Seven teachers join Lind-Ritzville Cooperative schools: Laurinda Ritz

Seven new full-time teachers joined the ranks of Lind-Ritzville Cooperative Schools this year.

Caitlin Schoessler and Chelsie Kneale are teaching at Ritzville Grade School while Jody Terris and Laurinda Ritz are instructors at Lind Elementary School. Aaron Bush, Colton Hodgson and Nicole Reyling joined the Lind-Ritzville High School staff.

Laurinda Ritz

Laurinda Ritz is the new preschool teacher at Lind Elementary. She is a certified teacher with Early Childhood and Special Education certification.

She has resided in Lind since 1994. Ritz was involved with Boy Scouts, Sunday School at her church and home childcare.

After she graduated high school in Moses Lake, Ritz attended Spokane Falls Community College. She then attended EWU where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, and a master’s degree in special education, with endorsements in early childhood education and math.

Ritz has six sons, who all attended Lind and Ritzville school districts and currently live around the United States. Her grandchildren Paige and Lance are currently enrolled in the Lind School District.

Ritz decided to become a teacher, like her grandmother, in order to spend time with her children during the summer months. Being a teacher also allows her to fulfill her passion of working with children.

Prior to working at Lind, Ritz taught in the Moses Lake School District for 13 years. Over the years, she was a special education early intervention teacher, and an integrated preschool teacher. She was also a substitute taught in Spokane, Connell and Lind.

During her first year at Lind Elementary, Ritz hopes to enjoy teaching local preschoolers, as well as build a rapport with children in the community. She also hopes to develop the Early Childhood Education Assistance Program with the help of her educator assistants.

Another goal for Ritz is to make sure parents are happy and excited about enrolling their children into the program.

In her free time, Ritz enjoys exploring and traveling the countryside, reading, spending time with friends and watching her grandchildren compete in sports.