A woman, fresh out of college, working in a diner, not knowing what she wanted to do with her life, knew only that she wanted to do something with her hard-earned English degree. That woman is none other than SFHS’ own Michelle Hogan.

Hogan joined the staff at Santa Fe High School in 2016 and teaches 10th grade  English and Honors English. She is also the advisor for the school’s ACE/Work-Based Learning program.

“I started teaching in Española when I first moved to New Mexico, so it was an interesting experience because I didn’t realize what a unique community it was. All of New Mexico was new to me and I landed there so randomly,” Hogan said. “I learned a lot.”

Hogan grew up in Rockford, Ill., where she attended Rock Valley Community College, worked as a waitress, and ultimately found her passion for English. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English in 1996 and then enrolled in Rockford College to take graduate-level courses for her teaching degree.

“When I started substituting for high school students, I was like ‘Ah ha! This is what I like to do,’ ” she said. “I was 26 or 27 by the time I figured it out.”

Hogan said she enjoys teaching because she is drawn to the content and to talking about literature. She has a passion for helping students with papers and loves connecting with students through engaging conversations.

“There’s just something about being in the company of young people that makes me happy. I like other teachers as well,” Hogan said. “I think it’s that I like teaching English, the subject, as well, I like the community a school gives me.”

Hogan occupies her time outside of the classroom with more school work, running, reading, watching “garbage television,” and hanging with her two kids, who are 10 and 12. She taught for many years before becoming a mom and says that having children has changed the way she teaches and the way she sees her students.

“Having kids, especially kids who aren’t really wild about school, has kind of made me see what it’s like on the other side. It makes me remember what kind of student I was and why it can be harder than it seems on the other side,” Ms. Hogan said. “Teaching is like having a party that no one wants to come to, and I remember what it was like not wanting to go to that party.”