Audrey Gomez
Tavia Thornton has started her 10th year at Sweet Home Charter School, but this time in a different office – the principal’s.
For the past nine years, Thornton has been the administrative assistant at the school. When longtime Principal Scott Richards moved to People Involved in Education’s charter high school in Lebanon this year and his position opened up, Thornton wasn’t sure about filling that role.
But after much thought and encouragement from PIE Director Mary Northern, previous principal Scott Richards, and the support of her husband Larry, she decided to give it a shot.
PIE is the organization that governs Sweet Home Charter School and the two Sand Ridge Charter Schools in Lebanon.
In some ways, Thornton’s experience as the school’s administrative assistant is beneficial, she said.
“It’s a lot of really good years, a lot of really good families and wonderful staff. You’re working very closely with parents and students.”
She appreciates the family feel of Sweet Home Charter School, as well as the respect and structure that is stressed in the classrooms.
“It was important for me to keep that,” Thornton said.
That vision is one of the things she kept in mind when hiring teachers for the school. Six of the nine teachers are new this year.
She also appreciates the way math classes are blocked.
“All kids are doing math grouped by ability, not age,” Thornton said.
That hasn’t happened for reading yet, but there are incentives to help students enjoy learning new words.
Thornton keeps a couple of punch cards by the door of her office. When students from Raychel Swanson’s ____-grade class learn a new word from their list, they can claim a prize.
The Charter School is not offering sixth grade this year because it needs to correct some problems with its septic system. The student body is 154 students, down from 235 last year.
While Thornton’s experience helps with the relational side of the principal position, there is a learning curve on the teaching side of things, she said.
Thornton does not have a college degree, though she is a licensed administrator through the Teachers Standards and Practices Commission. She has a Charter School Registry Administrator’s license, which required her to take the Oregon Educator Licensure Assessment.
She also does not have classroom experience.
To help remedy that, she plans to go into classrooms to observe and get a better handle on the curriculum.
In her spare time, Thornton enjoys outdoor activities.
She and her husband have a hobby farm where they raise sheep. She also is a member of the worship team at her church.
“I love the outdoors, whether it’s gardening or biking,” Thornton said. “Just doing things to stay healthy and active so I can enjoy my grandsons.”
She’s also participated in some triathlons.
“Swimming, biking and jogging – not running,” Thornton said with a laugh.
She missed it this year, but she has participated in the Best InThe West for the last three years in Sweet Home and twice at Blue Lake.