Bowling Green alum and Delta, Ohio native Noah Munger took part in ‘America’s Favorite Teacher’ competition with more than 160,000 contestants, advancing all the way to the semi-finals. 

Munger is a Kindergarten teacher at Houston Independent School District and has already won Teacher of the Year in two other districts all before turning 30. His education journey began about a decade ago, touring Ohio universities, looking for the right campus to pursue an education degree.

When he got to Bowling Green, Munger said this is where he wanted to be.

“Everyone always says you’ll get butterflies where you’re meant to be,” said Munger. “When I showed up on campus, the tour and the education program just aligned where I felt that feeling.”

Teacher education is among the best at BGSU, ranking top 20 nationally for the number of teacher education graduates and number one in Ohio. The biggest difference for Munger was the College of Education and Human Development. The philosophy within the program is to give students real-world classroom experience early on in their academic careers.

Munger majored in inclusive preK-5 education and saw a number of roles in which he could use his degree including experience at a daycare, assisting with special education and a second-grade classroom. By the time graduation rolled around, Munger had a pretty good idea that the classroom is where he wanted to be.

While he never chose education for the recognition, he said the community rallying around him for the competition is something he will never forget.

“It was really encouraging and powerful, and it really makes you want to keep going that extra mile,” Munger said. “I wish every educator could feel that at some point.”