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NS is always growing and changing, getting a bigger student body, new policies, new electronics and so much more. But one of the more significant changes are those of the new staff members.
“One of the first things when you hire, you really look for teachers that can build connections with students,” NS Principal Christine Straatman said “It’s really the foundation of what makes us teachers.”
So many students have found a better high school career when they have a connection with a teacher.
“Overall if you like your teacher it makes your school impression better,” sophomore Ace Tui said. “If you’re listening to the teacher you do like you’re going to listen to their class and pay attention, if you’re in a class with a teacher you don’t like you’re just waiting for them to shut up.”
But it’s not just students that have found school is better with connections as staff members and teachers do as well.
New computer science teacher Benjamin Johnson has found that connection here at NS.
“The community is great,” Johnson said. “I’ve enjoyed being friends with the students. Originally I had studied to be a college level teacher because I didn’t really want to deal with the high school students. I love the connection with the kids, and I have little to no desire to be a college teacher because of the kids here.”
Johnson is not alone in thinking this way. All the new staff members including attendance secretary Tanner Sorenson and new office counselor Andy Peterson agree.
“I love interacting with the kids.” Sorensen said. “It’s my favorite part about the job.” Though Sorenson is here now, he lived in Hawaii for a short while where he participated
in activities such as scuba diving and eating some delicious food
Johnson, Sorenson, and Peterson have all had connections to NS in the past. Sorenson and Johnson grew up in Sanpete and Peterson has raised his kids here.
“I love NS,” Peterson said. “[My wife] went to college at Snow, and we moved up north for college but eventually came back here and decided to raise our kids here, and it’s been great.”
Johnson has gone to USU for two years as well as Snow College for two years. Peterson went and worked for a prison in Gunnison before coming to NS and all of that preparation has made them the people they are today.
They have more than just an impact on the school, they have an impact on the people and the community around them.
“We are so fortunate,” Straatman said. “We have such a stellar faculty. They are not only teachers here but they are also part of the community. We are lucky to have the quality faculty we have.”
