Audrey Faust

Audrey Faust Retirement Collage 2

Audrey Faust retired as a Speech/Language Pathologist
at Rockford Elementary Arts Magnet School

She retired spring, 2015

The left photo was taken in 1980 – her fist year in Rockford!
The right photo is Audrey’s family (2014) – Ethan, Clint, Audrey & Mitchell

Click here for photos


1) Where did you grow up?
Lowden, Iowa, which is a small farming community of about 500 people in east central Iowa.

2) What High School did you graduate from?
Lowden High School, with a graduating class of 27!

3) Where did you go to college? Additional education?
I got my bachelors degree and Master of Science degree in Speech Pathology from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. Go Hawkeyes!!

4) Did you always want to be a teacher?
I wanted to be a nurse like my mom, all the way through high school until I realized I fainted at the sight of blood! Then I thought of becoming a Special Education teacher because of my Down Syndrome brother. But when I was a sophomore in college, a brother of a friend of mine told my friend and I to look into the field of Speech Pathology, which I had never heard of. I enjoyed the Intro course, took a few more courses, and decided that would be my major.

5) How many years have you been a speech/language pathologist?
38 years! Yikes, I think that makes me old!!

6) How many years have you been employed by Rockford Area Schools?
35 years, including working several years on a part time basis only, when my children were young.

7) Family
I am married to Clint and we just celebrated our 20th anniversary in March. Clint is a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial. Our oldest son Ethan is graduating from Wayzata high school on May 29th, and will be attending the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon in September. Our younger son Mitchell is a sophomore at Wayzata High School. Both boys have enjoyed playing sports from little on up through high school – football, baseball, basketball, and track.

8) What grade(s) have you taught through out your career?
I worked with birth -21 in Iowa, for 3 years in my first job. Since coming to Rockford, I have worked at all 3 buildings, with preschool-high school. I have spent the last 10+ years at REAMS.

9) What do you look most forward to everyday at Rockford?
Working with my students, as they make me smile or laugh every day with something that they do or say. It is quite rewarding as they make progress with their communication skills, too!

10) What is one of your most memorable moments in your career?
I can’t think of any one thing, but seeing the students make progress, as I mentioned above, is as exciting today as it was in 1977 when I started my career.

11) What advice would you give a brand new Speech/Language Pathologist?
Enjoy getting to know your students, be flexible, find something positive in every day, and try not to get overwhelmed with all of your duties!

12) What will you miss most about teaching in Rockford?
The students and the staff, especially the great Special Education staff that I have had the honor of working with over the years.

13) What are your plans when you retire?
I plan to keep on working, since my husband and I have 2 sons to get through college yet!! Hopefully I will be working somewhere, doing something on a part time basis. I am looking forward to having more flexibility and freedom in my schedule from August through June!