Teaching within the Ridgewood district is Kya Masloski's dream job

Editor's Note: The Coshocton Tribune is profiling one senior from each of the three public school districts in Coshocton County coinciding with graduation. They were nominated by school administrators.

WEST LAFAYETTE − Kya Masloski flashes a bright smile when she thinks about what her dream job one day would be − returning to teach in the Ridgewood school district.

"I know Ridgewood is a great place. It's the best school in the entire world," Masloski said. "It would be awesome to teach kids the way my teachers taught me and have an impact on their lives the way the teachers have had an impact on my life."

The Ridgewood senior plans to study early childhood education and special education at Muskingum University this fall. She already has 59 credit hours through College Credit Plus and should be able to get her degree in less than four years. She'll be part of the college's cheer and stunt team too.

With her parents, Mike and Robin Masloski, involved in education, following in their footsteps was always in her mind. Mike is superintendent at Ridgewood. While some might believe that gives her a leg up, it's not the truth. She believes she's been treated just like every other student.

"I think people think I get extra opportunity, but I think it's the same. Everyone here at Ridgewood has to work equally as hard for everything. Everyone here at Ridgewood has to earn what we get," she said. "I know all my teachers care and are always here to help me."

In school she's been involved with basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, National Honor Society, Teen Institute, student council and yearbook staff and she's class president.

"It's important to be part of the Ridgewood community. It's important as a student to keep yourself involved and be with a group of people everyday. It keeps your mental health good and it's fun," she said.

Teen Institute offers students the ability to participate in community service and outreach. Through the program, Masloski has worked with preschool and third grade students in the district. She wants to teach at the elementary or middle school level.

"It just shows me how much I like to work with kids," she said.

Previous Spotlight features include Caily Shriver of River View High School and Laken Tucker of Coshocton High School.

Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @llhayhurst.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Kya Masloski excels at Ridgewood High School