Trisha has 34 years of experience in public education and began serving the students and families of the Chehalis School District when she became the principal of R.E. Bennett Elementary in 2012. In 2019, after the opening of James Lintott Elementary and Orin Smith Elementary, she was named the Chehalis School District Director of Teaching and Learning. Now, as the Assistant Superintendent, she focuses on supporting the operations of the district through her work with facilities, technology, state and federal grants, and supporting school administrators. 

Prior to working in Chehalis School District she served as a teacher and school and district administrator in Elma, Tumwater and Napavine School Districts. She earned a Masters in School Administration from Heritage College in 2000 and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Washington State University in 1986. 

Trisha is married to her husband Ron and they have an adult son, Connor. 

Heather C. Pinkerton came to Chehalis School District in July 2010. She has been a public servant since 1998. She has worked in business offices for the Lewis County Auditor and the Center for Continuous Learning at South Puget Sound Community College. Immediately prior to Chehalis School District, she worked as an Assistant Audit Manager for the Washington State Auditor’s Office. As Chief Financial Officer, she is responsible for the business functions of the District. Heather is married, has a teenage daughter, and enjoys traveling with her family. She also enjoys watching Cougar football.

Leslie joined the Chehalis School District in August 2024.   She comes to us with 20 years of Human Resources experience. Leslie earned her Bachelor’s degree from Central Washington University and holds HR professional certifications from both The Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and The Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI). Prior to the Chehalis School District, she worked as the Chief Human Resources Officer for Valley View Health Center.  Leslie is a W.F. West graduate and is proud to work in the community she was born and raised in, and now raising her family in. Leslie is married, has two daughters, and enjoys spending time with her family.

• B.A. in Elementary Education

Washington State University

• M.A. in School Administration

Heritage College

• A.A.

Centralia Community College

• B.A. Business Administration

Washington State University

• Associate Degree

Centralia College

• Bachelor of Science Degree Business Administration, Human Resource Management Specialization

Central Washington University

Email: tsmith@chehalisschools.org
Telephone: (360) 807-7200

Email: hpinkerton@chehalisschools.org
Telephone: (360) 807-7200

Email: lwohld@chehalisschools.org

(360) 807-7200 ext. 8209

Katie started with the Chehalis School District at the end of June 2020. Prior to that, she worked in special education in the North Thurston School District. Katie enjoys watching her kids’ sports, 4-H, and orchestra activities. She also enjoys hiking, backpacking, reading, and volunteering with her trained therapy dog.

Rachel joined the Chehalis School District in 2001.  Prior to this time, she taught at Toledo Elementary.  Rachel has served as an assistant principal at the building and district level, as well as a teacher and volleyball coach.  She served as a Chehalis Middle School teacher through 2013, when she completed her administrative internship.  She has served as an administrator in the Chehalis School District since that time and is entering her third year as the principal of Orin C. Smith Elementary, where she previously served as the assistant principal. Rachel earned her Associates of Arts from Centralia College in 1998, and her Bachelors of Arts and teaching certificate from St. Martin’s in 2000, with an endorsement in Reading.  She completed her National Board Certification and ELA endorsement in 2008, and in June 2013, she earned her administration credentials from the University of Washington Bothell.

Rachel is proud to say her children, Levi and Lindsey graduated from the Chehalis School District, and is honored to be a part of such a community-supported school district focused on student success.

Rachel and her husband, Brian, have a son, a daughter, and three grandchildren:  Magnus, Diana, and Eliyana.  She enjoys traveling, walking, and spending time with her family and friends.

Jonathan joined the Chehalis community in the spring of 2021. His education journey began in Rochester at Maple Lane High School. He then spent 11 years teaching 7th-grade English Language Arts, Social Studies, and CharacterStrong Leadership at George Bush Middle School in Tumwater. “I seek to help students grow both strong hearts and strong minds; to give them hope and a future.”

Jonathan is married to Sally and has 2 lovely and weird daughters. When he is not assistant principal-ing, you will find him playing board games, tending to the animals and garden, wandering, or leading worship at his church.

• B.A., Post Graduate Program Administration and Principal Certifications

St. Martins University

• Master’s of Science

University of North Dakota

• A.A.

Centralia College

• B.A. and Teaching Certificate

St. Martin’s University

• M.A.

