HI I’m Lila Allen your new English, History, and Psychology teacher. I was born in Atlanta, Georgia and I’ve taught in Utah and Nevada for the last 17 years. I’m married to Joey Allen of the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe and we have two boys. I’m excited to be here at PLHS and I can’t wait to work with my new students and families. I would love to have anyone who is interested in volunteering or who just wants to check out my classes come visit. Any family member is welcome in my room any time.

Hi Laker families! My name is Jacie Paulsen and I am the new 7th and 8th grade English and Social Studies teacher. I graduated from UNR with my Bachelors in English Education this previous spring, and I completed my teaching internship here at PLHS last year with Mrs. Baker. I am excited to return this year as part of the middle school program and build foundation skills that our students will need throughout high school and beyond. I have lived in Nevada for 25 years, and I enjoy hiking and camping with my dog, traveling, and playing softball with friends. I am greatly looking forward to this school year!

Aiy-yu-kwee(Hello), Nek New(My name is) Teresa Hendrix Wright. I am a Yurok Tribal member. I graduated from Humboldt State University with a Bachelors of Art in Art with a Native American Studies Special Concentration, Indian Teacher Education Personnel Program(ITEPP), Secondary Teaching Credential Program and a participant in the Bilingual Education Training Program. I have lived on the Pyramid Lake Reservation for 29 years.

I homeschooled my three children, Nikwich, Lena and Amos for nine years. Nikwich and Lena graduated from Stanford University. Lena is currently working on her MFA at the San Fransisco Art Institute. Amos graduated from Haskell Indian Nations University and is now attending Idaho State University, they are all Pyramid Lake High School Alumni.

I enjoy traditional fishing on the Klamath River and participate in numerous cultural ceremonies, events and activities.

This year, I am teaching Native Studies, Native Art, Native Dance and Advanced Art, Middle School Native Art and Life Skills. I am also leading two after school activities, a fishing club and “Daughters of Tradition”.

I welcome parents to visit and volunteer in my classroom. If you have traditional skill, art or knowledge you would like to share please contact me at

I am currently employed (since 2009) with Indian Health Service (IHS) and work as a full-time licensed teacher at Nevada Skies Youth Wellness Center (NSYWC), overseeing the online program coordination and teaching Native Studies.

I am member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, mother of four and grandmother of five. I am a licensed Nevada teacher in 7th-12th grade in social studies, US history and World History. My high school experience included Hug High School, Reno High School, Stewart Indian School, Alchesay High School in WhiteRiver, Arizona, and Fernley High School. Needless to say, I was exhausted from all the transitions to "new" schools but soon realized that I needed more education in order to support my son and I. I have worked in Indian education since the mid-eighties tutoring at Natchez, Pine Middle School, and Vaughn Middle School. I have also worked at Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, Inc., Head Start Program in the administrative area traveling to McDermitt, Lovelock, Schurz, Moapa Yerington, Stewart, Dresslerville, Elko, and Owyhee. I loved the travel, meeting distant relatives and other Native people. Education continued to be the emphasis for me and I have always enjoyed taking classes in order to learn more about Nevada and Indigenous peoples.

I received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) in 1988. My major was Cultural Anthropology and minored in Ethnic Studies/Native American Studies. At the time of receiving my BA at UNR, I earned an internship with the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. I was working on a basketry video with my mentors Norman & Bernie DeLorme and Dr. Catherine (Kay) Fowler. I have also worked with the late Harold Abel on the McDermitt Northern Paiute Language Program filming sites and stories with Elders. Prior to starting my master’s program in 2008, I taught at Pyramid Lake from (1995-97) 1999 to 2009 in the areas of middle school social studies, US History, government, World History, cultural photography, and my favorite, Native Studies. In December 2014, I received my Masters of Arts in Teaching of History from UNR.

My weekends are spent enjoying my two youngest granddaughters. I am now returning to beading, dancing, gardening and continue to enjoy cooking for family and events.

RAY CHARLES

My name is Mr. Ray Charles and this will be my 6th year teaching at this wonderful school at Pyramid Lake. I am the Special Education Coordinator and look forward to a successful 2017/2018 school year and I will be teaching Algebra 1, Native Stand and a new enrichment class for the middle school. My beautiful wife Leah Ann of 24 years and together we have two great boys Web and Rylan, Web is a junior in college playing Division 1 baseball at Youngstown State and he is Majoring in Mathematics and hoping to use his degree to become an Actuary. Rylan is currently attending Bishop Manogue High School and is the baby of the family and will get his license in November. Leah Ann is in her 28th year of teaching, all which has been in 6th grade, and she is hoping to retire in two years. I am hoping to coach the girl’s golf team, and I will also coach the girl’s Varsity basketball team hoping to get our team back in the playoffs this year after three consecutive playoff appearance and two state qualifying teams. A quote that I really like and try to live by in my daily life, “ If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.” Jim Valvano