Hi, I’m Shannon Kearney. My family and I moved to an 80-acre ranch in

the Colville area in 2005. Soon after we moved here, I heard about the

cool little school in Onion Creek. In fact, I applied and was hired to be a

long term substitute preschool/kindergarten teacher in the summer of

2006. That is how my journey at the Onion Creek School started.

Eventually, I was hired to teach full time and just finished my 9th

full-time year at OCS.

While working at OCS, I was asked to go back to school to become a

special education teacher. I agreed and graduated with my Masters in

Special Education in December, 2021 and became our certified SPED

teacher. I really enjoy connecting with the kids and seeing the growth

that they make educationally as well as socially and emotionally

throughout the year.

I enjoy when kids ask a question and we go on an unexpected educational

walk because the kids want to know more about a topic. I don't have all

the answers so we all get to learn together. For me, it is very important to

be able to say, “I am not sure about that answer.” I will often say, “Let's

look it up and learn more.” I feel that it is extremely important for kids to

realize that adults don't always have the answers and that adults make

mistakes as well. I am not above apologizing to a student for telling them

a wrong answer, or looking up information in front of them if I’m unsure.

My philosophy is that if we expect for kids to be open and honest with us,

then we need to model that in our teaching and interactions in the

classroom.