Theresa Voelker is a very well-known para around Larned High School but you probably know her as Mrs.V. Students and staff around the school have nothing but good things to say about Mrs.V, her talent for bonding, and working tremendously well with students.
One student in particular Grayson Brackbill stated “Mrs.V is the best teacher ever”.
Mrs.V found her home in Larned in 2001, making her a Larned Indian for twenty-three years and counting. When asked why she moved here Mrs. V stated “God lovingly placed me here in Larned”. She truly is an inspiration to many students and helps them find their way to god when lost in the darkness. “When you are going through something dark just remember Satan only goes after people God cares about.” This is something that Mrs.V has often said.
To say that Mrs.V has been through a rough life is an understatement, but she is not shy about it whatsoever. One simple question and Mrs.V will tell you the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beauty that came from it all. While being at Larned High School, you may have seen Mrs.V walking around in a neck brace, or taking serious phone calls throughout the day and having to step out of the classroom. As her phone rings her heart drops as this one call could be anything. Her husband’s Melanoma could have won the fight or her multiple health conditions could be taking over after all these years of dealing with them. She constantly walks through life with a condition called Connective Tissue Disorder. This is the system that takes over her neck stability and autonomic system, causing her to wear a neck brace, which is something everyone despises being in. She walks through the halls of the school thinking about the previous hospital halls she’s walked down, the envelope full of all her conditions right inside her bag and mind.
Throughout her entire life and health issues though Mrs.V has always found that being a para gives her purpose and importance. Mrs.V will tell you stories or listen to your stories all day if it was allowed. Even after a student graduates and moves on with their life Mrs.V stated she wants them to know they will always have at least one person willing to love, listen, and help them through the hard times. These amazing aspects of her personality is what makes her bond with students so well. She can be the most serious person giving life advice or a goofy free spirited friend to joke around with!
