Good teachers are like gold.
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh alumna Kerstin Westcott ’10 MSE, of Green Bay, who earned a Golden Apple Award through the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce’s Partners in Education Program in 2014, said her passion for teaching began when she was working at the Boys and Girls Club as a Big Sister.
She tutored a young girl whose parents did not speak English.
“I helped her with her homework, and from then on, I decided that I loved working with kids and pursued teaching,” she said.
Westcott commuted to UW Oshkosh to earn her master’s degree so that she could be more qualified to teach. She earned a reading license and has been teaching full-time since.
“I love teaching and I have such a great love and passion for my students,” she said.
During her time at UWO, the late Joan Simmons, associate professor in the College of Education and Human Services, had left the biggest impression.
“Having Joan Simmons as a teacher created great memories for me,” Westcott said. “I loved working with her and other professors.”
Westcott currently works at Washington Middle School in Green Bay teaching reading and language arts. Her best memory of teaching began when a student asked to borrow books Westcott was reading. As a teacher, Westcott obliged and lent to the student We Were Liars, a critically acclaimed young adult novel.
“I gave it to her Friday after school and the student emailed me Sunday about it,” Westcott said. “I don’t get a lot of emails from middle school students, and I had to read it because the subject line was ‘I hate you Ms. Westcott.’ She’s an awesome student.”
Within the email, the student described how angry she was with the outcomes, the plot twists and that Westcott had recommended it. The student also described how grateful she was to have read it and still asks for recommendations.
Westcott attributes the Golden Apple Award to her students and her dedication to teaching.
“Receiving the award was the best day of my life,” Westcott said. “I really wanted to highlight my kids being the reason I earned the award.”
In her free time, Westcott reads young adult novels and travels. She’s currently preparing for a trip to Haiti in August.
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