After spending eight years at Lakeside, Ms. Wintana Tekle has become someone many students admire and look up to. She teaches 12th-grade literature, leads the college success program, and helps students as the head of interns and credit recovery. But it’s her genuine care for her students and the positive energy she brings every day that truly makes her stand out.
Ms. Tekle’s journey to becoming a teacher started back in her own high school days. She admits, “I had really bad teachers in high school who were not very nice. I liked school, and I was good at it, but I thought I would enjoy it more if I had teachers that I actually liked and that were nice.” Inspired to be the kind of teacher she wished she’d had, Ms. Tekle went on to earn her degree from the University of Georgia. She taught at Clarkston and even trained adults before finding her place at Lakeside.
Her favorite part of the job is working with seniors as they prepare for life after high school. “You really get to see them grow up and change, and then they leave and come back, and you get to see what they do with their lives,” she says. Watching students grow and succeed is something she finds especially rewarding. While she loves being in the classroom, she admits that meetings are the hardest part of her job.
Outside of teaching, Ms. Tekle has interests that her students can relate to. Her favorite movie is “She’s the Man,” which she calls the best. She also loved social studies, especially U.S. history, when she was a student herself. One of her proudest moments at Lakeside was organizing the Special Olympics Parade. “The whole school cheers, the band plays, and it’s pretty great,” she recalls with a smile.
Students often describe Ms. Tekle as “nice” and “amazing.” She goes out of her way to help every student feel confident about their future. She always makes time for students who need support or advice. Her kindness, dedication, and willingness to listen have made her an unforgettable part of the Lakeside community. Anyone who has had Ms. Tekle as a teacher knows just how much she cares.
