Julia Whittler

Third-grade teacher Julia Whittler understands the positive impact of providing a strong example. She shares that while in high school, becoming a mentor to other students profoundly impacted her life trajectory. While attending Mt. Carmel High School, Julia volunteered for the Lunch Buddy program, which she compares to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, only in a student-tostudent setting. As Julia reflects on her life, she shares that this experience and the impact some of her former teachers had on her were foundational in inspiring her to become a teacher.

“In high school, I started thinking seriously about what I wanted to do. That program helped me know that teaching is what I wanted to do,” says Julia. She continues, “Even now, I know that being a teacher is more than just teaching academics. There’s the mentorship aspect. I’m teaching them how to be leaders. We’re working through our social skills together.”

After high school, Julia attended Wabash Valley Community College before transferring to Eastern Illinois University to study elementary education. While at Wabash Valley, she also met a boy from Newton. This chance encounter with a Newton area farmer led her to move northward and accept a position teaching third grade in Jasper County.

Upon graduating from college, Julia accepted a teaching position that allowed her to be close to family, where she taught third and fourth grade prior to transferring. Julia shares that family has always been important to her. She cherishes time with her mother and nephews and simple pleasures such as nighttime walks, taking pictures of the setting sun, and cozying up with a good book. A recent mother-daughter trip to Florida is one of her happiest memories, and she hopes to travel to all fifty states, many of which with her mother at her side.

Julia recently decided to transfer to Jasper County. She admits that the move was nerve-wracking initially and considered teaching in a new district terrifying. No stranger to small-town living, Julia quickly recognized the same everyone-knows-everyone atmosphere she grew up in. While feeling as if she didn’t know anyone proved challenging, the support she received from her coworkers and the community soon eased her mind.

“Every single staff member in the school building supports me. If I need help with literally anything, I can call anybody, and they’ll show up. That’s really nice to know,” says Julia, before adding, “Half a year later, I’m much more comfortable now.’

While Julia also earned a master’s degree in curriculum instruction, she is in no hurry to transition into administration, instead choosing to gain valuable experience as she eases into her career.

Julia Whittler’s story unfolds as a testament to the transformative power of genuine connection between teacher and student. From her early days as a mentor in high school to her nurturing presence in the third-grade classroom, Julia embodies the essence of educational mentorship—where lessons extend beyond the confines of textbooks and into the realm of personal growth and mutual respect. As she weaves her dreams of traversing the United States with her mother into the fabric of her daily teachings, Julia imparts a crucial lesson: that life’s journey is enriched not just by the destinations reached but by the relationships forged and the moments shared along the way. It’s in this environment of caring that Julia’s students learn the most valuable lesson of all—that to care for and support one another is the foundation upon which all other learning is built. As the sun sets on another day in Jasper County, the glow from Julia’s classroom offers a beacon of hope and a reminder that, in the hands of teachers like her, the future is not only bright but filled with the promise of infinite possibilities, nurtured within a community that cares deeply for its own. “I aim to create an environment where my students are comfortable and know they have a teacher who cares about, loves, and supports them,” says Julia. She adds, “I try to base my entire classroom on them knowing that support.”