Yukon’s Sarah Hartley
By Elizabeth Contreras
Teaching is often described as a calling, but for high school teacher Sarah Hartley, it’s personal. Now in her third year of teaching Keystone and U.S. History, she says it was her own high school teachers that inspired her to step into the classroom.
“I had teachers who truly believed in me, challenged me, and called me up to higher standards than what I had for myself,” Hartley shared.
Hartley said that her own struggles have shaped her approach to education, and more importantly have shaped the connections built with her students. She candidly shared that the challenges she overcame as a student, including learning differences and having an IEP, are experiences that have driven her dedication to helping students believe in themselves and achieve personal success.
“It wasn’t until I had teachers who truly invested in me, who believed in my potential and challenged me to push beyond what I thought I could do, that everything changed,” she said.
Bridging gaps with her students is her central approach, and she takes time to learn about their interests, motivations, and then works to make learning relevant and engaging. Even when faced with challenges, she responds with empathy, a philosophy she calls “killing with kindness.”
“If I can make a difference for even one student each day, then I know I’ve made an impact and moved my class forward in a meaningful way,” she explained.
To combat compassion fatigue and teaching burnout, Hartley said she urges all educators to “write out your why.”
“Keep your “why” somewhere you can see it—a daily reminder of your purpose for teaching,” Hartley encouraged. “On the hard days, take a moment to revisit it and refocus on what truly matters.”
To stay passionate about teaching, Hartley said she values the small victories and counts on her own village to ground her.
“I lean on my people. People who are going to fill me up, motivate me, and encourage me to continue to be better,” she added.
Outside of the classroom, Hartley says balancing work, school, and life are essential. She loves cooking, baking, and spending time with her husband Aaron and their two dogs, Peach and Kyra. Those pieces of her life allow her to return each day with a renewed purpose.
Hartley strives to be the teacher she once needed, one who intentionally pours into her students and invests not only in their academics, but in their growth as young people. The opportunity to make a difference, one student at a time, is what makes teaching not just a career, but a calling fulfilled.
