Lynnette LaRoque grew up in Grand Rapids with a passion for school and teaching as she had many great experiences in her time going through elementary and high school. Lynnette subbed in schools and that is where she met her now husband. In 1989, she took an elementary job in Breckenridge, MN, and ended up teaching there for a year. She moved back to Grand Rapids when Bruce LaRoque proposed to her.
Bruce Laroque also has a passion for teaching as he began teaching at Grand Rapids High School in 1990 as a social studies teacher soon after he and Lynnette married. Bruce’s father, Dale LaRoque had also been a social studies teacher at Grand Rapids High School.
Bruce and Lynnete’s teaching legacy lived on through their daughter, Jinnea (LaRoque) Zenzen who is currently a social studies teacher at Grand Rapids High School, creating three generations of social studies teachers at GRHS.
Interview questions with Lynnette:
Did you always know your daughter would become a social studies teacher just as her father and grandpa had?
“I knew Jinnea would be a teacher. Growing up, we had many conversations about history at the dinner table. It was always fascinating to connect today’s world with the past. Jinnea is passionate about everything she does. She relates to kids naturally, so teaching was a perfect fit. Social Studies related to social issues and freedoms are topics that Jinnea knows are crucial for a society to run well. Sharing her knowledge of different people, places, and things is a gift.”
How did you see the evolution of teaching through the eyes of your father-in-law, husband, and daughter?
“Teaching has definitely changed over the course of 55 years. I actually had my father-in-law as a teacher. Teachers of that era had a different style. School seemed to be taken more seriously. Behavior wasn’t often an issue because students did not want to see the principal or to have their parents hear about it. My husband taught at a time when the class became a bit more personal. There were more deep verbal interactions about topics. Behavior was still manageable. Jinnea’s generation of teaching continues to be a safe place to discuss issues from the past and present. Students use technology for most of their projects. However, she has many more social/emotional/apathetic issues than ever before. Challenging problems ie: cell phones, social media, overloaded classrooms, and follow-through of behavior issues are just some of them. I believe it is tougher to teach now than at any other time.”
What do you think the LaRoque family’s teaching legacy means for the school and community?
“Leaving a footprint with people in any profession is a legacy. Teaching just affects so many, because you teach countless students. I think the legacy is that teaching is a profession that you learn to love. In the case of the LaRoque family, it just happens to be social studies. Social studies is crucial because it prepares students to become good citizens. It also teaches students to use critical thinking related to real-world issues.”
Can you share any memorable experiences or insights from your perspective on their teaching careers?
“I couldn’t be prouder than to know 3 generations of the LaRoque family felt such respect for social studies that they dedicated their life to it. They all achieved master’s degrees to better themselves. By listening to them, I have learned so much related to cultural diversity, the importance of citizen responsibilities, and history we don’t want to repeat.”
Each of these three teachers, Dale, Bruce, and Jinnea has left a strong impact on the Grand Rapids community and an immense influence on their students. Lynnette ended the interview with the perfect summary, “Sometimes students don’t know how social studies affects them until something related to it happens. Teachers hope they have given students a good education and something that helps them find the things they love to do. The more educated the world is, the healthier it will be.”
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