McDonald, Noecker begin new duties at East-West Catholic

BOW VALLEY – When Haley McDonald was growing up, she would race home from school to play school with her twin sister, Shannon.

Haley and Shannon would take turns – one being the student while the other was the teacher – and then switch.

“We had a big chalkboard that we would do lessons on and math problems,” she said with a smile.

McDonald of Yankton, S.D., now gets to ‘play school’ every day, but this time as a professional. She’s the new third- and fourth-grade teacher at East-West Catholic Elementary in Bow Valley.

She appreciates all that time playing school with her sisters as well as her parents’ support for preparing her for her new role.

“My Mom and Dad have always been supportive of me and school, and really made sure that I understood how important education was for my future,” she said.

2021-22 will be McDonald’s first academic year as a professional teacher.

She graduated from Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D., and also student-taught at an elementary school in Yankton.

McDonald said she can’t wait to watch her students grow in their academics and their faith this year.

“I’m excited to talk about my faith and be able to bring forth that to my students,” she said. “A major goal, always at the end of the day, I want students to know they are loved and cared for. I’m looking forward to making sure they succeed.”

McDonald joins the school along with one other new teacher - Brooklyn Noecker who will be teaching fifth and sixth grades at East-West Catholic Elementary.

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