Tracking Student Success
The Port Angeles School District's teachers and staff are proud of our Port Angeles High School and Lincoln High School graduates. Tracking Student Success features former students, giving us a glimpse of their thoughts about Port Angeles schools and a brief look at their success since graduation. If you'd like to recommend a student for this feature, please send your thoughts to: info@portangelesschools.org.
Alyson Galloway, Class of 1995
“Two opportunities in middle school that helped shape my interests academically and professionally were Natural Helpers and History Day. My experience with the Natural Helpers program helped me identify a strength and desire to work with people and build relationships. My experience with the History Day competition allowed me to hone my abilities to research, investigate an issue and present my findings in a creative way. Through my academic and professional career, I was able to build on the skills that I learned in middle school through these valuable programs.”
As a high school Running Start student, I had pretty lofty ambitions and Peninsula College Advisor Maria Peña, was there each term helping me plan accordingly, as well as encouraging me to go just a bit further with my academic choices and extra curricular activities. That connection morphed over time into a very important mentorship that I still very much value. Through Maria’s guidance, I ended up with an opportunity to work at Peninsula College advising Running Start students as she had done for me.”
Currently Galloway works at Washington State University Vancouver as an Assistant Director within Student Affairs. She earned an AA Honors degree from Peninsula College through Running Start in 1995, then transferred to WSU Pullman and earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Alcohol Studies in 1997. In 2003 she completed a Masters in Public Affairs at WSU Vancouver.
Although college football opportunities drew Henry Ochs, graduate of Port Angeles High School’s class of 2002, to northern California’s College of the Siskiyous (COS), so much more has now made the Weed, California area his home. Ochs played football for two years for the Eagles, and began to take courses in the fire science program, eventually earning his Associate of Science Degree in Fire/Emergency Response Technology in 2005. Fortunate enough to begin work with CAL Fire after graduation, Ochs began volunteering with his chief, and spent the next three years assisting with the COS Firefighter Academy, a twenty unit required course for graduation and California State Fire Marshal certification as a Firefighter I.
“I run the academy program now,” Ochs says. As Firefighter Academy Coordinator, he is responsible for arranging seventeen weeks of training exercises. “Students receive fourteen certifications after going through the academy, and are trained in areas such as auto extrication, confined space rescue and wildland firefighting techniques,” he explains. “I really like to teach, coach and instruct. It keeps me up to date in my own skills and training.”
Ochs played football for the Port Angeles Roughriders for three years, and remembers Coach Dan Novick for having made an impact on him and other football players. “Coach Novick’s discipline and his strong work ethic stand out in my mind. He helped me develop a regime which is helpful in my work now,” Ochs said.
Based at a fire station at the corner of Hwy 97 and I-5, Ochs assists with a lot of car wrecks. He did spend 18 days fighting the Harris and Poomaha fires in California during November. When he’s not working, he enjoys fishing, hunting and outdoor activities that the northern California area offers.
“Naturally as a young music director, I have and will always look up to Doug and Jolene Gailey,” says Ryan Brumbaugh, graduate from Port Angeles High School in 2002. “I have infinite respect for the two and see them as models not only in a professional light, but in the whole spectrum of well-rounded human beings. I still look back to my alma mater as the program that makes the most sense to me, and I will always model my programs around the philosophies and foundations in which I remember from Port Angeles.”
“I also have to give what rock stars call a ‘shout out’ to the teachers which have the hardest job of all in my eyes, and that is the elementary teachers,” Brumbaugh adds. “Without the academic and social foundations they impressed upon me, life might have been much different.”
Port Angeles was a great community for Brumbaugh to grow up in, but admittedly, it wasn’t necessarily the community he grew up in which was the paramount influence, but rather his home life was the root to his success. “My parents could raise kids anywhere in the world and still produce quality people.”
Brumbaugh is the new band director for the Adna School District. He received a Bachelors of Music with an emphasis in Music Education from the University of Washington. He is most proud of a recent award, the KKY (band service fraternity) 2007 national service project award, which he and a few friends shared recently. “We taught batter percussion to an inner-city school, Zion Academy in Seattle, and its success received national attention. KKY's honorarium list contains some of the most admired people in the music world, and I am proud to be on that list.”
Catharine Malmsten, Class of 1995
“I think that growing up in Port Angeles has helped me understand and empathize with some of my patients who come from smaller towns, and how that might affect the health care that they have received,” says Catharine Malmsten, graduate from Port Angeles High School in 1995. Malmsten recently finished a residency in internal medicine at the University of California, Davis Medical Center, and has just moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to start a three-year fellowship in cardiology at Medical College of Wisconsin.
Malmsten considers some of her former teachers as mentors. “I think of Ms. Haas from Spanish class every time I try to communicate with my patients who are Spanish speaking,” she says. “Mr. Johnson was very encouraging about reading and those things I wanted to learn about, and encouraged a variety of discussions.” She remembers Mr. McLaughlin as a tough but fair grader; “I remember him saying once that if he ever needed his heart worked on, he would be fine with me working on it. At the time, I knew I was going to be a doctor, but I had not figured out that I was going to be a cardiologist!”
Malmsten played with the high school orchestra at Carnegie Hall and participated on the debate team. “I think debate helped me communicate effectively and construct arguments and explanations of my approach to things,” she explains.
