Story and photo by Crystal Hayduk
Amy Wagoner knows Chelsea District Schools.
Raised in the district, she graduated from Chelsea High School, and then returned after obtaining her degree in elementary education from Eastern Michigan University. In her 17th year of teaching, Wagoner has taught children in third through sixth grades.
Since 2010, Wagoner’s day has been spent solely with sixth grade students, teaching four sections of science and one reading skills class. Additionally, she teaches every sixth grader in the school during the course of the year in a required six-week long introductory computer class.
Wagoner smiles when she talks about her students. “Everything is new for the sixth grader when they come to Beach (Middle School),” she said. “They are curious and enthusiastic. They want to know how things work. And they still laugh at jokes.”
Wagoner’s days are like two sides of the same coin. She likes that there is never a dull moment, yet the sheer number of students means that it’s difficult to connect with each one individually, which is what she would prefer.
“I see 120 children a day,” said Wagoner. “Some of them are in more than one class. If they were all different kids, I would see 152 a day.”
Isaac Stoker is one of her current students. He appreciates Wagoner as a “… nice teacher who tries to get to know us.” He said that she makes studying science fun, especially in the way she helps students prepare for quizzes and exams, and through interesting science experiments. “My favorite one was methods to identify rocks,” said Stoker.
Wagoner’s childhood in Chelsea supported her interest in science. While she was growing up, Wagoner’s grandparents owned a family farm down the road from her parents’ home. She was involved with 4-H, caring for sheep that she showed at the Chelsea Fair. She also developed a love for gardening.
Wagoner learned to value nature in all its beauty and form during the family’s camping vacations out west. “I still love to travel, but I’m always happy to come home,” she said.
Wagoner spent her first three years of college at the University of Michigan, studying a science-based curriculum. “I tried the lab environment, but it wasn’t for me,” she said.
She wasn’t truly happy until she followed her heart into teaching, so she transferred to EMU’s education program. During her college education, Wagoner spent time in several school districts, but happily returned to Chelsea to work.
“Chelsea School District is special,” she said. “The children here are very nice with good, supportive families.”
Wagoner earned her Master’s Degree in technology integration and curriculum design from Michigan State University. The educational background serves her well in her present roles on the technology committee and the science curriculum committee.
Beach Middle School Principal Nick Angel praised Wagoner in a written statement. “Amy serves as our yearbook advisor with Jill Albert and wears a variety of other hats here at Beach. Since the introduction of iPads here, Amy has been tasked with updating and revising our sixth grade computers curriculum to highlight the new capabilities of our device.”
He said, “She is consistent with her instruction in the classroom and always a student favorite. Amy really stands out with her creative labs and hands-on assessment in her science classes.”
Wagoner’s favorite aspect of teaching is witnessing firsthand the way that the children change, learn, and mature throughout the school year.
“The most rewarding thing of all is being there for that ‘Aha moment,’” she said. “I love to see their successes – and they all do well at something.”
