For Brett and Breanne Smedley, Clark County has always been home and their roots run deep in Southwest Washington. Breanne grew up in Hockinson, while Brett was raised just a few miles away in Hazel Dell. Looking back, it seems fitting that the two would eventually build a life together here, raising their own children in the same community that shaped them.

After graduating from Western Washington University, Breanne completed her student teaching in Spain, an experience she says changed the way she views the world and sparked an even greater appreciation for different cultures and perspectives. She began her career teaching elementary physical education, while Brett was building his own career in education and coaching.

Brett attended Linfield College, where he played football, then moved on to teach PE at Hockinson, Battle Ground, in Seattle and Coupeville. He has now been at Columbia River for the past 11 years. He was a multi-sport athlete growing up (football, basketball, baseball) and attended Columbia River as a kid, so he is back at his alma mater, which to him feels full circle. “The Columbia River family has had a huge impact on me. To be able to give back directly to that community as a teacher and a coach is something that brings me a lot of joy,” Brett says.

Their story, however, almost didn’t happen until Breanne’s mom stepped in. At the time, Brett was teaching at Hockinson High School, where Breanne’s mom worked as the school registrar. Breanne was still attending Western Washington University, studying kinesiology and physical education with a minor in Spanish while playing volleyball for the Vikings. Convinced the two would make a great match, Breanne’s mom repeatedly encouraged them to meet. Eventually, her persistence paid off, and Brett and Breanne agreed to meet for dinner at McMenamins on the Columbia River. Breanne says, “Mom knows best.”

The couple married in 2013 at the beautiful Marshall House on Officers Row in downtown Vancouver before beginning the next chapter of their lives together on Whidbey Island. Those five years on the island became an important foundation for both their careers and their marriage. Together they built coaching programs, established themselves as educators, and discovered a love for the close-knit community that Whidbey offered. Even today, it remains one of their family’s favorite places to visit.

But when Brett and Breanne began thinking about starting a family, one thing became clear: they wanted to be closer to home. “We knew we wanted our parents involved,” Breanne says. “Coming back to Clark County just felt like the right decision.” In 2016, they returned to Southwest Washington and found exactly what they were looking for in the North Salmon Creek/Felida area.

Today, they’re raising two energetic kids who keep life full and calendars busy. Eight-year-old Charlee will be entering third grade this fall at Ruth Bader Ginsburg Elementary. She loves getting lost in a good book, playing soccer, rock climbing, and, after spending much of her life inside volleyball gyms cheering on her mom, she’s beginning to fall in love with volleyball herself.

Her younger brother, Grady, is preparing for kindergarten at RBG this year. Known as the comedian of the family, Grady spends his days making everyone laugh while enjoying T-ball, soccer, Pokémon cards, and just about any activity that lets him burn off energy.

Both children participate in the school’s Spanish Immersion Program, something especially meaningful to Breanne because of her own educational background. In fact, the family is already dreaming about future trips where Charlee and Grady can put their Spanish skills to work.

While the kids keep them busy, Brett and Breanne continue to pour their hearts into careers centered around helping young people grow. After several years teaching physical education, Breanne accepted a position at Columbia River High School, where she taught PE and became head volleyball coach. Eleven years later, she continues leading the Rapids volleyball program, helping build one of the state’s premier programs, including four consecutive state championships from 2021 through 2024.

Yet even with that success, another passion was growing. As both a teacher and coach, Breanne noticed many talented athletes struggled not because of physical ability, but because they lacked confidence and the mental skills to handle pressure. In 2018, she co-founded The Elite Competitor alongside her sister-in-law, Kristina. Their goal was simple: help middle and high school athletes strengthen the mental side of competition.

What began as an online coaching platform has grown into a nationally recognized mental performance company serving athletes, parents, teams, and clubs across the country. In 2021, Breanne stepped away from classroom teaching to focus on the business full-time, allowing her to travel, host workshops, and impact thousands of athletes nationwide.

Meanwhile, Brett has continued doing what he loves at Columbia River High School, where he has spent the past 11 years teaching health, PE, and AVID. Throughout his career, he’s coached basketball, football, and now track and field, working with the throwers. “He has poured so much into his athletes over the years,” Breanne says. “The students who come through his programs are incredibly lucky.”

Their years working together at Columbia River also created plenty of memorable moments.

Since both taught in the PE department, every fall students would inevitably ask, “Which Smedley do you have?” trying to determine which teacher had the tougher reputation. Breanne laughs that she’ll never reveal the answer.

One thing she is quick to point out, though, is Brett’s unwavering support throughout her coaching career. With her team’s incredible success, including four straight state championships, she says Brett has never been anything but her biggest supporter.

“He’s always been proud,” she says. “That tells you everything you need to know about him.”

Life today revolves around family, community, and making memories together.

Whether they’re attending their children’s soccer games, dancing events, or school activities, squeezing in CrossFit workouts together, cheering on the Portland Thorns or Fire, or returning to Whidbey Island for family crabbing trips, the Smedleys value spending time together more than anything else.

They’ve also discovered a love for international travel. After visiting Switzerland and Iceland with another family, they often dream about living abroad someday, even if only for a season, to give their children the opportunity to experience another culture while using the Spanish they’re learning in school.

Closer to home, however, some of their favorite moments are the simplest ones. Birthday mornings are a treasured family tradition, complete with streamers hanging from bedroom doors, favorite breakfasts, and photos from every birthday displayed around the table. The kids begin counting down weeks in advance.

Weekends often include neighborhood bike rides, afternoons on the Salmon Creek Trail, trips to Fairgrounds Park, or simply inviting neighbors into the backyard while the kids play together.

It’s those everyday moments that have made Felida feel like home.

“The people are definitely our favorite part,” Breanne says. “There are so many families with kids our children’s ages, and it’s been amazing watching friendships grow.” She’s also been pleasantly surprised by just how connected the community feels. “You think you’ll be anonymous because it’s a larger area,” she says. “Then everywhere you go you run into a former student, a volleyball parent, someone from the gym, or another family from school. It’s a reminder that we’re all connected.”

When they’re out and about, you’ll often find the Smedleys grabbing breakfast at Seize the Bagel, stopping by Creed Coffee, working out at Industrial CrossFit, or visiting Muni Muni Yoga Studio. They also love exploring downtown Vancouver’s waterfront and taking advantage of the area’s growing collection of local restaurants and coffee shops.

For the Smedley family, Felida has become exactly what they hoped it would be, a place where relationships matter, children can thrive, and community feels personal. It’s also why Breanne enjoys reading Greet Felida. “I love that it gives you a glimpse into the lives of the people who live here,” she says. “You get to learn what your neighbors care about, how they got here, and what they’re building. It creates connections that might not happen otherwise, and that’s something really special.”