When I graduated from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, with my teaching degree, I knew two things: I wanted to teach, and I wanted to come home, to Idaho. In October of 1994, I returned to our beautiful state, and I was ready to begin the career I had dreamed about.

My first classroom was a second-grade room at Sacajewea Elementary in Caldwell in the fall of 1995. For three years, I poured my heart into those students. Then life shifted. My husband accepted a position with the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, and we moved to the Boise area. I joined the Boise School District, teaching fifth grade at Franklin Elementary, a Title 1 school that stretched and shaped me in ways I’ll always value.

But in the spring of 2001, I received a phone call that would change everything.

Chuck Ward, the incoming principal of a brand-new charter school that hadn’t even been built yet, asked if I would join a small group of select, trusted teachers to become founding staff members of Hidden Springs Charter School. It was a leap of faith. I was pregnant with my second child, Hannah, and stepping into the unknown. But sometimes the best opportunities feel a little uncertain at first.

That fall, Hidden Springs Charter School opened its doors. We had no gym. No cafeteria. Lunch meant outside vendors delivering pizza, tacos, or chicken strips for an opt-in lunch, three times a week. We ate in our classrooms, and on Domino’s days, the smell of pizza lingered long after lunch was over. It was scrappy, imperfect, and absolutely magical.

One of my favorite projects began during those early fifth-grade years… the Living Museum. Students would research a historical figure and “become” that person, presenting in costume to visiting families. The first year, we carried desks outside on a sunny day, only to realize too late that sunburn and dehydration were real concerns. The next year, again the students carted their desks outside, and… it rained and snowed on them. We learned as we went. But the pride on those students’ faces as their families came to witness their creative work was priceless.

Teaching runs in my heart, even though I was the first teacher among my eight siblings. Others in my family have followed in my footsteps. My niece, Emily Broadie, volunteered in my classroom while completing her degree at Boise State. She has taught first grade at Hidden Springs since 2008. My nephew, David Tomasini, now teaches internationally in the Netherlands. Watching that legacy grow has been one of my greatest joys.

Eventually, I transitioned to third grade and partnered with Jody McCluskey, my “work bestie.” Together, we are the “dream team” as I tend to be more analytical, while she brings the creative flair. Our collaboration and partnership is untamed.

We’ve designed projects like the Caldecott reading celebration, the Heritage Family Box, and our beloved “Wacky Wednesday” activities. We’re proud to be the last two founding teachers still at Hidden Springs, having been there since 2001.

In 2009, the Boise School District transitioned us from charter to Hidden Springs Elementary, but our community-centered vision remained. In 2020, I began mentoring student teachers and serving as a Liaison in Residence with Boise State, helping guide the next generation of educators. Bringing young teachers into our building keeps the energy fresh and the future bright.

A highlight of my career was attending The Ron Clark Teaching Experience in Atlanta, GA, last fall with Emily Broadie. We learned techniques from the best of the best. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Perhaps the most meaningful part of this journey isn’t just inside the classroom.

When my son started kindergarten here, back when it was only half-day, a fellow mom offered to take him for weekly playdates so I could work in my classroom. That simple act of kindness turned into a lifelong friendship with Jennifer Geiger. That’s Hidden Springs. That’s what makes it home.

More than two decades later, I still believe in the power of community. I’ve seen it in classrooms, on playgrounds, in partnerships, and in friendships that feel like family. Hidden Springs wasn’t just the start of a new school; it became the place where my life and career were truly fulfilled.

And I’m grateful every single day that I answered that phone call.