- Texas Tech University
* M. Ed. Educational Administration (2003)
* B.S. Multidisciplinary Studies in Elementary and Special Education (1992)
- University of Texas Permian Basin
* Superintendent License (2010)
I started my career as a Special Education teacher in 1992. As an administrator I have served as an Elementary Principal, School Counselor, Charter School Administrator, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Superintendent, and now as the Director of Human Resources and District Data Coach. My education experiences span 26 years and 3 state – Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Each state has unique qualities and approaches to education in their districts but no matter where I was, the students and my colleagues were the same. For me, that is what distinguishes education from all other professions. It is not a job, it is a new journey that we embark on with each other every new school year.
I am married to Shawn Young Chief and we have 5 children and 3 grandchildren. I grew up in Montana before leaving to attend college in Texas. Most of my family still live in Montana so we make road trips every couple of months to visit. I moved to Wyoming in 2007 to be closer to home but do miss year round warm weather. Luckily, my grandchildren and oldest daughter live in Texas now so I get to visit both the north and the south. Our family enjoys being outdoors and spend a lot of time in the mountains fishing, exploring, and hiking. We love animals and stay active with horses and like to attend rodeos and bull ridings. It seems like we are always busy with something but we like it that way!