We’ve sent several updates with Reopening Information this week, and don’t have additional “new news” today, but we’re sharing a recap of information we shared this week, in case you missed our earlier messages:

Additional details are available on our Reopening Web Page, including the new hybrid/100% remote Frequently Asked Questions section. If you have other questions or concerns, please call us at 425-413-3400 or email us at TSDMessages@tahomasd.us.

From the time she was a young girl, Maret Unruh knew that she wanted to be a teacher. Inspired by teachers who helped shape Unruh into the person she is today, she said she wanted to help impact young people in a similar way.

“I felt nurtured, cared for, and stretched to take risks and become an even better version of myself,” said Unruh, the new Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning for the district. “I felt that by serving in education I could make a difference in the lives of the students in my care.”

The position that Unruh filled beginning July 1 has been unfilled since the former assistant director of Teaching and Learning, Amy Torrens-Harry, took a job with another school district in 2018.

Unruh started her teaching career in the Snohomish School District in 1997 after graduating from the University of Washington. She taught third, fourth and fifth grades, and later became an instructional coach. She most recently served as an assistant principal at Tahoma High School.

“I love the relationships I get to build across the system and the interconnectedness I experience on a daily basis. Supporting teachers and principals in best practices in service of our kids fills my cup. I love partnering alongside other leaders in our system as we learn and grow together,” Unruh said. “I count it as a privilege to help provide leadership in our system where kids are at the center of our decisions. I feel lucky to have a part in ensuring that our student experience is the best it can be.”

Learning her new job in the midst of the pandemic is a challenge, and working to respond to urgent needs and determining what to prioritize is difficult, she said. The team in the Teaching and Learning Department, as well as the support of other leaders throughout the system make it somewhat less overwhelming, though. 

“I have had the privilege to learn alongside some amazing leaders in our system who invested their time and energy in helping me to grow. It is through this that I realized that I wanted to continue on in my journey to hone my skills and earn my administrative credential so that I could help provide leadership in our system,” Unruh said. “My entry into administrative work at THS was one of the best and most rewarding experiences in my career. Having all of my years of service in elementary, I was scared to death, but I have never felt more at home, nor have I learned more in one year. It was a great place to spread my administrative wings and I will forever be grateful for that opportunity to experience and understand our secondary system.” 

Before she made the move to work as an administrator, Unruh took some time off to raise her children and, during that time, her family moved to Maple Valley. When her youngest child enrolled at Glacier Park Elementary School, Unruh said she began to realize that Tahoma was a special system and that she wanted to become a part of it. In 2010, she joined the staff at GPES as a fourth grade teacher. 

When she isn’t working, Unruh loves spending time with her family hiking local trails or walking their two labradors, Griffey and Bentley. Her son attends UW Foster School of Business, and her daughter, a senior at THS, hopes to become a Husky as well. Unruh says she’s a daily visitor at Starbucks, and loves seeing former students and community members there.

Asked what she would like families, staff and students to know, Unruh said she values their input and partnership. “I want to be approachable, and seek to understand so that I can help influence and lead in a way that is most supportive.”

For all of her career in education, Carrie Burr has focused on advocating for students and building relationships -- first as a coach and P.E. teacher, then as athletics director and activities director and, most recently, as an assistant principal.

Burr grew up in Seattle, and started coaching at age 19. In the years since, she has coached softball, basketball and soccer. “When you’re coaching, you’re a big ‘vision’ person. I felt like I had a pretty good pulse on my students.” That experience and ability to see the big picture will serve her -- and her new students -- well in her new position as assistant principal at THS, where she hopes to help the school community continue to evolve and improve.

“What I loved about both athletics and working as an activities director was being involved in the culture of the school,” said Burr, who started her career at West Seattle High School, then most recently worked at Ballard High School in Seattle. She and her family recently moved to Maple Valley. Burr said she’s thrilled to have the opportunity to both cut down on her commute time, creating more time to spend with her family, and also to be able to live in the Tahoma community.

“We are so lucky to have Ms. Burr join us at Tahoma High School. She was well known for being a ‘student first’ school administrator,” Principal Terry Duty said. “Carrie is a big believer in community involvement and being part of the community she teaches in. Being a former activities director and coach, Carrie wants our students to strike a balance between academics and activity. Student involvement and engagement are what make the high school experience a memorable milestone in life. We couldn’t have found a better fit for our school!”

As a PE teacher, Burr says she loved adding variety to her curriculum, from circus arts to stations with group challenges, cosmic bowling, “create your own game,” cricket, Aussie rules football, fencing, archery and more. “My goal was to find something for every kid -- even for the ones who hate PE. You just have to have fun!” 

For fun in her time away from work, Burr enjoys spending time with her family, biking, running, and finding quiet moments in places like Lopez Island. “I feel like my job is my hobby,” she joked.

During her time at Ballard High as activities director, she helped create a program called “Bucky’s Home for the Holidays,” which worked to provide gifts for those in need and helped bring students and staff together for a good cause. While Burr was athletic director, she helped create an end-of-year athletic awards night -- like the ESPYs -- to honor not only excellent athletes, but also the best humans. A third idea that she helped bring to fruition as an assistant principal instituted an after school study hall that gave students an opportunity for academic study, support and space.

