Liz Courtney

Liz Courtney is serving as Stehekin School’s Elementary teacher beginning in the fall of 2019.  Liz has served the Stehekin School District in many capacities for over 40 years now. While she and her husband Tom raised  their four children in the Stehekin Valley, Liz served either as the music teacher, as a school board member, as the readiness program teacher or primarily as the classroom aide.  Liz has worked side by side with children of all ages in our school  teaching anything from mathematics, algebra, writing, science and beginning reading and writing to painting and music. A deep knowledge, love and appreciation for Stehekin’s integrated curriculum and the quality education it provides, plus her love of children brought her to this position.

Tom and Liz have four children who each attended the Stehekin School for eight grades. Stehekin has been home to Liz since she stepped off the boat in 1976. She began working with the children at school very soon afterwards and mentored for decades with Ron Scutt, nationally recognized for his initiation of a one room school approach to teaching. She has attended many workshops and classes over the years, to add to her initial college education.

“I am more than fortunate to have learned from a master teacher such as Ron, about the finer points of working with children and enhancing their learning experiences.

“Our Stehekin School understands children and their developmental ages and needs. It is such a pleasure to approach discovery through main lesson units, artwork, movement and handwork. For instance, this year we studied local Stehekin trees and integrated hiking, mathematics, writing, research and science while taking a close up look at these wonders growing right here.  We have painted and created a large mural of several types of local trees taking up a whole wall of our motion room complete with life cycles, critters, and elements. This is a sample of how we approach learning and how it can involve every age or grade at the same time.

“I am beyond grateful to serve as the Stehekin School teacher and work with such fine children, parents and community. And, you can’t beat the setting and the commute! “says Liz.

Liz enjoys spending time with her grandkids and family, playing music with Tom and friends, playing guitar, mandolin and piano, singing with Stehekin crooners, gardening, rockhounding, traveling and writing when she has time.