This week Century Next is pleased to continue our Teacher Feature, by highlighting an educator in Lincoln Parish: Sarah Wages.
Sarah is an 8th grade science teacher at Ruston Jr. High School. She is entering her fourteenth year of teaching, and her third at RJHS. As a science teacher, Sarah loves providing her students with hands-on experiences to teach science content. The beginning of this year has already brought the construction of solar ovens to investigate thermal energy. Sarah explained that the students designed their ovens, they will test them to determine how well they heat water, and they will try to bake a cookie. To complete the project, they will write a report explaining and illustrating how energy baked their snack. Wow!
One benefit of our tight-knit community is that Sarah often runs into former students and receives updates on their career choices. Sarah said she is “especially proud of those that have been the first in their family to pursue education after high school and those who enter science careers.” Sarah loves learning new things, and found her passion as a teacher when she was a teaching assistant for introductory biology labs in graduate school. “Watching students discover knowledge, create, and learn new things truly inspires my teaching,” she said.
In addition to teaching science at the junior high, Sarah is also the head coach of the Ruston High School Lady 
Bearcat Powerlifting team. The team includes 34 young ladies this year, and is entering its second competitive season. Last year, seven members of the team competed at the LHSAA state championship, and ten at the USA Powerlifting High School Nationals. The JV team placed 2nd in the nation, with one 1st place National Champion and one 5th place finish. Sarah says “Coaching my girls has been both a way to share my love of Powerlifting and a way to inspire ladies to build confidence in themselves. I cannot wait to watch them on the lifting platform this season!”
Sarah Wages is an inspiration to many, working with students in the science classroom and in the gym. We are pleased to highlight the hard work and dedication that she offers students in Lincoln Parish. Thanks, Sarah!
