Style Magazine June 2024
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| community matters |<br />
“The kids are like my<br />
caffeine—they give me<br />
so much energy.”<br />
that his teaching career has<br />
been, “the time of my life.”<br />
Before arriving at Folsom<br />
Middle School, Aaron had<br />
been teaching at Carl H.<br />
Sundahl Elementary in<br />
Rancho Cordova for 14 years,<br />
spanning fourth and fifth<br />
grade over that time. A pull<br />
to try something different<br />
was what brought him to<br />
Folsom Middle School,<br />
where he’s been helping<br />
sixth-graders master math<br />
ever since.<br />
“I love teaching math.<br />
Some children can be<br />
fearful of it, so I love making<br />
fun lessons and [clever] ways<br />
for them to learn. And I’m<br />
happy to be a sixth-grade<br />
teacher, too. I like building<br />
connections with the kids<br />
when they first set foot on<br />
the campus, all wide-eyed<br />
as they start their middle<br />
school journey. I want their<br />
experience to be a great<br />
one. We laugh all the<br />
time! The kids are like my<br />
caffeine—they give me so<br />
much energy.”<br />
Energy is what he needs<br />
with his many roles in<br />
the athletic department.<br />
He always wanted to be a<br />
coach so was delighted<br />
when the opportunity<br />
arose to take care of girls’<br />
volleyball, acquiring<br />
basketball responsibilities<br />
shortly thereafter and<br />
more recently, track and<br />
field. “What I love about<br />
track and field is that so<br />
many kids are involved, and<br />
we’re all working toward<br />
a common goal. It’s great<br />
hanging out with the kids<br />
and other coaches.”<br />
In October 2023, Aaron’s wife, Michelle,<br />
tragically passed away on their 27th wedding<br />
anniversary after a battle with cancer. Aaron<br />
speaks so fondly of Michelle, who was a teacher<br />
too, describing their 30 years together as the<br />
“most amazing of my life.” They had been<br />
unable to have children themselves, due to<br />
Michelle experiencing a molar pregnancy<br />
20 years ago, so the couple focused all their<br />
attention on the students they taught.<br />
“I looked after Michelle for some time at the end<br />
and found it hard not to be at school as much, but I was<br />
so supported—students, parents, other teachers, families I<br />
Favorites<br />
COFFEE SHOP:<br />
I love the hazelnut lattes<br />
(because the espresso is<br />
strong!) at Peet’s Coffee<br />
and Temple Coffee<br />
Roasters.<br />
WAY TO RELAX:<br />
Listening to musicals<br />
and hanging out with<br />
my 13-year-old Maltipoo,<br />
Chloe. I don’t relax a whole<br />
lot. I always need to be<br />
doing something; if I sit<br />
around too much, I feel like<br />
I’m wasting time.<br />
RESTAURANT:<br />
Aloha Sushi, hands down!<br />
Of course, Mikuni is a close<br />
second. I also really like<br />
Brickyard Counter & Bar in<br />
El Dorado Hills and Bricks<br />
Eats & Drinks in Placerville.<br />
JOB PERK:<br />
Staying connected with<br />
all my students after they<br />
leave; also, going to school<br />
and getting zapped with<br />
“kid energy”. It carries me<br />
through the day!<br />
had never taught, the whole Folsom<br />
community. The support I received<br />
was overwhelming. I was welcomed<br />
back with open arms. It blows my<br />
mind how much everyone cares.”<br />
As this school year draws to a<br />
close, Aaron is looking forward to<br />
August and a new school year, his<br />
26th in teaching. “Sure, I’ll enjoy a<br />
couple of weeks off, but then I’ll be<br />
ready to return. It’s boring without<br />
any sports to coach and watch. I<br />
obsessively plan over the summer<br />
and get excited about the kids I’m<br />
going to have in my classes. Of<br />
course, I look forward to coaching,<br />
too.”<br />
Some people are just born to be<br />
teachers and Aaron MacDonald is<br />
one of them, without a doubt. He<br />
sums it up perfectly:<br />
“I’m happy to have been voted<br />
‘Teacher of the Year,’ but I don’t do<br />
this to win awards. I teach because<br />
I love my students.”<br />
Photos courtesy of Aaron MacDonald.<br />
26 stylemg.com | JUNE <strong>2024</strong> | /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemags