Russ 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 Melinda Pongrey
Teacher for 5th-6th Grades
Email melinda@swanschool.net

Just hired-- bio coming soon!

Karen 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 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 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 Carrie Muellner
Office Administrator
Email info@swanschool.net

Office hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 4 pm


Enrichment Program Staff

Choir and MarimbaLeslie Lewis eps_leslie@swanschool.net
Beginning ViolinKristin Smith eps_kristin@swanschool.net
Violin Ensemble and KeyboardingGary Fredrick eps_gary@swanschool.net
Music ExplorationDahti Blanchard eps_dahti@swanschool.net
Teacher's Aide and PEStacey Stafki eps_stacey@swanschool.net
ArtDiane Porter-Brown eps_diane@swanschool.net

Board Members

Traci Tanner379-2511Email
Tina McCleese385-5180Email
Paul Stafford379-2691Email
Karmen Meier385-6484Email
Maxine Seran385-9277Email
Siena Foxx379-1321Email
John Orchanian437-9355Email
info@swanschool.net   2345 Kuhn Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368 * 360-385-7340 * Job Opportunities
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