The Chautauqua Lake board of education appointed Jaclyn Doyle, a 2017 graduate, Lily Woodis, a 2022 graduate, and Hannah Group, a 2023 graduate, into educator positions at their February board meeting. Chautauqua Lake administrators said these new hires are a testament to the strength of the local community and the lasting impact of its teachers, and shows that Chautauqua Lake is a place students are proud to call home and return to even after graduation.

“We are beyond proud of these three alumni and so happy to welcome them back to the Chautauqua Lake family as members of our teaching staff,” Superintendent Joshua Liddell said. “Watching them return as colleagues is a truly special moment for our entire school community. When our graduates choose to return and build their careers here, it demonstrates that the foundation we build in our classrooms endures — empowering students not only to succeed wherever life leads them, but to come back and serve and hopefully inspire others in the place they’ve always called home.

Their return not only strengthens our school today, but also serves as a powerful reminder that the investment we make in our students can come full circle.”

For Elementary Principal Megan Lundgren, young alumni bring a unique and meaningful connection to today’s students.

Pictured are the three Chautauqua Lake Alumni, Jaclyn Doyle, Lily Woodis, and Hannah Group, who will be returning to the district in the fall to teach.

“Young alumni bridge the generation gap in a way that staff members often can’t,” Lundgren said. “They bring an immediate cultural relevancy — they know the same local parks, played for the same youth leagues, and went through the same school traditions.There is a profound, personal investment in the success of the school because it is part of their own identity. They share stories of ‘when I sat in that exact desk,’ which builds an incredible sense of belonging and continuity for our current kids.”

And for other administrators, such as secondary principal Rachel Curtin, the return of recent graduates to come work at the school is both professional validation and a deeply personal milestone for staff. Curtin said it means a lot to the teachers to have their former students join them in their same calling.

“For our teachers and colleagues, having our recent graduates find their professional calling with us is tremendously meaningful,” Curtin shared. “Teachers invest so much in their students — modeling leadership, passion for learning, and a commitment to growing our community. When students join you in that same calling, it feels like validation of that work, and also a beautiful opportunity to mentor and learn from the next generation of educators. And I’ll admit, there’s a personal moment in it too, we look around and think, wow, that went fast.”

Doyle returns to the district in an art teacher position. For her, the opportunity feels like a true full-circle moment, and one she said she is excited for.

“Returning to CLCS as an art educator is both a full-circle moment and a tremendous honor,” Doyle said. “During my time here, countless teachers profoundly shaped not only my academic journey but my character. They created classrooms that were vibrant spaces where curiosity was encouraged, creativity was celebrated, and challenges were seen as opportunities for growth.”

That encouragement, creativity and challenges helped to develop Doyle’s confidence in herself and a passion for lifelong learning. This passion eventually led her to build her own teaching career in art.

“That foundation inspired me to build a career where art and mentorship intersect,” Doyle said.”I am deeply grateful for the experience CLCS gave me, and I’m excited for the opportunity to return and contribute to a program and school culture that means so much to me. It’s a privilege to now support students the way my teachers once supported me.”

As another returning alumni, Woodis said coming back to teach at Chautauqua Lake has a very personal meaning for her. She credits her teachers and mentors not only for her academic success, but for inspiring her career path.

“Coming back home means the absolute world to me,” Woodis said. “Chautauqua Lake has played such a significant role in making me the person I am today, and I am so beyond grateful to be able to give back to this district. They helped me succeed academically, but also inspired me to pursue a career where I could make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. My hope is to provide the same sense of encouragement, belonging, and inspiration that my teachers gave to me. Coming back home allows me to continue a legacy of care, dedication, and community pride that I am proud to be a part of again.”

Similarly, Group said returning to the district, especially so soon after graduation, means a lot.

“Returning to CLCS so soon after graduation feels incredibly meaningful because this school has always been more than just a place to learn — it has truly helped shape who I am today,” Group said. “Coming back as an elementary teacher is a true full-circle moment, especially getting to work alongside the teachers who once inspired and supported me. It is an honor to now have the opportunity to give back to the community that gave so much to me and to help the next generation of students learn and grow.”