She received her Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley and her M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco, completing cardiology research at San Francisco General Hospital in 2004. “I'm looking forward to exploring the Midwest in the next three years once I have more free time.”
“Growing up in Port Angeles was a great experience forsomeone who loves the outdoors as much as I do,” Aimee Johnson, Port Angeles High School graduate in 1989, says.“The closeness of nature due to the proximity of Olympic National Park taught me about the interconnectedness of all life.”
Teacher Suzanne DeBey had a strong influence on Johnson during her middle school years. “She taught me that different people might see the same incident differently. Because of her openness, I appreciate the viewpoints of different groups and am thankful for the uniqueness of the individual.”
In high school Johnson was active in the music program, participating in the marching band and jazz band. “One memory I have was at a jazz band practice,” Johnson remembers. “Mr. Jones pointed at me, but was at a loss for words. I was sure he was going to yell at me for a mistake, but instead he praised me for my creativity. I learned to trust myself, becoming confidant in my skills.”
Johnson attended Peninsula Community College after graduation from high school and later received her Associate of Arts degree from Seattle Central Community College before transferring to the University of Washington.
She now co-owns Pro-Motion Events, an event production company in Seattle. “Most of our events are fitness related - marathons, fun runs and walk-a-thons, but we also produce street fairs and festivals,” she explains. “We are contracted by about 30 different charities. Annually we help them raise 1 million dollars combined for their various causes. One fun run we organize each May raises money to keep physical education and sports in under funded Seattle schools!”
Johnson’s hobbies include hiking, skiing, cooking, baking and reading. “The advice I would most like to give young people is to read the whole newspaper daily. Learn as much as you can about your world. Even the most insignificant articles might have a huge impact on your life.”
Andi Thomson, formerly Andi Rose, graduate of Port Angeles High School in 1996, grew up west of Port Angeles in Eden Valley and always had animals in her life…dogs, cats and horses.
In high school, Rose participated in cross country and track all four years. “I usually ran the mile, sometimes the 800 and 4x4 relay. It definitely kept me focused, and I loved the sense of ‘team’ when participating in these sports.”
As a senior, Rose took a health occupations class from Donna Moreau. “I was really introduced to the veterinary field through this class and decided to apply to the veterinary technician program at Pierce College in Tacoma,” she says. “It was probably one of the best decisions that I ever made. Even though I knew that I wanted to become a veterinarian, I gained so much experience….it solidified that I wanted to be in this profession, not to mention I’d always have my veterinary technician license to fall back on.”
Rose graduated from Pierce College in 1998 with an Associates Degree in Veterinary Technology. She received her Bachelors of Science Degree from Washington State University and graduated from Ross University in St. Kitts, West Indies this past January, receiving high honors at graduation as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
“I have finally returned home after about six years,” says Rose. “I am currently working for Angeles Clinic for Animals and absolutely loving it. It is great tobe living back in Port Angeles. We have a great community here.”
David Lewis, graduate from the Port Angeles High School class of 2002, attributes much of his success in college to the wonderful teachers and classes available at all levels of his primary education. “As a person who is passionate about science,” he says, “I know that my time spent with teachers like Jennifer Duncan-Taylor, Derek Johnson, John Gallagher and Byron Weeks definitely influenced my continued studies in the sciences.”
Lewis notes that his education in Port Angeles schools was quite “comprehensive and rewarding.” In high school, he was active in tennis, soccer, Honor Society, Key Club, German Club, Boy Scouts and marching band. “Playing at Carnegie Hall with the symphonic orchestra under the direction of Ron Jones was an amazing trip and opportunity,” he remembers. “Participation in a wide range of activities forced me to manage my time between academics and extracurricular activities. I learned to have fun, but at the same time put my best effort and attention into school work.”
“This year I have chosen to dedicate a year of service to the Clallam AmeriCorps program,” Lewis explains. “I work at Hamilton Elementary as a teacher of remedial subjects. In addition, I continue to work per diem in the surgical services department at Olympic Memorial Hospital.”
Lewis received his Bachelors of Science in biology from the University of Washington and has future plans for medical school or a career in education. “Growing up in Port Angeles allowed me the time to develop a great appreciation for the outdoors and hiking. I’ve become accustomed to the small town atmosphere and am confident that I will settle in a small community after completing my graduate education.”
“Port Angeles is a one of a kind town,” says Jeremy Slack, 2005 graduate from Port Angeles High School. “I love that I grew up in a smaller town because it really did affect who I am. The day I graduated was bittersweet …. On one hand, I was ready for the next step, but on the other hand, I wanted to stay because of the good times I had.”
“I was in the band program for all four years of high school,” he says. “These were some of the best times of my life. I also played lacrosse for two years. I participated in VICA, now called SkillsUSA, during my senior year, and I helped the drama department with their tech needs. These activities kept me involved with the school, community and my friends.”
Slack credits his teachers for inspiring him during high school. “Mr. Doug Gailey taught me to appreciate music,” Slack explains. “He taught me leadership, teamwork,and that if you are passionate about something, give yourself to it. Mrs. Kathy Greer taught me mathematics that I truthfully use everyday. Mr. Mike Frick taught me a trade, my trade, and now machining is my way of life. It’s how I am going to support myself.”
“I’m currently working for Multifab Inc., doing 3D mold making, which is a rare opportunity at this stage in my career. For fun I race R/c cars. I am the off-road director for the R/c Car Club of Spokane.” Slack graduated with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in CNC Machine Technology from Spokane Community College in June 2007. He plans to open his own machine shop in Spokane, and maybe return to work in Port Angeles one day.
