Mr. Derek Jaques is Corbett's new EnviroSTEM Principle at Corbett High School. Derek is baaaaaack after beginning as a teacher at Corbett High in Sept. 2002. Getting his administrative credentials in 2008, Derek then job shared administrative responsiblities with Lori Luna and Phil Pearson until 2011. Leaving Corbett, Derek first took a job as Vice Principal at West Linn High School "The work load and long commute were horendeous" says Derek. After just a year, Derek moved his career path to Camas High School, just two miles from his home. Although the opportunity, location, pay and position were great, there was a heart pull for Corbett. It is easy to realize in a short amount of time that Mr. Jaques is all about relationships. Derek very happily chose to return to Corbett because of this. Corbett's intimate setting of knowing his students and having close relationships with co-workers ranks high on the list of what most appeals to him. Derek's parents divorced when he was just 6 months of age. He has an older bother and a younger half sister. For more than half his childhood, Derek's mom was a single parent, constantly on the move. Living in the general Portland area, Derek graduated from Centennial High in 1993. It was a football scholarship, teachers and coaches that got him to college. Derek got a need's based full-ride scholarship to Lewis and Clark College in Portland, graduating in four years with a major in both history and economics. Derek had a passion for many sports, not just football. He met a man named Roy Altman through his brother Chris, and Roy asked Derek to come to Corbett to help him coach kids. Derek was already employed after college, but soon realized as he was coaching kids that he really loved being around the students. A parent encouraged him to look into teaching, so he did! He applied for the MAT Program at Concordia College in Portland and was accepted. Prior to starting the program, he left his job and traveled. Derek backpacked through Europe with friends for 3 months then moved to Hawaii for 5 months to work with a close friend from college in the financial world. In 2004 Derek met his wife Lyndsay on a church rafting trip. What started as a light friendship turned into 10 months of intense dating before marrying in July 2005. Today Lyndsay and Derek live in Washougal, WA. with their children, Keaton (6) and Laila (3). Derek is thrilled to be back amongst friends and families in the community that still mean so much to him.
