Meet Boo
My interest in serving on the Methow Valley School Board of Directors runs deep. When I was in junior high, my dad was on our local school board. That is when I first witnessed the depth of involvement of that role.
Throughout my teaching career, I recognized the commitment of the School Board members and their perspective. Community members invested in our schools’ wellbeing, as well as handling very difficult personnel issues with confidentiality and grace.
Adding up to 34 years, I taught in public schools, grades K through 4, in Port Angeles WA, Lake Oswego OR, Wilsonville OR and Bainbridge Island WA.
Besides classroom teaching, I was involved in negotiations with the administration on everything from salary to policy, calendar to contracts. I continued those discussions as the Education Association President for two terms. In that role, I was involved in numerous confidential issues. I worked well with the administration because I never saw our roles as We vs Them. I knew we all cared for the same bottom line: our students.
Building community and creating a safe place to learn and soar was always my goal, at any grade level. I embraced the whole child and quickly recognized that the family from which they came was equally important for me to understand. Trust is a huge part of educational growth. I still hear from past students and families from decades ago… and I continue to care deeply about them.
I strongly believe that we adults are here to teach, volunteer and encourage each child to be their best self. How do we get to find out what that “best self” is unless we offer a judgement-free, bully-free atmosphere? Every student, every day, deserves to feel welcome.
Locally, I have been a volunteer at the Elementary School’s Young Authors Day. My job was teaching poetry to different groups. I’ve also stepped in to help with Small Group Book Discussions and poetry writing in the 9th grade and have been a substitute kindergarten teacher a few times.
The Methow Valley School District is nothing short of amazing in what it offers to its 750 students. I commend the past and present staff, administrators and board members. The community steps up continually to support the valley’s students wholeheartedly. I believe we all recognize that the schools are the pulse and harbinger of our future.
EXPERIENCE
BEREAVEMENT COORDINATOR, FRONTIER HOSPICE, OKANOGAN COUNTY
2019-2021
Led grief support groups in Omak and Nespelem, supported grieving family members for a year after the death of a loved one by writing monthly letters and making weekly phone calls, organized annual community memorial services
RETAIL CLERK, FRENCH AND COURTYARD QUAIL, WINTHROP 2014-2019
Greeted and helped customers, handled sales, inventory and restocking
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER, BAINBRIDGE ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS 1994-2014
Taught grade 1 through 4, served on Instructional Materials Committee, Multicultural Committee, Sunshine Committees, Secretary for BIEA, Negotiator for BIEA, President of Biea (two terms)
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER, WEST LINN PUBLIC SCHOOLS 1992-1993
Taught first grade
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER, LAKE OSWEGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS 1984-1992
Taught kindergarten
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER, PORT ANGELES PUBLIC SCHOOLS 1979-1984
Taught kindergarten, first, second and a blended primary class
EDUCATION
MASTERS OF EDUCATION, PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY completed in 1989
STUDY OF BRITISH PRIMARY SCHOOL, OXFORD ENGLAND spring/summer 1981
BACHELOR DEGREE IN EDUCATION, WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY, 1975-1979
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Besides teaching on Bainbridge Island, I was on the Bainbridge Youth Services Board, deeply involved with the Bainbridge-Ometepe Sister Island Association and Bethany Church.
My third grade classes learned about our sister island, created and sold calendars which raised money to fund projects on Ometepe. I also established a sister school relationship on Ometepe and took a delegation there to visit.
In the Methow Valley I enjoy volunteering for a variety of events with the public schools, Methow Recycles, Methow Conservancy, Methow Arts, TwispWorks, The Merc Playhouse and Cascadia Music.