University of Washington,Bothell

• Principal Certification

University of Washington,Bothell

• B.A. with Literature Emphasis

Western Washington University

• M.A. in Education

Pacific Lutheran University

• Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership

City University of Seattle in partnership with the Puyallup School District

E-mail: khowell@chehalisschools.org

Telephone: (360) 807-7245 option 3

Chehalis School District
2025 SW Salsbury Ave.
Chehalis, WA  98532
Office: (360) 807-7245

Fax: (360) 748-8767

E-mail: rdorsey@chehalisschools.org

Email: jfox@chehalisschools.org

Website: Orin C. Smith Elementary School

Telephone: (360) 807-7225

Brenda has served students, families, and communities for 27 years. She began her teaching career in 1996. Prior to working in Chehalis, she was a self-management teacher for grades K-6 for the Chehalis/Centralia Special Education Cooperative and taught 4th grade in Centralia. Brenda came to the Chehalis School District in 2003 as a Special Education Teacher at Chehalis Middle School and also completed her administrative internship. She left for a few years to serve as a Special Education Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) and Supervisor of Special Education in the Tumwater School District. In 2013, Brenda came back to Chehalis and in her words “I get to come home” to lead as the Assistant Director of Special Education for the Chehalis/ Centralia Special Education Cooperative. She then went on to serve as Assistant Principal for Cascade Elementary and R.E. Bennet Elementary. Next, she was Assistant Principal and Principal for James W. Lintott Elementary. She earned her Bachelors and teaching certificate from Saint Martin’s in 1994, Masters in Education from Antioch in 2001, and Administration credentials from University of Washington in 2005.  

Brenda loves working in a school community that is committed to growing the hearts and minds of students. 

Brenda and her husband have a son and daughter and 2 grandchildren. She enjoys traveling, gardening, and spending time with family, 

Merisa’s passion is to build positive relationships and help the youngest of students create the foundational skills needed for their future success. She started with the Chehalis School District in 2007. She taught first grade, was an intervention teacher and then spent 12 years teaching Kindergarten. During the 2022-2023 school year, she served as the Dean of Students at Lintott Elementary.

Merisa is happily married to Travis and they have a 7-year-old son and a 9-year-old daughter. When their family is not at the ball fields or basketball court, they love camping, hiking, traveling and making memories together.

Chris Simpson came to the Chehalis School District in July of 2006 from the Kent School District where he was a Dean of Students and elementary teacher in both general and physical education. He graduated from Western Washington University in 1996 with a B.A. degree in both Psychology and Sociology. He earned both his Master in Teaching degree and Principal Certification from City University. He earned his additional Administrator Professional Certification from Seattle Pacific University.

He is a proud Dad to three daughters and enjoys spending time with them and watching each of them navigate their different paths in the world.

• B.A. and teaching certificate

St. Martin’s University

• M.A. in Education

Antioch University

• Principal Certification

​​​​​​​University of Washington

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• A.A. 

Centralia College

• B.A. 

​​​​​​​Washington State University

• M.A. 

​​​​​​​Lesley University

• Principal Certification

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Eastern Washington University

• A.A.

Olympic College

• B.A.

Western Washington University

• M.A.

​​​​​​​City University

• Principal Certification

​​​​​​​City University

• Administrator Professional Certification

​​​​​​​Seattle Pacific University

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

E-mail: bpohlman@chehalisschools.org

James W. Lintott Elementary School
1220 Bishop Road
Chehalis, WA 98532

Office: (360) 807-7215

Email: mwilson@chehalisschools.org

Website: James W. Lintott Elementary School

Telephone: (360) 807-7215

Email: csimpson@chehalisschools.org

Website: Chehalis Middle School

Telephone: (360) 807-7230

With more than 30 combined years serving the Chehalis School District, Heidi loves this school community and its commitment to our students and families. She began her teaching career in 1992, working in special education and coaching at W.F. West High School. She served as Assistant Principal at Centralia Middle School, then in 2019, came back to the Chehalis School District as Assistant Principal for Chehalis Middle School.

Heidi is married to Dave and they have three children. She loves and enjoys the people in her life as well as reading and being outside.

