Hello Falcons! I am excited to be serving as your building principal – a role I have been fortunate to hold since 2021. I love this community, and chose to live in SW Washington as it is close to my roots. I’m originally from Hillsboro, OR, and come from a family of educators. I became a Washingtonian after moving to Seattle to attend UW in 2001, and began my career in education up north. I taught Language Arts (just like my dad!) in the Seattle School District starting in 2006, and also met my husband, Andrew. We got married in 2012 and got our puppers, Chuck. Our daughter, Stella, was born in 2016; which is also the year I made the move into administration – first as a Student Success Dean and then as an Assistant Principal. We left the Puget Sound area for the Columbia River basin, and relocated here! Prairie is truly a special place, and I am stoked to get to spend my days as a Falcon!
Administrative team
Hello Falcon Families!
Prairie High School is aligned with the BGPS district goals and is a strong provider of high-quality instruction and strong social-emotional skills for all of our students. As we continue to offer rigorous Advanced Placement courses, and through our extensive partnerships with CASEE, Cascadia Tech Academy, and Running Start, it is our mission to ensure every student graduates on time and with options. Our Career Technical Education programs are growing every year, offering students the opportunity to earn college credits while learning career-focused skills. PHS also offers the ability for students to access some of their six classes online. This is a program that we are working to expand at PHS as we respond to student needs due to the COVID pandemic. We believe in the abilities of all our students, and our work is to nurture them as members of the global society they belong to, recognizing their place in the shared guardianship of the planet, and to help create a better, more peaceful world. PHS believes in the humanity of all it’s members, and their well-being physically, emotionally, and emotionally. We accomplish this through our school values of:
Preparation
Rigorous academics, innovation, and life-long learning
Respect
For each other and the planet
Integrity
Be the best version of yourself in all things
Determination
Have the grit to never give up on your aspirations and goals
Excellence
Take pride in what you create and contribute
Prairie is fortunate to have a strong partnership with our Boosters and parents in the community. Our success would not be possible without the support and positive impact our families and community partners have on PHS. We are thankful for the on-going support you all provide.With Prairie PRIDE,Susananh WoehrPrincipal
Susannah Woehr, Principal
Kelly Torrez, Assistant Principal
Hi Falcons! I am so excited for another year at Prairie HS! This is my 24th year in education and my 12th year as an administrator. Prior to being an administrator, I was a Social Studies, Math, and AVID teacher as well as spending several years coaching volleyball, basketball and track and field. I grew up in Oregon, and I earned my undergraduate degree at Oregon State University (Go Beavs!) in Social Studies, I continued my education at Concordia University where I earned my MA in Teaching and then at Texas A&M-Central Texas for my administrative credential. I’m currently enrolled in a doctoral program to earn a degree in Education Leadership. I live in Vancouver with my husband, and I LOVE to travel and hope to see as much of the world as I can. I am looking forward to another great school year and meeting all of you! Go Falcons!
Stephanie Watts, Assistant Principal and Athletic Director
Welcome to the 24-25 school year Falcons! As your Athletic Director/Asst. Principal, I am so excited to see all the amazing things you will accomplish this year. This will be my 24th year in education. Prior to administrative work, I was a Physical Education Teacher and Coach in the Washougal School District for 12 years. I grew up in Eugene, Oregon and earned my undergraduate degree in Athletic Training and Physical Education from Pacific Lutheran University and my Master’s Degree in School Administration from Washington State University – Vancouver. I live in Vancouver with my Husband, Scooter (PHS class of ’93), a teacher at Laurin Middle School, our two sons, Eli (PHS Class of ‘22) and Sam – current PHS student. I look forward to the many opportunities we will have to work together to make our PHS community amazing. GO FALCONS!
Darren Fox, Dean for Students
I am excited for another as your Dean for Students. This will be my third year in Washington, and I’m looking forward to another year of growth and adventures. Prior to working as a Dean, I served for 17 years as a Physics/Chemistry teacher and Departmental Administrator in Philadelphia, PA and Indianapolis, IN. I grew up in Eastern Pennsylvania, earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from Beloit College in Wisconsin and an M.S.Ed from Indiana University. I am an avid rock climber, and I enjoy reading, playing cards/board games, kayaking, hiking and traveling the world. I am looking forward to an exceptional school year with PHS students and families.
Charb Gourde, Assistant Principal
Greetings, Falcons! I am extremely excited to be joining the Prairie family as one of your assistant principals! I began my career as an English teacher (as well as history), and taught for 10 years prior to becoming an administrator. I have been in administration for 18 years, serving in various capacities. I have served as a dean of students, assistant principal, and principal, and am truly excited about coming to Prairie to help keep this great work moving forward. Over the years, I also coached football, track, and wrestling. I earned a BA and MA from Western Washington University, and also earned a Master’s from GCU in Education Administration. I have a wife and four children, two of whom are adults now, and two who are in high school. I grew up in a small town called Castle Rock, where my mom and brother still live. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, exercising, and am a proud comic book and Star Wars nerd. I know Prairie is a very special place, and I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to join this team. Go Falcons!