t he spotlight

by Christian Weaner

ERIN ROOS MENTORS TEACHER | SANDPOINT HIGH SCHOOL

Erin Roos is possibly one of the most decorated athletes to ever come from Sandpoint High School (SHS). Yet, today, as an SHS teacher and former head volleyball coach, Erin’s appreciation for her alma mater and her impact on the school district go far beyond the success she has had on the court.

During the early ‘90s, Erin starred for the Bulldogs as a setter, leading Sandpoint to a state runner-up finish in her senior year and earning a full-ride scholarship to play at the University of Michigan, where she became a four-year letter winner and still ranks in the top 10 in assists in program history.

After college, Erin married her husband Mike, a fellow ‘93 SHS graduate, and the couple moved back to North Idaho. Around this time, Erin also discovered a passion for working with young adults and began coaching, something she has now done for the past 25 years.

“It’s rewarding to be able to pass along knowledge and skills to student-athletes, as well as assist them in working through the challenges that come with sports,” Erin said.

Currently, Erin is the Mentors teacher at SHS, teaching the school’s Real Life 101 and 201 classes, which focus on students’ life management skills and highlight financial literacy.

Erin’s Mentors class is comprised of 45 upperclassmen and helps students to intentionally engage with one another to create a safe, fun and welcoming culture at SHS by planning and facilitating monthly connections and school-wide events.

“A connected group of students and adults increases the likelihood that students will attend school, feel safe, supported, and get the most out of their educational experience,” Erin noted. “A connected school is a healthy school.”

When she is not teaching, Erin also works with many student-athletes as a sports performance coach, teaching them how to navigate the mental side of the game so they can stay positive and perform at a high level.

“Ultimately, no matter how physically talented an athlete is, if they can’t manage their mind and emotions, they will always be outperformed,” Erin explained.

Erin spent four years (2014-2018) as the SHS head volleyball coach before stepping down to be more engaged with Mike and her three sons.

Aside from school and coaching, Erin loves to enjoy the outdoor beauty of Bonner County, whether she is paddleboarding and kayaking, hiking and snow skiing, or watching her sons compete in athletics.

“We chose to raise our family here and be part of the school system and youth athletics because there is so much value in living in a small town where we all treat each other like friends and family,” Erin added.