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Washington Elementary School, Sandpoint Middle School, and Sandpoint High School are among my most favorite alma matters. I am proud, and turns out, very lucky to have grown up through the Lake Pend Oreille School District. Now I am honored to be a first-year, first-grade teacher at Southside Elementary School.

Like many of us, I didn’t realize how good I had it as a student here at Lake Pend Oreille School District. That is, until I left — taught and learned in other districts near and far. Looking back, I warmly remember the results of our educators’ hard work. I remember learning sign language, falling in love with reading, and even creating entire ecosystems contained in a single classroom.

I had no inkling of the hours of work, the collaboration, and the dedication of my teachers to prepare and inspire me. I certainly didn’t know that our taxpayers voted to sustain the levies that made many of these memories possible.

The tradition of supporting our children, our neighbor’s children, and our educators, shows that we are a community dedicated to each other, to providing an education our kids can count on — no matter where in the world they go.

And that is something to be proud of.

So as a student of the Lake Pend Oreille School District, I say thank you to everyone who voted yes, and as a teacher — proud to teach where my heart is — I ask that you do so again.

CLAIRE GERVAIS

Sandpoint