Teachers Passionately Engage in Athletics Outside the Classroom

Holton includes a community of qualified teachers; however, many students might not know how many faculty members are dedicated to their own individual sports. For instance, math teacher Stephanie Acerra rows, history teacher Joel Seltzer bikes and science teacher Bella Juzenas runs.

Acerra rows for Capital Rowing Club. She feels that she has found a way to manage her commitment to crew by completing work for the week over the weekends and attempting to get ahead in grading as well. She noted, "on a good week, I have all my classes and homework solutions for the week completed on Monday."

As many know, Seltzer bikes to school most days of the week. But some might not know how he got into biking or why he chooses to bike to school rather than brave the Holton parking lot.

Seltzer "fell in love with long-distance bike riding as a high school student," and would "[participate] in a 210 mile overnight ride from Columbus, Ohio to the Ohio river" each May.

A colleague inspired him to start biking to work several years ago. He said, "[biking] is such a good way to start the day and get in the exercise I need to be healthy."

Seltzer noted, "humans were meant to be outdoors," and joked, it is "too bad we can't do school on our bikes and on mountain trails."

According to Seltzer, "there is a growing cohort of bike riders at Holton."

Juzenas has a passion for running. She recently ran her first marathon. But when does she have time to train for her marathons and half-marathons during the school year? She explained that she has found that running after school is best for her and her schedule, especially with the time change.

Most weeks, she tries to run three to four miles after school and completes her long runs on a Sunday morning. Reflecting on her journey so far, she shared that running is a great way for her to “shut off [her] teacher brain” and focus on the sounds of nature while she runs or listen to a True crime podcast.