“There are those times when you want to make a bigger difference … and think about how you can help change and evolve the culture.”

When she made an informal visit to THS last spring, Burr said she turned on to the street called “Tahoma Way” and was immediately excited about what she felt and heard from staff. 

“I was pumped. I came in and grilled everyone, asking, ‘What’s your ‘why?’ It felt too good to be true, like continuing my work. I want to work with people who are inspired to work,” she said. “I’m excited to be here, to meet and to serve.”

“I would love to be part of the evolving Tahoma High School. How do you create the future in the best possible way?”

Tahoma School District hired 60 new certificated staff this year. 

This number includes Carrie Burr, introduced above; and four staff members who we wrote about in prior issues of the district newsletter, Equity Director & Special Projects Coordinator Emilie Hard; Maple View Principal Bill Weis; Lake Wilderness Principal Melanie Ready; LWES Dean of Students Amanda Blashaw. 

Some of the certificated staff members listed below are returning to Tahoma after time away.

Welcome to Tahoma; we’re glad to have you with us!

Tahoma High School is planning a "drive-through" picture day. This is an optional event and will be by appointment only. If you choose to participate, you must follow social distancing guidelines including wearing masks before and after getting your photo taken.

Picture appointments are available after school from 3-6:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 5, Tuesday, Oct. 6, Thursday, Oct. 8; and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10.

To make an appointment, click here.

Firefly Images has two options available for you to order pictures:

1. Paper option: Staple cash, check or money order to the form (see post in discussion area of this event, or check your email for the attachment) or enclose it in an envelope and attach that to the form.

2. Online option: Click here to order online. Note: If you use this method, no other form is needed. Just send your receipt/confirmation with your student when they come to the camera (printed or on their phone).

Photo stations will be available on the east side of the high school, in both the bus loop and the staff lot. We will have volunteers helping to guide traffic.

The Tahoma Community is invited to attend the virtual meeting of the School Board for its annual planning meetings, which will be conducted this year via Zoom. The full-day planning sessions will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 17. To attend virtually, send an email to TSDMessages@tahomasd.us requesting the links. 

The topics that will be discussed include work to create a shared vision that will guide the next five years of focus and targets, the annual board reorganization, a discussion of the budget and district finances.

The Tahoma School District is hiring for substitute bus drivers, substitute custodians, substitute school nurses, paraeducators, Extended Enrichment Program assistants, playground assistants and more. If you are interested in joining our team and helping provide Tahoma students with an excellent education, please visit our website here.

Or, for more information or answers to questions, call our Human Resources Department at 425-413-3444.

The Tahoma School District Safety Committee met late last month, on its usual quarterly meeting schedule. The agenda included sharing lessons learned during campus drills; regular reports on staff and student injuries; a review of an assessment by the Puget Sound Workers’ Compensation Trust; an update on the Reunification Training Plan; a discussion of the yearly earthquake drill (see related news item below); and an update from the District’s COVID-19 Task Force.

Because Tahoma students will not be back in buildings during the time of year that the district typically conducts an all-Tahoma earthquake drill, the District Safety Committee wants to invite Tahoma families and community members to participate in the “Great Washington ShakeOut,” a drill organized at the state level.

The statewide drill is always the third Thursday of October, and this year’s falls on Oct. 15. The drill calls for participants to plan ahead and discuss what to do during an earthquake with your children, family, coworkers or whomever will take place in the drill. Use the “drop, cover, and hold on” method to practice protecting yourself.

To register for the drill or find out other details about how to participate, click here.

Public Health -- Seattle & King County, the Seattle Visiting Nurse Association and the Kent School District have partnered to plan a drive-through flu vaccination clinic from noon-5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10 at the ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St., Kent. (Near bus lines 150, 166, 180).

"Roll down your window; roll up your sleeve," the flyer invites. Walk-ups are also welcome.

The vaccine is free for children, with no insurance required, while supplies last. Open to ages 4-18.

Organizers ask that if you attend, you bring your family's vaccination records, wear short sleeves, and have everyone over age 2 wear a face covering. Please stay home if you are sick.

Adult flu vaccine is available from the Seattle Visiting Nurse Association. Registration is required for the adult flu shot: schedule.seattlevna.com

More information is available at kingcounty.gov/findaclinic

Maple Valley Mayor Sean P. Kelly and the Maple Valley Police Department are collaborating to combine this year’s “Mayor’s Day of Concern” for the Maple Valley Food Bank & Emergency Services with the Maple Valley Police Department’s “Stuff the Police Car” food drive. 

The drive will be at the north entrance of the Maple Valley Fred Meyer store from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3. Food, household essentials and monetary donations will be accepted on behalf of the food bank. 

“Come say hello and pick up some very special police swag, as well as a picture with the police car,” Chief DJ Nesel said. The donations will be used “to support those members of our community who are in need, especially through these trying times.”

Meals are being served curbside, free to Tahoma students and any children 18 and younger, via a USDA program, at Lake Wilderness Elementary and Tahoma High School. For times and other details, click here.

To check out what's on the menu, click here.