Student of the Month: Ayla Gerisch

by Cindy Lance

Thirteen-year-old Ayla Gerisch, daughter of Aaron and Meghan and older sister to Khyla, is starting this fall as an active eighth grader. Gerisch maintains all A grades while participating in sports and National Junior Honor Society.

Teacher Alexis Dyer, junior high mathematics, describes Gerisch as “a kind and conscientious student who not only works hard on her studies but also puts in tremendous effort to help others achieve their best.” Good chance these behaviors explain how that last year she received the Citizenship and Catalyst awards.

Attending Stockbridge Community schools throughout her academic career, Gerisch loves the one-on-one time she receives from her teachers. This personalized attention, she says, allows her to learn in the best way she can.

Teacher Alexis Dyer, junior high mathematics, describes Ayla Gerisch as “a kind and conscientious student who not only works hard on her studies but also puts in tremendous effort to help others achieve their best.”

Favorite subjects include social studies, learning about new cultures, and English. She found mythology especially interesting and looks forward to history and underwater robotics this year. Aspirations? Gerisch has set her sights on becoming a manufacturing engineer.

Gerisch credits several people for influencing her life. Her parents and grandfather have been a great support, she said. They encourage her to be her best, and they try to attend each of her events. Her grandpa will even provide rides when needed, making sure she is able to participate. “Just do your best,” he tells her.

Advice that she tries to heed is “don’t be the same, be better” and to “do what’s right, not what’s easy.”  It appears that she lives with those words in mind, as Junior High English teacher Sarah Vowels stated, “Gerisch is a leader both inside and outside of class and is a positive role model to her peers.”