Business Connections for Spring 2021

Spring 2021 7 BUSINESS connections Returning toYour Roots In this magazine, we periodically highlight people in our community whose career path brought them back to their roots in Northeast Kansas. For this issue, we feature Ashley Carlson, a teacher and coach at Saints Peter and Paul School. Ashley Carlson grew up on a farm near Kelly, Kansas, and lived there until high school graduation. She said, “I loved the farm, but also enjoyed Seneca, where I went to school and participated in many activities. I remember staying with my grandma a lot, visiting the park right next to her house and walking around town with friends. We often went to Harsh’s for a treat.” Carlson attended the University of Kansas for two years and then transferred to Washburn University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with an emphasis in middle school mathematics. She also received a master’s degree in educational administration. “Moving to Lawrence when I was 18 was a shock. My sociology class had 900 people in it! I missed my little bubble of a town, but I adjusted and grew to love Lawrence. When I transferred toWashburn, my class sizes dropped dramatically, and it seemed a bit more like high school again. Many friendships grew at Washburn,” she recalled. Carlson has been at Saints Peter and Paul School (SPPS) for seven years. She’s a 5-8th grade math teacher, 7th grade religion teacher, and head girls’ basketball coach. She noted, “SPPS is the perfect fit, as my faith is important to me.” Clearly, the past year has been unlike any other. Of what is Carlson most proud when it comes to how SPPS responded to the pandemic? She replied, “I am so proud of my school for per- severing through these trying times. We strived to do what’s best for the kids and keep things as ‘normal’ as possible. For example, we all still ‘attend’ mass twice a week—some go to the church, and some watch on the live stream.” Before SPPS, Carlson taught at Jackson Heights Elementary and Middle School for five years and Nemaha Central for one year. Why did she move back to Seneca? She answered, “My husband got a job opportunity in Seneca, and our families both lived there. That made it an easy choice!” She added, “If a friend asked me about moving to a small town, I would say, ‘Definitely go for it! You won’t regret it.’ There are many advantages to living in a small town. People care about one another and always lend a hand. If you plan to have a family, you’ll have peace of mind when letting your children ride their bikes to the pool or park. There are also great schools in small towns because schools are their pride and joy.” Ashley Carlson