Brent Perdue, principal, Madison Elementary in north Spokane

What was your favorite subject in elementary school? “Writing. I loved to write. I wanted to write the next great American novel.”

Growing up, what did you want to be? “Well, aside from when I was 6 or something and wanted to be a basketball star, in high school I wanted to be a physician or a teacher of law.” An in-class experience in a Seattle neighborhood changed his mind. “Teaching is where I’d really be able to make a difference in the life of a child. So I went back to Gonzaga for my teaching certificate.”

What’s an office trinket that means a lot to you? “I keep silly things, like all my hats. Teaching, I used to wear a different hat and become a different person for each class. I have Dr. Seuss hats and graduation hats and all sorts of hats.”

What was the last gift you got and who gave it to you? “My son has a stuffed dog named Coco and he draws me pictures of Coco-land – here’s one he just gave me: This is Coco’s treehouse, and there are all these slides, and places to eat.”