Meet the teacher: Joe Klepfer

Maricopa Wells Middle School teacher Joe Klepfer wants to change the world one mind at a time.

However, this changing of the minds didn’t start in the classroom; it started on a surfboard. “In my 20’s I was a surfer, working odd jobs to get by,” Klepfer said.

Those odd jobs included being a lifeguard at kids’ camps and holding surf camps for kids. “It never seemed like work, and I really enjoyed seeing the confidence build in kids when they accomplished new things,” Klepfer added.

It was through these experiences working with children that Klepfer realized they were the future of the world. “So, instead of just complaining about how the world was, I decided to try to change it by teaching kids,” Klepfer noted.

Teaching kids is what he did and does. Klepfer has been a teacher now for 14 years. He worked for six years in Gilbert and eight more in the Kyrene district. Now he is in his first year of teaching in Maricopa.

“I moved out here three years ago, and so I continually kind of kept an eye on the district,” Klepfer said. He also had a friend in the district, Robin Rice, giving him information on all that was going on in the growing area.

When Klepfer heard about the opening of a new school, class sizes going down and the introduction of a new class titled simple machines/chemical reactions, he felt it was a good opportunity for him to make the move.

“The gas prices didn’t hurt my decision either. I truly feel this district is going in the right direction, and I’m very happy to be a part of it,” Klepfer said.

Klepfer’s approach to teaching is variety.

“I believe that children learn in a variety of ways, so I try to incorporate music, hands-on activities, interesting experiments and just plan make it fun,” Klepfer said.

Klepfer added that he feels kids learn better when they are having a good time, feel comfortable with their peers and safe in the classroom.

“In order for them to be more active learners, they need to know why they are doing the things they are doing in class, and how lessons benefit them personally. I try to give the students an understanding of how their brains work, different ways we all learn, and then I try to incorporate as many of those strategies as I can in the classroom,” Klepfer said.

In addition to variety, Klepfer believes the key to educational success is patience coupled with having a good strategy to handle your discipline. There also has to be that one thing in teaching that really gets you excited to be there.

When he is not teaching, Klepfer enjoys going to the coast or Hawaii and participating in a variety of ocean activities, surfing, snorkeling, paddling, fishing or boating.

“On a daily basis I just enjoy playing with my boys and spending time with my wife. I even like the chaos of a family. When things get really crazy, it’s actually kind of neat to sit back for a moment during the chaos and think, this is life; it’s pretty cool,” Klepfer said.

Klepfer would like to share that whatever you do for a profession and in your free time, try to enjoy the now moments in your life, good or bad, soak it in and don’t take anything too seriously because time seems to change everything anyway.

Teacher details:

Name: Joe Klepfer

School: Maricopa Wells Middle School

Grade levels taught: 6th, 7th and 8th

Photo by Michael K. Rich