I am excited to be here for my second year at Pisgah Elementary School and my tenth year in public health. I spent eight years in the primary care clinic at the Buncombe County Health Center involved in family planning, prenatal, adult and child services. Before that I worked at Mission Hospital. I graduated with a BSN in nursing from Western Carolina University in 1996.

Before I was a nurse, I lived in Germany for 12 years teaching English as a second language at Schiller International University in Heidelberg. I speak fluent German, and go back to visit my friends about every other year. I also lived and taught English in Hong Kong for one year at Tai Po Sam Yuk Secondary School.

In addition to being a nurse and a teacher, I am also a potter, and have been a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild since 2002.

I have a 27-year-old daughter, Bettina, who graduated from Western Carolina University with a degree in chemistry. She works in Research Triangle Park.

I am committed to helping everyone at Pisgah Elementary School be as healthy as he or she can be. I am a good resource person for all sorts of health questions, concerns and problems from getting a Medicaid application to obtaining a doctor’s appointment to offering tips on getting children to eat more vegetables. If I don’t know something, I often know someone who does. If you have any questions, concerns, requests, or if you just want to get acquainted, please call me at 828-989-8905 or e-mail me at Michelle.Tyson@buncombecounty.org.