11/24/2025
We love Mrs. Forbus!
Meet Riverview Elementary teacher Iris Forbus!
• How many years have you worked in education? I have worked in schools for 37 years, and before school I was a freelance musician and private music instructor.
• How long have you worked in the Snohomish School District and what is your role? This is my 34th year in Snohomish School District. I was at Cathcart Elementary for 29 years teaching music, then I transferred to Machias Elementary to be only eight minutes from my home in Lake Stevens. As I consider my days in teaching school “numbered” when the opportunity came to experience teaching in another school, I took it! I am now at Riverview Elementary. Throughout my career I have been passionate about teaching band and seeing students feeling “empowered” by playing an instrument, singing or participating in a concert.
• If you had a day completely to yourself with no responsibilities, how would you spend it? If I had a day completely to myself, I would like to spend a day with my family, shopping or traveling or hiking or working on a puzzle.
• What would others be surprised to learn about you? I was adopted at birth and nine years ago I got to meet many of my birth family (who didn’t know about me). They were very welcoming. I learned that I had three brothers and am now very close to my brothers and others. My aunt, who is nearly 80 made an afghan/blanket for me which she said would be her last. That was an amazing experience.
• Who is your favorite composter or musical artist, and why? Freddy Mercury of Queen. I love his music, singing, creativity. I was lucky enough to see Queen live in Seattle.
• What is one of your favorite memories from when you were in school as a student, and why? Experiencing frisson. Frisson is the feeling of chills or shivers, that results from a powerful emotional response to something like music. I didn’t know what to call it until a few years ago. But the first time I felt it was when I was an elementary student at Roosevelt School in Arlington School District in the 4th grade. We learned recorders in and had old wooden desks with ink wells in them. The music teacher traveled to our classroom. We learned our songs for the concert. We were mandated to wear our Sunday best and show up at Arlington High School at the auditorium to perform. Then we were to go sit in the balcony and listen to all the other groups. The 5th and 6th grade bands performed, followed by the junior high band and lastly the high school band. I grew more and more physically excited by the sounds of instruments. And when the high school played, I couldn’t believe the amazing sounds that happened. I was hooked on all kinds of music, choirs, bands etc. from then on.
• Who inspires you, and why? I am inspired by people who continue to work hard throughout their lives and important tasks such as Anthony Fauci, Jimmy Carter, Dick Van D**e and Betty White. As I am not getting any younger, I hope to be able to work a long time!
Learn more about our educators and staff who help make Snohomish School District so special! Check out other 2025-2026 Meet Our District Staff spotlights at www.sno.wednet.edu/meetourdistrictstaff
