Why I Teach
Teachers- we want to hear from you! Tell us what motivates you to do this important work. What gets you out of bed in the morning? What keeps you inspired? What makes you love being a teacher?
We’ll share your inspiring stories on social media and the NCESD website. Each month we’ll select a winning submission and that teacher will win a gift card for classroom supplies!
Submit a few sentences detailing Why You Teach to communications@ncesd.org. Be sure to include your name, school, and grade level!
Happy Teaching!
“I teach because kids deserve a safe place to learn, grow, and find love and support. Kids are natural learners just waiting to have their potential realized. I have the best job and am so happy to spend each day with my students!”
Barb Kooima
3rd Grade Teacher
Sage Point Elementary
“The other day, as I was walking my second graders to technology, one of them asked if we had school the next day. I told them, Yes, there is school tomorrow.” In reply they said , ” I bet you wish there wasn’t school tomorrow.” I replied, I am actually glad there is school tomorrow because I love teaching you new things and watching you learn.”
And…that’s why I teach!”
Becky Buckingham
Second Grade Teacher
Bridgeport Elementary
“I teach because I feel as if it is something I was meant to do. Interacting with students day to day and learning what makes them tick, what inspires them, what their struggles may be, and what truly motivates them is one of the most interesting and rewarding jobs there is. Plus, I get to teach one of the best subjects: math! I love helping kids learn math in different ways and I especially enjoy being a part of building their math confidence.
That is why I teach.”
Mallory Neher
7th Grade Math
Orchard Middle School
“I teach because my students deserve to know every day that they are valued for who they are and what they contribute to the world. There is nothing harder than finding out what will make a student turn around and work when she doesn’t want to, and nothing better than the celebration when you can say together “You did it!” I love to see change happen in kids’ lives. That’s why I teach.”
Kelsey Borst
7th Grade ELA
Orchard Middle School
“I teach because I love to guide each student towards being their best selves, compassionate friends, and to LOVE learning! I want them to know all about perseverance, all about doing hard things and that mistakes are welcome. I teach to provide a loving and consistent environment for them to blossom in. How blessed am I to be trusted with a classroom filled with amazing firsties who are mountain movers and the future of our community! “
Carley Bjorklund
1st Grade Teacher
Vale Elementary School
“I teach because every student has a voice that matters. My goal is to help students find their voice and gain the confidence to use it for good in this world.”
Tiffany Janosov
10th Grade English Teacher
Moses Lake High School
“I teach because kids deserve their best chance at a successful life. These kids best chance is through education, and I can give them that. I may only have 180 days with each child, but I give my all to make an impact with that short amount of time. I teach kids to see the beauty in the real world through math and the beauty of worlds beyond our galaxy through reading. I teach kids to change the world with their words through speaking and writing. I teach kids. I teach kids to change THIER lives.”
Jessica Tufts
2nd Grade Teacher
Lake Roosevelt Elementary
“I teach so that students of all shapes, sizes, ages, and abilities can know that there is one place in the world that they are loved unconditionally and has no limits placed on them about who they are or what they might become in the future. I teach so that my students and their families can learn that school can be a place full of love, fun, and amazing opportunities. I teach because I can!”
Lindsay A. Camp
Kodiak Cubs Preschool Director, Cascade High School Child Development II Teacher
Cascade School District
“I teach because all kids deserve love; school is a safe place where through love and acceptance I can guide little people into making great choices. I can help make a difference in kids’ lives, teaching them how to love discovering new things everyday.”
Katie Jensen
2nd Grade Teacher/Principal Intern
Warden School District
“The moment a deaf child looks up at you and says, “Oh!”, and the expression on his face tells you he ‘gets’ it–that moment? That’s why I teach.”
Gail Brand
Language Specialist
Brewster Elementary
“I teach because it is the most rewarding job in the world. These kids have so much to offer and I’m the luckiest person in the world to get to spend my day with them!”
