Aaron Chavez has spent more than twenty five years serving students, families, and communities as a teacher, principal, superintendent, executive director, and international school leader. Throughout his career, one belief has guided his work: people often become what they believe they can become.
Long before Aaron became an educator, he worked as a cement mason and learned the value of hard work, craftsmanship, and seeing potential where others might not. Those lessons would later shape both his leadership and his art.
After his family purchased forty forested acres near Newport, Washington, Aaron took up chainsaw carving as a way to improve his wellness and create balance in a busy life. What began as a personal outlet soon grew into a passion and a second career. Today, he owns and operates CarvingRetreat.com, where he teaches others the art of chainsaw carving.
Years later, while working in Guangzhou, China, Aaron carved a grizzly bear with an owl where his heart would be. As Aaron carved, he imagined the grizzly bear as strong but lonely, while the little owl was curious, funny, and full of personality. What started as a carving quickly became something much more.
That sculpture became Brin and Melly.
Inspired by the forests of the Pacific Northwest, the series follows two unlikely friends as they explore hidden places, face challenges together, and discover that courage, kindness, and friendship can change everything.
Aaron now lives in Washington State, where he continues to lead schools, create chainsaw sculptures, teach carving retreats, and write stories inspired by characters first imagined in a piece of wood thousands of miles from home.
Because great carvings tell stories, and sometimes those stories become books.
