One Class at a Time

Choosing a career can be a daunting challenge. As many seasoned professionals attest, finding the “right” path is often nonlinear. With persistence, however, the effort is well worth the rewards. Such is the case for Green Canyon’s 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year, Jessica Maughan.

“I was originally going to go into medicine,” she said. “After my first few classes, though, I realized that I actually didn’t like it. But, I was taking a math class at the time, and I realized, ‘I do like this.’ So, I decided to take another math course. It was circuitous, but I just kept taking more math classes. After a year and a half of trying many different things, I settled on math. And, I love it!”

Maughan taught for four years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Once her children were in school, she transitioned back into the classroom, and she’s been there ever since. 

“All of these opportunities have been so wonderful,” she said. “I love being a mom, and I love teaching math. Those ‘aha’ moments that kids have, when they’ve struggled and struggled but they finally get it, there’s nothing like that. Math (and life) is about being willing to stick with something difficult, and to see it in new ways.”

“Jessica is constantly thinking about her students and how to help them succeed,” Green Canyon Principal Jim Crosbie shared. “She creates an environment in her classroom where kids can flourish and be themselves.

Maughan’s approach has been helping students find success - one class, one equation, one challenge at a time. Students from her 15 years of teaching sometimes return to express appreciation for what she taught them.

“Mrs. Maughan was the teacher who kept me in school,” one shared. “I looked forward to seeing her every day because I knew she really cared.”