NDSU education alumna recognized as West Fargo Public School Staff of the Year
For Megan Homuth, who graduated from NDSU in 2016 with a social science education degree, being named the 2026-27 West Fargo Public School Staff of the Year is an honor that reflects the community she is a part of within West Fargo Public Schools.
“I am really honored to receive this recognition from the district. West Fargo Public Schools is home to a lot of wonderful educators, many that I work with closely and look up to myself. I am really humbled to have been selected,” Homuth said. “Receiving ‘congratulations’ messages from former students, colleagues and those I work with in the community has been incredible and reminds me that the little things we do in our daily work can absolutely have a greater impact than we might be able to imagine.”
Homuth has taught at Sheyenne High School for nine years, primarily teaching 12th grade courses, including U.S. Government and Economics.
Outside of the classroom, Homuth is an active member of the iCivics Educators Network and has attended several professional development opportunities throughout the country with the National Council on the Social Studies, Street Law & the Supreme Court Historical Society, the National Constitution Center, the White House Historical Association, and CSPAN. Last school year, she achieved her National Board certification.
Homuth said NDSU provided her with a well-rounded education that has helped to shape the success she has had in and outside of the classroom. Her coursework taught her critical thinking and creative thinking, which are both skills she uses daily in her current role.
Her involvement in student organizations, including Student Government, also provided Homuth with valuable soft skills, including public speaking and working in team settings.
Among the hands-on opportunities, Homuth said, that impacted her the most was her student teaching experience.
“My student teaching experience at Ben Franklin Middle School gave me the space to learn on the job and the freedom to grow as an educator. It helped me find my voice and build the confidence that any new teacher needs going into their first job,” she said.
Though she initially thought she would teach middle school after graduating, Homuth has enjoyed working with all the high school students she has met throughout the years.
“Life works in funny ways, and now I couldn’t imagine any group better to work with than the young adults that come through my classroom each day,” she said.
Professors in NDSU’s School of Education also helped shape Homuth’s career trajectory. Some of her mentors include Larry Napoleon, an associate professor; Stacy Duffield, the director of the Office of Teaching and Learning; and Ashley Baggett, the director of women and gender studies and associate professor.
Homuth said Napoleon made learning fun, which inspired her to teach in the same way. Baggett provided Homuth with practical skills for working within education, which prepared Homuth to enter the real-world with confidence. Homuth also credits Duffield for expanding her skills beyond teaching.
“Dr. Duffield taught many of my courses on disciplinary writing and reading, which I think have been so important to my practice. Prior to learning from her, I hadn’t really thought of teaching social studies as a practice where you also teach reading and writing – I thought that is what English teachers did. She demonstrated that we are all language teachers and should consider it in the work we do with students each day,” she said.
Homuth’s advice for current education students is to always seek out new opportunities to learn and grow.
“Never get comfortable. There is always something new to learn, new methods to try and new ways to improve,” she said. “Look to others for inspiration. Surround yourself with colleagues, in local, state and national circles, who inspire you to be better each day. Finally, teaching is hard work that is only sustainable when you can find appropriate work-life balance. Invest time in yourself, your hobbies and those you love, so you can be your best self for your students and colleagues.”