MOKENA, IL — Jocelyn Gilbertson was just 13 years old in 2012 when her and her family’s lives changed forever.
Gilbertson was in seventh grade at Mokena Junior High, when her father took his own life at 45 years old. The loss set in motion Jocelyn’s own struggle with mental health, spiraling into self-harm. She dealt with bullying at school, finding herself overwhelmed with grief and teenage conflict.
One teacher made all the difference.
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Gilbertson, now 25, says teacher Kim Klappauf pulled her from the depths of a dark time, getting her through the rest of junior high and propelling her forward. Gilbertson recently nominated Klappauf for Patch’s Teacher Spotlight, an opportunity to highlight and celebrate teachers across the country.
“Kim quite literally saved my life,” Gilbertson said.
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“Kim was one of the only teachers that was really supportive of me. She was the one who I told I was self-harming. All of the other teachers didn’t put much mind to it. … She made sure I knew I had a support system at school. I was also being bullied, it was hard for me to go to school. She made sure she was an open door, and knew I could go to her.”
Klappauf is modest about the significance she played in Gilbertson’s time at the school, almost shirking the praise.
“You just want to be there for the students—I mean that’s our job,” she said. “… To take care of them. Moms and dads, whoever the caregivers are—they entrust the teachers to take care of their children every day. And they trust us to do that. If you can make a connection for the kid, and help them through difficulty, I think that’s awesome. Nobody should have to go through what Jocelyn and her family went through. It was such a huge upheaval, it was such a shock.”
Klappauf can still clearly recount attending Gilbertson’s father’s wake.
” I just remember, she held on so tight when we were hugging,” she said. “She needed other people there outside of her own family.”
Gilbertson spent much of her downtime at school with Klappauf, the teacher recalled.
“She would often spend her lunchtimes in the classroom with me, not really doing anything, just hanging out,” she said.
“I was in close contact with her mom. I thought that was important.”
Gilbertson hasn’t forgotten the kindness shown to her.
“She was always so kind to me, made sure I had everything I needed,” she said. “She always made sure I had a shoulder to lean on.”
Klappauf’s contributions to the family didn’t end with Jocelyn—she also taught both of her brothers Lucas and Logan.
“I got to continue my relationship with that family,” she said.
When she moved to Mokena, Klappauf realized she was in the same neighborhood as the home where Gilbertson grew up. She often goes for walks in the area, and finds herself wondering how life is treating her.
Quite well, it seems.
Gilbertson went on to Lincoln-Way East followed by Lincoln-Way Central high schools then Iowa State University, where she attained her bachelor’s degree in graphic design. She’s also now a month from completing her master’s degree in human-computer interaction and UX design. She’s also engaged.
She and Klappauf stay lightly connected via social media.
Klappauf got her through one of the most difficult times in her teenage years, she says. When the opportunity to nominate her for a spotlight piece arose, Gilbertson knew she deserved that.
“Kim was the teacher who would constantly check in on me and make sure I was doing as okay as I could be,” she said. “When I started self-harming, she was who I told, as she was the most trustworthy person to me. She noticed changes in me as they switched me on and off of various mental health medications, making sure I had everything I needed to be successful. She is an angel.”
In her modesty, Klappauf maintains she was just doing her job.
“I didn’t do anything in particular, I was just there,” she said. “I can say, it’s really hard being in junior high, as we know. And for that kind of upheaval to occur, that kind of tragedy, that makes it the absolute worst situation.
“… As an educator, that’s what we do,” she said. “I try to tell my students, ‘I’m your teacher, I’m supposed to impart great knowledge on you,’ but we’re here as another adult in your life. You’ve got to find a person in your daily life that you can come to.”
She just wrapped up her 30th year of teaching.
“I guess I’m an old teacher, but I don’t feel that way,” she said. “Hanging around with kids keeps you young.
“It’s funny, in all that time, the kids’ issues really haven’t changed all that much. Junior high’s still hard. They’re trying to grow up, but they’re still children. They really just want you to like them.”
Her voice is warm with her pride in Gilbertson.
“She’s made her peace with it, and she’s healed,” she said, of Gilbertson’s loss and struggles. “She’s a wonderful woman.
“… She’s a success story.”
Patch has partnered with T-Mobile to recognize teachers and show them how much they’re valued and appreciated.
Know an outstanding teacher who deserves a shout-out? Nominate them here.
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