Tammy moved to Spokane Valley when she was just 2 years old and has never left. She graduated from University High School and earned her accounting degree from EWU. Her career in East Valley began in 2006 at Trent Elementary, where she worked as a dishwasher and helped fill science kits. This job provided a perfect work-life balance, allowing her to work while her kids were in school and enjoy summers off to spend time with them.

Tammy eventually decided to pursue substitute work within the district, taking on roles as a paraeducator, dishwasher, cashier, and secretary across all of East Valley’s buildings. In 2013, she returned to full-time work as a paraeducator, starting at Trentwood Elementary before moving to Otis Orchards Elementary. In 2021, she transitioned into a secretary position at EVMS, where she has been ever since. Over the years, Tammy has worked with 16 different principals and has seen thousands of students graduate.

Tammy has two children, both of whom started and completed their education in East Valley. Her daughter is working towards her Doctorate in Physical Therapy, while her son works as a forensic scientist with the Phoenix Police Department. Tammy now lives on a 5-acre farm, where she gardens, raises cattle, and spends time with her dog. Each morning before work and every night after, she enjoys quality time with her mom, doing puzzles, watching Jeopardy!, and chatting about their day.

Why she loves East Valley Middle School: Tammy loves EVMS because of the people—it's not just the staff, but also the students. The staff feels like family, and they enjoy many get-togethers throughout the week, from breakfast on late start Mondays to locker hotdogs during special occasions. Tammy takes great joy in watching the students grow and develop into young adults. She especially loves it when seniors, who are ready to step into the real world, return to visit the middle school.

Why she chose East Valley: When Tammy worked as a paraeducator, she supported students who needed extra help, whether it was with reading, math, writing, or personal needs. She knew she could make a difference, so when she moved into her home within the district 28 years ago, she knew this was where her children would grow up. The East Farms area offered a peaceful and relaxing environment. What started as just a job has since become a passion for Tammy—she now works to ensure every student has the support they need to succeed in life.

Favorite part of her job: Tammy’s favorite part of the job is the students. With her children having moved out of state, she loves spending her days in the student office, where students come in for a life saver and to chat with her about their classes and their lives.

Fun fact: Growing up, Tammy played the drums in her high school marching band. The band traveled to Whitewater, Wisconsin, where they won the National Band Competition. She earned a gold medal, just like the ones awarded at the Olympics.

Three words to describe her: Selfless, Hardworking, Caring

On Friday, February 28, 2025, East Valley High School hosted its first-ever Unified Basketball scrimmage. Unified Sports brings together students with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. The initiative is based on a simple yet powerful idea: training and playing together fosters friendship and understanding.

Our next Unified season will focus on Track and Field, with practices starting on March 24, 2025. The events in Unified Track and Field include: shot put, coed 100m dash, coed 4x100m relay, and a spring medley (100m-100m-200m-400m).

Since November, a dedicated team of 20 K-5 educators has been engaged in a comprehensive core math adoption process. Our team has diligently established group norms, consensus protocols, and a clarity statement. Additionally, we have participated in several hours of professional development focused on mathematical practices and conducted a thorough evaluation of our current Go Math! core materials, discussing their strengths and weaknesses. These efforts have ensured that we remain focused on what will best serve our East Valley students.

Following the winter break, our team spent three days meticulously examining various sets of curriculum materials. We reviewed Ed Reports, engaged in quality discussions, and conducted our own in-depth evaluations. Through this process, our team reached a consensus on two finalists: Eureka Squared and Bridges in Mathematics. We have invited representatives from both curriculum companies to East Valley in March to provide more detailed information about their core programs. This will facilitate further discussions and enable us to reach a final recommendation for the Instructional Materials Committee. Upon approval by the Instructional Materials Committee, we will proceed to submit our recommendation to the school board.

Our team has demonstrated unwavering focus and dedication to this work, always prioritizing the best interests of our students. We consistently refer back to our Clarity Statement during each meeting, keeping it at the forefront of our thoughts and discussions.

K-5 Math Core Adoption Committee Clarity Statement:
Select a rigorous, equitable math curriculum addressing identified essential standards, mathematical practices, and the needs of all students.

Exciting news for families with young children! Kindergarten registration is officially open for the 2025-2026 school year. Parents and guardians can now register their children for kindergarten online by clicking HERE. 

This is an important milestone in your child’s educational journey, and it's the perfect time to ensure that your little one is ready to begin their school adventure. To ensure a smooth enrollment, families will need to gather necessary documents such as proof of residence, vaccination records, and proof of the student’s age and legal name (birth certificate, passports, adoption records, hospital documents, and other documents permitted by law). 

Enrolling early ensures your child is placed in their neighborhood school and gives you peace of mind as you prepare for this exciting milestone. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to set your child up for success in kindergarten and beyond. We look forward to the Class of 2038 joining us in August!

We’re thrilled to share that the 27/28 district calendar has been finalized and approved by the Board of Directors!

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We Belong - We Believe - We Learn - Together, We are East Valley!

In East Valley we create a culture of academic excellence by fostering an inclusive community where each student belongs, thrives, and is future ready.