LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Mike Koegle

Position: Science Teacher
School: Academy of the Canyons
School District: William S. Hart Union High School District
City, State: Santa Clarita, CA

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Mr. Koegle was nominated by his colleague, Kane Crawford, as well as an anonymous student.

It's easy to lose sight of the importance of education while growing up with so many distractions. Friends, pressure to perform from family, and constant bombardment from social media and internet makes it harder to focus on other things.

Mr. Koegle is so passionate about his work and excited to be a teacher that he becomes somewhat of a pied-piper for first-year high school students. He transmits his love for science and the infinite possibilities it can present to these young people. He helps students understand that when they work toward a goal together, they can accomplish amazing things!

Mr. Koegle not only tells his students they can accomplish amazing things, but lives his life in a way that demonstrates his strong belief in what he says. He brings to mind the old proverb that "your actions speak so loudly that I cannot hear a word you say!" He lives out this proverb on a daily basis.

A significant example of how he inspires students can be found in the semester-long project his freshmen completed for their Showcase night last year. A group of students asked him about the possibility of powering an internal combustion engine with water. He asked the students how they thought that might work, and they explained that if they could build a hydrogen separator, burn the hydrogen, and exhaust it as steam, then perhaps it could work.

"Our district superintendent of instruction attended Showcase night and witnessed their presentation," said Crawford. "I spoke to him afterward and he said 'I have been in Education for almost 20 years, and I have never seen anything like that!'"

Mr. Koegle did not do the work for these students. Instead, he inspired them to find answers to their own questions and solutions for their own problems.

"In every way, Mr. Koegle has been there for students, no matter who they are," said his other nominator. "He cares deeply for each and every one of his students, and we have since become his friends. He is the most humble and sincere instructor I have ever had. Before he taught at Academy of the Canyons, he was teaching at Seqouia High and doing some really amazing things for students with disabilities and mental illness. Mr. Koegle has become one of the heroes in my life."

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Comments (4)

Kathy Perkins Posted over a year ago

I have worked at this school district for 20 years and our local elementary school district for 5 years prior and NEVER have I seen an instructor as "tuned in" as Mike. To sit in on one of his classes is magical. He is a favorite among the students and staff alike. I am proud to be able to work with and know him!! Congrats on the nomination and great work, Mike!!

Patti Lehman Posted over a year ago

I'm speaking as one proud aunt from Ohio! I held him as a baby and loved him as my own. From the time he was a young boy, I knew he was destined to do great things! I'm a believer that young people can learn even the most challenging of subjects if you have a teacher that has the "gift" of making learning fun & easy to understand. Michael James Koegle has certainly surpassed all of our expectations not only with his thirst for knowledge in higher education, but his many wonderful lifetime accomplishments. I am so very proud of him!

Shane Monney Posted over a year ago

Mr. Koegle is the most amazing instructor I have ever had. I hope what I said in my nomination comes up in this. I love you Mr. Koegle!!!!

Tracy Viergutz Posted over a year ago

As a parent of one of Mr. Koegle's freshman last year and whose student worked on the project mentioned above, I can wholeheartedly support his nomination. It was an amazing year to witness as every day these students came home so excited about science and spent hours working on assignments and their project. It was an amazing freshman year for these kids who chose to come to a school for a nontraditional high school experience taking high school and college classes concurrently. All summer I heard about how excited they were to meet again when school began. At the end of freshman year and kicking off sophomore year, these kids and Mr. Koegle have launched a science club. He has lit these kids on fire for science and technology. He spends time with them at lunch and after school. They know they genuinely matter to him. During the summer they built a computer and wired his classroom for virtual reality learning. Additionally, he is friends with these kids and maintains that relationship after the year is over. Almost daily, something comes up... Mr. Koegle said this or did that or showed us this or we had lunch and talked about drones and airplanes and science. When confronted with the death of a grandparent, Mr. Koegle also reached out in support not only to my son, but to our whole family. Mr. Koegle has raised the bar for teaching. As a parent of a student who so benefited from his teaching and example and influence, I cannot agree more with his recommendation.