Hi! My name is Michaela Duncan and I am a proud mother of 4, wife to everyones friend aka Phil, and special education teacher here at our elementary school. I have lived in Big Lake most of my life, and I married someone I’ve known since middle school. I honestly don’t remember hearing of him til high school, and he won’t let me live it down, but he’s known of me and we have gone to school together since middle school.
We are big on sports and spend most of our time at a field or court of sorts. My husband coaches our kids in most of their sports and when he doesn’t he doesn’t stay still while watching aka coaching from the sides. We like to say our girls are professional sidelines cheerleaders and snackers. I can’t keep schedules straight and we are lucky to have one day home a week, it’s definitely a busy season, but I wouldn’t change a thing.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My family is my everything. We had our son Kaiden very young right out of high school and we promised ourselves we would give him the best life we could. Our oldest is Kaiden who is 12, our second is Harper who is 8, then Haddy who is 5 and Laiken surprised us this past year and is our last of the crew born this January!
Q: How long have you lived and/or worked in Big Lake?
I have lived in Big Lake since I was in 3rd grade and moved here with my family. My husband and I moved a couple times while I was in college but we ended up back here in 2018!
Q: Tell us about your current, past, or future career.
I drove bus for Vision while going to college, the best job to have with kiddos! I enjoyed it every day. After graduating college I still drove bus for a couple years before I started subbing in the schools and found my passion in Special Education through being the schools building sub! I have worked in Special Education here at Independence for 4 years now. I love building relationships with my students and helping them grow in all aspects of life not just academically. I still remember my 3rd grade teacher, who is the reason I wanted to become a teacher and that is all I ever want students to remember me for as well.
Q: What is a favorite Movie, Book/Podcast, & Band? (Share as many as you would like)
I love the Jonas Brothers.. yes. I love reading as well, any book by Colleen Hoover has me, or any similar books.
Q: What are 2 things you never leave the house without?
Chapstick and diapers.
Q: What is something about you that surprises people?
I still have both sets of my grandparents alive on both sides of my family and I am so grateful.
Q: What is your go-to comfort food?
I LOVE a burrito.
Q: What is one thing your Dream House would have?
Land for my kids and animals to roam freely and peacefully
Q: What are some of your favorite hobbies?
I love a good workout/ running, watching the sunset and playing a family game, going to a farmers market, a good girls night.
Q: What is one thing on your Bucket List?
Going back to Hawaii with my family
Q: What has been a challenge you’ve had to overcome? (Life, work, school, etc.)
I have struggled my whole life with anxiety and got it really bad postpartum with my son and have been struggling to find what works for me since. We’ve done therapy, meds, holistic practices.. But I’m determined to figure it out and get to the root cause and be an advocate for those who suffer silently!
Q: Who has been a hero, mentor, major influence in your life?
Always my mom. She has 4 of us adult children and she still never misses any big event of ours and supports us emotionally everyday. She listens to me and helps me with my mental health and educated herself on it to understand it and support me to the best of her ability even when she doesn’t deal with it herself. She has my 4 grandkids as well as her own 4 kids and she still somehow makes them feel special every single day as well. She’s everything I want to be for my kids and grandkids one day.
Q: What has been your proudest accomplishment so far?
Going to college while being a teen mom and then having 3 kids and finding out I was pregnant while trying to finish grad school and my thesis. If you know you know..
Q: What are some of your favorite Big Lake Establishments? (Restaurants, shops, businesses, etc.)
I love Willys, can’t beat the patio and water- but I’m sure everyone says that. I also am a big MN wholesalers lover.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Big Lake?
The beautiful lake path. Easily my favorite part.
Q: Who is someone that should be included in the Face of Big Lake? (Please share their contact info if you have it)
My mom. Michele Stockham.
