Great educators inspire, challenge, and transform lives.
At ansrsource, learning is a lifelong journey shaped by those who guide us with wisdom, passion, and purpose. This Women’s History Month, our leaders reflect on the remarkable women who have influenced their paths as educators and mentors. They share stories of educators who sparked curiosity, nurtured growth, and empowered them to make a difference. They remind us that knowledge and wisdom are assets we carry forward to shape the future.
Erin Guendelsberger
Director of Communications
Erin’s inspiration – Theresa Williams
I’ve always wanted to be a writer. Throughout grade school and high school, I worked hard to improve my writing skills. By my senior year of high school, I was getting straight As and feeling maybe the slightest bit cocky. Freshman year of college, first semester, Theresa Williams was my instructor for Honors English. On my first writing assignment, she graded me a C+. I was shocked! I was disappointed! Where was my A? She gave me the chance to rewrite the assignment, and I earned an A-. Theresa saw my potential and understood that in order for me to learn and grow, I had to keep working and striving. She encouraged and empowered me to do so. I ended up taking 3 courses with Theresa in my college career, each integral to my development as a writer. Today, decades later, we’re still connected.
Jamie Beth Schindler
Chief of Staff, Innovation and Brand Identity
Jamie’s inspiration – Her Grandmother
Name of educator who inspired you: It’s hard to name just one woman educator who inspired me because I spent 13 years at an all-girls school and in that time, I had only four male teachers (two in math, one in science, and one in dance). It’s safe to say I had dozens of inspiring women educators, but if I had to pick one woman who inspired my love of learning, it would be my grandmother. She always wanted to be an English teacher, but because of poverty and discrimination didn’t have the opportunity to go to college.
My grandmother held herself to very high standards. She had perfect posture and always insisted on correct grammatical speech. (She spent most of the ‘80s trying to get us kids to stop using the word “like” as filler speech.) She wasn’t fancy or fussy, but she knew that how she presented herself would determine how those around her treated her, and she taught her kids and grandkids the same thing. She also instilled in us that education was our highest calling—something we had access to that she didn’t. And she was endlessly curious about the world around her and the lives of her grandkids who “kept her young.” I learned by watching my grandma that being smart may be a gift, but being curious was a choice and being educated was a privilege. I’m glad ansrsource strives to make learning more available and accessible to all.
Suchi Mandal
Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing
Suchi’s inspiration Ratna Mandal
Some people meet their most inspiring educator in school or college—I was lucky enough to grow up with mine. Ratna Mandal isn’t just a dedicated primary school teacher; she’s also my mother.
I still vividly remember being assigned an essay at 15 on someone I admired most. Without hesitation, I chose to write about her. Watching her approach her work with the utmost professionalism left a deep impression on me. She didn’t just teach—she poured herself into it, meticulously reviewing every single homework assignment from every student in her class, ensuring that each child received the attention they needed to grow.
Now, at 65+, she still walks into her classroom with the same passion, the same unwavering commitment, never once slowing down. She has always believed that being an educator isn’t just a job—it’s a responsibility that extends far beyond the classroom, beyond the 9-to-5, beyond the paycheck. It’s about shaping the next generation and, in turn, shaping society.
Growing up, I admired her dedication, her passion, and her tireless work ethic. Today, that inspiration has led me to find my own way of contributing to education and making an impact, just as she has. Because of her, I continue to learn toward tomorrow.
Rachel Walter
Chief Innovation Officer
Rachel’s inspiration – Hannah Roberts
A strong, independent teacher who showed me that happiness and success don’t have to follow a traditional path. She recognized my potential—and my boredom with conventional schooling—and created a personalized learning plan that allowed me to complete four grades in just two years. From her, I learned the power of non-traditional approaches, the importance of advocating for those without a voice, and the value of thinking beyond the expected. To keep me engaged, she handed me a set of autobiographies about remarkable women in history—stories that shaped my understanding of what it means to be female and instilled in me the unwavering belief that I could achieve anything that I set my mind to.
