Hello, I’m Julie Swenke!

I am honored to be part of the Hemingway STEAM School staff. I was born and raised in Ephrata, Washington, and attended Central Washington University, where I earned my degree in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management.

In 1994, I moved to Sun Valley for what I thought would be a single ski season. Like many others, I quickly fell in love with this valley and decided to stay. I worked as a ski patroller for several years, where I met my husband, Dave, and we eventually made Sun Valley our permanent home.

Later, I returned to school and earned a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Heritage University. I began teaching in 2003, first at the Big Wood School, and later joined Hemingway, where I feel fortunate to continue my teaching journey. This year marks my 20th year in education!

Dave and I have two wonderful sons, Jackson and Bo, who both attended Hemingway and grew up here in the valley. Jackson is currently working locally, and Bo is attending the University of Utah—go Utes!