SJHS welcomes Ms. Altergott

At the beginning of February, SJHS introduced a new math teacher, Ms. Morgan Altergott, an Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Academic Achievement teacher.

Ms. Altergott poses for a photo in her new classroom, featuring a math-themed tapestry.

photo by leyla dumke

Growing up, Ms. Altergott always wanted to be a teacher. Her mom was a teacher but discouraged it. She attended Concordia University in Ann Arbor, a college just two and a half hours from St. Joe. 

“It’s a private university and I wanted something really small and homelike. So, when I went to Concordia and I visited the campus, I fell in love with it,” she recalled. Initially, she went into college with an actuarial science major, which applies mathmatic concepts to professions. But, Ms. Altergott later decided to switch to education halfway through her junior year of college. 

“Some of my favorite things about teaching are spending time with the students. I love math and I love being able to share tips and tricks about math and making people realize how important it is. So mixing them together is really fun,” Ms. Altergott said. 

She stays motivated by seeing the different struggles her students face and helping them by breaking down problems one by one to figure out what they need. 

Outside of school, Ms. Altergott is a certified lifeguard at a country club and a swim instructor. In the summer she goes to people’s houses and teaches swim lessons to babies and little kids. Those are just some of the things she does to keep her busy when she’s not teaching. 

Ms. Altergott is excited to be a part the SJHS staff and can’t wait to see what future years bring her.