I was drawn to Faith Lutheran School because children are my passion and the values, vision, and mission of Faith strongly align with what I believe in as an early childhood educator. I graduated with my BAS in early childhood education in June 2021 from Lake Washington Institute of Technology, where I focused on guiding behaviors, anti-bias education, inclusive environments, project-based learning, and much more. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy camping on my family’s property in Forks, WA, and exploring the Olympic Peninsula. I also have a passion for animals, my favorite being my birds which can often be seen on my shoulder while running errands or just hanging out with my family.

I was drawn to Faith Lutheran school because I was drawn toward the warm and caring environment that I felt while touring the school. I come to Faith Lutheran with over a decade of experience working with children of all ages. I have my Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, and I am currently pursuing my Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood from Lake Washington Institute of Technology. Teaching has been a passion of mine for a long time, and I look forward to teaching children and seeing them learn and smile daily. In my downtime, I like to hang out with my friends as well as my husband, Josh, and my cat, Lilly.

I am at Faith by the grace of God. I honestly do not remember sending a resume or filling out an application. I received a phone call requesting an interview. I immediately felt at home and knew I would enjoy working here. I had worked for 25 years in another location and wasn’t sure I would ever find that feeling again. I truly appreciate the staff, parents, and children at Faith and hope to stay for many years. I have a BA in Education with Special Education Endorsement from Eastern Washington University.

I came to Faith in search of a welcoming and supportive community, where I could grow more as a teacher. When I first arrived for my interview, I could feel the care and love of each classroom, and I felt confident that this was the place I needed to be. I have always found teaching to be one of the most important parts of my life, and to be in a place where I can thrive alongside my students brings me so much joy. At home I take care of my cat Tinkerbell (AKA Stinker) and my three rats: Garnet, Amythest, and Pearl. Besides teaching, I enjoy writing- usually children’s stories or fantasy novels. I am also part of a local theatre group- “Heart Repertoire” as a stage manager.

What attracted me to Faith was the feeling I got when I stepped into that first classroom. It was an environment of fun, learning, and faith. It felt like coming home. The reality of all that is what will keep me here and has me excited about teaching, learning, and growing with all the amazing children and staff. I am currently pursuing on my AA degree in Early Childhood Education.

I have been associated with Faith Lutheran Church and Faith Lutheran School for many years. I’m a member of the church, and I am the School Board Secretary. My oldest child went to Faith, and my youngest currently attends here, too. I have a Masters in Elementary Education and taught for 10 years at St. Edward Catholic School in Seattle. I am fluent in French and English and grew up overseas.

I am so fortunate to be a part of such an outstanding group of educators, in such a wonderful community! Teaching children is my passion, and I am so blessed to be able to do it at Faith Lutheran School. Raising my three children has been the joy of my life, and my motivation to keep learning and growing as an individual. I am currently working on my AA degree in Early Childhood Education, at Lake Washington Institute of Technology. At home, I spend my time with my three amazing teenagers, my fiancé, and my wonderful friends and extended family. I also enjoy time outdoors with my two dogs, Wesley and Roxas.

I am so excited to be at Faith Lutheran! Before coming to FLS, I worked for six years at a center in Kirkland. During that time I taught 3s, older 2s, and infants. I am excited about teaching toddlers!

I live in Redmond with my husband Geoff, son Seamus, dog Rawlings, and cat Clarabelle. Seamus is a very busy kid, so we do a lot of playing outside on the weekends and recently started geocaching. Left to my own devices, I prefer binge-watching the same few shows and quilting.

I joined Faith in 2021. It is an amazing experience for me. Faith is an excellent school for kids. I love teaching because I can impact childrens’ lives and watch them grow and learn. I enjoy working with children and especially love laughing and watching the children enjoy their childhood and school experiences. I have a passion for early learning, especially enriching young minds through play and mindful experiences. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (B. Com) and a Diploma in Taxation Law. I have completed the Early Child Star Hours course.

I began my career in early childhood education in 2016, and in 2021 I earned my BAS from Lake Washington Institute of Technology. My major areas of interest are child development; guiding behaviors; and child, family, and community partnerships. I believe in being a life-long learner. I strongly believe in “keep in mind, you will make it.” My philosophy in teaching young children is that all children can learn. No matter what their abilities are, they can learn. I believe every child is a unique and special individual who has the right to a safe, stimulating education regardless of race, gender, religion, ability, economic background, national origin, or ancestry. I enjoy helping children achieve their milestone goals in language, social/emotional, physical, phonological, fine motor, and cognitive development. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to be involved in that process. My hobbies include organizing my yard, spending time with my family, hiking, and fishing. As for my future goals, I plan on continuing working in the Early Childhood Education field. I hope through continuous learning and study, I can improve myself, gain knowledge, and become the professional teacher I want to be.

I am excited and honored to join Faith Lutheran School! I hold a BA in English Literature with a special focus on children’s media. I have served as a public school teacher, an education and events coordinator for the library, a presenter, student advocate, and behavioral health counselor. I am passionate about care work and building God’s beloved community through a justice-focused lens. I believe in engaged pedagogy. I love learning new things, illustration, and being outside in nature. In my downtime I enjoy having a cup of tea with my cat, Zora, and crafting.

Faith Lutheran reflects a supportive and caring atmosphere, coupled with the message of God’s amazing love for all. I am originally from Michigan but lived in Arizona for over 30 years. I started off my professional career as an elementary school teacher but, after having my first child, decided to switch to teaching preschool. For 30+ years, while living with my family in Arizona, I continued to work in early childhood education. For 12 years, I was the director of a Christian preschool in Arizona. While healing from a broken ankle, I came out to visit my older daughter’s family and decided to stay. I love it here in the PNW! It reminds me of Northern Michigan but with a lot less snow.

Faith is not just a school, but an institution wherein children are taught “how to think” not “what to think,” and children activate their natural desire to learn. I am very grateful to be a member of the Faith family. I completed my Bachelors in Education and Masters in Business Administration. In addition, I also earned certificates in Early Childhood Education from Lake Washington Institute of Technology, and I’m working toward adding more credits as I believe learning is a continuous process and not the destination.

God brought me to Faith for many reasons; most importantly to give children the gift of time – another year to grow academically, socially, and emotionally before entering kindergarten. As a teacher here, I appreciate the fact that we collaborate as a staff, and we have a supportive and caring connection with all of our families. It’s a blessing to see our students grow, mature, and flourish here at Faith Lutheran School! I have a BA in Elementary Education, with Minors in Early Childhood Education and Japanese, from Central Washington University.

Pastor Debbie began her ministry at Faith in late October 2020. She is enthusiastic about both Sunday morning services and everyday opportunities to learn and worship. She is passionate about her calling as a preacher and providing many ways to hear and connect with God’s word. In her words: “I feel very traditionally Lutheran, but want to be innovative.” She’s excited by Faith’s desire to embrace change, even as we strive to identify what that means. Pastor Debbie and her husband, Bill, have raised five kids and delight in the joy of their six grandchildren. For her, they are the people who daily reflect the love and grace of God. Pastor Debbie welcomes the opportunity to visit and get to know you. Don’t hesitate to contact her.