Career change from health care to education is perfect fit for Walkerville teacher 

Career change from health care to education is perfect fit for Walkerville teacher 

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor

Wildcat News is a presentation of Walkerville Public Schools in partnership with Oceana County Press.

WALKERVILLE — Walkerville High School English and social studies teacher Sara White began her seventh year as an educator this school year.

“This is my second career. My first career was in the health field taking care of people with special needs and disabilities.” She worked in the health care field for 13 years prior to switching gears.

“I looked at my husband one day and said, ‘I think that this role of helping people who are handicapped has been fulfilled, and I’m ready to help people some place else.”

Having that experience — along with being a mom — has helped her connect with her students, she said. “I feel like I’m able to connect with them on that level, plus I have a lot of caring and compassion in my background.

“I went back to college in 2008,” recalled White, and she graduated from Ferris State University in 2015. She was hired at Walkerville after working for Shelby Public Schools as a middle school language arts instructor for two years.

“Positively impacting children’s lives” is the most rewarding aspect of the job.

White’s successful connections with her students have not gone unnoticed. She recently received the United Way of the Lakeshore Distinguished Educator Award, which is awarded annually to educators in Oceana, Muskegon and Newaygo counties.

Other Oceana area educators receiving the honor include:

Hart — Megan Stoneman

Shelby — Angelica Lozano

Pentwater — Heidi Fleming

Hesperia — Vicki Hawes

Honored teachers receive school supplies through the United Way of the Lakeshore’s Stuff The Bus campaign. She donated items that she was not able to use in her classroom to other classrooms, so all of the supplies are being put to good use. 

“I’m happy that someone is taking care of us teachers. I’m happy for the other teachers who received the award, too. It’s really cool.”

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