Spokane Valley: A range of talents

Several things drew Ashley VanGeystel to Spokane Valley High School, a place that’s being transformed as a learning environment.

VanGeystel is graduating not only a year early but also at the top of her class academically with a 3.86 g.p.a. After completing eighth grade at West Valley City School, VanGeystel chose SVHS because she thought it would give her better opportunities to learn, leading up to graduation.

While there, she successfully balanced traditional classes during the school day with extra contract-based courses and served as the school’s Phoenix Café manager. She also found time for Future Farmers of America, ASB and in-depth projects.

“I thought I’d do better here than at a larger school,” said VanGeystel, 17. “It gives me more one-on-one time with the teachers for better learning.”

For more than 20 years, the school was known as Spokane Valley Alternative. However, in 2003, Larry Bush became the new principal and began restructuring SVHS in order to create a meaningful education for all students.

VanGeystel is credited by staff as being a team player in that vision who consistently served as a positive role model. When she tried out for West Valley High School’s track team this year, other students sometimes asked why she made her choice.

“When I go to West Valley, they ask me, ‘Why do you go there?’ They think it’s just an alternative school for bad kids. They have an alternative contract school here, but they also have the regular classes just like at West Valley. They’re just smaller. A lot of kids choose to come here now. A lot of students want to be here. It’s changed a lot.”

Among those changes, VanGeystel cited greater options for studies off campus, more hands-on work and a comprehensive approach to learning. For example, she worked on a landscaping project that was a combination of science, horticulture, landscape design and computer design work.

“You actually go to the yard. We have more of a hands-on approach that includes science, rather than just reading it in a book. That’s how I like to learn, with hands-on. If you need help, the teachers will help you here and make sure you understand it.

“With our café, we built management skills. Students get to prepare the food and we do catering for the West Valley School District. It requires organizing and business skills. It helped me a lot with business skills when I started a job.”

Beyond busy, she often starts her mornings by working at a latté stand, then she takes classes at SVHS, volunteers four days a week at Wishing Star Foundation and studies into the night for her contract courses.

This fall, VanGeystel will attend Spokane Community College, where she plans to study to become an ultrasound technician.

“That was a major goal for me to graduate early and still keep my grades up for classes here, so I could start college earlier and my career earlier.”

“I’d tell students thinking of coming here, don’t hesitate. I guarantee if people visited, they’d want to come here. It’s fun. You learn a lot. You get really good relationships with the teachers.”