Horizon West Teacher of the Year sets high expectations for her students
March 29, 2018
Fifth-grade teacher Sarah Wothe says her profession allows her to be a professional student.
“As teachers, we are constantly learning and wanting to apply what we know to be better for our students,” Wothe said. “I consider myself a lifelong learner, and I truly learn just as much from the students as they learn from me.”
This is Wothe’s first year as a fifth-grade teacher at Horizon Middle School West Campus, where she was named this year’s Horizon West Teacher of the Year. Wothe has been a fourth-grade teacher at S.G. Reinertsen Elementary School for the past seven years, and prior to that she worked as a substitute teacher.
Wothe became a teacher because of caring teachers she had growing up.
“I genuinely enjoy education and the learning process,” Wothe said.
Carla Smith, principal at Horizon West, describes Wothe as a kind, flexible, curious, knowledgeable and patient teacher.
“Sarah Wothe is a compassionate educator who works to create an environment that is welcoming and full of engaging and important learning,” Smith said.
Wothe earned her bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead and her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from MSUM. She has served on the district math committee and is currently serving on Horizon West’s building leadership team.
Smith considers Wothe a collaborative team player and a leader for her professional learning community.
“Sarah has been an important part of opening our school and has worked to create a positive and welcoming environment for all of our students,” Smith said. “Her relationships with her students set the tone for a year of rigorous learning, engaging activities, and growth for all students.”
Wothe believes in setting high expectations for all her students and providing support in helping them reach those expectations.
“It is amazing how young people really do rise to meet the challenge and reach those expectations,” she said. “Educators are blessed to be in a profession in which we see remarkable young people doing wonderful things that restore our faith and hope in the future. We are lucky to see good in the faces of our students every day.”
Wothe is honored to represent Horizon West.
“Every day I go to work with the most loving, patient, generous, hard-working people one will ever meet,” she said. “They inspire me to become better.”
Photo: While working with a small group of students, Sarah Wothe, fifth-grade teacher at Horizon Middle School West Campus and this year’s Horizon West Teacher of the Year, discusses the ratio table to use in solving a division problem.
Categorized under: School