he is today. Nikki, Kaneland’s graphics communications teacher, sees her husband’s passion and dedication in everything he does and pushes him to be the best version of himself.
“My favorite thing is his undying love and support,” Nikki Larsen said. “He will stay up as late as it takes and get stuff done.”
His dedication is shown in many different ways. At home, Nikki sees Tim get fixated on all of his interests. From writing song lyrics and practicing with his band to staying up late to plan lessons and grade homework, he finds time to balance it all.
“He loves playing music and writing and being creative,” Nikki said. “He also genuinely cares about his students. He is always prepared and expects the best from them.”
Larsen pushes his students in ways that balance expectations with compassion. He wants them to be successful in everything that life has to offer.
“He gets up and makes sure everybody really understands the material,” Foss said. “If you go into his homeroom, he’ll sit down and really make sure you understand in any way that you learn best.”
His dedication to every aspect of his life helps him excel in everything he does. People around him admire him, whether as a person, a teacher or a bandmate.
Chemistry teacher Casey Komel has had the unique experience of having Larsen as both a teacher and then later as a co-worker.
“I always looked forward to having his class,” Komel said. “He made me feel accepted, warm and happy. I can go to him for a lot of advice or ideas on how to handle certain situations.”
