Welcoming New Faces: Mrs. Dickinson

 

Budget cuts have brought many brusque changes to RAL. Not only was our budget subject to change, but our staff has had to face many changes as well.

Mrs. Dickinson, who has been displaced from our cross-town nemesis MM, due to reduction in force, will be educating students in mathematics here at RAL.

 “I was never really into the school rivalry anyway,” said Dickinson

 Although Dickinson came from MM, we have done a sublime job at making her very comfortable here.

“The experiences have been very similar. Everyone, teachers, administrators, and students, have been so welcoming at RAL. I have felt right at home here,” said Dickinson

Dickinson has been situated in room 210, what many of us recall as Mr. Kolberg’s former teaching venue.

This will be Dickinson’s third year as an educator; her first year was at Lake Stevens, WA.

 She has a degree in both Chemistry and Mathematics from Western Washington University.  Therefore, it’s understandable if you cannot decipher the cryptic posters scattered throughout her room.

“I have always enjoyed math and science. I like things that have one right answer.  I majored in chemistry and math because they are very similar and build off of each other. I also like the challenge of trying to get students to enjoy math,” said Dickinson.

Dickinson’s family is very established in Longview Schools with her mother a former teacher at RAL and father a Principal for many years in Longview.

“My dad’s name is Jerry Westendorf, he was principal at several different elementary schools (he ended his career at Mint Valley).  My mom’s name is Penny Westendorf, she taught business classes at RAL for over 30 years,” said Dickinson.  

Mrs. Dickinson will be a valuable and well received member of the RAL family.