How WAVA Teacher Drew Namminga Inspires Curiosity and Connection by Building Foundations for Learning and Life

For Drew Namminga, teaching wasn’t always part of the plan. He once imagined a future in a research lab as a biologist. But after months of taking on odd jobs and searching for steady work, he found himself working part time at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs when a realization began to take shape. Years of encouragement from his wife, Tami, who had believed in his potential as an educator since their college days, finally took hold. While she was studying education and he was focused on biology, she had long seen what he was only just beginning to recognize, that he was meant to teach.  

“She looked at me and said, you’d make a great teacher,” Mr. Namminga recalls. “That moment started everything.” 

Within weeks, Mr. Namminga had earned his substitute teaching license and began substitute teaching for several school districts, even holding a few extended substitute positions before starting a long-term 6th-grade teaching position in the Widefield School District in Colorado Springs, CO. What began as a spontaneous career shift soon became a lifelong calling. 

A Career that Spans States and Generations 

After nearly a decade in Colorado, Mr. Namminga and his wife, Tami, moved to Washington State, where he eventually discovered Washington Virtual Academies (WAVA). Sixteen years later, he’s still teaching, now as an 8th-grade math and science teacher in the northwest corner of the state, just outside Bellingham. 

“Back then, I didn’t even know online education existed,” he says with a laugh. “But once I started, I realized how incredible it was to reach students from all walks of life.” 

Mr. Namminga’s journey has been one of adaptability and dedication. Whether it’s working with gifted students, supporting learners with IEPs, or guiding those facing personal challenges, he believes every child deserves patience, consistency, and a chance to succeed. 

“I’ve had students who were struggling with confidence, even dealing with difficult home situations,” Mr. Namminga explains. “Once they feel safe and know someone believes in them, everything changes. That’s what keeps me going.” 

Making Science Hands-On 

In Mr. Namminga’s virtual classroom, science is anything but abstract. He encourages curiosity through simple, engaging experiments students can do at home like his annual “Eggsperiment.” 

“We start the year by soaking eggs in vinegar and observing what happens as the shell dissolves,” he says. “It’s messy, fascinating, and gets students asking great questions about the scientific method.” 

Without a traditional lab, Mr. Namminga gets creative, finding ways to make science come alive through demonstrations and hands-on inquiry. Around Halloween, he even brings dry ice to class to teach about chemical and physical changes. “It’s a crowd favorite,” he exclaims. 

Creating Connection Beyond the Classroom 

For Mr. Namminga, teaching at WAVA has always been about connection – not just with students, but with colleagues who have become lifelong friends. One of his favorite memories from his early years at WAVA perfectly illustrates that sense of community. 

“During one of my first years, I was talking with fellow WAVA teachers Marlys and Andy Holmes at a local outing,” Mr. Namminga recalls. “They mentioned their nanny came over a few days a week to help with childcare, and I told them I was looking for something similar.” 

What happened next became a special chapter in both families’ lives. The Holmes’ nanny began spending a few days each week at the Namminga home as well. On days when both families needed help, Marlys would send her daughter, Olivia, along to play with Mr. Namminga’s sons, Kase and Asher. 

“That arrangement turned into a real friendship between our kids,” he says fondly. “This year, Olivia and Kase will both be graduating. Two years ago, their son Evan and my son Mason graduated together. It’s amazing how something so simple as sharing childcare turned into such lasting connections.” 

That same spirit of camaraderie extends to the WAVA teaching community. “It can be a lonely job if you let it be,” Mr. Namminga says. “But if you stay open to collaboration and connection, it becomes an incredible support system.” 

He recalls a favorite memory from a teacher training day when he and several colleagues decorated their principal’s car with WAVA magnets as a lighthearted prank. “We joked it was the best school advertising ever,” he laughs. “Moments like that remind you how strong our bonds are, even across the miles.” 

A Family Rooted in Learning and Love 

At home, Mr. Namminga’s passion for teaching is mirrored by his wife, Tami, who teaches 1st grade in their local district. Together, they’re raising a bustling family of five, three biological sons (Mason, 19; Kase, 17; Asher, 15), an adopted daughter (Andi, 11), and soon, another daughter (9) they’re adopting from Hong Kong. 

Their adoption journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. “A few years ago, I realized one of my students’ families was adopting at the same time,” Mr. Namminga shares. “We ended up at the same U.S. consulate in China, it was an incredible small-world moment.” 

Outside of teaching, Mr. Nammina stays busy as a self-taught contractor, having spent summers building a new master suite above their garage and renovating their 80-year-old farmhouse on a sprawling 17,000-square-foot lot. The Nammingas’ property is also home to an impressive garden, one that reflects Mr. Namminga’s love of growth both in and out of the classroom. 

Each season, the family tends to rows of vegetables, herbs, and flowers, harvesting everything from tomatoes and peppers to zucchini, and fresh berries. The garden has become a family project and a source of pride, with much of what they grow ending up in homemade meals shared around the table. 

“Working in the garden is a reminder of patience and reward,” Mr. Namminga says. “You can see the results of care and consistency, just like in teaching.” 

Between the family’s garden-to-table meals, home renovation projects, and Mr. Namminga’s thriving classroom, life at the Namminga home is full, yet always centered around growth, connection, and creating something meaningful together. 

Rooted in Purpose 

After more than two decades in education, Mr. Namminga remains deeply committed to helping students see the value in learning. 

“I just really want my kids to enjoy their experience in school and see the value of learning,” he says. “We’re all in this together, adults and students alike. My goal is to make sure they leave my class feeling capable, curious, and cared for.” 

Through his creativity, compassion, and commitment to connection, Mr. Namminga continues to embody what makes WAVA such a special place to learn and to teach.

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