Iconic ‘Frau’ Laura Grommesh Retires After 33 Years Inspiring MCHS Students in German Language

It was the start of the 5th-period, German II class. Ms. Grommesh, otherwise known as Frau, sat in front of the classroom to watch the 2025 Iowa State Girls’ Wrestling tournament. She wore her bright blue sweater with grey slacks, intently staring at the classroom board.

Grommesh cheered on Aniyah Smith, a Riverhawk wrestler for Mason City High School, as she won her first round in the state tournament qualifying for the state semi-finals.

MCHS students, former and current, know Frau like a favorite book they keep returning to. She has been teaching generations of families for 33 years, However, that will come to an end in the 2025 school year.

“It was never going to be easy to walk away from German,” Laura Grommesh, said. “As the only German teacher, we really become a family.”

Grommesh always knew she would grow up to become a teacher.

“I always wanted to play school as a child,” Grommesh said. “We knew I was going to be a teacher and then in 9th grade, I took German and the rest was history.”

Grommesh became inspired by her high school German teacher Frau Huckaby at Fridley High School in Minnesota. After spending four years with her mentor, she continued studying at St Cloud State University. Before arriving at MCHS, Grommesh bounced around many different jobs, such as working at a paper route and then as a babysitter. Her first and last ever career job is at MCHS.

But all good things must come to an end. Grommesh said she is retiring because of the declining enrollment at MCHS, which reduced the number of people taking German.

“I could have taught other classes, but I decided that I wanted to retire as a German teacher, not learn another curriculum,” Grommesh said.

Grommesh said she is excited about having more time to visit Germany freely but feels devastated that she has to leave the students she taught during her career as a language teacher.

“My emotions are all over the place,” Grommesh said. “Part of me is excited to try some new things and be able to go to Germany whenever I want; the other part of me is devastated to leave my German and MCHS families.”

Students are just letting the news of Frau leaving set in.

“I was so sad. It was the worst news,” said Allison Long, a freshman taking German for the first time. “Cuz I’m also in the Student Senate. And the whole reason I joined German was because I loved having her as an adviser.”

“I don’t like to have to get to know new teachers.” Peyton Bobolz, a sophomore. “And she’s been doing this such a long time she knows what she’s doing.”

Senior Fenix Squier feels fortunate to have studied under Frau for four years. She’s a well-known teacher to their family. Squier’s mother had Frau in 1992– her first year of teaching at MCHS.

“She had to kick my mom out because she had a consistent low D,” said Squier. “[Frau] kept telling her, ‘Honey this is not for you’. They’re friends on Facebook. So I still hear stuff. Like Frau asked me about my dog’s toy duck yesterday. She’s an empathetic person who will connect with her students.”

Grommesh will miss making student connections but said she is open to new adventures.

“I’d like to try some new things, help more with a dog rescue I volunteer with, and spend some quality time in Germany,” Grommesh said. “I’ll plan some German trips for adults now, too, not students.”

But the MCHS community shouldn’t worry about Grommesh being completely gone. She is sticking close to Mason City.

“I don’t suspect I can walk completely away from MCHS,” Grommesh said. “I plan to be around, just not at dances. I’m done with those!”