SUPPORTIVE, WELCOMING AND KIND Educators find their home in Blue Valley
Story contributions made by intern, Payton Mitchell.
Growing up, Erika Cherian was the kid who played teacher. After a day at school, Cherian would return home only to continue simulating being at school. Becoming a teacher has been her dream since she was in the third grade. Thomas Cherian grew up with the exact opposite dream. Becoming a school counselor and working in education wasn’t in his plans. He always saw himself as a pilot, and just seven years ago, the thought of being a school counselor was absent from his mind. “Over time, I realized that the impact that I can have on this world 4 • B LU E VA L L E Y TO D AY
starts with the kids that we work with in our schools,” Thomas Cherian said. Now, the couple finds themselves working in education and the same school district — Erika Cherian continuing to fulfill her dream of being a teacher at Wolf Springs Elementary and Thomas Cherian finding his place in an unlikely career at Lakewood Elementary. Thomas Cherian is in his second year as a school counselor at Lakewood, and Erika Cherian is beginning her first year at Wolf Springs, her fifth year in education overall.
