Susan joins the Upper School with extensive experience in special education and student learning support. Most recently, she served as a Special Education Teacher at Steamboat Springs High School and previously spent four years as the Director of Student Learning at the Parker School in Hawaii. She holds an MA in Special Education from California State Dominguez Hills and a BA from UC Berkeley. Susan has lived abroad in Japan, speaks/writes Japanese and trained horses/drove cattle on a station in Queensland, Australia. Susan is grateful for her family: spirited husband, bold son and fiery daughter plus an Irish Wolfhound/service dog; Susan hopes “Twiggy,” can share her big heart with SMS students. Susan’s family also includes their German Shepherd disguised as a bear along with a horse who thinks he’s a dog and two rascally cats. Susan is thankful she gets to work and live –amidst the Zirkel wilderness — coloring her backyard and adventures.