Maddi Halama, NDA alum, is the latest substitute teacher here, recently as filling in as a sub for French teacher Brenda Rentmeester, who underwent back surgery.

Halama just finished medical school at the University of Wisconsin and plans to become an orthopedic surgeon. She is waiting to go into residency this summer.  

“There isn’t one profound light-bulb moment that made me decide to be a doctor. It’s something I always thought I would want to do, and I think it is the perfect blend of my interests and talents,” Halama said. 

Halama is unsure where she will be doing residency but is excited to finally have a job and not be paying tuition. 

“This is my first time substituting,” she said “I thought substitute teaching would be a great way to keep busy.”

Halama has expressed nothing but excitement to be substituting at NDA, since she went to school here. 

“One of the reasons I wanted to sub at NDA is because I thought it would make me a lot less nervous than subbing in an unfamiliar school—I know a lot of the staff, I know where the classrooms are, and I feel very comfortable being back,” she said. 

Halama does not speak any French. Instead, while at NDA and in college she took Spanish, and even studied abroad in Mexico after graduating. 

Outside of subbing, Halama enjoys working out, crafting, reading, baking and spending time with family and friends. 

“I am looking forward to catching up with some of my former teachers, and I am also excited to get to know this new generation of Tritons,” she said. 

While at NDA, Halama played soccer and basketball. She was also involved in many different clubs.

 “There were a lot of great moments during my time at NDA. Some big memories include winning state basketball in 2014, and I also loved biology classes with Mrs. Hollenback.”