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Class ActsThe everyday triumphs, joys and challenges of eight dedicated educators – all Lutes – at a single bustling middle school

Who would want to teach hormone-laced, boundary-pushing, in-your-face, preteen and teenage students? The teachers at Cascade Middle School, that’s who.

(For more check out these audio slideshows)

Their number includes eight PLU graduates who have shown an uncommon passion for teaching, for making a difference in the world and, in some cases, for becoming surrogate parents to students in a school with a 43 percent free-lunch rate.

Some of these Lutes left high-paying jobs for this career. For others, teaching at the Auburn, Wash., school was their first choice. Most are up at 5 a.m. during the school year. Most coach after school. Some don’t finish the day until midnight, after papers are graded.

All of them chose this profession, these grades and this school.

None has any plans to leave.

Isaiah Johnson   

7 A.M. Principal Johnson's office, 45 Minutes until first period

Aaron Lee

7:15 A.M. Mr. Lee's special education class

Alethea Dozier

8:05 A.M. Ms. Dozier's eighth grade literature class

Tad Heinen

9 A.M. Assistant Principal Heinen's office

Steve Homfeldt

9:52 A.M. Mr. Homfeldt's eighth grade history class

Joel MacDougall

11:15 A.M. Mr. MacDougall's seventh grade language arts class

Scott Weide

11:20 A.M. Cascade Middle School cafeteria

Dan McNeese

1:05 P.M. Mr. McNeese's gym class



Story by Chris Albert and Barbara Clements

Photos by Jordan Hartman