Alumni Spotlight: Reba Stier

Reba Stier (’91, education) is celebrating twenty-four years of teaching. She currently teaches the fourth grade at Numa Elementary School in Fallon, NV, and has also taught second and fifth grade students during the course of her career.

“I enjoy watching my students learn. The best moments of teaching are when you’ve watched a student struggle, and then they finally ‘get it’ … knowing I helped them learn and prepare for future education is such a feeling of accomplishment for me,” said Stier.

Her education courses at SUU prepared her for becoming a teacher. Through the example of her education professors she learned the importance of students, how enjoyable learning can be and what type of a teacher she aspired to be.

“It’s so rewarding when one of my students writes me a note thanking me for teaching them to read,” says Stier. “It’s those moments that make teaching worth it!”

Stier met some of her dearest friends during her educational experience at SUU. She fondly recalls laughing with friends while sitting in her elementary education block, walking the campus and feeling a sense of belonging, and all the fun she had at the spring fling activity on the upper quad.

“I was the first in my extended family to attend SUU, now it’s become a tradition in my immediate family,” said Stier.

She and her husband Michael have two children who both attend SUU. Joshua is a junior, majoring in psychology and Jessica is a sophomore, majoring in psychology with a minor in photography.

Stier feels a personal sense of accomplishment in raising her two children to be close to God, considerate of others and to value education. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and their five dogs, reading and tying blankets.