Voices of Westy: Sara Mogck

By Trent Jones ’25

​Ms. Mogck is the embodiment of homegrown talent. Ms. Mogck was born and raised right here in Simsbury, Connecticut, and though she didn’t necessarily plan on returning to Simsbury initially, we are all thankful she did. She is now raising her three children here. They even attended the same elementary and now high school as her.

Ms. Mogck left Simsbury for college and while there, she wasn’t instantly sold on teaching. Instead, she journeyed to DC and worked in the Senate for Senator Dan Coates from Indiana for two years. Ms. Mogck valued her short stint on Capitol Hill, and enjoyed her time with her peers, in spite of the long hours and the relatively low pay. However, Ms. Mogck soon got tired of her desk job and sought a more engaging venture.
 
Ms. Mogck’s desire for a career change led her to education. After receiving her master’s degree from Boston College, she started teaching at Lexington High School in Massachusetts when she was 27. She then moved back to Connecticut and taught at Farmington High. After taking time off from teaching to focus on her children and family, she decided to come back to work. Surprisingly, it was not a history position that she initially applied for. Ms. Mogck’s best friend was a nurse at Westy and told Ms. Mogck that there was an open assistant librarian position; however, Ms. Mogck did not get the job; instead, it was Mrs. Griffith who landed it. Months later, a history position opened up, and Westy reached out to Ms. Mogck and offered her a position to teach.
 
When asked what she likes most about Westy, she wasted no time in answering “the kids.” Ms. Mogck continued, saying, “The students are fun and engaged,” and the school has a “strong community feel where people know each other.” Ms. Mogck added that there is a “nice comfort level between students and faculty.”
 
When asked why she chose to teach history, she explained how she loves the subject and finds it fascinating. She feels that there is so much to learn from the study of history aside from just the actual stories and it helps one make sense of the current world. In this current environment of dynamic and sometimes shocking events, knowing the past can help one understand why things are happening, what they mean, and what to be concerned about in the future. She likes modern history, specifically the 20th century. She likes to teach World War I, mainly because she feels that it is less understood than some of the other historical wars. A specific interest of hers is teaching stories that are less frequently discussed. She has a class called “History of The Forgotten” which explores individuals, groups, and events throughout global history that have not typically been at the forefront of traditional history courses.
 
Outside of work, she likes to spend time with her family, reading, hiking and enjoying the outdoors.
 
When asked what advice she has for Westy students, she thoughtfully replied that “While students want to do their best, we should realize that this time at Westy is still a tiny slice of our lives, and it doesn't entirely define us.” She encourages everyone to ask questions but to always remember “that this time in our lives is about growing; it's not about being perfect.” She often says “practice makes progress” because that's what we're doing. We're trying to make progress: a little bit every day. She encourages everyone to enjoy this special time we share here and also be a part of the world around them and be involved, because that’s what ultimately matters.