At Lincoln Elementary School in Macomb, the story of Stephanie and David Coupland is one of shared purpose, deep roots, and genuine love — for education, for their students, and for each other. The two Avon natives, who first met as high school sweethearts, have built a life that weaves together family, community, and the classroom in ways that seem effortless but are anything but ordinary.

Stephanie teaches second grade, where she believes emotional safety is the foundation of learning. “My classroom is designed to feel like home,” she said. “There are lamps instead of fluorescent lights, soft decorations, and cozy corners. Kids need to feel comfortable and safe before they can learn. Once they do, everything else falls into place.”

Her path to teaching began early, shaped by a beloved third-grade teacher named Mrs. Hensley. “She made me feel special,” Stephanie said. “I never forgot that. That’s what I try to do for my students — to be that person who makes them believe they can do anything.”

David, meanwhile, took a different road into education. He studied law enforcement at Western Illinois University and worked as a private investigator before realizing that his true calling was in the classroom. “I volunteered in Stephanie’s room on my days off,” he said. “I found myself really enjoying it.” That experience, along with encouragement from colleagues, led him to pursue a degree in special education, and he now teaches in a cross-categorical classroom serving kindergarten through second grade.

“Most of my students are on the autism spectrum,” David said. “We work on communication — whether verbal, through visuals, or with assistive devices. The goal is self-advocacy. If my students can learn to express what they need, that’s success.”

The Couplands often find ways to bridge their worlds. “Whenever we can, we do joint lessons,” Stephanie said. “We’ve done Thanksgiving meals, classroom adoptions, field trips, and even shared projects between our students. It helps all the kids see each other as part of the same community.”

That sense of belonging is something the couple values deeply — both in their classrooms and across the district. “Macomb feels like a small town even though it’s not,” Stephanie said. “You get to know everyone. It’s a community that supports each other and works as a team.”

After years of teaching in nearby districts, both Couplands say Macomb was always their dream destination. “This was the place we wanted to raise our daughters,” Stephanie said. “I started in Bushnell, David at West Prairie, but we always looked toward Macomb. It just had that energy.”

Their daughters, Ava and Adeline, are now thriving in their own right — one studying speech-language pathology at Western Illinois University while working full-time in the district, and the other exploring horticulture and biology through Macomb Youth Leadership programs. “They grew up around classrooms,” Stephanie said. “Summers meant helping us set up rooms and decorating bulletin boards. It’s part of who they are.”

As educators, both Couplands point to Principal Eric Bryan and Assistant Principal Mr. Crosby as pivotal figures in creating an environment where teachers thrive. “The morale here has never been higher,” Stephanie said. “They’re visible, approachable, and supportive. They trust teachers to do their jobs, and that makes a huge difference.”

David agreed. “When leadership is strong, everything works better,” he said. “We’ve seen districts struggle when they don’t have that, but here, people want to be part of it. That’s why Macomb doesn’t have the teacher shortages you see elsewhere. People are drawn here because they want to be here.”

That culture of collaboration extends far beyond a single building. Teachers across the district — from Edison Elementary to MacArthur and Lincoln — meet regularly to coordinate and align their efforts. “We make sure everything connects,” Stephanie said. “It’s all about giving students a smooth path from one stage to the next.”

Working together every day might sound challenging to some couples, but the Couplands see it as a gift. “We ride to work together every morning,” Stephanie said with a smile. “We see each other in the hallway, share ideas, and support one another. It’s comforting to know your partner is just down the hall.”

David laughed. “She’s definitely the organized one,” he said. “If I forget something, she’s right there to remind me.”

Stephanie quickly countered with her own compliment. “He’s taught me so much about patience and understanding,” she said. “I use the tools he’s developed with his students in my own classroom — visuals, positive reinforcement, strategies for emotional regulation. We learn from each other.”

It’s a partnership that extends far beyond their own students. “We want our classrooms to reflect the world our kids are growing into,” David said. “That means inclusion, compassion, and respect. It’s about showing them that everyone has something to offer.”

Stephanie nodded. “We tell our students all the time: you can be whatever you want to be. You just have to work for it.”

In a district known for its spirit and its heart, the Couplands embody both. “Macomb is a place where people believe in each other,” Stephanie said. “That’s what makes it special. That’s why we’re here.”