Julie Pooton
Title Paraprofessional

jpooton@cayuse.k12.mt.us

I was born and raised in Northern Minnesota — Go Vikes!  I was fortunate to spend my senior year of high school in Athens, Greece as an A.F.S. exchange student. It was the thrill of a lifetime to study this unique culture filled with rich history and ancient ruins. While there, I competed in a track & field meet in Cairo, Egypt and got to visit the Pyramids of Giza and climb inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu up to the King’s chamber and sarcophagus. (No mummy inside; I was a bit disappointed, but relieved at the same time!)

Upon my return to The States, I attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. After graduation, some of my friends who were also recent grads, decided to celebrate by heading out West to spend a winter as ski bums in - you guessed it - beautiful Whitefish, Montana! When we left Minnesota on New Year’s Day, 1994, it was 30 degrees below zero. We arrived in Whitefish to a balmy 20 degrees above and decided to stay here forever. 

I married my best friend and skiing buddy, James, next to Avalanche Creek in Glacier Park. My father, a retired judge, kindly performed the ceremony. James and I are the proud parents of two amazing children, Taylor and Ryan, who attended Cayuse Prairie and are now at MSU and Flathead High School. We also have a frisbee dog — a border collie/heeler named Zoey. In my spare time I enjoy working out, hiking, golfing, skiing, playing the piano, and curling up with a good book or crossword puzzle.

I feel so blessed to be part of the hard-working, talented community that makes up Cayuse Prairie and am looking forward to the challenges and rewards of the year ahead!