Sue Bachtle Delaware Today Top Teacher

Since she was a child, Sue Bachtle knew she wanted to be a teacher. However, since her parents dissuaded her at a young age from pursuing this career, she instead focused on another calling and graduated from college with a degree in psychology. Even though she focused on another path in life, Sue felt a pull towards her true calling: teaching. Eventually, Sue earned her master’s degree in elementary education. In addition, Sue discovered a passion for phonetics while working in her college’s reading center. After becoming certified in the Spalding Method, which is a language arts program for Kindergarten through 6th grade that uses multisensory techniques to teach spelling, writing, and reading, Sue continued to even teach adults through Literacy Volunteers of America. 

Now, Sue is able to take her passions and her background and apply them in her fourth grade classroom. When asked why teach fourth grade specifically, Sue comments, “Kids are between learning to read and reading to learn.” Sue remarks, “I love being able to take kids to the next level in all their subjects. Fourth graders are curious and confident, and it’s the sweet spot before puberty where they are so ready for challenges."


Written by Katie McNichol