Sydney Gwerder

High School Teacher

Bachelor of Science, English Valley City State University; Master of Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Chadron State College

Ms. Gwerder currently teaches high school English, grades 11 and 12. She's been a part of the Wyoming Connections Academy family since 2020. She shares more below.

Why I Became a Teacher

In high school, I always loved learning new things, and I really enjoyed helping my peers when they struggled, so it seemed like a natural fit to become a teacher. After I graduated, I moved to Cheyenne to attend LCCC, then transferred to an online program to finish up. I worked as a substitute teacher and dance teacher while I was in college, and I got my first teaching job at Johnson Junior High in the middle of the year. After that, I taught for two years at East High School before getting a job at Wyoming Connections Academy.

The Online School Experience

I love being able to work from home and see my family throughout the day. If you are out for a day, you can usually rearrange your workload in order to account for your absence. You don’t have to worry that students are missing out on learning when you are away. I also like that we provide opportunities for students who may have struggled in traditional brick-and-mortar schools.

So much of our world is centered around technology, and I think this will only increase in the future. Wyoming Connections Academy allows students to develop good habits such as independence, accountability, and self-discipline.

At Wyoming Connections Academy, there is a lot more collaboration than in a brick-and-mortar setting, so it is easier to feel connected to one another even though we may not “see” each other very often.

"We all work together to make hard things possible."

— Ms. Gwerder