Chrissy Hoffman – Instructional Assistant
Email: chrissy.hoffman@pinehurst.k12.or.us

I work as an instructional assistant at Pinehurst School, where I support students and staff in the learning process and help create a school environment where students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.

I have worked in education for more than eight years, K-12, and have also spent 18 years volunteering with youth programs. Before coming to Pinehurst, I worked in several schools across Oregon including Ashland High School, North Lake School, Days Creek Charter School and Willow Wind as inclusion and instructional assistants with a special education focus, including diabetes support. I also coordinate SEL Critter Connections, a program that brings social-emotional learning experiences to interested schools.

My education and professional development reflect my interest in understanding how students learn and how to best support them. I completed two years of coursework in Early Childhood Development at Linn-Benton Community College and the School Mental and Behavioral Health Microcredential program through Southern Oregon University. My studies have focused on recognizing central nervous system states, supporting self-regulation and co-regulation strategies for effective learning.

Outside of work, I enjoy facilitating equine-assisted experiences that help people explore nervous system regulation in the presence of horses. I care deeply about cultivating a community that recognizes the sentient nature of animals and honors their role in connection and learning while I continue my own horsemanship journey. I also enjoy horseback archery, paddleboarding with Amanda and Mora, supporting my younger daughter, KC, as she navigates adolescent life, and riding the Harley with my husband, Mike.
My vision for Pinehurst is to create a safe environment where students learn to regulate, form relationships with themselves, staff and each other and the teaching interactions and materials feel safe for reasoning to happen.