Teacher of the Month: Karen Fry Makes History Feel Like a Tug-of-War

Some teachers teach from the textbook. Others grab a tug-of-war rope, split the class into sides, and turn the Revolutionary War into something their students can actually feel in their hands. That is Karen Fry. This month, AQS Asset Management is proud to recognize Karen Fry, a 5th grade teacher at O.H. Stowe Elementary, in Halton City, Texas as our Teacher of the Month.

Karen Fry is The Teacher of the Month

Karen’s path into teaching started the way many great teaching stories do: with great teachers of her own. “I loved everything about school,” Karen said. “I was blessed with having some amazing teachers. I love helping people, and so teaching has always been my passion.”

That passion shows up in the way she approaches her classroom. Karen is not just trying to get students through the material. She is trying to help them connect with it, remember it, and maybe even enjoy it. A shocking concept, apparently, in a world where most of us still have traumatic flashbacks to worksheets with 47 questions and no mercy.

Karen Fry Recalls Favorite Teaching Moment

One of Karen’s favorite teaching moments came while teaching her 5th graders about the Revolutionary War. Instead of simply explaining the imbalance of power between the colonies and Britain, she brought out a tug-of-war rope. At first, the students had no idea what was going on. They just knew they were suddenly playing tug of war in class, which is already a major upgrade from copying notes. Then Karen explained what each side represented: the power struggle between the countries, the overwhelming odds, and the way France’s support helped shift the outcome.

And then it clicked. “When we were done,” Karen said, “they all looked at me and said, ‘I can’t believe we won!’ It was awesome!”

That is the kind of moment students remember. Not because it was flashy. Not because it was complicated. But because a teacher cared enough to make the lesson come alive. Karen’s greatest challenge is one that many reading teachers understand deeply, which is helping every student love reading. “I am a reading teacher,” Karen said. “The challenge is to get 100% of them to love reading.” That is a big goal. It is also exactly the kind of goal that great teachers chase every day, often with limited resources, limited time, and a classroom full of students who all need something different.

At AQS, we believe teachers are some of the most committed people in our communities. They bring patience, creativity, and heart into their classrooms. They give up evenings and weekends. They spend their own money. They keep showing up, even when the job asks too much and thanks them too little. Their reward is often simply knowing they helped a child understand something, believe in themselves, or discover a little more of what they are capable of.

Submit an Educator for Teacher of the Month

Our Teacher of the Month series is one small way we recognize educators like Karen and help make the tools they need more accessible. Congratulations, Karen Fry! Thank you for making history memorable, reading meaningful, and school a place where students get to have those “light bulb” moments. Know a teacher who deserves support for their classroom? Complete a submission for the AQS Teacher of the Month here with their name, school, and a short note about why they should be recognized.