This year, McKinley alumnus Sikhota Gnouilaphi (c/o 2003) returned to his alma mater as a special education teacher, dedicated to helping students achieve both personal and academic growth. Before becoming a teacher, Gnouilaphi worked at a nonprofit organization serving vulnerable populations, particularly the homeless. During this time, he encountered many homeless youth, including former McKinley students.

“I just felt really sad about it. I thought, what can I do to make more of an impact with the younger age group? That’s how I started,” Gnouilaphi said.

Gnouilaphi believes that education is the foundation for post-high school success. He credits the teachers and coaches at McKinley for guiding him during his high school years, contributing to his adult achievements.

“I used to put my head down in the back of the class because I didn’t want to do any work,” Gnouilaphi said. “But the teacher helped me see that I could get the work done. I was in a situation where I wasn’t even sure if I was gonna graduate.”

Gnouilaphi’s teaching method is grounded in the belief that experiencing success once gives students the motivation to pursue additional successes. He prioritizes helping students achieve initial success, which demonstrates their capabilities and boosts their confidence, motivating them to continue striving.

“You get one success after another, and then all of a sudden, you’re farther down the line than you anticipated,” Gnouilaphi said.

In his free time, Gnouilaphi enjoys volunteering in the community. “I like to coach youth sports, so I spend a lot of time coaching soccer at the youth level,” Gnouilaphi said. He also enjoys reading, a hobby sparked by McKinley’s old reading program, ‘SURF,’ which stood for ‘Silent Uninterrupted Reading for Fun.’ This routine helped establish a foundation for his reading habit.

“I’ve learned to just habitually read throughout my day,” Gnouilaphi said. “That was one of the things I got from McKinley, putting in that time to just read about things.”