With a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Alabama and 27 years of classroom experience, Sarah McKeough brings both expertise and heart to teaching. She is a passionate, energetic Kindergarten teacher at Stapleton Elementary and our ESP Teacher of the Month.
“I teach kindergarten because this is where the love of learning begins. At such an early age, I get to help shape little minds into lifelong learners,” Mrs. McKeough shared. “The growth I see in each child happens so fast — right before my eyes — and it is pure magic. This is why kindergarten will always have my heart!”
Describing herself as an actress inside the classroom, Mrs. McKeough is always imagining ways to make her classroom come alive. She uses a variety of stories, songs, movements, and hands-on examples to help connect the curriculum to real-life scenarios.
“I make learning real for my students so they can truly understand it and make meaningful connections of their own,” she explained. “My kinders explore, create, and make real-world connections while laughing, moving, and learning together. In my room, learning is not just taught, it is experienced and loved!”
Mrs. McKeough finds technology to be one of her biggest teaching challenges, as many students expect immediate results from using electronics.
“They can get frustrated or give up when something takes longer to figure out,” she said. “I overcome this by teaching strategies like wait time, persistence, and problem-solving skills—and by keeping technology use minimal in my classroom. My students learn that figuring things out for themselves can be fun, rewarding, and magical.”
The rewards and celebrations in Mrs. McKeough’s classroom are simple yet highly effective, using one of the most powerful forms of recognition—shout-outs! For the ultimate celebration, her students earn the chance to stand on a table while the class cheers them on. She describes this as a “rule-bending moment that only happens when a big goal is reached.” Moments like these, she explains, are what make learning exciting, memorable, and fun.
“One teaching experience that has deeply impacted me takes place every September during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Our classroom collects Play-Doh for the Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Mobile,” Mrs. McKeough shared. “My kindergarteners instantly connect to this outreach because everyone loves Play-Doh, and it’s part of our everyday learning. This experience has been unforgettable and incredibly rewarding, showing my students that kindness, learning, and caring for others go hand in hand.”
Sarah McKeough and her husband, Patrick, have been married for 29 years and reside in Silverhill. They share their home with their two dogs, Piper and Murphy. They also have two adult children, Hayden and Mary Grace. The couple loves to travel, spend time with family and friends, and cheer on Alabama football (Roll Tide). Sarah admits she also has a serious love for shopping.
