“It started over at Athey Creek Middle School, I was in the library there and I was missing being in the classroom. I had taught before down in California at a High School just outside of Sacramento. When my daughter was born I took a really really long time off. I was at home with my kids as they were growing up, and loving every minute of it. It was the perfect place for me to be. While I was at home with my kids I earned my master’s in education at Sonoma State, and I was volunteering in my kid’s classes and I was subbing at their school, so I was still really involved with education. When we moved up here I started working at the Athey Creek Library and just being in the school setting again was awesome. It made me so excited to be back talking and working with students. I had started at the high school level when we were in California, so I really was missing being back at the high school level which led me to Wilsonville, 4 years ago. I felt like it was the perfect time to jump back to the high school level. I appreciate the high school level because I feel like there are a lot of activities that students participate in that I can support. There are a lot of really important programs like Link Crew that can help students find their place. I really believe that if a student feels seen and valued and heard, then they’ll find a way to succeed. That’s not academic success, that’s life success.”