In the summer of 2019, both Dani and Jeff made the decision to quit their jobs and pursue new paths. Dani had decided to leave her job at Shadow Mountain and take on a new adventure working at a nonprofit. Jeff decided to leave Oregon and began looking for open jobs in Phoenix. He stumbled upon Dani's vacant position at Shadow and checked out the classroom on a day Dani was off exploring Japan. Once Jeff was officially hired, Dani heard the news and was shocked they would just find her replacement without asking her opinion... How would she know if this guy could continue her passion for her kids?

Fast forward to the beginning of August and Dani received a text from an unknown number stating that he was the new teacher and he had been given her number from her arch nemesis at school. The two met up at a coffee shop to discuss students, transfer files, etc. Based on the details Dani had been given about her replacement, she was surprised to see Jeff-- not the 65 year old man with white tube socks and shorts hiked up six-inches above his belly button that she had envisioned in her mind. The two chatted for a few hours, as each time that she told Jeff he had all of the information he needed, he managed to come up with a new question, sometimes a repeated one, that extended their time together. At the end of the meeting, Jeff told Dani that if she was ever doing something fun with her friends, she should invite him because he was new to town and looking to meet people. She thought it was odd since she thought they might have had a connection but quickly adjusted her thinking and began to think of her single friends-- since that's apparently whom he wanted to meet. Dani instantly took that information to her girls' happy hour and showed his social media to all of them, seeing who wanted to be set up with him. It took a few more times of meeting up to assist with his new classroom for Jeff's true intentions to come out... once he finally asked her out to talk about something other than students.

It was July 2019 and Jeff’s life (Howser’s too) had started on a new, scary path. Jeff was in the middle of an awkward period of leaving Oregon and moving to Arizona and was spending time with family in New Mexico figuring out moving logistics. Jeff was curious about what his new position would be like and was a little sad about leaving Oregon. In an attempt to confirm that Jeff had made the right decision to move to Phoenix, he decided to text the teacher that he would be replacing (Dani), hoping to find some positive confirmation. Once Jeff received Dani’s number from the neighboring classroom teacher, he decided to send a text to Dani explaining who it was and why he was reaching out. Jeff was interested in learning more about the position to ease his nerves. After a few back and forth texts Dani and Jeff agreed to meet at a small coffee shop (32 Shea). Jeff, freshly moved into his new apartment and still trying to find his way around Phoenix, was about 10 minutes late--which Dani still has not let him live down. When Jeff made his way inside the small coffee shop he looked around and tried to find a person that matched Dani’s description (white shirt/jeans). Dani standing by the register said “Are you Jeff?” Jeff looked and saw a cute girl to his left. From that moment on Jeff had a feeling about Dani, but wanted to be careful. The two sat and chatted for close to 4 hours. Jeff wanted to get to know Dani, so he asked a ton of questions (but also wanted the real dirt on his new administrators and job). At the end of the meeting Jeff, looking for a socially acceptable way to get another opportunity to see Dani a second time, said, “if you and your friends ever get together, I'm looking for people to hang out with... so let me know.” The following weeks, Jeff would come up with excuses to contact Dani to see her again and again.