"Getting involved in high school is important because it allows you to create great friendships, as well as good experiences that you can potentially use when you graduate high school!" - senior Bree...

“In my four years at West, it has taught me that you will always meet new people, teachers are always willing to help you, and there are so many opportunities that you will discover everyday at school.” -...

Words of wisdom from West's head secretary: “Treat others how you want to be treated because of the way things are today in the world and society. I think if people treated everybody the way they...

"Don’t worry about what other people think because in the end you’re there for yourself at the end of the day. Live life to the fullest and do what you like to do because if you worry about what...

A funny story from Maggie Oates about traveling with her honor band students: “One time, I was driving a Suburban with some kids to an honor band in Cedar Rapids and the district had not put more...

"My happy place is my house because I can always count on someone being there; my family, my pets, my friends. My biggest influences are my parents because they support me in everything I do. They give...

“The most memorable part of my last competition would be getting off stage and realizing that it was my last one. I took a deep breath and started sobbing because I would never do it again. I had a new...

“I teach because I have a passion for helping students grow and learn the skills they need to be successful in life. I had some really influential high school math teachers, and I thought ‘yeah I would...

“Why I teach is difficult to summarize. There are so many reasons, but I think I teach literature and writing because I recognize the great power of the written word. In a world where it appears we listen...

Born in Peoria, Illinois, special education teacher Amanda Bohart loved school and always wanted to be a teacher, despite struggling. “I have a learning disability which causes things that I hear...

Who is someone you look up to and why? “Even to this day, although she’s been gone for 20 years, it would be my grandmother. She cared. She did things for others; she put others before her. She...

“When I was younger I had a rough upbringing. These experiences have taught me how to overcome instead of shutting down. I feel that my experiences have given me the opportunity to relate to my students...