Two teachers, two journeys: one shared purpose

Posted on October 1, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

Prairie Rose Public Schools

“Are you living the dream? I know I sure am!”

For Karen Bongaards, 40 years of teaching have given her plenty of reasons to say yes.

For Lennon Longmuir, that journey is just beginning. And she is already finding the moments that make teaching so meaningful.

Their careers may be at very different stages, but when they talk about what makes the classroom special, their answers have a lot in common.

For World Teacher’s Day (Monday, Oct. 5), Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS) celebrates Karen, Lennon and all teachers for the work they do to support students.

Karen Bongaards is a Grade 5 teacher at Margaret Wooding School and has spent 40 years with PRPS. She began her career at Bindloss School before moving to Schuler, Ralston, and eventually Margaret Wooding, where she continues to teach today.

“I do enjoy coming to work every day. It’s my happy place,” Bongaards reflects.

After 40 years, it is still the small moments of student growth that make teaching meaningful. She especially enjoys seeing students gain confidence as the year progresses and realize they can succeed.

“Just seeing these kids that struggle at the beginning and don’t think they can do it, but by the end of the year, they’ve got it, and they feel really good about themselves. That’s what keeps me coming back.”

Lennon Longmuir is finding those same meaningful moments in her first year of teaching. She is a first-year music teacher who teaches at both Margaret Wooding School and I.F. Cox School, working with students from junior kindergarten through Grade 6.

Her path to teaching began with music. After starting piano and taking up drums at age 10, a memorable drum teacher helped spark a passion that eventually led her to study percussion and pursue education.

Now, she is finding her own rewarding moments in the classroom.

“I love seeing my students progress, especially when they have those light bulb moments and things click. Knowing that I’ve instilled some confidence or given them a little bit of a passion is what I really love,” Longmuir explains.

For Longmuir, even something as simple as a student walking through the door with a smile can make a difference. For Bongaards, it is seeing how far a student has come by the end of the year.

Different experiences. Different stages of a teaching career. But at the heart of it, the same reason to keep coming back: the students.

On World Teachers’ Day, the stories of Karen and Lennon highlight the important role educators across Prairie Rose Public Schools play in helping students grow, build confidence and discover their potential.