Bonnie joins The Goldfinch School with more than 35 years of experience in progressive education as a senior administrator and seasoned educator—most recently, she was the owner and Executive Director of Creative Explorers Preschool in Howard County, Maryland.

Bonnie holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Early Childhood Education from Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education & Human Development and is herself a natural teacher and lifelong learner—striving to better understand and transform learning environments by facilitating meaningful interactions and reflections among faculty and young students that expand not only their knowledge but their capacity to understand.

Bonnie and her husband have two grown children, and two grandsons. During her free time, Bonnie is also a yoga instructor and outdoor enthusiast.

Mikala has worked with children for over 10 years as a preschool teacher, tutor, camp counselor, soccer coach, instructional assistant, and babysitter. She enjoys watching children learn through their play and is passionate about helping each child grow into their personality and strengths. Mikala has experience working with young children of all abilities and stages of development. In every role, she strives to be a youth advocate by supporting the individual needs of children while working to create a positive community environment in each of the classrooms she works in.

Mikala was raised in the Pacific Northwest where she found her love for the outdoors. She enjoys hiking, camping, gardening, and just soaking up the sunshine with her fiancé, and her dog. On the weekends you can also catch Mikala at concerts and Mariner’s games.

Sydney grew up on Whidbey Island, where she developed a deep appreciation for the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and has spent over 6 years working with young children and their families. Throughout her work, she continues to be inspired by the limitless curiosity and creativity of children.

Sydney is passionate about creating engaging, inclusive early learning environments that are responsive to the unique needs of each child and reflective of the cultures and communities to which they belong. Her work is driven by her belief in the power of high-quality early education though providing a foundation for lifelong learning, empowering children to reach their full potential, and contributing to a brighter, more equitable future for all.

Outside of her work with children, Sydney enjoy spending time outdoors, baking, and caring for her collection of houseplants and three very cuddly cats.

Kylie was born and raised in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where she gained 10 years of child care experience with newborns all the way through high schoolers. She has watched over many children and made many meaningful connections with families around the greater Milwaukee area. Kylie has also worked as a camp counselor and a tutor in more recent years, including being a Teaching Assistant in France. Kylie's favorite thing to do with children is make them smile--whether it's talking about fairies, superheros, a favorite food, or just making up a silly story, she always manages to get anyone to crack a smile.

Kylie holds a Bachelor's of Arts in French and Francophone Studies and a Bachelor's of Music in Music Theory and Flute Performance from Lawrence University. Kylie strives to create a positive and welcoming atmosphere where everyone can be creative and never afraid to ask a question. Whenever she can, she likes to incorporate her French, music skills, and cultural competence to help create a more well-rounded view of the world.

Outside of the classroom, you may find Kylie on a hike, cooking, playing with cats, or out of the country on a world-wide adventure tackling her goal of going "everywhere." Kylie has been to 17 countries so far, having lived in France and Sénégal. She only has 178 more countries to go!

Liz is originally from the vibrant city of Lima, Perú. Liz's journey has seen her as more than an educator; she was the visionary owner and director of a prominent preschool in Lima. Liz holds a Bachelor's Degree in Educational Sciences and a Masters in Child Psychology.

Liz’s commitment to Early Childhood Education is evident in her ability to create innovative classroom activities, often integrating art to make learning immersive and delightful. She is eager to share her vast expertise, love for children, and passion for learning. With her guidance, each student is poised to flourish as a curious explorer and creative thinker.

Her zeal for teaching is complemented by a rich cultural curiosity. Each new culture she encounters enriches her teaching methods, transforming her classrooms into a diverse hub of ideas and experiences.

Outside the classroom, Liz's passions include indulging in Peruvian culinary delights and dancing salsa.

Born and raised in Lebanon, Nada came to the USA in 2000, bringing with her a wealth of traditions, languages, and experiences. She takes pride in being trilingual, fluent in Arabic, French, and English.

After discovering a passion for Early Childhood Education many and spending years educating children as a volunteer, she earned her MA in Early Childhood Education from San Francisco State University and continues to dedicate herself to growing and learning as an educator. With 22 years of hands-on experience in childcare and Early Childhood Education, Nada’s passion for nurturing young children has only grown stronger.

Nada most enjoys ensuring every child feels safe, cherished, and understood, while also introducing them to a broader world perspective.

When she is not working, Nada enjoys moments of reflection, running, and spending time with her family in Seattle.

