Meet Our New Staff
Miranda Eaton
Ms. Eaton is teaching Kindergarten here at Gess.
"I grew up in Spokane and did half my undergrad at WSU Pullman and the rest at WSU Vancouver. I continued my education at WSU Vancouver where I received my Masters In Teaching. I have been living in Vancouver, WA for the past 7 years but I am extremely excited to have moved back closer to home!
My family has just purchased ten acres a little north of the Deer Park area! I was extremely excited to find a small-town school community like Chewelah!
Fun Fact: I lived in New York City for a couple years and I go back to visit often! One of my favorite places in the whole world is Central Park in Manhattan!"
Eli Holm
Mr. Holm is our new Assistant Principal.
"I like to say that I have been in education since I was 5 years old. I have been a formal educator for 25 years, having served as a High School Performing Arts Center Manager, Outdoor Education Director, Middle School Teacher, Dean of Students, and Assistant Principal/Athletic Director/ASB Advisor. In my time, I have had the privilege of serving in a variety of schools in a variety of districts around the state, both large and small. My why in working in education is to create and sustain schools where I would want to place my own children. I love skiing, travel, musical theatre, and dance, especially watching my own children dancing and performing with the men's competitive dance team.
It is my mission to take my job seriously but not take myself too seriously."
“We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist … using technologies that haven’t been invented … in order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet.”—Richard Riley, former Secretary of Education
“We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist … using technologies that haven’t been invented … in order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet.”—Richard Riley, former Secretary of Education
Micah Holmes
Mr. Holmes is teaching in the New Beginnings program at Gess.
Sheri McDonald
Ms. McDonald is teaching in our special education program at Gess.
"It is good to be back in Chewelah with all the beautiful mountains and activities one can do throughout the year. I have 3 wonderful young adult kiddos, enjoy family and friends, cooking, reading, riding quads, fishing, and a good fire with smores.
Teaching is my passion that I hold dear to my heart. Students amaze me and I love seeing their determination as they learn and apply a new/old concept. It’s important for me to provide my students with fundamental tools to help them believe in their own unique abilities, work through a challenge, take risks, and become flexible problem solvers. Overcoming a learning obstacle is like riding a bike. You know what you want to accomplish and may fall a few times, get tired, and want to quit but you keep getting back on and do not give up. This process is valuable and can be accomplished in our classroom with a creative, productive, safe, and supportive environment that will encourage growth and I can do this attitude.
Have a wonderful year!"
Teaching is my passion that I hold dear to my heart. Students amaze me and I love seeing their determination as they learn and apply a new/old concept. It’s important for me to provide my students with fundamental tools to help them believe in their own unique abilities, work through a challenge, take risks, and become flexible problem solvers. Overcoming a learning obstacle is like riding a bike. You know what you want to accomplish and may fall a few times, get tired, and want to quit but you keep getting back on and do not give up. This process is valuable and can be accomplished in our classroom with a creative, productive, safe, and supportive environment that will encourage growth and I can do this attitude.
Have a wonderful year!"
Kailee Morris
Ms. Morris is teaching 4th grade at Gess.
"I graduated from Central Washington University in March 2023 after student teaching in a Kindergarten class in Ellensburg. I grew up in Tumwater, WA, but my family moved over to Deer Park while I was in college. After graduating, I moved over to Colbert because I was close to family and central to job opportunities. I connected with CSD at a career fair in Spokane, and now I am teaching 4th grade at Gess! I love the tight-knit community that is Chewelah and have loved getting to know everyone!"