While involved in the former Alternative Program at Franklin Elementary School, one particular activity stands out in Port Angeles High School’s graduate Wes Mantooth’s mind. “Students would select activities of interest and write up ‘contracts’ to complete them. Some activities involved working in groups with a teacher or volunteer parent, but others were entirely independent. A particular contract that stands out for me was: ‘I will learn to play the guitar.’ ”
Inspired by teachers at the school who played and led song sessions, this was something Mantooth had wanted to learn. “I recall going over to a table with several guitars sitting in open cases and a piece of paper showing a few basic chords,” he explains. “That was it! I picked up a guitar, figured out G and D, and knew that I was hooked. One of my teachers, Darlene Ryan, gave several interested students group lessons. I got my own guitar and have never stopped….Learning to play guitar has been one of the most enriching parts of my life.”
Mantooth is certain that his positive experiences in Port Angeles schools were a factor in his decision to go into the field of education. “I teach English at Lake Washington Technical College,” he says. When he visits with his high school English teacher, Bob Sheedy, they “enjoy trading stories about the types of assignments we each give in our classes and the strategies we have evolved for working with different learning styles.”
Mantooth has undergraduate degrees from Peninsula College and the University of Washington, as well as a Master’s degree in American Studies from Utah State University and a PhD in American Literature from The George Washington University.
“Growing up in Port Angeles has been a great source of pride in my life,” Erika Ralston, 2000 graduate of Port Angeles High School, says. “My strongest memory and experience in high school was through the athletic program. Basketball and soccer were ‘my’ sports, and I can’t say enough about the pride I carried with me while participating in them. The support from the community, encouragement and discipline from the coaches, and talent and love for the games that my teammates and I shared were experiences unlike any other that I have ever been through.”
“When we went to districts and state for basketball…to be able to look up in the stands and see ‘green and white,’ gave our team a lot of support and pride.”
Ralston credits Kristen Roberts, her history teacher, soccer and basketball coach, for making her athletic and classroom experience fun and inspirational. “She instilled morals, life values, discipline, confidence, and she believed in me as an athlete and a student,” Ralston explains.
“We were always encouraged as students and athletes to get involved in the community, especially with younger kids,” says Ralston. Today she still is involved, volunteering at local women’s shelters, reading to children in the schools, and she’s coached soccer, helped with basketball and also officiated for local Boys & Girls Clubs.
Ralston graduated from the University of Washington in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. She’s working as an account executive in Seattle for one of the Fortune 500 companies and top five lenders in the nation. She still enjoys playing soccer and softball and looks forward to coming home to visit family and friends.
Marcus Logan, 1997 Port Angeles High School graduate, claims that he wouldn’t be who he is today without the influence of his former teachers at Hamilton Elementary, Stevens Middle School and Port Angeles High School. “The staff at these schools gave me the foundation to be who I am today, a teacher,” he says.
After completing his undergraduate education at Central Washington University, Logan has returned to Port Angeles High School to teach drafting and architecture. He now works with his former teacher and mentor, Tim Branham. “He planted the idea in me to be a vocational teacher, explains Logan. “He is my teacher, mentor, friend and colleague. We now co-teach, work on cooperative projects, eat lunch together, and even share students.”
Logan’s main extracurricular activity in high school was his involvement in Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (now known as SkillsUSA). “I participated in carpentry and cabinetmaking,” he says. “While competing at the regional and state levels, I learned a lot about myself, and developed a deeper passion for woodworking and teaching.”
Although he may seem grounded in Port Angeles, Logan loves to travel. He hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2001, all of 3,000 miles, and he plans to travel this summer to Belo Horizonte, Brazil. “In the long term, I hope to earn my Masters degree, design and build my own house, travel to China, tend a garden, and golf in my retirement.”
While growing up in Port Angeles and attending its schools, Lyle Crouse always felt encouraged to achieve his goals, and to become well-rounded in the process. “Was there a reason that you couldn’t take classes that prepared you for college and play sports? Absolutely not,” says the 1988 graduate of Port Angeles High School.
Mr. Kilmer, Crouse’s seventh-grade teacher at Roosevelt Middle School, placed a great deal of importance on English: sentence construction, grammar, spelling and punctuation. “Those lessons made an impression,” Crouse explains, “and while in university-level English courses I'd sometimes think, ‘I learned this when I was 12.’”
Today, Crouse makes his living with words as the assistant managing editor for CBS SportsLine.com. “Being editor of the school paper was a terrific launching point for a career in journalism,” he says.
“I was editor-in-chief the year before the Timberline used a Mac or a PC," he says. "We used to print our stories from old computers onto ticker tape, and then feed the tape through a machine that would basically turn a story into a photographic print, which we pasted onto galley sheets. Now, while at work, I can post a column on the Internet with just a few key strokes.”
Crouse also played basketball in high school. “Eighteen years later and despite the fact that I've moved around the country, my best friends are still my old teammates.”
Crouse currently lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after “stops” in Seattle; Hartford, Connecticut; Jersey City, New Jersey; and New York City. He received his two-year degree from Peninsula College in 1990 before spending one year at the University of Oregon and then earning a bachelor's degree from Western Washington University in 1993.
