Ms. Vogt is one of the freshman English teachers at Atherton High School. Growing up, teaching seemed to come naturally; when she was little, she would line up stuffed animals and pretend they were a group of students.

“I have always loved helping people,” Vogt says. “I guess being a teacher is just part of my soul.”

Her first teaching job was at Iroquois High School in 2001. She has also taught at Shawnee High School and has even written curriculum for the school district.

“Being an English teacher allows me to teach reading, especially great books! I believe that everyone is a reader (even if they think they aren’t). They just haven’t found the right book yet,” says Vogt. “In the novel Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury reminds us that ‘Everyone must leave something behind…a child, a book, or a painting, or a house…or a garden planted.’ I guess I choose to plant books into people’s lives.”

Vogt says that young people are often told that good grades and getting into college are what define success. But she disagrees, saying that people who are able to reflect and see what they can improve about themselves are the most successful in her experience.

“In addition, you have to be mindful of others and be kind; skills mean nothing if you aren’t a good person.”

Though she likes to do a lot of things for fun, Vogt’s favorite hobby is to travel. She has been to all 50 states in the U.S. and even stood in front of the McCallister household featured in Home Alone.