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 a Masters in Education from California State Dominguez Hills and a BA from University of California, 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.