Deb Lake first engaged with Pathfinder while seeking an educational experience that would be a better fit for her son, who was struggling in a large elementary class at another school. The Pathfinder community embraced him immediately, and soon he was looking forward to school instead of dreading it. No longer required to walk hallways silently in single file despite having "really loud feet," he has blossomed on Pathfinder's 22-acre campus. Pathfinder's passionate educators continue to reach him using the methods that work best for him. The Pathfinder School gave us back the funny, creative, and intuitive child our son was meant to be. Now in middle school, he comes home with stories about testing Cedar Lake water in science and solving math problems by making gluten-free s' mores around a campfire.

Our region's ability to keep and attract talent and good jobs is enhanced when families have options to meet their children's unique educational needs. Deb believes The Pathfinder School is an indispensable piece of that puzzle. She is a Michigan native who has lived in the Grand Traverse region since 1996. She holds a BA in English from Princeton University and brings 20 years of digital communications and nonprofit leadership experience to her position on the Board of Trustees.

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