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Don Gronning
Newport has long history of graduates returning to work for the Newport School District
NEWPORT – For decades Newport High School graduates have returned to the Newport School District to work as teachers.
Former high school basketball star Jim Murphy is probably one of the earliest grads to return to Newport to teach. The 1974 NHS graduate held Newport’s basketball scoring record for 37 years, 1,216 points.
After graduating Eastern Washington University, where he had played college football and later coached, Murphy started to look for a career.
“I liked sports,” he says. His mother was a teacher and his siblings all went on to be teachers. “What else was I going to do?” He put his teaching degree to work at Colville, where he taught the first five years. Then he came to Newport in 1986, where he first taught junior high physical education and coached high school football.
“I was excited to come back to be football coach,” Murphy said. “I love the people here.”
Among the people he coached was current Newport School District Superintendent Dave Smith, a 1989 NHS graduate. Smith returned to Newport to be superintendent in 2013. Smith said his father probably had the biggest influence on his decision to go into education. His father had also been superintendent at Newport. Smith said Murphy also made an impact.
“As a student and an athlete, I would say that Coach Murphy had a ton of influence on me,” Smith said.
Smith is just one of several grads who returned to Newport to teach over the years. David Bradbury a current NHS teacher, like Smith and former high school principal Jaime Pancho, all played for Murphy. They graduated to return to Newport to work.
Tradition continues
The trend of returning to Newport to work in education continues with a new generation of teachers and professionals. We interviewed just some of them as the school year gets underway.
Robby Owen, who is a new teacher this year, teaches seventh grade math at Sadie Halstead Middle School.
Like many we questioned, Owen didn’t know he wanted to be a teacher at first.
“I never really knew that I wanted to be a teacher,” he said. As the oldest of six, he was put into leadership and teaching roles early but didn’t consider working as a teacher. “It was not until high school and my first year at college where family friends in education said that I had the makings to be a good teacher.”
Smith didn’t know he wanted to teach until he was out of the Navy. His father, Dave Smith, had been superintendent at Newport, so Smith thought he might end up in education.
Kainoah Bowman returned to his alma mater a couple years ago to teach special education, mostly math, he said. He is simultaneously student teaching and finishing his master’s degree. Bowman didn’t know until college he wanted to be a teacher, although he liked school as a kid.
“I was taught by my parents that academic achievement is highly important,” Bowman said. “I enjoyed doing math, learning life lessons, and getting to know my teachers and friends.”
Luke Nichols is a new teacher. He teaches physical education at the high school. He also teaches strength and conditioning and lifetime activities. Nichols knew he wanted to be a teacher early on.
“I knew from my sophomore year in high school,” Nichols said.
Daylan Kiss, a 2019 NHS grad, has been working at the school. She is a Student Assistance Professional, working for the Educational Service District and contracted to Newport.
“My job consists of meeting with students one-on-one for counseling services, planning and running substance use prevention related events such as Red Ribbon Week,” she said.
Kiss was ambivalent about school as a kid.
“I mean, school wasn’t the best thing in the world, but I didn’t hate it,” she said.
She said she was surprised at how easy it is to transition from being a student to an employee.
“I always thought it would be awkward to go from a student to a coworker, but it honestly was pretty seamless,” she said. “It’s been fun to be a part of the other side of the school.”
Career switch
Kati Henshaw did not like school when she was a kid.
“No, I did not like school,” she said. She said teaching wasn’t something she considered as a career.
“I was a wildland firefighter for eight years, and in the medical field for 12 years,” she said. Then she made a career change and came to work at Newport in 2019, where she teaches health and medical sciences, as well as fire science.
“It was just an opportunity that presented itself to me, but I feel like it happened for a reason because I love it.”
Most of the NHS grads returning to Newport were influenced by teachers when they were in school. For Henshaw, Tom Anselmo had an influence on her.
“He was stern, but kind. He commanded respect and as a student, you knew not to mess with him,” she said. She said Pat Stahl also inspired her. “He made me feel like I was important, and capable,” she said.
Influenced by Newport teachers
A variety of teachers made positive impressions on the grads that came back to work for the Newport School District.
Kiss was fond of several NHS teachers. She said it was hard to pinpoint just one.
“I went to France with Mrs. Behrend for a school trip, I was constantly motivated by Mrs. Burnham, I spent countless hours with Mrs. Hicksfrazer, and those are just naming a few,” she said. “The list goes on and on.”
Former high school principal, teacher and coach Jamie Pancho was the inspiration for several returning grands, including Nichols and Owen.
“Jamie Pancho and Dave Pomante were both very influential teachers to me in my life in the classroom, on the court/field, and in life,” Owen said.
“If I had to attribute it to a couple, it would be Mr. Pancho in fourth grade and Coach Pomante in high school,” Nichols said.
Bowman said he was also inspired by Newport teachers.
“I had several teachers influence me,” Bowman said, including Saraya Pierce, Dave Pomante and Todd Matthews, to name a few. “The best and most influential people I knew growing up were my teachers and coaches, so I wanted to pursue teaching to give back to the wonderful community of Newport.”