Regina Carr joined the Chehalis School District as Principal of W.F. West High School on July 1, 2024. She was drawn to the deep legacy and tradition of the Chehalis School District and is excited to be part of carrying it forward into the future. During her time as an educator, she has worked in large, urban settings, but her roots in the field are firmly planted in small communities. She began her teaching career in the small, rural farming communities of Sanger, CA, and Oakhurst, CA. 

Tom Elder’s educational career started at W.F. West in 2007 teaching Science and coaching multiple sports, including baseball. In 2014, he accepted the opportunity to become an Assistant Principal at W.F. West High School where he worked in many capacities, focused primarily on ASB, Math, and STEM. Starting in 2023 his focus shifted to take on the role of Athletic Director.

Tom is married to Jessica and they have four amazing kids. When they are not busy running around to sporting events, their entire family enjoys traveling, spending time at the lake, and hiking.

• B.A.

Central Washington University

• M.A.

​​​​​​​University of Portland

• Admininstrative Certification

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​City University

• B.A.

University of San Francisco 

• Administrative Certification

University of Washington

• A.A.

Centralia Community College

• B.A.E./B.S.

​​​​​​​Eastern Washington University

• M.A. In Ed. Admin.

​​​​​​​Grand Canyon University

​​​​​​​

Email: hfagerness@chehalisschools.org

Website: Chehalis Middle School

Telephone: (360) 807-7230

Email: rcarr@chehalisschools.org

Website: W. F. West High School

Telephone: (360) 807-7235

E-mail: telder@chehalisschools.org

Don is a proud K-12 product of the Chehalis School District. With 24 years of experience in education, he has been teaching at W.F. West High School since 2007. Don has served as a CTE teacher, an assistant baseball coach and a girl’s bowling coach at W.F. West. Prior to that he was a CTE Commercial Art teacher at Selah High School. Don is passionate about the Chehalis community and is actively involved with projects with the Chehalis Foundation, Chehalis Activators, Drew North Foundation, and the Bearcat Booster Club.

In June 2024, Don was appointed as the Assistant Principal/CTE Director at W.F. West High School. He graduated from Central Washington University in 2000 with a degree in K-12 Art Education and a minor in Safety Education. In 2004, he received his Master of Education from CWU, and in 2006, he earned his Principal Certification from Heritage University. In 2014, he completed his Industry Route CTE Certification from South Seattle College.

Don enjoys volunteer work, coaching, and spending time with his family.

An educator since 2009, Christine joined Chehalis School District as W.F. West High School Assistant Principal in 2022. Prior to coming to W.F. West, Christine served in the Mossyrock School District for 12 years, with the last 6 years teaching Spanish and US History at the secondary level. She is passionate about helping all students succeed and values working with families as partners in that process.

Christine and her husband have lived in Lewis County since 2000 and have four children. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, kayaking, reading, time at the beach and traveling internationally.

Kevin has 30 years experience in education. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from Western Washington University in 1994 and his master of education from Antioch University in 1998. He taught Social Studies at Adna, W.F. West High School, Meadowdale, Skyline, and Highline and also served as Adjunct College Faculty for Centralia College, Central Washington University, and Eastern Washington University. He also served as Principal of Onalaska High School from 2004-2007 and Principal of Adna High School from 2007-2011. He was hired as the Principal of Green Hill Academic, Lewis County Juvenile, and Lewis County Alternative School/Turning Point in 2024.

Kevin and his wife, Melissa, have two sons, Camden and Callen. He enjoys traveling, golfing, and cooking in his free time.

• B.A. K-12 Art Education and a minor in Safety Education

Central Washington University 

• M.Ed.

​​​​​​​Central Washington University 

• Principal Certification

​​​​​​​Heritage University

• Industry Route CTE Certification

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​South Seattle College

• A. A. Early Childhood Education
  Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom
• B. A. Education
  City University of Seattle
• M. A. Education: Supervision and Administration
  Liberty University

• B.A. Political Science, History

Western Washington University

• M.Ed. 

​​​​​​​Antioch University

• Certification

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​WASA Aspiring Superintendents Academy

Email: dbunker@chehalisschools.org

Telephone: (360) 807-7235

Email: cvoelker@chehalisschools.org

Website: W.F. West

Telephone: (360) 807-7235

Email: kryan@chehalisschools.org

Telephone: (360) 740-3520