Submitted by Diego Zepeda, Jacob Summers, Jadyn Smith, and Ryan Mittelstead
7th– and 8th-grade students from Pioneer Middle School, Shelton, WA
One of our most important goals at ESD 113 is to “Grow People.” It takes courage to find the hidden skills of our current community members and then encourage them to grow for our children. It also takes time…a lot of time.
Coral Warren started her career as a marine biologist in Texas. She spent several years traveling the world and trying to follow her dreams. But eventually, she ended up in Washington working as a scientist (growing mushrooms) as a mycologist. When her young children began school, she volunteered in their classrooms and learned she enjoyed spending time with students. Much later, she worked as a substitute paraprofessional at Pioneer, spending time on the playground with children. Finally, a full-time Special Education paraeducator job came along, which encouraged her to go back to school to get her teacher’s credentials and then her Master’s degree from Northwest University’s “Grow Your Own” program.
Coral credits two Pioneer staff members, Martha Hoss and Pam Endicott, who encouraged her to work days and go to school nights and weekends. And she credits the 7th and 8th graders for making her job fun and challenging every day.
This year, she has officially joined the 7th-grade Science teacher’s team as she mentors students in Life Science. Each class works outside in the Pioneer Organic Garden with our local Pioneer Master Gardener’s Club. The members help the students plant, fertilize, harvest, and even cook organic food for their class and then take home the recipes to their families. Their specialty is organic salsa.
Diego said, “Her time in Australia helped our class learn about dolphins and snakes. We love it when Ms. Warren talks about getting trapped in a bathroom with a poisonous snake outside!”
Jacob and Jadyn said, “Her wonderful background in other countries helps us relate to her teaching! She really individualizes her class so that we get to do tons of hands-on work. That is how we learn!”
Ryan said, “She is so down-to-earth! Her style is not just from a book! She is a true role model to our whole school. I wish I had 10 teachers like her!”
Congratulations to Ms. Coral Warren…our Profiles in Courage Teacher.
Would you like to nominate someone for our Board of Directors to honor as a profile in courage?
- Any employee, resident, volunteer, or student in one of the 44 school districts and one tribal school represented by Capital Region ESD 113 is eligible to submit candidates for consideration to [email protected].
- Please keep submissions to 400 words or less. Photos are also welcome.
- A small committee will review the applications. The Board Chair will read one selection each month prior to our Board meeting. In addition, that month’s submission will be prominently featured on our ESD 113 website.
Think about the heroes in your life who have done courageous things to support our students and staff members. We want to honor the wonderful role models who have been working in our public schools!
