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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Giving credit where credit’s due


Mountain View Alternative graduate Taralee Scott loves her horticultural class so much her teacher calls her
Mary Jane Honegger Correspondent

Taralee Scott didn’t think she would ever graduate from high school. That is, until she began attending Mountain View Alternative High School in Rathdrum and discovered it was the perfect school for her. She credits smaller classes, caring teachers and the time teachers are able to spend with each student for the fact she was able to join former classmates from Lakeland High as they walked across the stage and threw their caps into the air on Thursday .

The daughter of Tami and Mike Scott, she was an active participant in activities and events this past year. Principal John Klingaman praised Scott for her participation in drama districts, the reverse job fair and an economic summit. He said she completed a senior project “and did very well in district competition,” despite the fact the project was not yet mandatory at her school.

Scott enjoyed school so much this year that she had trouble picking a favorite class – drama, biology, horticulture. That’s a big change for her. She said she failed biology at Lakeland because of the big classes and labs without enough individual instruction, but at Mountain View, it’s different. “The teachers go over everything a lot and there are reviews, so by the time a test comes, you pretty much know everything that is going to be on it,” she said.

The teachers think pretty highly of her, too. According to Klingaman, Scott has been so successful with plants in her horticulture class, that her teacher, Dawn Mackesy, calls her the “Green Queen.” Scott admits that’s her nickname and said she grew more plants than any other student, filling the greenhouse the school uses with “tons of plants,” including her favorite, a big yellow squash.

Despite her new-found appreciation for growing plants, Scott said she isn’t planning a green-thumb career, choosing instead to focus on what her friends tell her she does best – working with hair. She plans to move to Spokane this summer and begin cosmetology school at Spokane Community College in the fall. But, with new-found self-assurance, Scott said she plans to become the owner of a salon some day, and is getting the cosmetology degree so she will have “something to fall back on.”

Outside of school, Scott stays busy. She has a part-time job at McDonald’s and spends a lot of time with family. She said going to church with her family on Sundays is an important part of her life and she also helps her mom out with a day care and preschool she runs out of their home. For fun, she enjoys the music scene. “I love to go to concerts,” she said with a big smile. She favors local bands, especially “metal,” at places like The Big Easy or The Boulevard in Spokane.

Then, there is working with hair. “I cut all my friends’ hair,” said the striking 18-year old, who has a two-tone shag hair cut. She also cuts and colors her own hair, changing it, she admits, about once every two weeks.

When asked about a favorite teacher, Scott’s response made it obvious there is an unusual dynamic at this school – a mutual admiration society between students and staff. “I really think I never looked up to a teacher growing up, but after coming to this school, I think that Mrs. Mackesy and Kling, have become, like, my two most favorite people. I look up to them so much.”

She said of Mackesy, “She really helps out a lot with doing work and I think she is the nicest, caring, most fun-loving person. I really enjoy her – I consider her a friend.” Her thoughts on her principal were no less glowing. “Mr. Klingaman is the type of guy who will go out of his way to make sure that you graduate. Coming here, I didn’t think that I would be able to graduate at all. Now I’m going to be graduating on time with all of my friends at Lakeland. What more could you ask for? He’s an amazing guy and he does everything he can to make sure the students are happy.”

With the fondness of a parent, Klingaman shared his pride in Scott as well. “We are very proud of Taralee. She’s going to be walking across the stage with the Lakeland graduates on June 5 – we just don’t know what color her hair will be.”