PAGE – In anticipation of new roads, trails and horizon that lay ahead of her, Lisa Horsley started a new adventure journal and she’s already made several entries in it, documenting recent trips to Rainbow Bridge, Lake Powell, and to St. George, Utah.

“After I get settled in here, I hope to be adding to it a lot,” she said.

 Horsley will be the new assistant principal at Page Middle School, taking over for Stephine Hanson, who has chosen to go back into the classroom as a special education teacher.

Horsley moved to Page July 2 from Olympia, Washington. This will be her 15th year as a school administrator, during which she has worked as an assistant principal, dean of students, and other administrative positions. Until now, she has worked her entire career in Washington.

She said the move became possible after her youngest son left for college. He’s attending Arizona State University. She visited her son several times and was blown away by Arizona’s beauty.
“I fell in love with the area,” she said, “and frankly, I got sick of the rain in Washington and I wanted to go explore.”

Horsley is the mother of three grown children. In addition to raising her kids, she also cared for her aging parents. Both of her parents passed away in the last year.

“For the first time in a long time I got to ask, ‘What does Lisa want to do?’”

Horsley began her career as a business and marketing teacher. She knew from an early age that she wanted to go into teaching.

“It was in my DNA to be a teacher and a coach,” she said.

Horsley came from a less-than-ideal family life as a child, and schools for her were a safe, nurturing environment, and her teachers were caring individuals who took an active interest in her life and her success.

“Education pretty much saved me,” she said. “I had great teachers and a system that has been significantly beneficial to me. I think part of why I went into teaching was to give back to a system that was so good to me.”

Horsley says she’s looking forward to help make a difference at the middle school.

“I’m up for the challenge,” she said. “Kids are kids, and it’s all about relationships with them. You’ve got to get to know them and their families. I have a knack for getting to know kids and figuring them out and how to make each kid successful.”

Horsley says she excited to begin the new school year.

“I’m excited about our team,” she said. “I’m looking forward to working with Alyssa Covington. She’s big picture and I’m details.”

With her love of the outdoors Horsley believes she’s going to enjoy living in Page.

“I love it here,” she said. “I live right off the Rim Trail and I get to walk it every morning and evening, and everyone here seems very friendly.”

Horsley’s favorite outdoor activity is hiking, but she also loves horseback riding. She brought with her a two-year-old quarter horse palomino named “Shine.”

“I think Page is going to be a good fit for me. There are so many great places I want to explore–– Zion, Bryce, the Grand Canyon––and they’re all so close. I think I’m going to adding a lot of new stuff in my adventure journal.”