Ms. Hastin
3rd Grade
East Omak Elementary
“I teach in hopes to spark interest. Interest in culture, learning, exploring and acceptance. I want kids to know how it feels to be curious.”
Tina Nicpan Brown
5th grade STEM and Computer Science
Lincoln Elementary
Wenatchee
“I teach because I want students to realize how much they have to offer this world. I want to empower them to discover the leader within their hearts and to act on the opportunities they are given.”
Trisha Roach
MS Leadership Teacher
MS Yearbook Teacher
MS/HS Teacher Librarian
Okanogan School District
“I teach because I am their champion! I am in their court every step of the way, leading and guiding every scholar that crosses my path to becoming life long learners of our society. I teach because I believe in them!”
Courtney Bronowski
Special Education
Junior High School
Quincy
“I teach because I love getting to witness their little minds at work each day! Each student is vastly different and it is so special to see and hear their perspectives when we are learning.”
Conor Jorgensen
1st Grade Teacher
Midway Elementary
Moses Lake
“I teach because each day I get to be that one smile for some kids. I love seeing their faces when they “get it” or start reading. I teach because each day these kiddos come hoping to learn. Most importantly, I teach because I want each child to know they are special and important.”
Nicole Wallace
1st Grade Teacher
Sage Point Elementary
Moses Lake
“I teach because I know school might be the best part of a child’s day. I teach because learning to read will change the child’s life. I teach because I’m changing the world.”
Laura Collins
1st Grade Teacher
Grant Elementary
Ephrata
Michael Werner
Grades 9-12 incl. collaboration with 3rd Grade students from Pioneer ES Quincy
High Tech High
Quincy
“I teach to help kids better understand themselves, others, the world and their place in it. To create opportunities for kids to use their understanding to make a positive impact on the world.”
Kevin Parr
4th Grade Teacher
Lincoln Elementary
Wenatchee
“Just yesterday I told a young girl in my classroom that she had value as a person. She broke down and told me that it was the first time anyone had said that to her. That is why I teach.”
Matthew Brewer
Soap Lake High School
Soap Lake
“I teach because I love kids. I know that everyday I am impacting the future of our Valley, our Region, our State, and our Nation. I teach because I have children who need to know they are loved, that someone believes in them, and who sees their potential. I teach because being a teacher is a major part of who I am. I teach because there were teachers in my life who impacted my life and I hope to pay it forward. I teach because I am a mom who knows there are more children out there who need me in their lives. It is the hardest, most stressful, most rewarding (after being a mom) job I could possibly choose to do. But, I love it. I find great joy in teaching. I am blessed to be a teacher.”
Lizabeth Fowler
6th Grade ELA/Writing/SS
Monument Elementary
Quincy
“I love seeing kids proud of themselves when they accomplish a goal or recognize improvement with their learning. Their smiling face is the reward that keeps me going.”
Dawn Sandhop
1st Grade Teacher
Sage Point Elementary
Moses Lake
“I teach because everyone has the right to communicate to the best of their ability. I enjoy using my knowledge as a Speech Language Pathologist to help students communicate efficiently and effectively in a variety of settings no matter their mode of communication.”
Kelly Gettles
MA, CCC-SLP
Longview Elementary, North Elementary, Sage Point Elementary
Moses Lake
“I teach because every child deserves to have a safe learning environment where they can learn, make mistakes, and have a voice. When students make mistakes and can figure it out, their faces light up. Mistakes and Teachable Moments are my why.”
Anna Davis
4th Grade Teacher
Sage Point Elementary
Moses Lake
“I teach because I love kids, and they are our future. The little lessons we teach in school today, be it sharing, or fractions, or writing a narrative, have a big impact on the kind of citizens we are creating for tomorrow. Teaching is challenging, and I wouldn’t be pouring my life into it if I wasn’t convinced it has long-reaching positive implications.”
Barb Kooima
3rd Grade Teacher
Sage Point Elementary
Moses Lake