TOWAMENCIN- Every teacher aims to educate their students and have them step out of the classroom with more knowledge each day. History teacher Carrie Jankowski hopes to leave that impact upon her students, while also teaching her students other lessons beyond the pages of a history textbook.

Jankowski is no stranger to the hallways of North Penn. This school year marks her 15th year teaching a variety of history courses at the high school. Jankowski currently teaches 6.0 American History and AP U.S History.

“It has been five years of only teaching the two essentially American history classes. I have taught all levels of government, and then I taught 4.0 and 5.0 world history,” explained Jankowski.

Although Jankowski enjoys teaching history, she initially entered Princeton University to play field hockey and study pre-med in order to eventually become an orthopedic surgeon.

“I was really into sports and it seemed natural that I wanted to be a doctor that specializes in [sports]…I took both semesters of calculus, chemistry, organic chemistry, and biology. Then I got to physics and it was a big stumbling block for me.”

Jankowski decided to switch to a history major, a subject she loved throughout high school. She earned her masters in history from Villanova University and then received a teaching certificate from DeSales University. Jankowski does not regret her choice to change careers and believes it was the right decision. Especially since she realized she does not exactly stay calm when someone has an injury.

“In field hockey the ball is hard and round and people’s faces split open if they get hit just right. Every time there was any kind of injury that involved skin splitting, I could not handle it. How in the world was I going to be a surgeon,” laughed Jankowski.

Jankowski coached field hockey at North Penn from 2006 to 2011. She first began coaching as an undergraduate assistant coach at Princeton University. Then during her enrollment at Villanova University, she coached at Haverford College.

Jankowski was awarded the title of North Penn High School’s teacher of the year award in 2016. This accomplishment can be attributed to the lessons she implements in her students that encourage hard work and determination.

“I have this life philosophy that you should always give your best. The product you put out into the world should be your best. I know it is impractical to think that will happen one hundred percent of the time, but it is one of those things I am trying to ingrain in my children and my students as well,” commented Jankowski.

Outside of school, Jankowski is raising three young boys alongside her husband. Her kids are involved in many sports, leading to much of her time being spent watching them play. Jankowski enjoys her career of educating high school students.

“I like class discussion and I would hope a lot of times it is not a lecture with me and it is more of a conversation. I like when kids ask questions because they are curious and it produces a conversation,” explained Jankowski.