Good Morning Stanwood Middle School Families!
We wanted to start this Family Message with our Meet The Spartan Staff segment.
This week we are turning our spotlight on the two Veterans on our staff, Mr. Bill Randall and Mrs. Morgen ten Hoopen. These are two examples of staff who are empowering our students everyday!
Mr. Randall is in his first year of teaching! He is teaching art and 6th grade social studies. His favorite thing about Stanwood MS is "everything," especially the students and their energy. He really loves the building itself because it reminds him of when he was a young boy spending time in his father's high school science classroom, where he learned his love of drawing--specifically the animals suspended in formaldehyde.
Mr. Randall served in the Army National Guard from 1987-1993 as a chaplain’s assistant. He worked with people who were having a tough time and helped them get back on their feet and in service to our country. Mr. Randall says he can find the drill sergeant deep within him when he needs to from his time in the military.
Outside of school, Mr. Randall's current hobby is doing school work. He's proud of the fact that now that he's entered the teaching profession after a career in graphic arts, he can be part of a family legacy. Not only did his dad teach high school, his son is a teacher at Stanwood High School as well. The Randalls are a three generation teaching family. Mr. Randall also volunteers as a scout master locally and loves to spend time with his family.
Mrs. ten Hoopen is in her third year of teaching all of which are at Stanwood Middle School. This is her second year teaching 7th and 8th grade science. Her favorite thing about Stanwood Middle School is the students, saying, "When I'm grouchy, they help me turn it around--they're great!"
Mrs. ten Hoopen attended the Naval Academy from 1990-1994, and then served in the Navy until the year 2000. Mrs. t was a surface warfare officer and left the military as a Lieutenant Commander. She served on two ships, the USS Port Royal, a ticonderoga carrier, and the USS Nimitz, an aircraft carrier. Amongst her many accomplishments during her time in the Navy is she is the first woman in the world to drive an aircraft carrier–not to mention, she is also the first woman to dock it in a tricky location, the Naval Base in Bremerton.
Her family has a history of military service, with her brothers, husband and oldest daughter all proud Naval Academy grads. Her father was also a Naval aviator and her grandfather flew blimps in World War II. Her daughter Lael, a senior at Stanwood High School, will attend the Naval Academy in the fall.
Outside of school, Mrs. ten Hoopen spends time with her family, often driving to Corvallis to see her daughter cheer for Oregon State University. She also coaches JV Cheer at Stanwood High School.
