Siblings Attend Waukee CSD and Return as Teachers
Cameron Green and Madison VanSickle were siblings first, Waukee Community School District (CSD) students next, and now they’re teachers for our District.
How They Got to Waukee
“We were originally from Ohio but moved here [to Waukee] in 2002. It was the year I started kindergarten, and Madison started first grade at Brookview Elementary,” Cameron says.
They agree that they weren’t always best friends as kids.
“We get along much better now. Growing up, we were like most siblings, I assume. We had our fights,” Cameron says.
During their younger years, educators were a big part of their lives. Both of their grandparent on their mom’s side worked in education. Their mom is also a long-time associate at Brookview Elementary.
Cameron said he knew early on that he wanted to be a teacher and took part in the Waukee CSD Intro to Education course to jump-start his career before college.
“My Intro to Education course helped me build relationships with current staff members I work with. My teacher always said, ‘You never know, this program could create a job for you.’ I didn’t believe it until it came true,” Cameron says.
Madison made plans to begin a teaching career while in college.
Where The Siblings Are Now
Waukee CSD hired Cameron first to teach 5th grade in 2020. He’s currently at Sugar Creek Elementary. He also coaches football for ninth graders at Prairieview School. A few months later, the District hired Madison to teach 7th-grade science at Waukee Middle School.
“Our family dinners on Sunday nights are discussing teaching, and the other family members who may not be in the education world are along for the ride,” Cameron says.
Madison and Cameron have two younger siblings — a Waukee CSD high school student and a college student majoring in secondary education. Cameron and Madison say they plan to recruit their younger siblings to the District once they graduate.
“It would be cool to have all four of us plus Mom in the District. Time will tell, I guess,” Cameron says.
Reflecting on the Path to Waukee CSD
Cameron and Madison say they would have never imagined this is how their adult lives would pan out.
“Reflecting back, I never thought it would come this full circle, ever. I did not think I wanted to become a teacher and now I teach in the same classroom I was once a student in, which is surreal,” Madison says.
“Being around for this long, it seems everywhere it’s, ‘Hey Cameron,’ or ‘Hey, Mr. Green,’ or ‘Hey coach.’ That’s a cool feeling,” Cameron says.
