Three Chehalis School District principals with a combined 60 years of service to the district will be retiring at the end of the school year, the district announced last week.
The retiring principals are James Lintott Elementary School Principal Brenda Pohlman, Orin Smith Elementary School Principal Rachel Dorsey and Chehalis Middle School Principal Chris Simpson.
“As Brenda, Rachel and Chris step away from their roles, they leave behind more than just memories. They leave a legacy of dedication, resilience and care that will echo through these schools for years to come,” Chehalis School District Communications Assistant Jesse Smith said in a video sent out to district families on March 26 that included interviews with each of the three principals.
“To these principals, we say thank you, for the long days, the tough calls, and the countless ways they’ve shaped our community, and as they move on to new adventures, we wish them all the best knowing the impact they’ve had here will never fade,” Smith said.
Smith’s full interviews with each departing principal can be viewed here:
Brenda Pohlman
Pohlman began her teaching career in 1996, working as a self-management teacher for K-6 students in the Centralia/Chehalis Special Education Cooperative and teaching fourth grade in Centralia before joining the Chehalis School District in 2003.
She started as a special education teacher at Chehalis Middle School before leaving the district to serve as a special education teacher on assignment and supervisor of special education in the Tumwater School District. She returned to Chehalis as the assistant director of special education for the Centralia/Chehalis Special Education Cooperative in 2013 before serving as assistant principal and principal for R.E. Bennett Elementary School, then as assistant principal and principal for James Lintott Elementary School.
Pohlman earned her bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate from Saint Martin’s University in 1994, earned her master’s degree from Antioch University Seattle in 2001 and her administration credentials from the University of Washington in 2005.
When asked by Smith what she thinks her greatest legacy in the district is and what impact she hopes it leaves, Pohlman said, “The first thing that comes to mind is the Spirit of Aloha. Simply put, it’s just being present with someone and the breath of a spoken word or words that come from the heart. For me, it’s just a very important way that you’re greeting someone with respect, being honest in your words and having that unity. Here at Lintott we’re not just family, we’re Ohana. My hope is that people remember that and carry that within them so that in the face of adversity or a challenging situation, just remember we all are walking together and just to have that love, that Spirit of Aloha.”
Pohlman plans to focus on her health during her retirement and prioritize traveling with her husband, spending time with her grandkids and focusing more on her hobbies, which include baking, gardening and photography.
“The thing that I’m going to miss here is the Lintott Ohana. They’re my family, too,” Pohlman said.
Rachel Dorsey
Dorsey joined the Chehalis School District in 2001 after she left a teaching position at Toledo Elementary School. She taught at Chehalis Middle School and coached volleyball through 2013, at which point she shifted into administration. This year marks her third as principal of Orin Smith Elementary School, according to the Chehalis School District.
Dorsey earned her associate’s degree from Centralia College in 1998 and earned her bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate from Saint Martin’s University in 2000. She subsequently earned a National Board Certification and ELA endorsement in 2008 and earned her administration credentials from the University of Washington Bothell in 2013.
When asked by Smith what she thinks her greatest legacy in the district is and what impact she hopes it leaves, Dorsey said, “This is a difficult question because it’s not just about me, it’s about us, by my greatest goal is that we gave students hope, that we believed in them, that we believe in them now and we believe in their future, and that will transfer over. We believe in the power of ‘yet.’ You may not be there yet, but we believe you’re going to get there. So that is the legacy that I hope that I and we have passed on, giving our students hope for a great future.”
Dorsey is currently working on a children’s book that she plans to publish this summer.
“That’s something I’ve had a desire to do for years,” she said, thanking Orin Smith staff member and published children’s book author Haley Carnoski for her support throughout the process.
Dorsey plans to continue mentoring and providing professional development during her retirement, with a goal of impacting students' awareness and learning through reading, she said.
Chris Simpson
Simpson worked as the dean of students and an elementary school teacher in the Kent School District before he joined the Chehalis School District in 2006. He graduated from Western Washington University in 1996 with bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology, and later earned his master’s in teaching degree and principal certification from City University of Seattle. He also earned an administrator professional certification from Seattle Pacific University.
When asked by Smith what he thinks his greatest legacy in the district is and what impact he hopes it leaves, Simpson said, “Well, the easy answer is the morning announcements, because I could be anywhere in town, I could be in the grocery store or anywhere and I can hear ‘Simpson: make it a great day or not. Choice is yours.’ so that is a pretty good thing to leave behind. I already experience that. I think the other thing for me is just bringing fun. Bringing humor, fun, to the school and the district.”
Simpson specifically recalled a Saturday Night Live-inspired skit he performed with now-Chehalis School District Superintendent Rick Goble and a Progressive commercial-inspired skit he performed with longtime Chehalis Middle School Assistant Principal Heidi Fagerness. He also cited themed spirit days at Chehalis Middle School as a legacy of fun to leave behind.
“Those are kind of the main things that I leave behind and that I hope leave pretty good memories,” Simpson said.
Simpson will be moving back to his hometown of Rainier, Minnesota, to be with family, he said.
“My hope is that — it isn’t that I’m not excited to be here, because that is not the case, but excited to be with some family who maybe need some extra help, and then maybe find myself back in a fifth grade classroom,” Simpson said.
