Corbett District Senior Teacher

Meet the Corbett School District's Senior Classroom Teacher. The position was certainly not awarded based on age! Kristin Wold was born in the Gresham area and grew up in the same home her entire life. She has both a younger brother and sister. Her father passed away a few months ago and her mom is now living in the Puyallup, WA. area. Kristin attended the Gresham schools in the grade and middle school years, but asked her parents if she could go to a smaller high school. They agreed upon Portland Lutheran High School. Kristin says that although school came easy for her, she was not focused on academics. She says that she loved to read, play outside and be creative. Both middle and high school years were spent in choir as a lower alto and sometimes even a tenor! She also did stats for different sports teams just so she could be a part of the team since she wasn't much into athletics. After graduation, she got her first job at the local grocery store, Teals. It has since become a Safeway. She was hired to bag groceries and carry them to the car for folks. It was here she met her husband- 12 years her senior! Carl was a pharmacy clerk, and they began dating. It was at this time that Kristin also began teaching sunday school. It was here she fell in love with teaching! Her and Carl got married and Kristin decided to go to school and get her degree so she could become a teacher. It took six years, but she went to Portland State Univ. and got her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She begand scanning the newspaper to find a teaching position! She circled all the ones of interest. Corbett was her second interview. She was their #2 choice for the first grade position. Quite disappointed, she later received a phone call stating that the 5th grade teacher retired and now the position was available. Was she interested? She was a bit nervous to teach the "older" kids, but she accepted! Fellow teacher, Holly Dearixon helped get her through the first year of teaching at the school that has since burned down. Kristin says the building was so old, the boiler pipes clanked all throughout the day in her classroom! Kristin was moved to 4th grade the following year and then 3rd grade the year after that. In 1996 they moved to the brand new grade school where she got to choose her room. She chose the "view room" and has loved that space ever since. She is currently teaching a K-1st blend and could not be happier! In 2000 Kristin gave birth to daughter Juliana, who now is attending Corbett High School. The family of three live in Carl's grandmother's previous home in NE Portland. Kristin's family LOVES to travel and have visited Easter Island, Japan, East Africa, Pacific Islands and numerous other spots. Kristin enjoys studying geography and has a 50 year old pen pal in Japan that has helped her understand the culture. Kristin also has a private tutor that teaches her the Japanese language on a regular basis. What does Kristin love most about Corbett? "It has continued to evolve into a place where there is an abundance of happy energy. Teachers are grateful to be there and they collaborate regularly. The administration treats teachers as professionals and with respect." With such an upbeat attitude, no wonder colleagues appreciate having her in the position of Senior Classroom Teacher of the entire district!