Ms. Ashley Haar moved from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Missouri hoping to find a school where she belongs, and she believes she’s found the one she can call her home.

“Pattonville is a great school district with such a strong foundation,” Haar said. “I chose to work in Special School District because they provide a support for the kids as well as the teachers.”

She said she enjoys meeting and working with kids throughout the school day and that this is the best part about teaching.

“Young people are fun to work with and provide a fresh, new outlook,” she said. “I want them to feel helped and be inspired.”

Haar has realized that teaching is something she’s always pictured herself doing and wouldn’t have it any other way.

She said she is looking forward to all of the events this school year since she has never taught at a traditional high school and attended St. Joseph Central High School, a smaller high school, in St. Joseph Missouri.

She has worked her whole life with adolescents, starting off in her early years teaching swim lessons in middle school and coaching a swim team in high school. Haar said she enjoys competitive swimming and looks forward to the competitions held at the high school.