When COVID-19 hit the United States, there was an uncertainty swirling around education and how to proceed in the best interest of the students. For Morgan Davis, it marked the start of her career at Union High School.
“My first school year as a teacher was 2019-2020, so the “shut down” for COVID. It was a very interesting ending to my first-year teaching… and made for an even more interesting second year being back and forth from virtual to in person at a moment’s notice,” Davis said. “Starting my career off in a chaotic and uneasy time was very challenging but made me stronger as an educator and allowed me to focus on the relationships with my kids more than anything else. Connection always matters in the classroom but was especially important during the early years in the midst of COVID.”
Davis said she has found inspiration in the 2023 National Teacher of the Year.
“Rebecka Peterson was my AP Calculus teacher my senior year and I learned so much from her not only as a student, but as a colleague. I came back to teach at my alma mater, and I’ve had the joy of working with her for several years. She’s shaped who I am as an educator and continues to inspire me to grow in this profession,” said Davis.
For Davis, the students are the most rewarding part of the job.
“This school year I have the privilege of having several students I’ve had in previous years. Some of them three years in a row, some of them two. The seniors I have now that I’ve had since they were sophomores. I get emotional thinking about how special it is to have watched them grow up. They’ve grown so much in their own ways, and they have ultimately helped me become a better educator. Everything I do is for the kids,” said Davis.
When she’s not at school you can usually find Davis spending time with family.
“My husband and I welcomed our baby girl, Stella, into the world in November of last year. We also have two dogs and love spending time outside with them. It has been a special year growing our family and we are cherishing every moment of this season of life,” said Davis.
