Skip to main content Skip to navigation
Washington State University
College of Education

Getting to Know You: Ayden Hackett

Ayden Hackett – Elementary Education with a middle-level science endorsement

Hometown: Livermore, CA

Year: Junior

Why do you want to become a teacher?
My mom taught elementary education and middle school in Vancouver, Washington. She was an educator for a number of years. She has always been my inspiration. There was a time where I didn’t know what I wanted to do. She always said teaching was an option. Once I decided I did want to teach, it was more a matter of what I want to teach. I always knew I was really good with the sciences and even considered nursing. That’s why I’m going with the middle-level science endorsement. I even asked science professionals around when they got interested in science and they all said middle school. Hopefully, I will be able o inspire the next generation of scientists.

What made you come to WSU?
I was jumping around between a couple of schools for education. I always knew I wanted to be an educator. I was actually raised a husky but it wasn’t until I came and visited the campus that I knew I wanted to come here. My mom got her master’s degree at WSU Vancouver and said I should check out WSU.

How do you hope to inspire your students?
The love of science and how you don’t have to focus on one aspect of science, but that they all relate. Be involved and be inspired by science and that science doesn’t have to be grueling. Science can be taught in a fun and interactive way. Kind of like Bill Nye. He makes it fun and interactive. It’s not just memorizing equations but you can apply it to the world in a fun way.

How do you like your practicum? 
I really want to get in action and get in gear. I’m just antsy to get in there. To start and build those relationships is really exciting to me. I want to stay here in Eastern Washington for that practicum. I think the students here have different perspectives. I’m just looking forward to getting started and starting this career.

What are your plans for after graduation?
From once I graduate, I’m hoping to teach in low socioeconomic status areas. I believe those are the students we lose track of. Some of the resources and curriculum at the high and low-level schools are very different. I really want to teach them science and introduce science. It doesn’t matter where you come from, if you’re passionate about something, you can pursue it. I do want to go back to Vancouver, but I really will go wherever the wind takes me.

What grade do you hope to teach?
My lowest is probably fourth grade and my highest is eighth grade. Anywhere in that bubble would be great. I kind of like to have in-depth conversation with students and before 4th grade, they can’t really articulate what is going on in their lives and during middle school students are dying to articulate their lives