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Former Sapphire returns to teach

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photo credit: Pipe Deneault

Back to school \\ Warming up the Dance I students, Wylie East Alumna Brooke Hogan returns to fulfill her student teaching requirements as a dance education major. Ms. Hogan was a member of the Sapphires which influenced her decision to continue dancing for her college’s team and the reason she chose to pursue dance education. “Being a coach is weird, but it helps me understand Sapphires as a whole, both dancing and directing,” Ms. Hogan said.

Miss Brooke Hogan, a graduate of the Class of  2017, is currently attending Stephen F. Austin for dance education. 

“Mrs. Jackson  is the one who pushed me and helped me in dance,” Miss Hogan said.

She is assisting Mrs. Stephanie Jackson with dance classes and the Sapphire drill team.  

 Now the head director of the drill team program, Mrs. Jackson was Miss Hogan’s assistant director when she was a student at this school.

Being on Sapphires taught me a lot of discipline and respect for people both younger and older than me.

— Brooke Hogan, student teacher

“It has been really awesome because Miss Hogan is bringing a lot of new ideas and fresh energy. So it’s really nice to have her help me with the things I’m not thinking about,” Mrs. Jackson said.

Miss Hogan was a dancer on the drill team from day one. She started the Sapphires her freshman year and continued as a member of the drill team for all four years of high school, leading up to winning nationals her senior year.

“Being on Sapphires taught me a lot of discipline and respect for people both younger and older than me,” Miss Hogan said.

Miss Hogan got to experience her first drill team competition as a teacher the week of Feb.1 with the Sapphires. 

“Being a coach is weird, but it helps me understand Sapphires as a whole, both dancing and directing,” Miss Hogan said.

She will student teach with Mrs. Jackson until the end of the year.

“She is going to make an awesome teacher whether she teaches here or somewhere else,” Mrs. Jackson said. “Anybody who gets to be her student is going to be very lucky.”