Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

Three new teachers are working at Haines School this year, two new to town who teach science and math and a veteran Haines elementary teacher who returned after a X year break to teach second grade.

Ryan Pyles, a California native, worked as an engineer in Montana for the last five years before becoming the new science teacher. He enjoys backcountry skiing and began packrafting for the first time this summer.

Pyles worked as a project manager for a utility company and a corrosion engineer on projects in Alaska. He said his love for science initially drew him to engineering, but he also had a passion for working with young people that was being fulfilled in his career. Pyles raft guided for children's camps and taught guitar and ski lessons to youths.

"After a few years it became obvious that I enjoyed putting my time into individuals rather than things," he said. "Science is fun, (but engineering) felt flat. It didn't have the meaning I was looking for and that connection working with kids and seeing kids succeed that I had my whole life."

Pyles began an online master's program in teaching at Western Governors University a year and a half ago. He moved from Montana to Haines last April.

"I'm really enjoying the school community, both the students and staff," he said. "It's been great to get to know them and develop working relationships with them. The teachers are amazing. They've been infinitely supportive of me and helping me get on my feet and giving me guidance and tips."

Also from California, Kristy Jamison moved to Haines in June 2021 with her husband who got a job at AP&T. She taught middle school math for 13 years and was a long-term substitute teacher at Haines School last year. She's now teaching high school and middle school math.

"With subbing, it really helped me solidify this is a school I wanted to teach at," Jamison said. "The faculty is very student positive. I'm excited to be here and get to know all the kids and what makes them tick. If you don't know what makes them tick, they're not going to do anything."

Jamison has three children aged 11, 9 and 6. Their family has enjoyed beach walks, hiking trails and berry picking.

Lexie DeWitt is no stranger to Haines School. Besides having two elementary-aged children enrolled, she taught fourth grade, physical education and math classes for three years before taking a break in 2014 to stay home with her children during their preschool years.

Math teacher Kristy Jamison.

"I've always wanted to get back into teaching," DeWitt said. "I was really looking forward to working with this administration. They're doing such a wonderful job and the workplace is a really nice one to be in."

DeWitt started this year teaching second grade, and her daughter Loralai is a student in her class.

"I feel really fortunate to work in such a school where the teachers are supported and the kids have the opportunity to learn and grow in a way that's very unique," DeWitt said.

During her eight-year break, DeWitt was an active community volunteer where she sat on the boards of the Friends of the Library and Chilkat Valley Preschool. She started Friends of Haines Police and helped organize Girls on the Run. She also ran her own web design company.