About Rachael

Rachael Cotteleer is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago with degrees in Elementary Education and

English, Creative Writing. She has her master’s degree from Northeastern Illinois University in Special

Education. Rachael has been involved in the educational field for over 28 years. She is currently a

licensed and certified teacher for the state of Indiana. Throughout her career, she has taught nearly

every grade level and worked in both general education and special education (mild to severe) settings.

A motto that has really driven her beliefs and actions over the years is “DISABILITY DOES NOT MEAN

INABILITY!”

Some of the many roles that Rachael has served in include testing coordinator, statistical and data

analyst, guidance counselor, and special education director. Rachael has served in a wide variety of

settings including schools in Central America, a Navajo Indian reservation, an alternative farm school,

and various residential and day treatment programs in multiple states. She has successfully written and

managed several large grants and established a school-wide learning lab and library. In 2017 Rachael

won the Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship Grant for her proposal, Paws-itively Powerful. This grant

fused her love of animals with her passion for teaching and allowed her to travel to Namibia, South

Africa, Canada, and Utah to explore the impact that can happen when animals and people in need

connect in a therapeutic way.

Rachael and her husband Jon recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. They are now excited

to explore the joys of empty nesting! They have two young adult children—a daughter who is studying

psychology at Taylor University and a son who recently graduated from the University of Wyoming and is

now working as a wildlife biologist. Rachael enjoys living on her hobby farm and spending time with her

many animals including horses, chickens, goats, ducks, cats, and a dog! Rachael is very passionate about

her faith and loves to help others. She enjoys the arts, reading, traveling, and spending time in nature.