DID YOU KNOW?
Tacoma’s story spans more than two centuries from the time Captain George Vancouver anchored off Tacoma’s north shore in 1792.
In 1870, Tacoma’s natural deep-water port became an attraction that the Northern Pacific Railroad couldn’t pass up, when it made Tacoma a stop on its transcontinental line.
Old Tacoma and New Tacoma merged in 1884 and incorporated as Tacoma. By 1890, the population reached 36,000 people.
Tacoma is home to the Port of Tacoma, the seventh-largest container port in the United States, and it is within 20 miles of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and 36 miles of the city of Seattle.
Mary Beth Cole,
Lower School Learning Specialist, Specialist Cluster Chair
Mary Beth Cole is the Lower School’s learning specialist. “I believe in the importance of early intervention strategies for students with learning differences,” says Cole. “I think it is important to teach children about how they learn so that they can become strong advocates for themselves and let teachers know what their needs are in the classroom whether they are visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners.”
Cole earned both her bachelors and masters degrees at California State University. Her first career was in nursing. She joined the faculty at Charles Wright in 2002 and serves as the learning specialists’ cluster chair.
“At Charles Wright I am given all the resources and support necessary to be a successful educator,” says Cole. “I have worked at other schools where one of the main goals was to teach to a standardized test in order to increase test scores. CWA values each student’s individual learning style and encourages professional development opportunities for all teachers. I also appreciate the parents’ strong commitment and dedication to learning shown through their active participation in their children’s education.”
“One of my favorite memories as a teacher was when a student asked me to go to Williamsburg, Virginia, with the fifth grade class. He said it would be ‘really cool’ if I went and he was right. It was one of the most memorable and amazing trips I have taken in my lifetime and I will always have a special bond with the class of 2013 because of the life-changing experiences we shared together.”
Cole volunteers at the YMCA teaching American Red Cross classes on lifeguard training, CPR, first aid, automated external defibrillator use and blood-borne pathogens. She enjoys swimming, running, camping, boating and spending time doing anything outdoors with her husband and son. She ran the Los Angeles Marathon and has also served as a track and swimming coach for the Special Olympics. Cole and her family have adopted a 17 pound cat named Maui from the Humane Society.
Cole earned both her bachelors and masters degrees at California State University. Her first career was in nursing. She joined the faculty at Charles Wright in 2002 and serves as the learning specialists’ cluster chair.
“At Charles Wright I am given all the resources and support necessary to be a successful educator,” says Cole. “I have worked at other schools where one of the main goals was to teach to a standardized test in order to increase test scores. CWA values each student’s individual learning style and encourages professional development opportunities for all teachers. I also appreciate the parents’ strong commitment and dedication to learning shown through their active participation in their children’s education.”
“One of my favorite memories as a teacher was when a student asked me to go to Williamsburg, Virginia, with the fifth grade class. He said it would be ‘really cool’ if I went and he was right. It was one of the most memorable and amazing trips I have taken in my lifetime and I will always have a special bond with the class of 2013 because of the life-changing experiences we shared together.”
Cole volunteers at the YMCA teaching American Red Cross classes on lifeguard training, CPR, first aid, automated external defibrillator use and blood-borne pathogens. She enjoys swimming, running, camping, boating and spending time doing anything outdoors with her husband and son. She ran the Los Angeles Marathon and has also served as a track and swimming coach for the Special Olympics. Cole and her family have adopted a 17 pound cat named Maui from the Humane Society.
