January Teacher Feature: Mr. Wunschel
Photo submitted by Wunschel.
Our featured teacher for this month’s teacher feature is none other than Hamilton legend Mr. Wunschel. A graduate of both UW-Milwaukee and University of Phoenix, for undergraduate and graduate degrees, respectively, Wunschel has been teaching for 33 years, 18 of which have been at Hamilton. But Mr. Wunschel’s connections to Hamilton are not just as a teacher, as his three children—Payton, Trevor, and Jared—all are Hamilton alums; Payton and Trevor graduated in 2020, and Jared in 2022. Outside of training students for the calculus olympics, Mr. Wunschel loves bowling, cornhole, and even woodworking.
Read on to learn more about this legendary teacher:
What would students be surprised to know about you?
I grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin and my high school graduating class had 48 students. I considered being a history teacher instead of a math teacher.
What song do you know all the lyrics to?
“It’s Tricky” by Run-D.M.C.
Describe yourself in one sentence.
I am a hard working, dedicated and loyal person, who tries to do his best and help people if I can.
What superpower would you like to have?
That is a hard one to answer, but super intelligence might give me the best chance to solve some of the world's current problems.
If you won 100 million dollars what would you buy first?
Currently, I would really like to have a sizable drum sander for my wood shop, but with that kind of money it would probably be a very long vacation in Europe.
What’s your claim to fame?
I do not really have one.
What do you hope never changes?
Not sure, change is the one constant that is in all of our lives.
What skill would you like to master?
Outside of the interests I stated above, playing the piano.
If you could meet anyone in history who would it be and why?
Franklin D. Roosevelt, since he had to lead the US out of and through some of the most challenging times this country had ever faced, maybe he could give some insight as to how to help now.
What book or movie would you recommend to your students?
There are many movies that could fit this depending on if you want drama or comedy. I would recommend a book or movie that allows you to escape for the time you are watching or reading. This would be different for everyone. For me, I enjoy the Jack Reacher series of books, or the movie “A Few Good Men.”
What is the weirdest thing you have done to get your students attention?
One year when I was teaching Geometry, since I knew that students were going to complain or whine about doing proofs, I passed out slices of cheese, and said you might as well have some cheese with all the whining you're doing.
What is the best advice you have received?
From my dad, if you are going to do something, then do it to the best of your ability, no excuses.
