Rachel Zabel is a 3rd-grade teacher at Greenland Elementary. She grew up in Oconomowoc and graduated in 2016, having been a student at Greenland. This connection makes teaching there even more special for her. This is her fourth year of teaching and has been part of the Greenland community for two years. She and her husband recently purchased a house in Palmyra, and they have two dogs named Bailey and Katie. Rachel studied elementary education at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. In her free time, she enjoys going for walks, spending time with family, and watching Wisconsin sports teams.
About Rachel Zabel
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My husband, Grant, and I have been married since June 2023. Grant is a police officer for the Village of Pewaukee, and since I began teaching in Oconomowoc, we knew that the Lake Country area is where we wanted to start our family. We adopted our first dog, Katie, in 2020, and Bailey in 2022. I am one of the oldest of five girls in my family. I have a twin sister and three younger sisters, and am a proud auntie to my niece, who was recently born in September. Growing up, I was always extremely close with my sisters and parents, and we enjoyed everything from the beautiful lakes and vibrant downtown to the many delicious places to eat.
Q: Please tell us about your life and what you do (whether working in our community, a business owner, volunteer, etc.). How did you choose that path?
I began my teaching career in the Kenosha Unified School District as a second-grade virtual teacher during COVID. That year taught me so much about who I wanted to be as a new teacher and provided me with an experience I will never forget. This is now my third year teaching in Oconomowoc, and I have had the opportunity to work in many schools and positions across the district. From a young age, I knew I wanted to become a teacher because of the teachers and mentors I had in school while growing up. Being a graduate of Oconomowoc High School and attending Greenland myself makes it even more special to teach there.
Q: What do you love most about what you do?
I truly value the relationships that I build with my students and their families. Children grow and learn at different rates, and it’s exciting to see when it clicks for them after they have persevered and worked hard at the goals I have set for them. The opportunities I have to help shape our future learners and leaders are something I take pride in.
Q: What was the most difficult challenge in getting to where you are now or in your life?
I was diagnosed with ADHD late in adulthood, and as I grew up, I faced some challenges in my learning and behaviors, which I now recognize as a result of my ADHD. This diagnosis has helped me as a teacher, allowing me to support my students who share the same struggles I faced through their lens.
Q: What is the most rewarding part?
Students come first in everything I do or think about in relation to my teaching, including my own successes. There is joy in all learning, and it is rewarding to see the sense of pride when students accomplish something they have worked so hard for. Their smiles reinforce my decision to become a teacher.
Q: What are some of your future goals? Do you have anything exciting coming up that you would like to share?
One of my goals as an educator is to continue reflecting on my teaching practices so that I can be the best version of myself for my students.
Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in doing something similar to what you have done/are doing?
It is always important to reflect on yourself and set goals that you would like to achieve. If a challenge comes your way, keep persevering and working hard to achieve whatever it is you are working towards.
Rachel Zabel & Our Community
Q: What is your favorite thing about our community, favorite thing to do, or something unique about our community that you love? (Feel free to share as much as you’d like!)
My favorite things about this community is taking a walk around Fowler Lake with my family and visiting the local shops downtown.
Q: Who is an interesting person you’ve met here in our community, and how have they inspired you?
My second-grade teacher, Greta Dowd, is one of the many educators who inspired me to become a teacher. Greta made an impact on me not only as a second grader but also as her student teacher in college and now as her colleague at Greenland. An extra special touch is that I was Greta’s twins’ second-grade teacher last year. It was a full-circle moment.
Q: Do you have a favorite coffee shop, cocktail shop, or restaurant?
Q: What 3 words would you use to describe our community?
Supportive, close-knit, and vibrant.
For Fun
Q: What is your favorite book, TV show, movie, poem, or song? Why?
My favorite TV show is Dancing With the Stars. Favorite book is anything by Colleen Hoover. Favorite song is Can’t Help Falling in Love because that was my husband’s and my first dance song at our wedding.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My students and family.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
To visit Greece.
Q: What makes you the happiest?
Relaxing with my dogs & husband, reading a good book or watching a favorite TV show/movie.
Nice To Meet You:
I believe in positively impacting my clients and the community I live in, which is why I jumped at the chance to be an ambassador with “The Faces of Lake Country”. It’s a perfect blend of why I enjoy being a Realtor with Shorewest, Realtors, and everything I love about living in Lake Country.
I truly enjoy being a part of this community and helping others along the way. Prior to real estate, I was an Office Supervisor for the City of Waukesha Park & Recreation Department. During this time, I had the opportunity to work with many business owners and serve the general public. It was there that I realized that it really does take a village to make a community great and each and every one of us plays an important role.
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