Wyatt Lanning is joining the Mission Valley Viking family as a teacher and coach, where he will teach World History, U.S. History and U.S. Government while also helping with high school football and wrestling.
The district said it is excited to have him on staff and expects him to make a positive impact in both the classroom and the school community.
Lanning shared a welcome statement to the district, introducing himself and laying out what brought him to Mission Valley.
“Hello! My name is Wyatt Lanning and I am excited to be joining the Mission Valley community and teaching World History, US History and US Government!” he said. “I am also thrilled to be helping coach high school football and wrestling!”
For Lanning, the move is about education, athletics and relationships. He said his passion for teaching began during his own high school years back home in St. Paul, Minnesota, and grew stronger after earning degrees in History and Education from Fort Hays State University in 2022.
He said his goal is to create a classroom where students feel supported and challenged at the same time.
“My enthusiasm for education has only grown in helping students learn, develop, and discover their own strengths and abilities both inside and outside the classroom,” Lanning said. “My goal is to create a positive, supportive learning environment where every student feels valued, challenged, and encouraged to do their best.”
That same approach appears to carry over to the athletic side of his new role. With football and wrestling both part of his responsibilities, Lanning is stepping into two programs that rely heavily on mentorship, discipline and daily buy-in from student-athletes.
Mission Valley’s announcement also pointed to the importance of strong relationships between teachers, families and students.
Lanning said he believes those connections are a key part of a successful school year and said he is looking forward to working with students and families as the year begins.
Outside school, Lanning said he enjoys spending time with his wife and family, reading and following sports, especially teams from Minnesota. He said he is eager to get started and build something positive with the Mission Valley community.
“I am excited to begin this journey at Mission Valley and can’t wait to get to know all of my students and their families,” he said.
For Mission Valley, the hire adds a teacher who also brings coaching energy to two important athletic programs. For Lanning, it is the beginning of a new chapter that blends classroom teaching with the chance to help guide Viking athletes on the field and the mat.
