If you had asked Rachel Betterley what she would be doing nearly 10 years after graduating college, pageants wouldn’t have been the answer she expected.
“I thought it was over! I was ready to move on,” she says. “I didn’t anticipate returning for Mrs. Minnesota.”
Yet she won the title of Mrs. Minnesota in June. And in August, she was on a stage in Las Vegas, competing to be Mrs. America.
Ultimately, Betterley didn’t win the national title but the experience was enriching.
“After having two sons, I wanted to do something for myself,” Betterley explains. “I wanted to maintain a sense of identity. Mom, teacher, philanthropist— there’s more to myself than just that.”
Embracing new opportunities
It all started with a flier for a local miss pageant.
As a sophomore at UMD, Betterley decided to give it a chance. “I’ve always been very competitive,” she says. “I felt compelled to compete.”
Pageants opened up an entirely new world of opportunities. From exhibiting her art skills to advocating for a cause, Betterley found a space to develop herself and her art even further.
“The talent portion allowed me to express in a way that normal fine arts doesn’t,” she explains.
She earned the title of Miss Minnesota in 2015. With that honor came responsibility—a year of service across the state. She chose to campaign against bullying. During that year, Betterley heard stories from students all over Minnesota. “By the time I was done, we reached over 10,000 kids … it was so meaningful, and so impactful to see all these people come together.”
Art as a tool for empowerment
Originally, Betterley began her education at St. Scholastica; however, she quickly realized it wasn’t the best fit. By her sophomore year, Betterley found herself at UMD in the art education program. There, she found herself thriving.
“With UMD, I actually had the opportunity to student teach abroad in Slovenia … I absolutely fell in love with meeting new people and learning about different cultures,” Betterley says.
After teaching abroad, Betterley then had the opportunity to student teach in Osseo. Eventually, it turned into a full-time position. While she loved working there, Betterley found herself missing life up north.
One email held the chance to return.
“I got an email from a UMD professor about a position in Cook,” Betterely states. “It was a brand-new school, looking for an art teacher. I applied immediately.”
Now having been at North Woods School for 9 years, Betterely couldn’t imagine working anywhere else. She’s developed an art program with a focus on mental health, which allows students to explore art without limitations.
Each student’s project starts with a question that’s meant to be insightful. After that, students use artwork to portray their message.
“So if your fear is not living up to expectations, how do you make art to showcase that? It’s meant to help students be in tune with their mental health and their emotions,” she says. “Ultimately, it’s not about what you make—it’s about who you are as a person.”
More about the Art Education program, which is a program jointly offered by the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and the College of Education and Human Service Professions.