Teacher Spotlight: Kristal Horman

Second Grade Teacher, Echo Hill Elementary – Linn-Mar School District

Author: Cathy Essick
Corporate Responsibility
Published: Tuesday, 06 May 2025

Sharing

Image caption: Kristal Horman, second grade teacher at Echo Hill Elementary, brings creativity, music, and hands-on learning to life in her classroom—especially during Junior Achievement lessons that inspire students to dream big.

For Kristal Horman, the journey to becoming an educator began in the third grade. Inspired by her own teacher, Mrs. Bohach—who now teaches future educators at the college level—Kristal remembers a classroom filled with creativity, passion, and hands-on learning. It was in that space, sewing pillows for a state project, that a spark ignited. Years later, after receiving a teaching scholarship upon graduating high school, she followed that spark straight into the classroom—and never looked back.

Now in her 23rd year of teaching, Kristal pours that same energy and creativity into her own second-grade classroom at Echo Hill Elementary in the Linn-Mar School District. Her philosophy is simple: make learning fun and engaging, and students will come to school excited each day. Whether she’s adding music to her lessons or finding new ways to help students grow socially and academically, Kristal is fueled by the smiles and progress of her young learners.

When Kristal joined the Linn-Mar district, she discovered a new favorite addition to her curriculum: Junior Achievement (JA). “My students didn’t have this opportunity at my old school in Illinois,” she shares, “so I was quite excited to be a part of it.” Over the years, Kristal has brought the JA Our Community® program to life in her classroom, appreciating how it connects real-world concepts with early learning. One of her favorite lessons involves students working in teams to “make pizzas” in under a minute. If any pizza is flawed, it’s discarded—an activity that highlights the importance of teamwork, communication, and quality.

The lessons stick. Literally. One in particular—a catchy rap about how money moves through a community—has her students singing long after the lesson ends. “They ask over and over to replay this song,” Kristal laughs. But beyond the fun and music, she sees real impact. She loves watching her students light up when they explore different career cards during a JA lesson, often hearing them exclaim, “I want to do that job!” or “I didn’t know that was even a job!” These eye-opening moments give students a glimpse into possibilities they may never have considered.

What many might not know about Kristal is that she’s also a lifelong musician. She began playing guitar in second grade and performed everywhere from churches and weddings to country clubs and Christmas parties. She was even in a band—Tres’—with three other girls. Their cassette tape, “Girls with Guitars,” still brings back fond memories.

If Kristal hadn’t become a teacher, she says she likely would have followed a path in music. But she’s exactly where she’s meant to be—helping students discover their own paths. Her advice to other educators considering Junior Achievement? “Have fun with it! Enjoy watching the joy that these lessons bring your students. Like me, you won’t want those lessons to come to an end.”

At the end of every school year, when Kristal’s students reflect on their favorite second-grade memories, JA always makes the list. And that’s a testament to the magic she creates in her classroom—and the lifelong lessons she helps spark through Junior Achievement.