Andrea Clapshaw, Class of 2002
Andrea Clapshaw, Port Angeles High School graduate in 2002, still remembers the endless amount of support and strength she received from her coaches, teachers, employers and the Port Angeles community.
Teacher Frank Prince inspired her to reach her full potential. “Mr. Prince always saw something in me and ALWAYS pushed me in my ideas and goals,” she says. “He has the ability to make you laugh when you're frustrated, praise you when you're unsure, and support you when you think it's impossible.”
Clapshaw played basketball, fastpitch and volleyball, and was on the Timberline staff all four years during high school. “With commitments to both the paper and sports, I really learned to manage my time and prioritize my life,” she explains. “I can remember trying to do math problems for hours on a dark, bouncy bus, staying at school until midnight to make a deadline, and wondering when the last time I saw my bed was.” Clapshaw applies these same multi-tasking skills daily in her work as a radiologic technologist at Gritman Medical Center in Moscow, Idaho, working 12-hour shifts and remaining on-call for another clinic.
Last spring she received her Associates of Science Degree in radiologic technology from Wenatchee Valley College, and plans to attend Weber State University to become a radiation therapist for cancer patients. “Watching my mom win both her battles with breast cancer makes me want to help patients fight their battles and win too.”
Dale Brown, graduate of the Port Angeles High School class of 1976, remembers the fantastic start he received from his parents and the Port Angeles community. “The schools offered so much beyond schoolwork, the extracurricular activities, the field trips, the class camaraderie,” he says. “Giving our kids the same chances we had is the most important thing we can do for our community today.”
Brown, a “straight A” student in high school, and co-captain of the football team in 1976, still attends every Port Angeles Roughrider football and basketball home game. “Port Angeles was, and still is, a great place to grow up,” he says, “and it’s important to put back into the community what I received when I was growing up.” Brown has been active with his daughter Brianna, currently an eighth grader at Stevens Middle School, coaching her fast-pitch teams for the past nine years. “It’s a great activity, and involves over 800 kids in Port Angeles,” Brown adds.
Brown started in the family business early on, “buying in” at age 17 years old. Today, 31 years later, he is the successful owner of Arrow Septic, Inc. “I’ve stayed in Port Angeles because of the quality community, the life-time friendships, and the opportunity to raise my children in an active community environment.”
Michelle L. Charles, Class of 1987
Michelle Charles grew up close to her family and native culture by staying in Port Angeles after graduation from Port Angeles High School in 1987. “My family has always been close. My parents, Frank and Alyce Charles, have been the most supportive parents,” she says. “Now that I’m a mother, I understand why my parents were so strict when I was growing up!”
“I always looked up to Leland Herk Carlson who taught Native American History at the high school, she says. “He was also my middle school basketball coach. I participated in basketball, soccer, track, band, and Timberline, the school’s newspaper. One of my favorite experiences happened when I was a senior; I was selected to attend the National Indian Youth Conference in Denver, Colorado.”
“I always wanted to be a Native American counselor, so I could work with tribal families,” Charles explains. “I wanted to make a difference in students’ lives and their educational path.” Charles currently works as a Native American interventionist at Stevens Middle School. She serves as the liaison between native students, parents, school staff and teachers regarding social, educational and behavioral issues.
Charles is three classes shy of her Associate of Arts degree from Peninsula College and plans to earn her bachelor’s degree in teaching, but “my focus right now is raising my two boys, Jared and Jace Moses, who are now both students at Port Angeles High School.”
Charles was 1995 Peninsula College’s 1995 Female Athlete of the Year, and in 2005, she was honored by the Catching the Dream Foundation, a national Indian education foundation, as Counselor of the Year.
“I feel very fortunate to have been born and raised in Port Angeles and to have attended Port Angeles Schools,” Lisa Divelbiss explains. “I went to Lincoln School from kindergarten through fifth grade, then attended sixth grade at Jefferson School before moving on to Roosevelt Junior High School, then graduating from Port Angeles High School in 1979. Back then Roosevelt was located where the Courthouse is now, and Vern Burton was the new junior high gym.”
“Being raised in a smaller community gives you that sense of belonging,” Divelbiss says. “Teachers are able to get to know their students better, and watch them grow and succeed by encouraging them along the way. They are able to make a real difference in students’ lives.”
“Some of my favorite teachers were those that taught at Lincoln School years ago,” she adds. “I remember my kindergarten teacher Mrs. Kalahar like it was yesterday.”
Divelbiss’ daughters, Jessica and Lindsey, have attended Port Angeles schools, as well as her husband Jay who graduated in 1975. “School has always been a positive experience for my girls,” she says, “They’ve enjoyed their teachers and have always been encouraged to do well. Both were active on volleyball teams, and we enjoyed traveling to all the games. When they were younger, we were able to volunteer more in the classrooms and help with PTO. We were so excited to see my daughter Jessica graduate in 2005, remembering what it was like for me 26 years earlier!”
Currently, Divelbiss is a human resources specialist at Nippon Paper Industries. She has her certification in human resources management, and plans to further her education in this field.
"Growing up in the small logging based town of Port Angeles that was devastated financially by the closure of the Rayonier Mill, reinforced the idea that getting a good education was the key to a more secure financial future,” says Chris Hartman, Port Angeles High School class of 2000 graduate. “I didn't want my career to be rooted in such a fluctuating market place.”
