Mrs. Kangas has shaped the minds of Sward students for the past 28 years. On Thursday, May 11th, Sward students honored Mrs. Kangas by wearing her favorite color blue and shared special memories.
As 5th Grader, Kristina stated, “Mrs. Kangas was so much fun as my Kindergarten Teacher. She told the best stories that would make me laugh. She taught me and one of my sisters Sophia. I wish I could go back to kindergarten for just 5 minutes or even stay. But you can’t stay young forever.”
We decided to interview Mrs. Kangas to find out a little bit more about her teaching career.
How long have you worked at Sward?
I student taught at Sward in 1991 and then began teaching second grade at Sward the following year.
In the district?
I have taught for 28 years.
What grade levels have you taught in over your career?
I've taught second grade and kindergarten.
What is your favorite thing to teach?
I enjoy teaching ELA. I am a reader and so I enjoy reading stories and teaching children how to read and write.
Who inspired you to be a teacher?
My second grade teacher at Kolmar, Mrs. Doimas. She was kind and truly cared about her students. I had the pleasure to teach with her at Kolmar when I taught a second grade position. She was just as I remembered her to be...a wonderful person.
What are you most proud of that you've done as a teacher?
I am most proud of watching my students grow, both academically and socially. In kindergarten, you get to see tremendous changes from the beginning of the year to the end.
What are you looking forward to the most in retirement?
I am really looking forward to spending time with family and friends that live out of state, traveling, and trying new things.
What do you hope Sward students will remember about you?
I hope Sward students remember that I was kind and enjoyed not only teaching them, but getting to know each student as individuals.
Mrs. Kangas, we wish you many happy days after retirement and your impact on our lives will never fade.
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