HURON — In addition to her duties of teaching seventh-grade math at the Huron Middle School, Leah Branaugh has been instrumental in assisting the area Karen population in various other aspects of life whether it be other paperwork, school work, spots, college applications, scholarship aplication, navigating doctors, travel, emergency situations and many other supportive actions.

For her efforts, Branaugh has been named a 2020 Women in Leadership honoree.

“There are so many great people in the community of Huron, who all do so much to help others. To be nominated with them is a great honor,” Branaugh said.

Branaugh is currently in her eight year of teaching at Huron Middle School. She has been in her present position for the past five years and taught sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade sheltered math to the district’s brand new ESL students the three previous years.

“There are so many rewarding aspects to teaching. Watching a student improve their math skills is one of the most rewarding,” Branaugh said. “I have so many students come into class at the beginning of the year telling me they struggle in math or they don’t love math and it is always my goal by the end of the year to have the students really enjoy math and not see it as so difficult.

“It’s such a great feeling when they master a concept and see how proud of themselves they are,” she said.

While a lot of the reward comes in the classroom, Branaugh said several others come through just the relationship she builds with the students.

“I enjoy learning about what they like to do or what their interests are,” she said. “There is no better feeling than when the students have left your classroom and they see you the next school year or years after and are happy to see you. You can catch up on how they are doing and where they are at now.”

While Branaugh’s students are learning from her, there are also several occasions when she has learned from students.

“Teaching in Huron and working with the Karen and Hispanic ESL students has really been life changing for me. I was introduced to a brand new world and a different culture that I knew nothing about prior to moving to Huron,” Branaugh said. “Through being an ESL mat teacher and becoming part of the Huron Soccer Association, I was able to build bonds and relationships with these students that are long lasting.

“These students are eager to learn anything that you will share with them, not just academics. They have dreams and goals, and ultimately want to make their families, teachers and coaches proud,” she said.

Branaugh has helped students to further their education at four-year universities and two-year technical schools. She has spent countless hours helping them apply to colleges, prepare for the ACT test and filling out financial aid documents.

“They don’t take these opportunities for granted as many of us probably have. They are hard working and will really do anything asked of them, sometimes they just need a little extra help,” Branaugh said. “The Karen students want the connection with others and are happy to show off their culture to others. I have learned so much by being invited into their homes for celebrations, prayer and for their Karen New Year Celebration and Karen Wrist Tying Celebrations.”

In addition to teaching, Branaugh has also been heaving involved with the soccer community in the City of Huron. She has served on the Huron Soccer Association board of directors for the past seven years.

“Coaching soccer has really allowed me to develop strong relationships with players and get to know them on a different level than I would in just the classroom,” Branaugh said. “The players all work so hard and really live for soccer, and have big goals to make their families and the Huron community proud with their successes.”

Branaugh spent five years as a coach in the Huron Soccer Association before becoming the assistant girls’ varsity soccer coach at Huron High School for three years. She has served as the head varsity boys’ coach for the past two seasons for the Tigers.

“When I coached for the Huron Soccer Association, I would take the players to different places in towns we would play in, so they could see what was special about each town. For example, we toured the Corn Palace in Mitchell and took them to the Missouri River and to a BBZ with my family when we were in Yankton,” Branaugh said. “That has been some of the enjoyable things that I have been able to do because I know sometimes their parents aren’t able to take them to do these things or don’t know about these things.”

The bus trips to and from events have provided Branaugh with countless teaching opportunities that aren’t afforded her in the classroom.

“The bus rides, through school soccer,  have also been a time to really connect with these students and learn more about them. We have spent countless hours talking about life back home with not only the Karen students, but alo the Hispanic students on the team as well,” Branaugh said. “I enjoy learning about them as much as they enjoy learning about me.”

Branaugh also serves as the assistant boys’ tennis coach for Huron and has  had several similar opportunities in that capacity with the Karen players on the team.

“Two years ago state tennis was in Rapid City and when we drove the school suburbans to Rapid City we were able to talk about how the land changed from the east side to the west side of the state, and point out things such as the Badlands,” she said.

“There are so many teachable moments that come along with coach and the kids really enjoy learning from me as much as I learn from them.”

The general public also has opportunities to experience some of the things that Branaugh has through various events throughout the year.

“We live in a community where we are blessed with so many different cultures. I really would encourage people to get out and get involved with some of this,” Branaugh said. “Connecting Cultures has a summer event at Campbell Park or the Karen New Celebration in January is a great place to start. Ask questions, sample their food and take it all in!”