Although Hartman was influenced by several teachers at the high school, Mike Wilson had the most influence on his career path. “Mr. Wilson taught the Technical Drawing and Auto Cad classes that first directed me towards either architecture or engineering.”
Hartman was also active in extracurricular activities at the high school. “Participating in both the orchestra and the lacrosse team,” he says, “taught me some very valuable lessons on how to operate within a team. It's very important to employers that each person they hire can work well within their team. It doesn't matter how smart or good at your job you may be if you can't communicate and interact with the rest of the members of your team.”
Hartman assisted Coach Dave Farrington last season with the high school lacrosse team, and plans on being even more involved with coaching this year.
After high school he attended Peninsula College, and then transferred to Washington State University, where he received his Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering in December of 2004.
“Right now I'm working as a civil engineer for Zenovic and Associates here in Port Angeles,” Hartman explains. “In the future I plan on gaining needed experience and passing the Professional Engineering exam. I don't know exactly where my career will go once I have my professional license, but I'm sure I'll figure that out along the way.”
Teresa Rodocker, Class of 1984
During Teresa Rodocker’s high school years, the town of Port Angeles may have been growing, but it still seemed like a small community. Rodocker, Port Angeles High School class of 1984 graduate, thrived in school due in large part to the teachers’ dedication to their students.
“In fifth grade Mr. Nielsen worked with us to make history exciting,” Rodocker explains. “The best part was making our own Constitution and Bill of Rights for the class to follow during the year. If we were successful on following our rules, we celebrated at the end of the month. It was a fun way to learn about the importance of rules, and setting them for oneself and others.”
Rodocker was active in high school extracurricular activities, and participated in volleyball, slow pitch and drill team. “Working as a unit in drill team was important. Without teamwork, it just didn’t work.” This was an important life lesson to Rodocker as she applies it daily to her work and volunteer activities.
“After 15 years of management positions in financial institutions,“ adds Rodocker, “I have stepped back a bit to spend more time with my family.” She works as a loan officer with EastWest Mortgage, and is active with Camp Fire. “Having gone through the program through my senior year, I was thrilled that my daughter wanted to join Camp Fire. I’ve served as a board member and interim director, however, my greatest joy is working directly with the kids.”
Wende Porterfield, Class of 1975
“Growing up in Port Angeles, and attending schools from kindergarten through Peninsula College gave me a stability that I might not have had otherwise,” says Wende Porterfield, graduate of Port Angeles High School’s class of 1975.
At one point in high school she fell behind due to illness, and credits her high school math teacher for helping ignite her interest in mathematics. “Thanks to Miss Charlotte Sanderson, who gave up her free time to work with me, I finally not only understood my assignments, but grew very excited about mathematics.” This enthusiasm carried on through Porterfield’s education as she attended Western Washington University, and earned a Bachelors of Arts in Accounting, placing in the top ten of her business class. “This could not have happened if I had been left to flounder in math, and had avoided taking advanced math classes in high school and college,” Porterfield adds.
Throughout high school, she was a member of the orchestra, enjoying the out-of-town travel and mingling with other students. “Though music did not carry on into my adult life, my violin was able to go Carnegie Hall in the capable hands of my nephew, Miles Grier, who with his sisters is also enjoying our excellent music department, as my sister, Nola, and I did.”
Porterfield follows closely the activities of her nephew and nieces in the Port Angeles schools. “I am glad to see they are receiving superb instruction in music and math especially,” she says. “As a taxpayer, I also appreciate the struggles of funding the school system. I contribute what information I can to the public to let them know that our student success comes directly from their trust and support. As long as we have that, we will continue to send out the same caliber of students into the world to represent Port Angeles.”
Porterfield is now a payroll specialist with the Port Angeles School District. She continues to be an advocate for Port Angeles schools and uses her math skills daily, dealing with contracts, wages, part-time employees, medical programs, taxes, and retirements. “This is a field that continues to challenge me with continual learning of new updates and changing laws,” she says.
Erin Kane, Class of 2002
Erin Kane, graduate from the class of 2002 at Port Angeles High School, credits her middle school leadership class and vocational business classes during high school as inspirations for her career today.
Her participation in sports from age three through high school also contributed to her teamwork and communications skills. “While in high school, I played on the junior varsity and varsity soccer teams through my junior year, was a member of the dance team my senior year, and an active DECA member. I was involved in student government and the Interact Club, and I worked as a front desk agent at the Red Lion Hotel,” Kane says. “Participating in these activities taught me about time management and prioritizing my schedule between social activities and school work. These activities helped build my professional and personnel traits which have helped me to get where I am today.”
One of her favorite memories in high school was attending the DECA Nationals in Salt Lake City. “It was a great networking opportunity,” explains Kane, “and I met many people that were going to the same college. I still retain those friendships, and I really had a fun time participating in what I love.…marketing.”
Kane graduated from Johnson & Wales University Denver campus in May with a Hotel Management bachelor’s degree, concentrating in sales and meeting management. She lives in Chicago, and works at the Renaissance Hotel as a business travel sales manager. “During my down time,” Kane says, “I enjoy bike riding, going to the lake, running and shopping. I plan on living in Chicago for a couple of years, then will move to another city, and hopefully end up back in the northwest. My long term goal is to become Vice President of Revenue and Marketing for a hospitality management company.”
