Canyon Welcomes Kindergarten Teacher With Pacific Palisades Roots

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

It may be her first time teaching at Canyon Charter Elementary School, but Lori Wilson is no stranger to Pacific Palisades.

With more than 20 years of experience in total in the field of teaching at various grade levels, in both private and public school settings throughout California, including Marquez Charter Elementary School, Wilson will be joining Canyon this year as a kindergarten teacher.

“I was born in the San Fernando Valley and mostly stayed here,” Wilson, who now resides in El Medio Bluffs, said of her time in the area.

Wilson went to college up north at Berkeley to study economics and also took education classes, which is where she stayed for a stint post-graduation as a classroom aide. Wilson recalled that she would walk an hour to the school she worked at three times a week—and she “just loved it.”

When she returned to the Los Angeles area, at first Wilson was a financial analyst, while she earned her teaching credential at night. As soon as she started teaching, she shared that she knew she made the right decision.

“I always wanted to be a teacher,” she said of what drew her into the field. “No matter what I did—I worked in Special Olympics, I worked with homeless children and families—every volunteer-type thing I did, during college and beyond, even when I was younger in high school, was always related to working with children.”

Some of her favorite aspects of being a teacher include working and connecting with the families. Wilson shared she is big on parent involvement.

“I like bringing the parents in,” Wilson said, “so that I can really get to know the children so much better.”

She also shared that she enjoys watching her classes grow—academically, but also emotionally—over the course of the school year.

“It’s more just emotional to watch them trust you, to be really nervous at the beginning,” Wilson explained. “A lot of the kids would call you teacher, they wouldn’t even call you by your first name. And then, watching that grow throughout the year.”

When it comes to starting at Canyon, Wilson shared that she has already connected with Principal Nicole Sheard, as well as members of the staff. From the very first days of interviewing, she said that everyone involved made her feel immediately welcome and calm.

At the end of the interview, Wilson said she asked the people interviewing her what makes Canyon a place where not only families want to send their kids, but also a place where teachers want to work.

“One of the teachers answered and said, ‘We collaborate really well, we get along really well,’” Wilson said.

From day one, when Wilson was on campus setting up her new classroom, she said that other teachers and staff members have been visiting with her, introducing themselves and giving her supplies, adding that the campus exudes a feeling of warmth.

When it comes to the Palisades, which is where Wilson has lived for 22 years, she said she loves the small-town feeling the community provides.

“We’re all there for each other,” she added. “It was a great place for my kids to grow up … I don’t want to move, ever. I just want to stay here.”

When she’s not in the classroom, Wilson said she enjoys playing tennis, as well as pickleball. She likes to hike and read, hang out with her friends, and see her children as much as possible.

“I’m just happy,” Wilson said of her new role at Canyon. “Happy to be here.”