CRYSTAL LAKE – Prairie Ridge High School is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with various events.

Prairie Ridge principal Steven Koch, who became the school’s principal in 2013, said the school has been honoring its anniversary by recognizing 25 faculty members who have been there since the school opened in 1997.

When Prairie Ridge opened its doors, it brought in students and teachers who were previously at other District 155 schools. Originally a teacher at Cary-Grove, special education teacher Judy Swett transferred to Prairie Ridge for its first year. Swett said she got to walk through the building with a hard hat on when it was just a shell of its current self.

“Over the years, despite coming from all different schools, the faculty has bonded and grown stronger,” Swett said. “My time here has just been priceless since it’s such a wonderful place to work at.”

Math teacher Jean Boddy also was at another District 155 school, Crystal Lake South, before coming to Prairie Ridge 20 years ago. Boddy said she put in a request to transfer to the new school because she wanted to be at the school her children would eventually attend.

“It’s like one big family at this school, and there’s really nothing not to like,” Boddy said.

English teacher Katie Powe went to Prairie Ridge as a student her junior and senior years after attending Crystal Lake Central as a freshman and sophomore. Now, Powe not only teaches at the school she graduated from, but she also teaches in the room that was her first-period classroom when she was a junior.

“That’s been really special, and it’s a unique thing that not many people can say,” Powe said.

Powe said that when she was a student the walls were all white and it was up to the school’s first students to start creating early traditions. Now, the walls are filled with trophies, murals, school colors and other items that display school pride.

“It was very clear I wanted to be a teacher someday because of the influence from the teachers I previously had here,” Powe said. “I originally aspired to work in the city, but then I realized I had such a positive experience that I wanted to continue to have that experience in my adult life, too.”

Koch said Prairie Ridge will continue to celebrate its 20th anniversary throughout the rest of the school year. Friday’s homecoming will feature an alumni tent where former students and teachers can share their past stories with current students.