Sandy Zimchek

Sandy serves as both the Mountain Lions Classroom Teacher and the Physical Education Teacher at Roots Community School. She loves connecting with students through movement and character-building and is passionate about helping middle schoolers grow academically, develop strong character, and contribute as caring members of the community.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a minor in Health and Physical Education and is a Washington State Certified K-8 Teacher (K–12 Physical and Health Education) with 17 years of teaching experience. Over the past decade, while homeschooling her two children, Sandy also enriched the lives of hundreds of students through tutoring, private school instruction, and nonprofit homeschooling programs—always striving to foster curiosity and a love of learning.

Sandy grew up in a small buckaroo town in Oregon, where she developed a love for both learning and the outdoors. She enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and camping, and has been happily married for 22 years to a Navy veteran.

“I love to teach because I love to learn, and I want to inspire kids to discover that same joy for lifelong learning. Every child is unique and learns in their own way, and what excites me about Roots Community School is how it embraces that individuality—meeting kids where they are, nurturing their strengths, and helping them grow through their own interests. At Roots, students learn in ways that fit them best—whether they are visual, auditory, kinesthetic, or linguistic learners. They are challenged to exceed their goals, learn from mistakes, and tackle big dreams with confidence.”