Posted by Melissa Burlaga

Teachers are one of the most important links in our children's development.

Because of that, the Northland's News Center gives a Golden Apple award to a deserving teacher each month.

This month's teacher engages her students by digging deep into the past.

Shelley Maas pulls double duty at Jedlicka Middle School in Proctor.
She teaches two different disciplines to her sixth graders.

"I teach language and reading to blocks of two groups of kids and then I teach social studies and ancient civilizations."

The ancient civilizations really grab the students.

Ms. Maas digs deeper into the past than merely talking about kings and generals.

"She talks about how they used stuff and sometimes she talks about the grossest stuff."

That means the instructor gets as in depth as ancient sewage systems.

"She talks about toilets and stuff!"

That's because effective plumbing is a sign of an advanced civilization, even three thousand years ago.

In the here and now, the lessons on life long ago are sticking with the kids.

"What do I think about learning here? I like it and I understand it very well."

Ms. Maas also wants her students to understand that modern life and its careers take as much effort as the ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and Mesopotamians.

"I think I have taught them to believe you can be what you want to be but that will not be without some hard work."