Welcome, readers of the RHS Shield, to the 2025-2026 edition of the school newspaper! For our first article of the school year, we bring you a teacher feature! Today, we have the honor of interviewing Mr. Gunst, our patient, amiable, and genuine freshman Enriched English teacher. Outside of school, Mr. Gunst is an avid swimmer, and he carves wood and plays guitar. We are thankful to him for taking his time to do this interview!
Q: What other jobs have you held, school or otherwise, before working as a teacher here, after graduating from college?
A: I have routinely managed swimming pools over the summers. I have a CPO (Certified Pool Operator) license, so I am certified in the operation and maintenance of pools. I worked as an English teacher at Champaign Central for the past 3 years. I have been coaching swimming for about 6 years, mostly at Uhigh Normal, and coached for one year at Uni High in Urbana for their girls’ team.
Q: Where did you go to high school and college, what degrees did you get from said schools, and what were they like?
A: I went to high school at Lyons Township High School in Lagrange and Western Springs, Illinois. I went to college at Illinois State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Both were fun times, and I made a lot of lasting friendships.
Q: What do you like specifically about English that helped your decision to study it as a career?
A: I like the topics you can address and the deep level of critical thought that the subject allows for in daily instruction. Not only that, but it makes room to accommodate a wide variety of media; for example, things like Godzilla, which I take a deep interest in, are allowed to have a seat at the table as a valuable text if they have the merit for it.
Q: If you could visit any place in the world for one week, where would you go?
A: I would visit the Galapagos Islands. The thought of seeing species that exist nowhere else on Earth has always been fascinating.
Q: What is your taste in music like?
A: Although my taste is all over the place, I tend to enjoy music that sounds unique or has its own specific sound or feel to it.
Q: What is your best piece of advice for high school?
A: Get involved and actually try. There are supportive communities for everyone here, and if you can’t find one, you can make one. Beyond that, putting forth your best effort every day can be tiring, but it is worth it in the end when you have developed strong habits for life in general.
Q: If you could have a lunch meeting with any living person, who would you choose and why?
A: Katie Ledecky, without question. She is the greatest female swimmer, and perhaps athlete, of all time, and is my celebrity crush.
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: Back home, I have 2 dogs. Here in Peoria, I have a cat.
Q: What are you most excited about this coming school year?
A: I am most excited to just become a part of the Richwoods environment. Everyone that works here seems to care very deeply about this place, and I admire that. I look forward to integrating myself into this community and supporting it as best as I can.
Thank you very much to Mr. Gunst for being so enthusiastic about working with the newspaper! Richwoods values the commitment and fresh energy that teachers new to the building carry, and Mr. Gunst is proving to be among the best and most unique. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this interview and show your involvement with the school community as well!
