Staff members at Barker Creek sometimes joke that the Williams twins were “Barker Creek before Barker Creek.”
Madison and Shyanne, who are identical twins, joined CK Schools’ Parent Partnership Program in 2016, about a year before Barker Creek Community School physically opened. After being homeschooled their whole lives, partially due to the doctor’s visits required for their younger brother’s leukemia diagnosis, Madison and Shyanne attended classroom-based school at Barker Creek for the first time during their freshman year. “We were like fish out of water. We were not used to mingling with other students our own ages,” said Madison.
The two grew immensely during their time at Barker Creek and made lifelong memories with the staff. They were engaged students that the staff at Barker Creek will miss dearly.
Both Madison and Shyanne were enrolled in Running Start last year and will continue at Olympic College next year. Madison plans on finishing her associate degree and enrolling in an EMT program, with the hopes of working in hyperbaric oxygen therapy so she can help other people with cancer, like her brother. Shyanne isn’t sure what she wants to study, but possibly something related to art or psychology.
Q&A
What is your favorite memory in CK Schools?
Madison: “For me it would be my homeroom teacher Ms. Lajoie. When we would do our outside P.E. and do what seemed like endless laps around the building or hikes in Illahee, we would always talk and we would have different conversations and it was really great. It gave me a sense of connection with someone.”
Shyanne: “Any time with Ms. Cleveland. I loved spending time with her.”
Both also mentioned Mr. Menefee was another teacher who made a profound impact on them.
What is your greatest accomplishment in CK Schools?
Graduating and being accepted to Olympic College.
Madison added: “Being all done with math.”
What was the greatest challenge you faced in getting to graduation, and how did you overcome it?
Shyanne: The social challenges of transitioning from homeschool to in-person instruction. Both Shyanne and Madison noted the staff at Barker Creek helped them feel included.
Madison: “Education wise, the math, at least for me. I really struggled with the beginning math. … Ms. Erickson would let us come in for algebra tutoring. That was a big help.”
Where will you be in 20 years?
Madison: “I hope to be working in the hyperbaric oxygen therapy department at Virginia Mason.”
Shyanne: “I would hope that I have a good lifelong career figured out.”