Wenatchee High School’s Yearbook, Science and DIY teacher Dr. Nicole Yemothy spends her time in purple and gold. She joined the panthers as a cub in Aug. of 2024 to fill the replacement of a science teacher for that school year. A year later she fully became a panther with the CTE team for Yearbook, Marine Biology and new design of DIY. On an average day for Yemothy she starts every morning off with her pets and snuggles.
“My day usually starts off around 6 a.m. with four dogs and two cats greeting me with snuggles and love. I live in Waterville so I have a 45 minute drive into Wenatchee every school day. Which means I eat my breakfast on the road. I don’t drink coffee, so it’s Zero Sugar Dr. Pepper each day to feed my caffeine needs. I aim to get to school by 7:45 to 8am,” said Yemothy
Once she’s on campus her classroom is in the portables and starts her day off with the WaWa Yearbook team.
“I love the preservation of moments in life and history. The yearbook provides just that. It’s a time capsule of each school year. When part of the yearbook, you are exploring all the different things happening at the school, taking pictures, recording history, and talking to people. Then taking that information and pictures and creating a book for everyone to see. You also get to explore skills of marketing and sales, graphic design, creative writing and customer service,” said Yemothy.
Yemothy educational career started as early as in 1988 earning her Associates degree in Business from Indiana University at Bloomington. Once that was completed she moved on to get her Bachelors of Science in Math and Science from the same university in 2006. Her next degree is her Masters of Education in Technology Integration. She earned that in 2010 from Walden university. Still reaching for the stars she got her Doctorate of Education in Teacher Leadership from Walden University in 2015. Still wanting to learn more, she earned a Teacher Leadership STEM Post Graduate Certification from Clemson University 2023. She is still in progress with competing for another Masters of Education in STEM from Clemson University. She also has a National Registration Emergency Medical Technician License along with a Middle School Science & Math Highly Qualified Credentials. While still working on her masters she is also completing a CTE High School Program Credentials.
With years of experience and education, She has newly taken over as the high schools yearbook teacher. She took it over from History and Media teacher Mr. Harle. Harle was ready to hand off the leadership and responsibilities over to Yemothy and she came in with years of experience in running and operating the yearbook.
“I was asked by Mr. Buholtz as Mr. Harle was ready to hand it off to new leadership. I came to WHS with over a decade of experience as a Yearbook Advisor. I also was the Editor-In-Chief of my HS yearbook for two years and on staff all four,” said Yemothy.
Passion and dedication goes hand in hand when it comes to teaching young adults. Yemothy enjoys teaching and bringing the panther spirit into not only the classroom but staying included and covering all the varieties WHS has to offer students. It takes a lot to ensure everything and everyone is getting the coverage they deserve. Yemothy takes us inside on the level of commitment with her and her WAWA team.
“It takes focus, organization, and intentional coverage. To ensure we cover as much as possible, we use the school calendar, rosters, schedules, and review past yearbooks to see what they covered. We reach out and ask people about what they are doing or leading,” Yemothy said.
Not only running, operating and covering tons for the yearbook she is also teaching marnie biology and DIY. Even though her classroom isn’t a part of the building she spends a lot of her time in our run down high school. When prompted with the question she shares her input on how they bond for it needs to go through with it.
“It is needed. While to some 50 years does not seem like “that old” to me it is not the walls as much as the space, design, layout, and mechanics of the building. Education 50 years ago was very different compared to today’s curriculum,” Yemothy said “ We are trying to force square pegs into round holes in some rooms while other simply need light and working thermostats. We are also crowded in many spaces. The bond will make it possible to build a school that better prepares our students as well as keep them safe and comfortable in their learning environment. I feel it’s the responsibility of the community to help fund the schools that prepare tomorrow’s adults just as their community funded their school when they were students.”
There’s no doubt that the high school is way outdated and in horrible conditions however the learning that goes on in the classroom can be the best parts between the run down walls. Yemothys favorite class to teach is Yearbook but she also loves the curriculum of DIY, while getting to make projects. Another thing Yemothy loves is the community and shares her past traveling and spots she’s lived in.
“I enjoy all the different weather seasons, so Wenatchee has been a cool place to land for a stretch. It has been a long time since I lived in a place that has distinct seasons. I spent 5 years in Central America where it was also 70 degrees or hotter and the seasonal difference was wet or dry. I lived in Hong Kong for nearly 10 years and there too no real winter outside of a cold month or two. South Carolina where I most recently come from is hot and muggy with a month or two of cold,” Yemothy said.
Lots of adventures for Yemothy. Seasons and attitudes go well together, she gives us an inside on what and how an attitude affects the student body.
“I believe that my philosophy that we ALL are important and we ALL matter is a benefit to WHS as it drives my passion to include everyone possible and cover as much as possible about Panther Life in the yearbook. By reminding everyone they matter and they should be included hopefully give that person a feeling of being seen and valued. There is nothing worse than feeling ignored or unappreciated,” Yemothy said.
For Yemothy, it’s not just about the classroom or the photos but in ensuring that when students flip through the pages they see their panther story.