Zoe Nemirow-Nagler, Class of 2001
Zoe Nemirow-Nagler, a graduate of Port Angeles High School in 2001, attended Franklin Elementary School’s Multi-Aged Classroom (MAC), and feels the program changed her life at a critical point in her education. She explains, “The MAC’s structured afternoon activity time allowed students to choose from a variety of educational and fun activities. I learned to focus in an environment filled with distractions, as the MAC classrooms were not divided by solid walls. Now while many of my co-workers are distracted by the chatter and noise in the office, I am able to focus on my work.”
A number of teachers shaped her education and encouraged Nemirow-Nagler to work hard to attain her goals. “One of the teachers that made the most effort to help me to master the French language was Becky Hall.”
Since the high school did not offer a fifth year of French, Hall prepared an independent study course so Nemirow-Nagler could continue her language studies. “To help me pass the French Advance Placement exam, Mademoiselle Hall came to school at 7:00 a.m. on a number of occasions to administer practice exams, and to help me learn difficult verb conjugations. As a result, I passed the exam and went on to take French literature classes in college.” Nemirow-Nagler now works in an office with six people from Quebec and continues to use her French language skills. “I am an Actuarial Analyst in a large consulting firm in Newport Beach, California,” she says. “My company provides consulting services on retirement plans for large corporations. I use the mathematical skills that I obtained throughout my educational career on a daily basis.” When not working, she tries to get outside to enjoy the California weather, and enjoys watching movies in French and speaking French with her French-Canadian co-workers. “I now live in an area where freeways dominate and malls are located no more than five miles apart and, more than ever, I appreciate growing up in Port Angeles.”
Shane Miller, Class of 1989
Shane Miller, 1989 graduate of Port Angeles High School, has always been into computers. “I received a Commodore Vic-20 when I was in the fifth grade,” he says, “and there were computers in Suzanne DeBey’s seminar class at Roosevelt.” Miller took a computer class from John DeBey in high school, and as he puts it, “That was the frosting on the cake! The DeBeys are both amazing people who contributed immensely to my development and education.”
The availability of accessible outdoor recreation opportunities in and around Port Angeles also opened doors for Miller. “I loved all of it….hiking, climbing, skiing and SCUBA diving. During high school, he was involved in Mountain Search and Rescue, and although it wasn’t a school district program, Miller’s participation did require some flexibility. “The school district’s willingness to accommodate an unorthodox program allowed me to have some very enriching experiences through my search and rescue activities,” he explains.
“The school district was big enough to have great resources, yet it retained the small-town character and feel. Especially compared to big cities, the schools were safe, clean, and there was a lot of great interaction with helpful, sincere teachers and staff.”
Miller attended Peninsula College, and later graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative History of Ideas from the University of Washington. He is married to another Port Angeles High School graduate, Coral Barbieri, and they have two children. Miller owns a thriving business in Port Angeles, Call Centers 24x7, which provides web site services, answering services, and mailing services.
Stuart Miller, Class of 2003
Stuart Miller, 2003 graduate of Port Angeles High School, never imagined that in just a few short years, he would have a good paying job and own his own home. “It all fell together. After taking Mr. Ellis’ introductory automotive class,” Miller says, “he asked me if I’d like to continue on in the program.”
When the high school was accepted to the Automotive Youth Educational System (AYES) program, a nation-wide effort started by General Motors (GM) to provide consulting and training for high school programs, Miller was asked to participate.
“Mr. Ellis said I could work in a paid internship during the summer,” Miller explains. “I was fortunate to mentor under Marty Lenzi, a ‘world class’ GM technician at Ruddell Auto Mall. In the fall, I entered a state VCIA competition, and placed second in the automotive competition.”
Miller received his Associate of Applied Sciences degree from Shoreline Community College’s GM Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP), where he received all eight GM certifications offered by the program. He now works as an automotive technician at Ruddell Auto Mall in Port Angeles.
Howard Ruddell, owner of the auto dealership, adds, “There’s a shortage of technicians. It’s best to ‘grow’ someone like Stuart, who had a chance to ‘test drive’ the program. A lot of managers started as technicians…. For a young man like Stuart, who has the education and the drive, the limit is wherever he wants to stop.”
Now I can go on to a four year college, take a few business classes, or continue working,” says Miller. “I have nowhere to go but up!”
Barry Moorhead, Class of 1992
“I’m a great role model for the underdog,” says Barry Moorhead, a 1992 Port Angeles High School graduate. By his own admission, Moorhead was a “late bloomer,” weighing only 90 pounds as a high school freshman. An accomplished athlete as a young child, he was devastated when he didn’t make the high school soccer team. Fortunately, he connected with tennis coach Kay Dill. She teamed him up with doubles partner Brian Kreider, and he was able to make his mark in tennis as a competitive athlete in tennis.
But Moorhead had more on his mind than athletics and academics in high school. His low weight and slow growth rate prompted a diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease, and his main focus in school became simply to stay healthy.
“My parents have been extremely supportive through all of my challenges and endeavors. Without a strong support network of family and friends I would not be where I am today,” states Moorhead.
“I’ve always been a dreamer too…. But to make your dreams a reality takes hard work and perseverance.” While involved in the former Alternative Program at Franklin Elementary School, he learned a valuable lesson under the guidance of Hester Hill, his fifth grade teacher. “She taught us how to set smaller goals to achieve the larger ultimate goal; it’s a simple concept that resonates with many successful people I’ve met over the years.”