Steven has nearly ten years of experience working with children from ages birth to twelve. He has been the Lead Teacher in numerous classrooms while most recently heading a school-age room for the last three years.

His primary goal is to meet each child at their individual stage of development, fostering a safe and inclusive environment where they can flourish as their authentic selves. This commitment drives his daily efforts.

During his tenure at Cornish College of the Arts, he had the opportunity to collaborate with institutions such as Seattle Children’s Theater and 1st and Vine, gaining exposure to diverse life experiences and teaching approaches. This broadened perspective contributes to the toolkit he brings to support children in any way necessary. After earning a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree in Theater from Cornish, he pursued further education and now holds a degree in Early Childhood Education.

When he's not enthusiastically participating in classroom dance parties or delving into the deeper meanings of Pete the Cat books with the children he teaches, you can typically find him gracing the Seattle stage as an actor. His involvement includes performances at venues like the Artists of Color Expo, Greenstage, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Breeders Theater, White River Valley, and more. Steven takes immense pride in his Indigenous heritage, being a proud member of both The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and Upper Nicola Band First Nation, and he actively celebrates this heritage at every opportunity.

Barbara was born in Switzerland, where she majored in Special Education before emigrating to the Bay Area some thirty years ago. From there, having fallen in love with the West Coast and the ocean, she moved to the PNW with her husband.

Children have always been at the center of her life, at home, where she raised three of them who are now young adults, and during her career as an early childhood teacher. In her work, she strives to be worthy of imitation and hopes to cultivate wonder, reverence and joy through everyday tasks and rhythms. She is passionate about multi-age classrooms and finding ways to support primary caregivers navigate the challenges of their children’s early years.

Currently sort of retired, Barbara splits her time between traveling locally and visiting her family in Switzerland where she delights in speaking her first languages, French and Swiss German, sometimes all mixed up.

When in Seattle, Barbara likes to sew, knit and make dolls or puppets. She can often be found hiking or gardening, when not busy reading.

She is very excited to meet the Goldfinch School community and hopes to be a helpful presence for the children and the staff as a volunteer.

Originally from a small town near Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen in Northern California, Mariann grew up in a family of educators. Her academic pursuits led her to study Biology and Music in Southern California, then to medical school in Wisconsin, culminating in a 31-year career in Family Medicine at the University of Washington. Here, she played an instrumental role in guiding parents and assisting children through their life and health journeys.

Mariann is a dedicated advocate for children, who firmly believes in the adage that it "takes a village" to raise them. Seattle has been her home for many years, and is also where she has raised her 23-year-old daughter. Mariann is also an "Auntie" to many other children and young adults in her community.

Now retired from the University of Washington, Mariann is excited to bring vast experience, commitment to community and education, and her deep-rooted love for children to The Goldfinch School.

Fred grew up just outside of Washington DC, where he spent his childhood exploring nature, playing sports, and managing a paper route. He studied blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay and Woods Hole, MA, before earning his PhD in Biochemistry.

Fred dedicated 40 years of his career in Public Health to serving as a Senior Scientist and Chief of Scientific Research with the US Government. He recently retired from his role as Global Head at PATH in Seattle. Throughout his career, Fred's curiosity about the world around him never waned.

Passionate about education, Fred emphasizes the importance of hands-on learning, with even the youngest students. He is dedicated to creating opportunities for children to explore, experiment, and think critically.

Outside of his professional life, Fred enjoys bicycling, hiking, traveling, songwriting, and yoga. He resides in Edmonds, WA with his wife, Bonnie, and often spends time with his two grown children and two grandsons.

Charlotte was born and raised in Philadelphia and spent her high school years in Belgium. She graduated from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in Psychology, and went on to take additional Child Development courses at Vanderbilt University and has spent the last few years teaching Kindergarten in Nashville’s public schools.

Charlotte is inspired by The Goldfinch School’s play-based approach to learning, blended curriculum, and commitment to creating a community of joy, learning, and growth for little ones.

In her free time Charlotte is a freelance painter and ceramist. She can also be found enjoying the company of her partner and her French Bulldog, Murphy, reading, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.

Joseph was born and raised in Geneva, Switzerland and French is his native language. Joseph has been teaching language for many years and has worked with preschoolers through high schoolers.

In addition to being a language teacher, Joseph is a French/English translator and translates correspondences and protocols for scientists. Joseph is also an active volunteer at multiple schools and enjoys spending time with his daughter.