New teachers at Sisters Elementary School

Sisters Elementary School welcomed three new teachers this fall.

Students welcomed Ashleigh Thomas, replacing longtime P.E. teacher Mark Lamont; Danielle Pulliam as a new third-grade teacher and Ashley Bye as the new Title Teacher for both reading and math.

Both the P.E. and title position replaced staff who have moved on from the Sisters School District. Pulliam's position is new to the District - added this year to help keep class sizes small as promised by District personnel. Superintendent Curt Scholl credits the passing of a bond in May, which helped the District pay off the full-faith and credit obligation and put that money directly into the classrooms, for the third-grade teaching position.

Pulliam began her teaching career overseas in Taiwan teaching English to young children. She then moved back to the states and taught many English As A Second Language (ESL) classes in the San Francisco Bay area.

In her spare time she loves being outside and spending time with her husband and nephew.

"I'm looking forward to get to know all my students and participate in all the fun Sisters traditions," she said.

Thomas taught P.E. at Sisters Elementary School nine years ago, when Lamont took a leave of absence to travel to Nepal with his non-profit Ten Friends. Since then she has been teaching at Ponderosa Elementary School in Bend and living in Sisters. She is glad to be working closer to

home.

All students at SES have P.E. once per week with Thomas. In addition, she and music teacher Shelley Hicks have combined their efforts to offer Music & Movement every Wednesday for all students.

"We dance, we drum, we bring in guest musicians (at Music & Movement)," said Thomas.

She brought that program with her from Ponderosa Elementary School, and the students have been excited about it so far this school year.

The P.E. program offers a half-time teaching position, which enables Thomas to be home with her three small children - a perfect fit for her schedule.

Ashely Bye, a Culver native, comes to the Sisters School District excited to help kids in the Title reading and math programs. Bye taught at Sage Elementary School in Redmond, in Madras, and in Arizona prior to arriving in Sisters this

year.

The full-time, federal Title position is designed to help bridge the achievement gap within students who may be struggling with core subjects.

Bye says she received her Title credential because she has always enjoyed reading and wants to help foster a love of reading within her students. There are several Title nights planned for students and families that can benefit, and she will be sending information home with students as it becomes available.

"I'm really looking forward to spending time with the kids and watching them grow throughout the year," she said.