FRESH NEWS

I am so excited to be re-joining the Highland community and am proud to have been selected as the principal at Highland. My background is in elementary education with many years as a reading specialist. I was last at Highland ten years ago as the assistant principal and, since then, I have been working at the district level supporting the growth of educators as well as growth of students by coordinating programs for student and family support.

I come from a family of educators and have always loved learning new things. I enjoy traveling and exploring new places including the history, culture and food of a new place. I also love the outdoors and adventuring in National Parks and other beautiful places. One of my life goals is to visit all the National Parks and I am about halfway there!

My husband and I have raised three children, all of whom attended elementary school at Highland! My stepdaughter, Gabby, is in her 30s now with children of her own and still remembers Mrs. Cook tap-dancing on her desk (for those who have been a part of this community awhile, you may remember this too!). Darrek, my stepson, got his start in kindergarten at Highland and is now training to be a lineman with PUD. Seth, our youngest, just graduated from Lake Stevens High School and is off to study engineering and play baseball at Colorado School of Mines in the fall. Seth attended Highland from second through fifth grade.

At school, it is our role to help students feel connected and safe in their learning to take risks, to grow, and to build the foundational skills, as well as the confidence, to have all options open to them as they grow and explore their interests. Highland set a strong foundation for my own children, and I want to ensure it does the same for yours!

I look forward to meeting you and the children you entrust to us each day. Here's to a wonderful school year full of learning, growing, and making new connections!

I hope you have had a wonderful summer and are looking forward to an exciting new school year! I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Associate Principal at Highland Elementary. It is an honor to join such a wonderful school community, and I am excited to partner with you, your children, and our outstanding staff throughout the year.

I have been fortunate to work in education for more than 20 years, with the last five years serving in school administration, most recently as an Assistant Principal. Throughout my career, I have been passionate about building strong relationships with students, families, and staff while creating learning environments where every child feels valued, supported, and inspired to succeed.

One of my core beliefs is that every student deserves to walk into a school that is warm, welcoming, and filled with caring adults who believe in their potential. I also believe that all students should have access to high levels of learning and achievement, and I look forward to working alongside our incredible teachers and staff to ensure every child has the opportunities and support they need to thrive.

When I'm not at school, you'll usually find me enjoying time with my family. My husband and I have three grown children who are now making their own way in the world, and watching them grow into independent adults has been one of life's greatest joys.

You may also quickly discover that I have a couple of fun hobbies! I am an avid LEGO enthusiast with a collection of more than 100 completed LEGO sets. I love building with students whenever the opportunity arises and seeing the creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork that LEGO inspires. I'm also known for my sneaker collection! I enjoy wearing fun-themed sneakers featuring holidays, favorite movies, Disney characters, and many other creative designs. They often become great conversation starters with students and help bring a little extra joy to each day.

As we begin this school year together, I look forward to getting to know each of our Highland families. Please don't hesitate to introduce yourself if you see me around campus, at school events, or during arrival and dismissal. Building strong partnerships with families is an important part of creating a positive and successful school community.

Thank you for welcoming me to Highland Elementary. I am excited for the year ahead and can't wait to celebrate the learning, growth, and accomplishments of our students together. Here's to a fantastic school year filled with curiosity, kindness, and memorable moments!

August 17th-19th from 9:00-12:00 - Ready for Kindergarten

August 17th from 9:00-10:00 - Kindergarten Caregiver Meeting

August 28th - Teacher Assignments available in Skyward Qmulativ

September 1st from 4:00-5:00 - Meet the Teacher for 1st-5th grades

September 2nd - First Day of School for 1st-5th grades

September 2nd-4th - Kindergarten Family Connection Meetings

September 8th - First Day of Kindergarten