This First-Grade Teacher Is Inspired by Her Students Every Day

Ahead of the 2024 school year, PS's The Educators is spotlighting 24 public school teachers around the country who are making a difference.

Linda Ngo is a first-grade teacher at Creek View Elementary School in Alpharetta, GA. With three years of teaching experience, she brings her love of teaching to TikTok, where she shares resources for fellow educators, including creative classroom transformation ideas, read-aloud book suggestions, and must-have items for the classroom. Keep reading to get to know her.

What inspired you to be a teacher?
The students! I get my daily inspiration from my students. It is the best job in the world when you know you are making a difference every day in the lives of your students. It's not just about imparting knowledge, but about fostering a safe space where every child feels valued and supported. It's about celebrating the little things, their successes, comforting their struggles, and instilling in them a belief in their own capabilities. I want to make a difference every day, to inspire a love for learning, and to leave an indelible mark on the hearts of my students. My love for children and helping children inspired me to be a teacher, but my students are my constant inspiration to continue teaching every day.

What's the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is the students. You get to make an impact on so many students' lives, get to firsthand witness their "spark," and be surrounded by so much innocent love.

Who was your favorite teacher and why?
My favorite teacher was my Latin teacher from high school. She created such a safe and welcoming environment in her classroom, and she was caring, understanding, and supportive. At times, she felt like a second mom to me. She inspired me to become a teacher. I remember my senior year, and I told her, "Thank you for believing in me. When I'm a teacher, I want to be half the teacher you are."

What's your morning routine on a school day?
My morning routine on a school day looks pretty similar every day. I wake up around 5:30 a.m. I usually opt for blueberry bagels with strawberry cream cheese and always a cup of iced caramel coffee. After fueling myself for the morning, I brush my teeth, do my skin care and makeup, and get dressed for the day. I'm usually out the door by 6:30 a.m.

Yerin Kim is the features editor at PS, where she helps shape the vision for special features and packages across the network. A graduate of Syracuse University's Newhouse School, she has over five years of experience in the pop culture and women's lifestyle spaces. She's passionate about spreading cultural sensitivity through the lenses of lifestyle, entertainment, and style.