It’s cliche to say that some things happen for a reason, but Mrs. Nicki Mackinson’s journey to becoming an English teacher is a true testament to that.

In fact, teaching wasn’t Mrs. Mackinsons first desire.

She originally went to college to study Broadcast Journalism.

However, pursuing a career in that field was not aligning with her ultimate goal of being a “working mom,” so she made the decision to switch majors.

Mrs. Mackinson always liked English, but was on the fence about it. One particular winter break in college, she went back to her high school and asked some teachers she was close with if she could observe their classes. She really liked being in that environment, plus it helped that she has always enjoyed school.

Mackinson went on to graduate with an English degree from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and immediately obtained a teaching certificate a year later.

From there, she went on to acquire a Masters degree in English Education from Olivet Nazarene University with a post-baccalaureate certificate in the teaching of writing. She’s also certified in gifted education, middle school education, speech education, and of course, the classes she already teaches.

All the years Mrs. Mackinson has been at West, she has taught an abundance of English courses.

Some include AP Language, Dual Credit Composition I and II, Honors British Literature, Creative Writing, and far more.

Many students at Normal West love Mrs. Mackinson because she is always patient, understanding, and goes the extra mile to help them succeed.

“She’s a really good teacher, and you can tell she really cares about all of her students,” former student of Mrs. Mackinson, senior Mallory Witzemann says.

Mackinson’s passion for teaching, the English language, and her dedication to her students has had a profound impact on many, inspiring a love for the language and literature for many students.