For Ava Satterthwaite, becoming a teacher isn’t just about a career—it’s about carrying forward a legacy.

Her mother, Jessica, is a speech-language pathologist, and her grandmother, Michele, spent her life in education, first as a PE teacher and later as a long-serving school board member. Ava grew up watching their dedication, feeling the pull toward teaching long before she ever set foot in a high school classroom.

“I’ve known since third grade that I wanted to be a teacher,” Ava said. “It’s never changed. I feel drawn to it.”

Now a senior at Vandalia High School, Ava is preparing for the next step in her journey. She has been accepted to Illinois State University and the University of Illinois, two of the state’s most prestigious schools for education majors. She has already toured ISU and plans to room with her best friend there, but a visit to U of I next month might sway her decision.

“My grandma went to ISU, so she’s pushing me in that direction,” Ava laughed. “But U of I has its own prestige, and my brother keeps telling me, ‘Go there so you sound smarter.’ It’s a tough choice.”

Regardless of where she chooses to attend, her path is set—she will major in secondary English education, with additional certification in middle school teaching.

“I know I want to teach, but I’m still deciding if I want middle school or high school,” she said. “Either way, I know teaching is what I’m meant to do.”

Unlike many students who struggle to decide on a major, Ava’s clarity has been unwavering. From a young age, she was drawn to the classroom, not just as a student, but as someone who wanted to be at the front of it.

“I had a giant chalkboard in my basement, two student desks, and even a teacher’s pointer stick,” she said. “I would pretend to teach a whole class—writing lessons on the board, grading imaginary assignments. Teaching has always been something that felt natural to me.”

One of her most formative experiences came when her mother took her along to work at a school where she was substitute teaching.

“I was sick one day, so my mom brought me with her,” she recalled. “I remember just loving the atmosphere—the way teachers interacted with students, the feel of a school day from the other side. That memory really stuck with me.”

Ava’s love for learning wasn’t limited to the classroom. She was also a dedicated volleyball player, competing since sixth grade. While she doesn’t plan to play competitively in college, she hopes to stay involved through rec leagues.

“I love the game,” she said. “I just don’t want the pressure of a high-level college team.”

Vandalia isn’t just where Ava grew up—it’s shaped who she is. She knows that when she meets new people in college, she’ll have to explain her small town.

“I’d definitely talk about our wrestling program because everyone here knows Vandalia for wrestling,” she said. “And of course, I’d mention that it was once Illinois’ state capital—most people have no idea.”

But the strongest connection she will take with her is her family’s deep ties to education. Her grandmother spent over a decade on the Vandalia School Board, and now, her father, Kevin, serves as a board member.

“Education has been a huge part of my family,” she said. “It’s what I grew up around, and it’s what I want to keep doing.”

For Ava, this next chapter isn’t just about attending college—it’s about continuing a family tradition of learning, leadership, and service.