Spotlight on Nathan Choules

Nathan Choules is a Truancy Project Specialist in Student & School Success.

How long have you worked for ESD 112 and what does your job entail?

I have worked for ESD 112 for just under one year (February 20th will be one full year)

In a nut shell, my job is case-managing students and families who have had a Becca Petition filed on them from the school district in which they are enrolled. My day-to-day duties are too create intervention strategies for the youth to improve their attendance and/or help them explore the alternative education options that may be more beneficial for them.

What do you like best about your job?

I love being out in the community and working with the at-risk youth.

What do you find most challenging about your job?

I have found the most challenging part of the job is trying to meet with students at school. Seeing how the students I am attempting to meet with at school have been referred to me and my caseload for NOT going to school. There is definitely an irony to it.

What do you consider to be your greatest on-the-job skill or asset?

I would have to say my greatest skill is the ability to build rapport with youth and families who are not generally easy to build rapport with.

Single? Married? Kids? Pets?

I am currently single, but will be proposing to my girlfriend of 5 years very soon!

And I have two fur babies, black labs, Enzo (10) and Duke (9).

What do you enjoy doing with your free time?

I do a variety of things with my free time. Typically the activity will be dependent on the weather. If it is raining and nasty outside, you will find me watching Netflix, hanging out with my two black labs. On the other hand, if the weather is decent, I will definitely be outside fishing, hiking, kayaking etc.

Would you rather live in the city or the woods? Why?

I am a full-on country boy. You couldn’t pay me to live in the city!

At what age did you become an adult?

This is a trick question, in my opinion. I have been “adulting” since I was in high school (working, paying my own bills, saving money, etc.)

But I will always be a kid at heart!

What did you want to be when you were little?

When I was a little kid, I always wanted to be in law enforcement and got my degree in criminal justice from WSU. But once I began working with youth, the line of work stole my heart, and it is what I am dedicating my career too!