Larsen, a teacher at Kearney since 1981, has focused much of her career on improving and expanding the school’s chemistry program. Her greatest achievement, she feels, has been in maintaining a thorough, math-based chemistry course for students of all abilities. "I desperately wanted a good, sound, rigorous program that wasn’t frightening to the average students as it had been in the past," she said.
When she started teaching at Kearney High School, only 45 of the school’s 10th-12th graders were taking chemistry, she said. That number grew to 100 within three years and is now more than 300. "We credit much of that increase in the chemistry enrollment to the energy and excellent teaching skills that Mrs. Larsen brings to each of her classes. She sees each student as an individual and tries to reach him or her at his or her level. She’s just a rock solid teacher, very good with kids, very innovative, and an outstanding individual," said Steve Wickham, assistant principal.
Larsen earned her B.S. in chemistry from Kearney State College in 1977 and then received secondary teaching endorsements in chemistry, physical science and mathematics. She taught at Kearney State College from 1977-81 before becoming a teacher at Kearney High School. She also served as president of the Greater Nebraska Area Teachers of Science in 1984-85 and is a member of the American Federation of Teachers. She resides in Kearney with her husband, Tom. They have four children.