Ask Rachel Holman about her favorite title, and she might pause for a second. She’s proud to be a second-grade teacher at Vandalia Elementary, where she spends her days building confidence, encouraging curiosity, and shaping young minds.

But there’s another title that means just as much to her.

“I am Shawn’s coolest aunt,” she said with a grin. “No matter what he says.”

Her nephew, Shawn Hill, is a bright, lively first grader, and while he may have his own opinions on who the coolest family member is, there’s no denying the special bond they share.

“He was in kindergarten when I started teaching here, so his classroom was just down the hall from mine,” Rachel said. “It was incredible to see him every day, to be part of his world at school as well as at home.”

Rachel’s journey to becoming a teacher started long before she ever stood at the front of a classroom.

A 2017 Vandalia graduate, she knew early on that education was her passion. But instead of heading straight to a four-year university, she made a smart, strategic choice—she attended Kaskaskia College on a full-ride scholarship.

“It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” she said. “I got two years of college completely covered before transferring to Greenville University to finish my degree.”

She student-taught in Ramsey, working in both preschool and second grade, and then landed her first teaching job in Greenville, working with preschoolers.

“I loved it, but when a job opened up here in Vandalia, I knew I had to come home,” she said. “It was always the dream.”

Now in her third year teaching second grade, Rachel has found her perfect fit.

“They’re at such a fun age,” she said. “They’re independent, excited to learn, and still love school.”

And even though she teaches second grade, she keeps a close eye on the first graders—especially one in particular.

Rachel’s students don’t just learn in her classroom—they feel seen, valued, and encouraged.

Whether she’s tying a shoe, fixing a ponytail, or offering a word of encouragement, she knows that sometimes the smallest gestures can make the biggest impact.

“I have a girl whose hair I do every day,” she said. “It’s something so simple, but it means the world to her.”

She also engages her students in creative ways, introducing them to chapter books like Magic Tree House and The Wild Robot, making reading an adventure rather than an assignment.

“They love it,” she said. “When we finished The Wild Robot, and then they saw a movie was coming out, they were so excited.”

Her passion for teaching extends beyond her own classroom. She has embraced Vandalia’s growing diversity, helping her students welcome and learn from their Spanish-speaking classmates.

“It’s been an incredible experience,” she said. “I’ve seen both sides learning from each other, and I truly believe it’s made me a better teacher.”

And, of course, there’s one student outside of her classroom who means just a little bit more—Shawn.