Multiple teachers at West Linn are busy preparing for an exciting new arrival in their lives – a baby. Nikki Coleman, Brynn Gunderson, Annike Olson and Jennifer Howe are all taking their maternity leave within the next few months.

After ten years of teaching child development Nikki Coleman, wellness teacher, will finally put her skills to the test. Coleman, due April 29, found out on Nov. 7 that she is having a girl. Coleman plans to work as close to her due date as she can before going on maternity leave and will return on at the beginning of next school year. It is not yet decided who will substitute during her absence. Coleman has started to decorate the room for her little girl and is “so excited, I can’t wait to be a mom,” Coleman said.

Brynn Gunderson, Physical Education teacher, also plans to work close to her due date before taking maternity leave. Her baby is due April 29 and she will find out the gender on Dec. 4. Gunderson plans on returning at the beginning of next year. She does not yet know who will be subbing for her while on maternity leave. This will be Gunderson’s second child, “I have a two and a half year old son whose name is Carter.”

West Linn high school’s assistant principal, Annikke Olson, is eight months pregnant with her second son. Her first son is 22 months old. Olson’s official due date is is Dec. 10, but she has decided to have a planned c-section on Dec. 4. She worked until Dec. 3 and “assuming that all goes well and we are all healthy, [she intends] to take 10 weeks of leave and will return in mid Feb.,” according to Olson. During Olson’s leave, Kaleb McKern, math teacher, will be covering most of her duties as assistant principal.

With her second baby due on April 19, Jennifer Howe, science teacher, plans to work as close to the 19th as she can before taking maternity leave. Howe will return at the beginning of next year,  but plans to visit her classes a couple times because “my students made me promise to come visit with the new baby.” She does not yet know the gender of the baby and substitution arrangements will not be made until after the holidays. This is Howe’s second baby, “so I haven’t done much planning yet, other than trying to stock up on sleep,” Howe said.