Wasley earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Western Washington University in 1973. She earned her teaching certification in 1975 from WWU as well. She began her education career in 1975 as an English and Social Studies teacher in Perth, Australia. In 1977 she became an English teacher at Nooksack Valley High School in Everson, Washington, serving in that capacity until 1982, when she became the curriculum supervisor at Educational Service District 112 in Vancouver, Washington. That year she completed her Master of Arts Degree in English at WWU.
