Anne Volk

Meet VCSU alumna and current high school teacher Anne Volk. Anne knew she wanted to be a teacher and VCSU helped her achieve that dream. 

What year did you graduate from VCSU?  

2003

Where are you working right now?  

At Legacy High School for Bismarck Public Schools

Tell us about some of the day-to-day activities in your current position.

In my position at Legacy, I currently have the joy of teaching three groups of students. I teach the young, energetic freshman in English 9, the students who are eager for a challenge in sophomore Honors English, and the focused, college-bound students in dual credit Speech. In our building, I am known as one of the “originals,” as I have been teaching at Legacy since it first started in 2013.

What are your favorite parts about your field or job?

I love helping students find something they enjoy reading; I have been building a classroom library to create a culture of reading. I also love to teach The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet: helping students to understand and appreciate the language, acting out scenes, and orchestrating “safe” fight scenes with foam swords. I also love to host VOSOS—an award show for Speech students at the end of the semester. With their capabilities and bright futures, I want to prepare them to accept all those future accolades.

Why did you choose to attend VCSU?  

I knew I wanted to be a teacher and it just turns out that some of the best teachers I had graduated from VCSU. The truth of the matter is: if you want to go into education in the state of North Dakota, your best choice is VCSU!

How did VCSU help shape and prepare you for your current position?  

VCSU helped prepare me for the classroom. When I began my teaching career, I taught every English class in grades 7–12. I also advised and coached several activities. VCSU taught me how to write student goals that focus on the final result. Members of the faculty also teach by example in their teaching styles. Additionally, the fellow teachers I learned with in college provided priceless advice and resources to help me become a better teacher over the years.

Why would you encourage prospective students to attend VCSU?  

The atmosphere at VCSU is wonderful. There are so many opportunities to become involved and meet people from around the state, country, and world. The whole town champions the college. It is an amazingly beautiful campus that feels “Ivy League” in the middle of North Dakota. The cost of college keeps going up, so why not go to VCSU? It is affordable with plenty of scholarships available, they offer you the technology you will need (which saves additional money), and you learn what you need to be successful in your field.

What did you value most about your time at VCSU?  

The connections I made with students, faculty and staff.

Anything else you’d like to tell us about VCSU and your time here?

• I loved being a Viking Ambassador and working in Enrollment Services. Because of that, I can still rattle off the 1-800 number, and I share it with my students (hopefully future Vikings) any chance I get.
• Fun fact: my grandfather on my mother’s side, Roger Ludwig, was a professor at the college and was so proud that I attended and graduated from VCSU.
• Another fun fact: My great-grandmother on my father’s side, Winifred Vellenga, attended VCSC when it was a Normal School in the early 1920s.
• Teaching and VCSU run in my blood!