What made you pursue a career in communications and design?
I have always loved creative hobbies like photography, drawing, and designing/making things. I also have a (frustratingly) “particular” brain that loves rules, numbers, and procedures, which made an entirely creative career feel a little too abstract for me. I loved learning about information design and started to realize my interest in writing in college. I found graphic design, marketing and communications to be a good career direction for me.
Starting off in the nonprofit sector in 2017, I got to “wear many hats” by managing websites, writing and editing content, and managing email lists and registration forms in addition to good ol’ graphic design. It kept things interesting and provided a great toolbelt of skills to bring to my current job as a Communications Manager at ESD 112.
How has working for ESD 112 affected you creatively/personally/professionally?
I truly feel excited, motivated, and inspired by the work I do at ESD 112. This is due to the incredibly talented folks on this team and the meaningful stories I get the opportunity to help share. Using my skills to write stories, design meaningful information and support the work of the communications team and wider organization is a true privilege.
What have you learned about school communications since joining the ESD Communications team last fall? What is something you’d like to learn more about?
I’ve learned how vital it is for schools to have reliable, tailored communications support, resources, and guidance for everything from crisis communications and standard response protocol to bond and levy campaigns and other opportunities involving school funding. I’ve learned how important creativity and flexibility are in supporting this important work, as the needs of our schools and students are so often changing.
Looking ahead, I would love to learn more about developing metrics and analytics reports on some of our communications services, like social media support, to help our Communications team and our schools better understand which strategies are most effective.
Some of Anna’s Humane Society photos
How did you get started volunteering at the Humane Society?
My spouse, Blake, and I adopted a pitty named Oswald from the Humane Society for Southwest Washington the year after we got married. After adopting Oswald in 2019 and becoming more aware of the troubling number of pets in shelters across the United States, I began volunteering in December of 2023 to shift my anxiety to action. Once I became more experienced in handling dogs, I began supporting the volunteer photography team taking “glamour shots” of shelter dogs for their website profiles.
It probably sounds silly, but I have learned so much from shelter dogs. They are resilient, kind, forgiving, and present in the moment, which is a trait that is so often lost in today’s world. What many people may not know is that so many shelter dogs came from loving homes; many know “sit” and “shake,” are potty trained, and are just waiting for their second chance. The experience of volunteering has expanded my empathy for pets and humans tenfold, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to capture these dogs, especially dogs who may be more likely to be overlooked due to their breed or background so that people can see the beauty that I see.
Anna and her spouse, Blake
What are your favorite ways to unplug and decompress?
Photography has always been a great hobby for me to decompress. I started doing film photography in high school and had an incredible resource and mentor in my father who was a professional photographer for many years. I dabbled in digital photography but held onto film photography, expanding to medium format film and cameras, and developing and processing everything at home about five years ago. The process of mixing chemicals, developing the film, and seeing the images that I had only ever seen in my head come to life has become a sacred ritual to me.
Birding has also been an amazing, anxiety-reducing hobby for me. Whether I am sitting in my backyard watching my bird feeders, or at a wildlife refuge or estuary, I relish the opportunity to be present in nature, listen and observe, and allow my shoulders to relax. When I am feeling a bit more energetic, I’ll haul along my seven-pound birding camera (it’s the same camera as my dog photography one, with a ginormous lens) and do some bird photography.
Anna birding
Marsh Wren photo by Anna Hixon
Dogs and birds are always on the move, which is also true of children. What advice do you have for communicators taking photos in schools of wiggly subjects?
Of course, you’ll need a fast shutter speed. Beyond that, there are a few important considerations I’ve picked up over the years:
- Patience is key. You often have to spend time simply observing before attempting to take photos.
- Find the balance between pursuing and achieving the perfect shot, while not causing a disturbance to your subjects. When photographing animals, it's important to give them the opportunity to just "be" and exist in their natural state. Give them space and freedom to roam and avoid pushing boundaries to get the perfect shot. This applies similarly to taking photos in school settings. It's usually okay to stage some photos here and there, but it's vital to respect boundaries, allow the natural state of the classroom or school setting to flow, and wait for candid opportunities to arise. With children, I also find a lot of value in asking for permission before snapping photos (in addition to verifying parent/guardian permissions, of course). A simple "do you want to be in this picture?" gives children the agency to opt out, if they prefer, and goes a long way in terms of comfort and respect. In thinking about dogs, birds, children and humans of all ages: we may not always be in the mood to be captured — and that's okay!
- Most of us tend to take photos at eye level–try getting on your subject's level and joining their world! Taking photos at your subject's eye level will shift the perspective of the image and tell a different story (since the viewer will be sharing the same perspective as the subject).
