schools
january11
12
2011
Who Works At Your Schools? Meet Teri Willard
Teri Willard, in her own words,
keeps reinventing herself as a teacher
at Vernonia High School. An electives
instructor, Willard loves her job and
loves her students and keeps finding
opportunities to teach here in Vernonia.
Originally from New York,
Willard taught Spanish in Colorado for
five years before moving to Oregon.
She was a stay-at-home mother for ten
years and moved to Vernonia with her
family in 2006, where she again took up
teaching. Willard, who had been living
in Clackamas, says she chose Vernonia
because she wanted to get away from the
crowded suburbs and schools. “I was
looking for a small place where I could
teach,” she says.
In Vernonia, as a part-time
teacher, Willard continues to teach
Spanish, and in the past has taught
Aerobics and Folk Art. Because of
shifts in faculty and curriculum, this
year she is teaching Leadership. “I think
these students are the best of the best,
and they are just amazing,” says Willard.
It’s awesome and I hope I get to keep on
teaching them.”
“I was a leadership nerd in high
school, involved in student council and
planning activities, dances and events,”
continues Willard. “I’m really enjoying
it [teaching Leadership]-- I think I have
the best job in Vernonia!”
Willard is very encouraged by a
recent trip the Leadership students took
to a state conference. “The students
were really inspired by that conference
in the fall and are really doing some fun
things. Their goal in September before
the conference was to boost school spirit
and I think they have done a really good
job so far.”
Willard is one of those teachers
that every student should experience
during their educational years, an
instructor who cares about and enjoys
her work and builds real relationships
with her students. Willard is actively
engaged in the lives of her students, not
just their school day lives, and treats
them like real people. “I love young
people,” says Willard. “I can’t think
of anyone I would rather spend my day
with than a high school or middle school
kid. I love their energy.”
This past year, Willard put
together a team of twelve students to
compete in the Hood-to-Coast Run and
has already registered a team again
for the 2011 run. “It is not a school-
sanctioned activity, but it’s still fun,”
says Willard. “I’m not a coach-- I go as
the driver and cheerleader. It’s a lot of
fun and very challenging for the kids.
And they have a blast!”
helping the students fundraise for the
trip and organizing a fantastic itinerary
for the traveling group. Right now, plans
include time at a Sea Turtle research
center where students will help patrol
the beach and and collect turtle eggs to
protect them from poachers. Plans also
include travel through the rain forest,
a home stay with a local family, a visit
to an indigenous community, a zipline
adventure and a visit to a butterfly
reserve. “I have traveled with students
before, but it was more as tourists,
staying in hotels and traveling by bus
from place to place,” says Willard. “This
will be more like an ecotour.”
When not teaching Vernonia
students, Willard says she enjoys
spending time with her family. She
enjoys listening to music, watching
movies, cooking and going out to
restaurants to eat, hiking and being
outside, and road trips and traveling.
Teri Willard is one example of
Teri Willard teaches Spanish and
someone who cares about Vernonia,
Leadership at Vernonia High School.
about our schools, and most importantly,
She has also been working with about the students she teaches.
a small group of students for a trip to
Costa Rica this upcoming summer,
VHS Winter Sports Report
the right time and is very
exciting to watch. Make
plans to come out and
Boys Basketball-- At the beginning of the season,
watch a few games this season.
Coach Ted Aubin predicted the Loggers would finish
their non-league schedule without a lot of wins, and
Vernonia entered league play with a 3-6 record. But the Wrestling--The Loggers Wrestlers are picking up right
Loggers have shown improvement as the season has where they left off last year. Coach Chris Wolfe has
progressed and wins over Neah-Kah-Nie and Riverdale almost his entire team back from last years’s defending
and a tough loss to Knappa, put the Loggers 2-1 in the District Champions squad, and their experience is
showing. Joe Benes, Shylo
2A Northwest League.
Dooley, Cody Cowles, and
Against Riverdale on
Dillon Dethlefs are all wrestling
January 4, the Loggers took a slim
well, and the varsity squad is
two point lead into the locker room
getting contributions from Quin
at halftime, but came roaring out
Johansen and Kodi Dyer in the
after the half, defeating the Mavs
middle weights. Brett Benes,
by a score of 63-39. Coach Aubin
Jacob Alf and Alex Barber have
got inspired inside play from Bob
been solid in the upper weight
Michalec, and Austin Edgar, great
classes.
passing and ball handling from
At the Clatskanie Invitaitonal
Paul Whiteman, clutch shooting
over the holiday break, Shylo
from Tanner Faber and Jordon
McMahon and an all around The Vernonia Loggers’ Shylo Dooley was Dooley was named Outstanding
dominant during a recent home meet.
Wrestler of the meet. Coach
outstanding performance from
Wolfe
said
the
team
also performed well against
Craig Weller, who was a menace on defense and trouble
all night for the Mav’s offensively. The Loggers bench Monroeville, Eddyville Siletz and Perrydale on January
provided help all evening with Byron Weller and Austin 5, only losing a handful of matches in the entire meet.
At the home dual meet in Vernonia on January
Cutright contributing positive minutes.
The Loggers and Lady Loggers have key 6, the Loggers were dominant, defeating Knappa,
league home games against Gaston on Jan. 11 and Rainier and Warrenton. Joe Benes, Dooley, Cowles
Portland Christian on Jan. 13, as well as upcoming and Johansen were all outstanding. Alex Barber won
home games against Neah-Kah-Nie on Jan 27 and a classic heavyweight bout against Knappa and Brett
Benes also wrestled well. Even first year wrestler Bill
Nestucca on Feb. 1st.
This team appears to be coming together at just Organ got the first two wins of his young career, both
s
Na
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ath Health Se
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Girls Basketball--Coach Steve Whiteman is looking
forward to league play with his team. So far the Lady
Loggers have shown promise after a tough non league
schedule, which should prepare them for their games
against their Northwest League rivals.
The girls were 1-1 in league play before
struggling at home against big and tough Riverdale on
January 4, losing 58-39 and then dominating Delphian
71-11 on January 6.
Coach Whiteman says he has a deep team and
has received strong inside play from Mickell Maller,
good ball handling, shooting and aggressive play from
senior guards Megan and Ariel Rock. He said he’s
happy to have Kim Allen, who has been recovering
from an injury, back in the line-up, and that freshman
Stephanie Castro has been a leading scorer. Whiteman
says he has gotten solid play from his bench including
Kristina Halvorson, Samantha Lindauer, and Natalie
Wallace .
This is an aggressive and tough team that
should be fun to watch as they make a run at the league
playoffs.
Mariolino’s
Pizza & Grill
Open for
breakfast,
lunch & dinner
Dr. Carol McIntyre
Naturopathic & Chinese Medicine
503.481.4096
cccmnd@yahoo.com
naturalpathhealthservices.com
by pins, the first in nineteen seconds.
The Loggers are headed to the Oregon Classic
in Redmond on January 13, and 14 before returning
home to face Corbett and Clatskanie on Thursday
January 20th. They will also wrestle at the Clatskanie
Tournament on January 22 and the Scappoose
Invitational on February 5, before their final home
match on February 8 against district rival Central Linn
and Neah-Kah-Nie. You are encouraged to come out
and support your Loggers--this is a very talented team!
We have ice cream!
Serving Vernonia since 1970
786 Bridge Street
Vernonia, OR, 97064
721 Madison Avenue, Vernonia
(503) 429-5018
Owned and Operated by
Don & Kim Wallace