“The bottom line is to expose yourself to as much as you can, whether your interests lie in music, athletics, or whatever. Everyone has something that they are talented at. Find what you’re good at, what gives you confidence, and work at something you enjoy,” says Moorhead. “That is success!”
Moorhead graduated from Peninsula College, and received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Washington. After pursuing a short career as a professional ski instructor in Vail, Colorado, he was accepted to dental school at the University of Michigan.
Moorhead now owns his own successful dental practice in Redmond, Washington, and teaches in the dental hygiene and assistant program at Lake Washington Technical College. He still enjoys skiing and playing tennis, but his latest passions involve training in mixed martial arts and tinkering with his salt water aquarium.
Karena Greeny, Class of 1997
“There are so many unique characteristics about Port Angeles,” says Karena Greeny, graduate of Port Angeles High School class of 1997, “…the ocean, mountains, lakes, wilderness, wide open spaces. I loved going to a high school where it was small enough to know the majority of the people, but also big enough to where you could get lost in the mix.”
Sports played a huge role in Greeny’s life. “Every season was filled to the brim! I played soccer, basketball, ran cross-country, and track. Sports taught me teamwork, discipline, and inspired me to succeed, plus I made friendships that will last a lifetime.”
Greeny’s hard work and dedication paid off in high school. She received a full scholarship to play basketball for the University of Hawaii, and graduated in 2004 with a degree in education.
“I am applying many of the same techniques I learned from participating in sports to my classroom and coaching. As a teacher, I try to instill those same values to my students....working together towards a goal, helping someone out, and listening to others to find a solution.”
Greeny, a sixth grade teacher at Pueblo School, will be married in April, and just finished her first season of coaching girls varsity basketball at Garey High School in Pomona, California.
Meagan Shea, Class of 2002
“My experiences in the public school system were very positive,” says Meagan Shea. “There was a great motivation behind school teachers and staff to help us succeed and become involved. During my freshman and sophomore years, I played basketball and was also a part of the Key Club. Basketball, by far, helped me fit into the environment best over any other aspect of the high school.
“I am also grateful for the opportunity to have attended Peninsula College through Running Start and pleased the school district is able to accommodate various students’ academic preferences.”
Before completing her Associate of Arts degree at the college, Shea worked in the Student Development office, obtaining valuable student services work experience that allowed her to pursue her chosen career path. Her five years employment at North Olympic Orthopedics also contributed to her professional experience.
She completed her Human Services degree at Western Washington University, and was hired in January 2005 as the Coordinator of Career and Job Placement Services at Bellingham Technical College. Concurrently, Shea is in the Student Affairs Administration graduate program at WWU. “My future plans are just this,” she says, “to be employed in a higher education institution working within student affairs.”
Whitney Harrington, Class of 2000
“It was only in leaving Port Angeles that I was able to appreciate what a gift it was to grow up there,” reflects Whitney Harrington, a 2000 Port Angeles High School graduate. “Spending four years on the East Coast, surrounded by people from all over the country and hearing their stories from childhood, I realized what a unique place Port Angeles is…. a place that nurtured me and allowed me to thrive, while at the same time exposing me to a wide variety of perspectives and ideas, concepts of the world and life styles.”
“I remember staying after school with Ms. Duncan-Taylor to switch test tubes from one hot water bath to the next – my first experience with PCR (polymerase chain reaction). It was Ms. D, as we affectionately called her, who probably first sparked my insatiable desire to study the world around us, to want to try to better understand the jumble of molecules that make us.”
“I remember burning different kinds of salts with Mr. Weeks, or what zinc looks like when you drop it in hydrochloric acid. And thanks to Mr. Johnson, I not only remember who Madame Defarge was, but I also remember how the book was written and something of the nature of its author. I think about these people, and the influences they have had on my life, all the time.”
Harrington graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in June 2004 with a degree in Honors Neurobiology, and is currently enrolled in the MD/PhD program at the University of Washington.
“My hope is to be able to successfully combine my love of bench work science and research questions with my desire to interact with and help patients on a daily basis,” notes Harrington.
Amy Mattie, Class of 2002
“Growing up in Port Angeles has helped me appreciate being a part of a small town and community,” says Amy Mattie, now a senior at Whitworth College. “I always feel the same small town friendliness here in Spokane that I have always felt growing up in Port Angeles.”
Mattie had many influential teachers in Port Angeles schools, but recalls that Rob Edwards, her leadership class teacher at Stevens Middle School, played an important role in her life back then.
“We are still in touch today,” says Mattie. He encouraged us to get involved in our community, and stressed how important it is to set goals in life.”
“In eighth grade, I had the opportunity to travel to Japan with a group of students from Port Angeles. This experience opened doors for me, and since then, I have continued to travel around the world.”
Mattie was involved in softball, soccer, Key Club, Japanese Club and the Interact Club at Port Angeles High School. “Being active in school helped me to get involved in the community, and meet people that I may not have met otherwise. I made the greatest friends through sports, many whom I am still in contact with today.”
Mattie will graduate in May with a degree in elementary education and endorsements in English as a Second Language and Reading. After completing her student teaching in the Spokane area next fall, she hopes to teach overseas, perhaps in Japan.
Tyler Reid, Class of 2004
“Growing up in Port Angeles has influenced my work,” says Tyler Reid, 2004 graduate of Port Angeles High School. “My father taught me how to work at a very early age, and I was able to transfer that work ethic when I started working for my mentor, Toga Hertzog of Toga’s International Cuisine.”
