Middle College Employee Spotlight

Cresta McGowan

I really enjoy working at Middle College because it allows me to focus on what I love most—teaching. The students are engaged and respectful, which makes the classroom environment so much more rewarding. Additionally, I appreciate the autonomy to approach my work in a way that best supports my students’ learning without unnecessary micromanagement. It’s refreshing to feel trusted and empowered as an educator.

This is an easy question to answer: the students. They are the reason I come to work every day. The moment I step into the classroom with them, everything feels right in the world.

My greatest professional accomplishment is fostering the growth I see in my students, both in their classroom development and their ACT performance. I actively seek out professional development opportunities and attend conferences to bring fresh, innovative ideas back to my teaching. Watching my students grow and succeed as a result of these efforts is what I’m most proud of as an educator.

I’ve been here for more than a decade, so it’s hard to pinpoint just one highlight. Every year brings something exciting. I’ve seen students win scholarships for their writing and watched friendships blossom in students who once shied away from social activities. Graduation is always a bittersweet moment—it truly feels like I’m sending my own children out into the world. Every time a student shares an accomplishment, whether a college acceptance or a new opportunity, that moment becomes the best part of what I do.

Texas State University – B.S. in Dance and Education, Walden University – M.S. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Austin Peay State University – M.A. in English and Creative Writing, Emerson College – M.F.A. candidate in Fiction and Publishing.

I am passionate about reading and writing and have been published in national (Writer’s Digest, The Sun) and local magazines (Customs House Museum) for short stories and creative nonfiction. My goal is to inspire students to discover the power and joy that writing and literature can bring to their lives.