Hentges NCESD Teacher of Year

BREWSTER – Middle School teacher Jacqueline Hentges has been selected at the 2021 Teacher of the Year for the North Central Educational Service District (NCESD) serving Okanogan, Douglas, Chelan, and Grant counties.

Hentges is in her 25th year as a physical education and science teacher at Brewster Middle School and currently teaches seventh and eight grade science. She holds a master’s degree in Teaching from Whitworth College together with Bachelor of Arts degrees in physical education and biology. Along with her teaching duties, Hentges serves as head coach for middle school volleyball as well as track and field, is the advisor for middle school ASB and Leadership Team. Her mission to teach comes from close to home.

“I am fortunate to be from a family of great teachers,” said Hentges in a NCESD media release announcing her selection. “My grandmother was highly regarded in the classroom and as a reading specialist and my mother is the biggest influence on my teaching.”

Hentges was nominated for the NCESD award by middle school principal Greg Austin.

“It involved a lengthy application process of written essays and letters of recommendation,” said Hentges who wears a number of hats in related school and community activities. When she is not coordinating referee assignments for the Okanogan County Volleyball Referee Association, she officiates at matches herself. She also serves as the current president of the district’s Education Association.

Hentges has been an elected member of the Bridgeport City Council for the past two decades and for about half of that time has also been in charge of the Bridgeport public swimming pool. She said one of her favorite pastimes is traveling, something she did more frequently during earlier years when she was a member of Campus Crusade for Christ.

“All nine Washington State ESDs select a regional Teacher of the Year, who go on to compete for state honors,” said the NCESD media release. “The State winner serves as a spokesperson and representative of teachers at the local, state and national levels.”