Hello Cottonwood Families,
My name is Lizette Sweiven, and I am the Associate Director of Instruction for High School here at Cottonwood. At the beginning of my journey as an educator, I worked at Adventure Education. I led all age groups in hikes, ropes courses, and other group adventures. So it is probably not a surprise that one of my absolute favorite things to do is get outside and hike!
As I traverse my favorite hiking trails, each footstep reminds me why I fell in love with both education and the great outdoors. My path led me from teaching at an Outdoor Learning Center in Maryland to my role as Associate Director of Instruction at The Cottonwood School, where I’ve discovered that learning, like hiking, is a journey of endless wonder.
Sometimes, in the depths of February, both winter and the school year can feel endless. But just as I’ve learned on countless trails, every challenging ascent leads to moments of breathtaking beauty. Each student, like each hiker, faces their own mountain to climb. Some days require slow, steady steps through difficult concepts, while others bring the joy of coasting downhill through familiar territory.
Just the other day, on a trail I’ve hiked many times, I spotted something new– a plant with leaves in three perfect shades of green that I’d never noticed before. It reminded me that even on the most familiar paths you will find new discoveries if we keep our hearts open to wonder.
This is what I love most about education: those unexpected moments of discovery, the shared celebrations at each summit reached, and the quiet pride in knowing how far we’ve come. Whether I’m guiding students through challenging coursework or finding my own path up a mountain trail, I’ve learned that the most beautiful views come after the hardest climbs, and no one reaches the summit without taking those first brave steps forward.
I hope this February brings you inspiration, both in the little moments and the big breakthroughs. If your student is diligently working through long division, and the journey has felt winding and steep, remember—each turn holds new possibilities. Perhaps another challenge awaits, or maybe, just beyond the next bend, lies the mountaintop where everything clicks into place. In that moment, past lessons will come together, lighting the way forward. May you and your student find joy in the journey and the inspiration to keep climbing toward success.