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Making a return on education
Tammara Green/Post-Register
Heath Kaech works as a para-educator in Quincy.
Heath Kaech is a Quincy native who proudly makes his home in the Quincy Valley. Kaech, son of Carl and Brenda (Schwint) Kaech, grew up learning to adjust to the busy, hard-working farming lifestyle his family enjoyed.
A graduate of Quincy High School, he spent two years after graduation working on the family farm, which yielded corn, wheat and potatoes.
During the slow winters, Kaech hit the slopes in Europe. Through his friendship with a German exchange student, Kaech was lucky enough to travel to Freiberg, Germany, and stay with the family there while he enjoyed snowboarding on some of the best slopes in the world nestled up against Switzerland.
“I was pretty much a ski bum. The skiing there was the best,” said Kaech.
In 1998, Kaech set out for another adventure, studying industrial design at the Art Institute of Seattle. His skills were put to the test on several flooring projects he helped to design for the King and Pierce County school districts.
Kaech discovered his love was really for painting and drawing. He entered several student art competitions which won him notoriety. Kaech won the Dean’s Choice award for art at the Sara Spurgeon gallery in Ellensburg. He also won the Ellensburg Art Commission award, and Best of Show at the North Central Washington Regional Art Show.
In 2007, Kaech went back to school at Central Washington University and graduated with bachelor’s degree in fine art, specializing in painting, drawing and wood design.
Upon his graduation from CWU, Kaech started substitute teaching and working as a fill-in para-educator for the Quincy School District. Now Kaech is enjoying a full-time para-educator position which he started this year. He is currently also working on his state Braille certification. He has been attending a two-hour class once a week since September in order to meet the qualifications.
“There is at least two hours of homework for every class. Braille is one of the hardest things I have had to learn, but it really helps me with my job,” said Kaech.
The final test will be offered this summer. Kaech’s mother knows sign language, as both of her parents were hearing impaired.
“My mother learned to sign before she could even talk. I only know a few basic signs,” Kaech said.
Kaech enjoys riding his dirt bike and camping. He loves the small town feel in Quincy, and being close to family. Kaech likes the fact that the atmosphere in Quincy is very familiar and welcoming, and that there are a lot of local outdoor activities to do in the area.
