Evergreen Staff Spotlight
🌟 Celebrating the People Who Make Our Schools Work 🌟
Meet Koreen Ngo – Foods and Nutrition Teacher, Gimli High School
In just two years with Evergreen School Division, Koreen Ngo has brought energy, passion, and creativity to her role as the Foods and Nutrition teacher at Gimli High School. For Koreen, teaching isn’t just about recipes—it’s about helping students build confidence, independence, and life skills they can carry with them long after they leave the classroom.
Koreen’s inspiration to become a teacher began early. Growing up in the Philippines with parents who were both college instructors, she developed a deep admiration for education. Although she briefly explored other interests in high school and early university, the influence of her own inspiring teachers ultimately led her back to the classroom. Once she made the decision to pursue education, she knew exactly what she wanted to teach. “I love cooking and baking for people,” Koreen shares. “Being a foods teacher allows me to share that passion while teaching students important skills they can use for the rest of their lives.”
Running a foods program also involves a lot of work that students and families may not see. As the only teacher in the department, Koreen manages everything from planning lessons to sourcing ingredients. She often spends time comparing grocery flyers and traveling to different stores to keep food costs manageable so students can cook as often as possible in class.
The moments that remind Koreen why her work matters often happen outside the classroom. “I love when students show me the food they’ve made at home,” she says. “Whether it’s a recipe we learned in class or something new they tried on their own, it shows they’re becoming confident and independent cooks—and that’s my goal.”
What Koreen values most about Evergreen is the strong sense of community. “I didn’t fully understand what it meant to be part of a community until I started working here,” she says. “From the beginning of my career, I’ve felt welcomed, supported, and encouraged.”
Koreen also hopes the public understands how much work teachers invest beyond the classroom. From marking assignments and preparing lessons to coaching and supporting students, the job extends far beyond the final bell of the day. “Being a teacher means you often have a never-ending to-do list,” she reflects. “But it’s worth it when you see students learn and grow.”
Thank you, Koreen, for sharing your passion for food, learning, and community with Evergreen students every day.
