A wave of community support helped push a Bowling Green State University alumnus into national recognition for educators.

Noah Munger ’19 was a semifinalist for America’s Favorite Teacher, a contest that began with more than 160,000 teachers nominated. It was the latest honor for Munger, who already has won Teacher of the Year in two different school districts before age 30.

Now a kindergarten teacher at Houston Independent School District, Munger said he was blown away by the level of support that included signs with QR codes encouraging parents to vote, the local PTO handing out flyers, parents stopping him every day and a big ‘Vote for Munger’ display at his school.

Munger’s journey to a career he loves began a decade ago with a tour of universities in Ohio as he explored an interest in education. A native of Delta, Ohio, Munger said he kept an open mind as he considered college, but found exactly what he wanted at BGSU.

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

Teacher education has been a core function of BGSU since its infancy. The University, which ranks in the top 20 nationally for the number of teacher education graduates, is the top producer of teachers at a single site in Ohio.

For Munger, a key difference-maker was the College of Education and Human Development's philosophy of giving students real-world classroom experience early in their college careers. As an inclusive preK-5 education major, Munger saw a variety of placements in which he could use his degree, including a daycare, special education and a second-grade classroom.

By the time he graduated, Munger – who also played on the men’s club volleyball team at Bowling Green – said he knew exactly what grade level and type of classroom for which he was looking.

“The classes are great, and the professors are great, but getting into the field as quickly as possible with a variety of placements really put me above the crowd, so BGSU is really set apart in that way,” he said. “I came into college wanting to be a teacher, and getting that early field placement in college really confirmed that this is what I wanted to do.”

As the fourth of 10 kids, Munger grew up around children and was a natural at communicating with pre-K learners. He knew he had a special ability to connect with that age group at a time when they are learning enduring skills, ranging from early reading and math facts to simply being patient and helping others.

Emilio Duran, Ph.D., an EDHD associate professor, said it was apparent from an early age that Munger was the pathway to success.

 "I remember him being really passionate and so committed to becoming a good teacher,” Duran said. "He has a really big personality, he’s always been really well-liked by everybody and he was willing to do the extra steps, so I’m not surprised by the recognition at all."

While no teacher can be 100% prepared for their first year teaching, Munger said he leaned upon his BGSU foundation during a whirlwind first year, in which he had 30 kindergartners and the year was thrown off track by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Every day that first year, I was asking myself if every student left feeling loved, valued, and having learned something, and I was able to say, ‘Yes, that all happened,’” he said. “That really kept me grounded, and I can say that I was prepared as much as you can be for your first year of teaching. There were a lot of things thrown my way, but it was reassuring that people kept telling me I was doing great.”

Seven years later, many parents and community members identified Munger as a difference-making teacher in their district.

Though Munger never chose education for the recognition, he said his community rallying around him in America’s Favorite Teacher competition is something he’ll 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.”

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