DID YOU KNOW?
Over a five-year period, students’ SAT scores averaged 1,260 points compared to the national average of 1,000 points.

Typically, 20 percent of a Charles Wright graduating class are National Merit Scholars or Commended Students.

No South Sound school, public or private, offers more Advanced Placement courses than we do. 

Minority students account for 28 percent of the student body.

In the last decade, Charles Wright students consistently earned top honors among the State of Washington’s journalism students.

Charles Wright grants over $1.3 million in financial assistance to 21% of the student body.

Jim Pelander

Jim Pelander

4th Grade
Jim Pelander teaches fourth grade.  He works closely with Nick Zosel-Johnson, the other fourth grade teacher at Charles Wright. Building independence by teaching the Habits of Mind, a curriculum that guides students to self-evaluate their learning and progress, is a key theme in his class. He always looks forward to taking seven or eight of his students to Pacific Lutheran University so they can present their own analysis to students and professors.  
 
“Small classes, and great parents and children” are what make Charles Wright special to Pelander.  Building independence is a key theme in his class and he looks forward to the spring conference for parents which is led entirely by the students.  Pelander hopes his students never forget to take risks and be persistent.
 
Pelander joined Charles Wright’s faculty in 1982.  In 1994 the CWA Parent Association presented him with the Inspirational Faculty Award.  He is a graduate of Washington State University.  He has published two articles on education in professional journals and has coached baseball pitchers at the community college level.  In addition to teaching, he coaches baseball and the Jumping Jaguars jump rope team.  He enjoys camping, yard work and taking care of his car.  

Visit his web page