By Mary Turner

and Sydney Turner

August 7th is the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year for the Knights Ferry School (KFS). With this school year comes a new Principal/Superintendent - Mrs. Lindsey Moore. Mrs. Moore first started at KFS as the TK/Kindergarten teacher and has been teaching for a total of 15 years now. She grew up in the area and went to Valley Home from Kindergarten through 8th grade then to Oakdale High School. When she graduated, she went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo before moving back home and getting her Educational Specialist credential through Chapman University. She received her Multiple Subject Credential at Brandman and her Administration Credential at UMASS Global. Additionally, she holds a Masters in Special Education and Masters in Educational Leadership.

When asked what inspired her to go from teaching to Principal/Superintendent, here’s what Mrs. Moore had to say:

“To be honest, I never intended to actually be a principal or superintendent. I always thought that once you left the classroom you kind of lost what it was like to be amongst the kids and the more separated you became.”

She stated that KFS is the only place she had ever considered the Principal/Superintendent position because she knows she’ll be able to still make an impact.

“I feel like in the small school setting and after being here for so many years as well as the tight knit community that we have amongst the teachers, that I will still be able to be very much involved with what’s happening in the classrooms.”

Mrs. Moore grew up with parents who were very present in her school life as well as active in the PTC. The Principal/Superintendent for Valley Home at the time was Mr. Harold Pope, which is who the school was named after since his passing. He was also her 7th and 8th grade teacher. When he passed her family attended his funeral as he wasn’t just a teacher, he was a part of their life. That “small town school” environment is what she was raised in at Valley Home and what she loves about Knights Ferry. She hopes one day the kids will look back and remember their experiences and consider her a valuable part of their childhood memories.

“It’s like one big, functional family at KFS. I want kids to see me being active and present. I want them to be able to approach me and to be able to have those relationships with the kids and their families. I think the relationships are the most important thing. It’s something I really strive to achieve. When I was teaching TK/Kinder the families were a part of my class as well. I wanted them to feel included and I want to be able to continue to create that very inclusive family environment.”

Speaking to her vision and goals for the school and its students she said:

“What I personally want is to take what I achieved in my class to a larger scale. I think it’s important to not only make our students gain the most academically and be very high functioning, but to be able to bring in the play, the special activities, the hands-on learning experiences and combine those to create this very well-rounded person. I think that we are in a community that allows for that. We are able to walk around town, go down to the river, and leave things on porches for special holidays. I think it’s important that kids see that this isn’t just a school, this is a community. I want to increase that and to make it like the old way that I learned growing up. Parents were involved, they were active and they had a voice. I want the kids to feel warm and welcome, so my vision is really just to build on our community.”

Mrs. Moore lives right down the road from KFS and says: “Although I’m not right here in the very boundaries, I am very much still a local person. All three of my kids have all gone to school here. We have lots of animals! Growing up my parents had a cattle ranch and so animals have always been something that’s been a big part of who I was growing up.”

Mrs. Moore wants to make sure that families know if they ever have any questions or concerns to please come and talk to her. “I think the biggest thing I want people to know is that I’m super passionate about KFS. I care about everyone in it and the community as a whole. I want nothing but the best for everyone that is here – for our students and our community.”

We hope you’ll join us in giving Mrs. Moore a warm welcome as she steps into her new role. With her deep roots in the community and unwavering commitment to Knights Ferry School, we know it’s going to be a great year.

*****

Here’s a shoutout to our 2025-2026 teachers!

Transitional Kindergarten - Brittany Prather

Kindergarten - Courtney Geren

First - Bailey Aksland

Second - Cheri Dixon

Third - Kristine Madsen

Fourth/Fifth - Maegan Dickens

Sixth - Jenna Miller

Seventh/Eighth - Randy Russell

*****

Ongoing Events:

Odd Fellows Breakfast - 1st Sunday of the month @ The Odd Fellows Lodge

Free Market - 2nd Tuesday 3:30 @ The Odd Fellows Lodge

Taco Tuesday - 5pm-8pm @ Rick’s Saloon

Thankful Thursdays - Free meal with drink purchase 5pm-8pm @ Rick’s Saloon

Community Trash Pickup - Last Sunday of the month - 10am @ Knights Ferry Art Studio

Upcoming Events:

First Day of School - August 7, 8:15am @ Knights Ferry Elementary School

Community Club Meeting - August 7, 6:30pm @ The Community Club

Millers Hall Meeting - August 12, 9:00am @ The Millers Hall

School board meeting - August 14, 5:30pm @ Knights Ferry Elementary School

Water Board Meeting - August 20, 7:00pm @ The Millers Hall

Odd Fellows Pot Luck Social - August 27, 6:00pm @ the Odd Fellows Lodge