Reid played on the high school soccer team, and was a member of the North Olympic Peninsula Skills Center culinary arts team. “Through my Skills Center experience, I was able to obtain scholarships through the Western Culinary Institute and Haller Foundation. I also had the opportunity to attend the BOYDs Culinary Cup Competition in Seattle, the northwest's premier high school student culinary competition.”
“At Western Culinary I have been working on the development of foods that incorporate science into the production of food,” explains Reid. “One of my current experiments that I’ve been testing is a crème caramel filled with a hot chocolate sauce.”
After completing his degree, Reid plans to finish an externship at Restaurant Zoe in Seattle, and then move to Fruedenstadt, Germany to do his apprenticeship in a 5-star hotel under a world-renowned German master chef.
“Cyndee Wood, 1993 graduate of Port Angeles High School, will always cherish the opportunity that she had in middle school to be involved with National History Day.
“In seventh grade,” Wood remembers, “our group of five students acted in a play on the history of Port Angeles and won several competitions, taking our play to Washington, D.C. What a memory!!””
This program taught me about our city pioneers, acting, teamwork, fundraising and of course, Washington, D.C. landmark history and government. I am grateful to Stevens Middle School for participating in the program, and thank the Port Angeles community for their financial support!”
Wood also notes, “Teachers, parent helpers and the community have all played roles in my life, and I am again finding the same experience for my daughters. My husband and I are very pleased with the wonderful elementary teachers at Dry Creek School. With education standards intensifying, it is obvious the teachers are taking on the responsibility to provide students with the tools to succeed in today’s world.”
With thirteen years in banking, Wood is now an Assistant Vice President/Branch Manager at Sterling Savings Bank in Port Angeles, specializing in commercial lending for the Olympic Peninsula. She is currently studying for her securities license.
Steve Pazan, Class of 1973
Steve Pazan, a 1973 Port Angeles High School graduate, is particularly grateful for the guidance of his seventh grade teacher, Mr. Larry Welch. “He helped me tremendously with my reading skills. I was falling further behind in school because of this, and not being able to read up to my potential. He gave me such great personal attention and direction when I needed it most. In fact, he showed great interest and enthusiasm whenever I spoke with him. We continue to be great friends to this day.”
“I remember all my high school instructors saying you need to attend college,” says Pazan, “and that high school is the place to prepare. Continuing to learn is a life long process, and that ability helped me in my transition when Rayonier closed and I needed to retrain for a new job.”
Pazan had just started integrating technology into his job at Rayonier, helping in the planning and testing of the labeling system, and making recommendations on the direction technology should take.
“My last day at the pulp mill was on a Friday, and by Monday I was attending classes at Peninsula College.” With the help of Rayonier and the Transition Center at the college, Pazan was able to earn certification as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.
Pazan, who is also a graduate of Washington State University, now works for the Port Angeles School District as a Computer Support Specialist.
“I don’t even think there was “technology” when I was a student in Port Angeles schools. But since I have worked for the district, the kinds of technology and their uses have changed even more, becoming an integral part of the district and life in general.”
Shawnee Hathaway-Ochs, Class of 1994
“My teachers taught me more than just math, science and English. They taught
me about life,” says Shawnee Hathaway-Ochs, a 1994 Port Angeles High School graduate. Hathaway-Ochs didn’t realize how great an influence her teachers were until returning to the school district as a teaching assistant. “Teachers are so much more than instructors. They teach our children values and morals like respect, kindness and responsibility.”
Hathaway-Ochs’ passion in high school was basketball. She reflects, “Playing sports isn’t just about the game. I learned how to work as part of a team, on and off the court. When you work with other people, you have to take their thoughts and feelings into consideration. You have to work together to meet a common goal, in spite of your differences. All of these life lessons I’ve carried through into the workplace.”
Another great influence, says Hathaway-Ochs, was her seventh grade experience in the Natural Helpers Project. “We were trained to help our peers when they were in trouble or had a personal problem,” she says. “Thanks to Mrs. Diann Lavik and the Natural Helpers program she directed, I began my path in helping others and currently work in Career Services and Services for Students with Disabilities at Peninsula College.”
Darren Davis, Class of 2005
“Growing up in Port Angeles has been a positive experience,” says Darren Davis, 2005 graduate of Port Angeles High School. “All of my teachers throughout my schooling made me feel valued and respected as an individual.”
Davis attended Monroe Elementary school, and remembers “the C.A.F.E. program and working with older students on projects. Mrs. Peterson was my first grade, and favorite, teacher at Monroe. She made everyone feel successful about themselves.”
“Darren was a student in my class for several years,” Marty Peterson, now a teacher at Franklin Elementary, says with pride. “During that time, Darren showed the strength of his character when the going got tough by never giving up. Darren persevered and worked extremely hard to meet his main goal, which was to be the very best he could be.”
Davis attended culinary arts classes at the North Olympic Peninsula Skills Center. “I liked learning to cook and sampling foods the best! I learned how to sauté vegetables and how to do more cooking at home.”
Gary Beatty, Davis’ homeroom teacher throughout high school helped him start his Employment Support Program through Safeway. Now Davis is gainfully employed there as a courtesy clerk. Davis says, “I enjoy greeting the customers. I really like working with people.”
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