Karlenn Smith was raised here in Idaho Falls!  She has been a voracious reader and writer since "The Old Eighties," as her kids used to say.  When she realized that she was actually having fun writing her high school senior thesis, she realized that she needed to pursue English in college.  She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts from BYU Provo in English Teaching.   After graduation, she taught for four years at Roy Junior High in Roy, UT; then she put her career on hold to raise her four kids, now ranging in age from 21 to 13.

Mrs. Smith's husband's work has taken her family to live in many different places, most recently in Prineville, Oregon.  While in Oregon for the past ten years, she taught ballet (another lifelong love) and even owned a dance studio for a couple of years.  Her favorite age to teach was teenagers, especially pointe classes.  She has missed teaching school, and as her joints get creakier, she has decided that the time is right to return to English education. She is so excited to teach at Alturas.  Young people are hilarious and deep and complex and wonderful.  It's such a privilege to be a part of their lives.

Mrs. Smith loves to waterski, snow ski, garden, make homemade cards, and chew the fat with literally anyone. She loves art, history, live theater, playing games, cooking, true crime, and laughter.  And naps.  Naps are important.  She has two enormous dogs and three silly cats.  She is obsessed with/scared of tornadoes and seriously wants to go on a tornado chasing tour for her birthday one of these springs.  She is a proud ten-year cancer survivor.