Mrs. Mikal making a big impact

By Nylah Smith

Feature/Entertainment Reporter

Social studies teacher Mrs. Mikal is known for her love for history and the strong bonds she creates with her students.

Mrs. Mikal won the January Staff Member of the Month award in January 2025. Her students said, "She is extremely nice and is excellent at teaching. You can really tell she cares about her students."

“I became a teacher because I love history and wanted to help students appreciate history too,” Mrs. Mikal said.

She teaches several classes and works hard to show students how government and history matter in daily life. Over her teaching career, Mrs. Mikal has taught many classes, including world history and U.S. history, economics, AP U.S. history, and experiences in social studies. Now, she teaches women’s studies, leadership seminars, and AP government. She enjoys teaching many subjects, but one class is her favorite because students learn key lessons about the government. 

“My favorite class is AP Government because we learn about how government works and why it's important to understand our government,” Mrs. Mikal said.

One tough period for her was the COVID-19 pandemic, when teaching moved online. It was harder for her to connect with students and build those important classroom relationships she cherishes. 

“I don't know if there was a hardest moment, but teaching during COVID was hard because of the virtual setting and not being able to really get to know students," Mrs. Mikal said. 

These challenges do not stop her motivation. Ms. Mikal continues to stay dedicated to her job even when things get stressful or difficult. She finds inspiration in the people around her and truly values the positive connections she has built at school. Her students make her feel like her work matters, and her coworkers give her support when she needs it. Because of these strong relationships, she stays excited to come to school every day and remains eager to keep teaching and helping her students learn.

“Her class has taught me a lot of things about government and kindness,” Leila Thoresen said. 

Students say Ms. Mikal’s way of teaching helps them understand lessons better and feel comfortable asking questions. She explains things clearly and makes sure students don’t feel embarrassed if they need help. Her patience and kindness create a positive classroom where students feel encouraged to participate and feel more confident in their learning.

“She treats her students very well. I’ve never heard her get upset or mad at anybody. She has a lot of patience with her students, and she’s very, very kind,” Adelaide Breier said.