Russell Yates Director Teacher for 3rd-4th Grades Email russ@swanschool.net During Russell's 15 years in education prior to coming to Swan School, he has had the pleasure of teaching children in grades 2 through 6. The majority of that time has been in multiage settings. His classroom has been featured in an independent documentary titled "Honoring Diversity, the Multiage Classroom" as well as in the March/April 2005 issue of Mothering Magazine in an article titled "Ode to the One Room Schoolhouse." Russell's Multiage-Education.Com website has been considered the online hub for multiage educators worldwide since 1996. Russell has also instructed teacher education courses for Western Washington University and City University. In addition he has conducted numerous in-service classes and workshops for various school districts on a variety of subjects. Russell has earned a B.A., majoring in Outdoor Recreation and Environmental Education; a B.A.Ed. with endorsements in Elementary Education, History, and Social Studies; and a M.S. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology.
	Melinda Pongrey Teacher for 5th-6th Grades Email melinda@swanschool.net Just hired-- bio coming soon!
	Karen Akins Co-teacher for K-2nd Grades Email karen@swanschool.net Karen Akins has been at Swan School since 1999 - first as the Spanish teacher and then as the first/second grade teacher. Prior to having a family, she taught the primary grades in a San Francisco private school housed in Raphael House Emergency Shelter. Karen holds a B.A. from the University of Rochester and a Master's in Teaching from City University. Karen makes it a priority to provide a warm and stimulating atmosphere in which children fully participate in constructing their own learning. Classroom community is fostered through discussions and plenty of small group and whole class collaborative hands-on learning.
	Marcy Stewart Co-teacher for K-2nd Grades Email marcy@swanschool.net A teacher at Swan since 2002, Marcy Stewart has worked with children since 1975, including 14 years teaching 3, 4 and 5 year-olds at Port Townsend Head Start. She holds current Washington State Teacher Certification with endorsements both as a classroom teacher and school librarian. Marcy has a BA in English, a Master of Library Science degree, and a Child Development Associate Degree. Marcy's experience as a teacher, children's librarian, musician, fiber artist and lover of nature helps her provide rich child-centered classroom experiences that engage students in the exciting and empowering process of learning. She establishes a strong cooperative classroom community that invites hands-on exploration of art, music, reading, writing, mathematical concepts and problem-solving skills, science and the natural world, drama, movement and yoga.
	Loida Robles Santana Preschool Teacher Email loida@swanschool.net Loida received her bachelors of science from the State University of New York in Bilingual/Bicultural Elementary and Early Childhood Education. She taught for the Agency of Child Development of the City of New York for eight years. During those years she was head teacher for preschool and kindergarten children where she developed a bilingual curriculum. She then went on to teach in the New York City public school for the next five years. While there, she taught English as a second language to newly arrived students from South and Central America. She is also experienced teaching third, fourth and sixth grade. Loida moved to Montana in the early 90's where she opened her own preschool and provided additional services to the community by introducing John Bradshaw's "Homecoming" series and giving a 10-week workshop on "Alternative Methods of Parenting". Loida also took a journey across the U.S. on horseback (from New York City, to Fort Laramie, WY) with her husband and four horses. They studied and followed the "Oregon Trail". The adventure lasted three years. She has been at Swan School since September 2003.
	Carrie Muellner Office Administrator Email info@swanschool.net Office hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 4 pm
Enrichment Program Staff Choir and Marimba Leslie Lewis eps_leslie@swanschool.net Beginning Violin Kristin Smith eps_kristin@swanschool.net Violin Ensemble and Keyboarding Gary Fredrick eps_gary@swanschool.net Music Exploration Dahti Blanchard eps_dahti@swanschool.net Teacher's Aide and PE Stacey Stafki eps_stacey@swanschool.net Art Diane Porter-Brown eps_diane@swanschool.net
Board Members Traci Tanner 379-2511 Email Tina McCleese 385-5180 Email Paul Stafford 379-2691 Email Karmen Meier 385-6484 Email Maxine Seran 385-9277 Email Siena Foxx 379-1321 Email John Orchanian 437-9355 Email
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