Ele Dootson ('77)
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Ele Dootson ’77 – on navigating life’s unexpected challenges and embracing life’s opportunities.
What year did you come to Overlake?
I came as a senior, from Newport High School. My friend Susan Ide ’77 was already there, and I wanted something more challenging. She kept talking about what a great school Overlake was.
What teachers were influential on you?
There were several, starting with Army. Army was the key person. His English classes were great. Learning how to write a research paper was an especially useful experience. I would not have survived college without it. Jane Thomas was the new art teacher, and I have fond memories of being up in the art barn with her, especially working with textiles. She was very influential. We reconnected years later and are still friends.
After Overlake, where did you go, what did you do?
I attended Green Mountain College in Vermont (also with Susan Ide) for one year. The school was too small. I took a gap year to go on Semester at Sea while applying to other schools. I knew I wanted to work in special education, so that meant it was a short list. Candidate schools included Syracuse, University of Colorado at Boulder, and another school in Oregon. I ended up at Syracuse to finish my undergraduate studies.
Working as camp counselor the head of girl’s camp was another important and influential part of my life. I attended Four Winds – Westward Ho from the time I was a little girl; going back as a counselor and creating the magic for the children was wonderful. As an adult I was a parent of campers and a board member.
I taught special education for middle school students in Renton. During that time, I met my future husband. When he was transferred to Portland for his work, we moved there for a few months. After we moved back to the Seattle area, I taught in the Edmonds school district in both middle school and elementary special education.
Special Education included a wide range of challenges, including both physical and cognitive issues. I worked with them on language arts, and others specialized in mathematics and reading. I also worked with them on basic life skills such as grocery shopping and riding the bus. My favorite age group to work with were elementary students.
I then had my sons Jay (’07) and Brian (’12) and spent fifteen years as a stay at home mom (which is a misnomer). We were living on the east side, which made it easy for the boys to attend Overlake. I actually feel more connected to Overlake as a parent because we spent 13 years there getting to know faculty, staff and parents.
Then as life does, I was thrown a curve ball, my husband and I decided to get divorced. Fortunately, at this point I had already gone back to work as an Instructional Assistant working with English Language Learners. In the next few years I went back to school to reinstate my teaching certificate and get an endorsement in ELL. I then taught elementary ELL for three years. At the end of those years I was burned out and felt the need to make another change in my life. I had to muster all of my courage to leave teaching in order to forge a new path. Other than having my children and now being a grandma, this has been one of the most rewarding parts of my life. I am discovering who I am at my core and what I am meant to do. I am now an ICF Certified Professional Coach and I am learning how to be a solopreneur. I love empowering women (and men) to engage in their lives fully from a place of courage, clarity, confidence and choice, so that they can move from surviving to thriving. I have truly found what enlivens me, gives me purpose and creates positive change for others.
The basis of my story is that you do not have to know right out of high school or college what you want to do with your life. As we grow and mature, we continue to learn about ourselves, to explore what is right for us and to try new things. Often those difficult times of trials and tribulations can be our greatest gifts if we learn to listen to our authentic selves and create choices that are in alignment with our core values and guiding principles.
www.eledootson.com |425-785-3854 | coaching@eledootson.com