Devils Lake Instructional Coach 'Lifts the Lifters'

Sara Thompson says she loved her time as a classroom teacher but says her current job allows her to have a hand in impacting every student and educator at Sweetwater Elementary in Devils Lake.

The 2020 North Dakota Teacher of the Year finalist has served as an instructional coach for the past ten years.

She says it’s her job to work with teachers and help them improve.

At the end of the day, she says they’re all working to do what’s best for the students.

Inside Sweetwater Elementary in Devils Lake, you’ll find 2020 North Dakota Teacher of the Year finalist Sara Thompson.

“And every decision that's made here really is for the kids,” Thompson said. “I've got a great staff. Anytime I bring something new and kind of wild and crazy, like, OK, we're going to try this now. Are you ready? And like. Sure. Because they know that it's for the kids and everyone's so willing to do anything that they. And to make that happen for them.”

Thompson is an instructional coach. The 19-year educator wears out the halls working with teachers and students all over the building.

“You build on what the students know to help them get further in the process. And so observing teachers, seeing their strengths and using those strengths to help them improve their practice is really what we do as instructional coaches,” Thompson said.

Thompson says there was never a question about what she’d do with her life. Before her current position she worked at a kindergarten teacher, reading coach and Title 1 reading teacher.

Being selected as a teacher of the year finalist has given her the chance to reflect on the journey.

“And so hopefully I will make an impact on others just through the experiences that they've had with me,” Thompson said. “And so that's been really rewarding through all of this is just reflecting. And, you know, no one no one gets into teaching for a trophy or an award of any kind. You get it and you get into teaching because you love kids and you love to watch the impact that you can have on the students learn.”



She says she loved being in a classroom but sees her job as an instructional coach as a way to have a hand in impacting every student at Sweetwater. And working at Sweetwater....



Sara Thompson: [00:32:37] And so it's really like the world's best kept secret. We've got really great things happening here,” Thompson said. “And we're always looking for the best thing for the kids, not just the best thing to shine a light on us and to get an award, but to really make sure that our kids are developing and growing and learning so that they're successful.”

In Devils Lake, I’m Tom Gerhardt for North Dakota United Communications.

Lifters"