Kurtis Angerbauer Named 23-24 DHS Teacher of the Year
Kurtis Angerbauer is the De Queen Jr High "Teacher of the Year." Kurtis is in his second year of teaching 8th-grade science and his 28th year as an educator. Mr. Angerbauer came to De Queen in the fall of 2017 after teaching and coaching for eight years at Thomas Middle School in Holdenville, Oklahoma.
Mr. Angerbauer started his teaching and coaching career in 1995 at Horatio. There, he became the 1st softball coach for the Lady Lions. In his three years there, the team won the conference title once, conference runner-up once, and went to the regional and state tournaments twice. Coach A was awarded the 7AA Softball Coach of the Year in 1997. As an asst. football coach, he helped Horatio reach the final four in 1996.
In 1998, he moved to Rison, where he taught history and was an asst. football coach. While at Rison, he helped the team win two football state championships and two weightlifting state championships. As the head softball coach, the Lady Wildcats reached regionals in 5 out of 8 years. In 1999, he was selected as Softball Coach of the Year for the district. In 2007, he was moved to head baseball coach until 2009. The baseball team went onto regionals in 2008, and he was selected Baseball Coach of the Year for the district.
In the fall of 2009, he moved to Holdenville, Oklahoma, to teach 7th grade science and head Jr. High Football and Baseball and Sr High asst. coach in weightlifting. He helped lead the weightlifting team to a state championship in 2012. In 2014, he became the asst. athletic director. While teaching there, he was selected in 2014 and 2015 by his peers as Middle School Teacher of the Year.
Mr. Angerbauer moved to De Queen in 1981 and is a 1987 graduate. Mr. Angerbauer stated, "It was always my goal to return to my alma mater so that I could help shape the lives of my students just like my teachers did for me."
He said he was very grateful to get the chance to realize that goal when the school district hired him in 2017. Mr. Angerbauer also stated, " I am truly honored to be selected as “Teacher of the Year” by all the amazing people I work with in Jr. High. The atmosphere here is amazing. It's like one big family." He also expressed his love for helping his students learn and become excited about science. Mr. Angerbauer enjoys interacting with his students in the classroom and outside in the halls.
In addition to his role as a teacher, Mr. Angerbauer is the proud father of his two children, Samantha and Blake. Outside of school, his favorite hobbies include spending time with all his family, hiking, fishing, and just about anything else outdoors. He also enjoys traveling when he can. You can also see Mr. Angerbauer each summer, lifeguarding and working with kids at the city pool.