Although her goal was to branch out after college, a Milford Public Schools teacher said teaching at Milford has been one of the best things that has happened to her.
Seventh and eighth-grade social studies teacher, assistant girls’ basketball and hurdles coach Kennedy Mogul is originally from York and attended Concordia University, Nebraska where she competed for the track and field team. Mogul also helps out with the junior high and high school Fellowship of Christian Athletes groups at MPS.
Mogul said she enjoys doing anything outdoors, including kayaking, hiking and hammocking with a good book. She said her identity lies within her faith in Jesus Christ. She also enjoys learning new things, including riding a unicycle.
Education wasn’t on Mogul’s radar when she was younger.
“When I was in first grade, I remember wanting to be a zookeeper who worked with elephants,” she said. “As I got older, I had the idea of becoming a teacher and coach, social worker or police officer, but I always came back to teacher and coach.”
Mogul said she ended up choosing to teach because she has a passion to guide students to become the best version of themselves.
“In what can sometimes feel like a dark world, my goal is to bring light to the good things, and I find teaching is the best profession for that,” she said. ”My past teachers also left a huge impact on why I chose to go into teaching. The relationships and lessons I learned from them inspired me to want to do the same.”
After graduation, Mogul never thought she would be teaching in Milford.
“All throughout college, my plans were to go teach somewhere with mountains because I loved their beauty and being able to hike,” she said. “As the end of college approached, I became overwhelmed because I had the entire world to choose from. It was a daunting idea of leaving home and creating a new life somewhere else. I ended up deciding that I would give myself another year, I would complete my master’s and sub around the Seward and Lincoln area and then decide where to teach.”
Although Mogul had a plan, it all changed when Milford Public Schools had an opening.
“I got a couple of messages that Milford was interviewing for a first-grade position,” she said.
At first, Mogul didn’t think she wanted the job because she felt first grade was too young.
“I never chose Milford, but God knew that Milford was where I was supposed to be,” she said. “Yes, the mountains are beautiful, but the community of Milford is even more beautiful.”
Now that she’s taught at Milford for over a year, Mogul said her favorite part of the town is the relationships she’s made.
“Right away, everyone made me feel like I was a part of their family,” she said. “That’s something you don’t see too often.”
In terms of teaching, Mogul said she’s enjoyed getting to work with different age groups.
“I have bounced from first grade up to seventh and eighth grade, and with both ages, I have loved building relationships with the students and supporting them in their activities outside of academics,” she said. “It’s even better when they ask me to come. Also, watching students understand or grasp something is a great part of teaching.”
Now that she’s had time in the education field, Mogul said she would encourage others to teach and coach.
“If you want to help impact young lives and help teach future generations that will one day be the leaders of our country, then teaching is the right profession for you,” she said. “It can be tiring and challenging, but that’s the same with any job really. I believe that teaching and coaching are the most rewarding professions out there.”
Mogul also said the relationships she builds with students and watching them grow is a great benefit.
“You build relationships that will last a lifetime,” she said. “You get to encourage young minds to think outside the box, see themselves for who they are and challenge them to be the best version of themselves.”
As for future plans, Mogul said she isn’t sure what she wants to do, but she has thought about a few different ideas.
“I know that I will teach for some time, but I have debated looking into coaching track at the collegiate level or working in some form of ministry,” she said. “When I think about the future, my ultimate goal is to follow wherever God calls me, and that could be anything, anywhere, at any time.”
Overall, Mogul really enjoys Milford.
“I am forever thankful that God brought me to Milford because it has been the best experience in my life so far,” she said.
