Faculty Profiles
Catlin Gabel teachers are wise, dedicated, expert, approachable, and supportive. In a word, they are amazing. Our teachers are more than the sum of their credentials and previous work experience. We asked our teachers five questions that would reveal something about our their personalities. Each teacher chose one question to answer.
What was a great Catlin Gabel experience you've had lately?
What is your favorite movie, play, book, or pastime? Why?
What brought you to Catlin Gabel (if you are new to the school), or why do you like working at Catlin Gabel?
What is one surprising thing about you?
Who was an influential teacher?
Limit by division: Upper School | Middle School | Lower School | Beginning School
| Carissa Albin, 2nd grade intern, at CG since 2009. |
| Paul Andrichuk, middle school head, at CG since 1997. Bachelor's in history, Oberlin College. Master's in school counseling, John Hopkins University. Paul's answer is pending. |
| Deirdre Atkinson, MS/US drama teacher, at CG since 2004. Bachelor's in theater, Willamette University. I grew up watching the San Francisco Mime Troupe and the Pickle Family Circus in the parks of San Francisco (in those summers after the one of love), but the first real play I remember seeing was "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Joyce Theater. They allowed the audience to go up on stage during intermission, and a star was born. I made my professional debut at age 11, sharing the stage with Placido Domingo in "Carmen" with the San Francisco Opera. I enjoy working with Middle Schoolers as we turn our Chipmunk Hollow theater into a different world every six weeks. That little tool shed has been transformed into a Scottish heath, a beach-blanket seascape, a far-away planet, Dracula's castle, a world-class museum, the Wild West, Verona, ancient India, a honky-tonk diner, the star ship Enterprise, and any number of dramatic little holes in the wall. |
| Chris Bagg, US English teacher & US admission associate, at CG since 2008. Bachelor's in English, Vassar College. Master's in creative writing, New York University. |
| Lerry Baker, head varsity track & field coach. |
| Teressa Barsotti, 4th grade teaching assistant, at CG since 2009. Bachelor's in anthropology, Portland State University. |
| Cindy Beals, US math teacher, at CG since 2004. Bachelor's in mathematics, Michigan Tech University. Master's in mathematics, University of Michigan. I am fascinated by people and cultures from around the world and as such have been an intrepid traveler. I have been lucky to the opportunity to explore the world extensively, including a 15-month trip around the world. I have traveled to all 50 states and 42 countries. My goal is to travel to at least as many countries as the number of years I have been alive, to keep me exploring. |
| Chris Bell, MS administrative assistant. |
| Maggie Bendicksen, 5th grade teacher, at CG since 2002. Bachelor's in English, Amherst College. Master's in education, Lewis & Clark College. |
| Milledge Bennett, US history teacher, at CG since 2005. Bachelor's in fine arts, University of California, Santa Cruz. Master's in ethnic studies, University of California, Berkeley. Doctorate in ethnic studies, University of California, Berkeley. My two influential history teacher mentors at UC Berkeley, Ronald Takaki and Gerald Vizenor, taught me her/history is beautiful, moving, tragic, inspiring, and funnier than anything one can make up. |
| Monique Bessette, MS French teacher, at CG since 1997. Bachelor's in English, Loyola College, Montreal. Master's in foreign languages, Lewis & Clark College. My favorite thing is going to Umpqua, in southern Oregon, with my partner, Robb, where we share a 160-acre piece of land with four other families. With the exception of the gurgling creek below our cabin, it is totally silent at night. When we are in this magical place we work on restoring an old cabin (which will eventually be our retirement home), walk up the creek to check on - and sometimes fix - our water source, cut firewood, hunt for chanterelle mushrooms, study the amazing night sky, do some clearing with our old Kubota tractor, watch salmon jump upstream, and visit friends. Soon, we'll mill our own wood for the cabin! We have solar panels for our 12-volt electricity source and an antenna up a big Douglas fir so we can listen to a superb community radio station in Eugene. Many evenings we play Scrabble over a glass of wine - Le paradis!
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| Carrie Blank, LS PE teacher, at CG since 2005. Bachelor's in anthropology, Humboldt State University. Bachelor's in physical education, Illinois State University. Master's in education, Lewis & Clark College. |
| Robert Bonaparte, asst. jv soccer coach. |
| Scott Bowler, LS science teacher, at CG since 1984. Bachelor's in anthropology, Humboldt State University. Master's in education, Lewis & Clark College. Twenty-five years ago I was asked to come and interview for a fledgling Lower School science program. The idea was for me to create the program, collect resources, put a lab space together, work with homeroom teachers to design and enhance curriculum, and then to leave at the year's end. As I got to know the kids and teachers, it soon became clear that there was far more work and interesting things to do than was originally envisioned. That year, I went on more than 20 class trips, helped build go-carts and motors, designed a castle and drawbridge made from milk cartons, collected a 600-volume science library, drew sea life murals, set out bird feeders, started a garden, surveyed the woods, explored mystery powders, and attended a medieval banquet. Here I still am, still developing the program, and still having a great deal of fun |
| Leondra Brackett, 1st grade teaching assistant. |
| Emily Brooks, 3rd grade intern, at CG since 2009. |
| C. Glenn Burnett, US music teacher & choral director, at CG since 1996. Bachelor's in music, Pacific Lutheran University. Master's in education, Portland State University. My father (with whom I also share the name of Coyne Glenn Burnett) taught choral music for more than 30 years. Ever since I first joined his choir as an 8th grader I knew I wanted to be a choir director – just like him. Obviously, he was my most influential teacher. I saw him change the lives of young people by helping them experience the beauty, grace, and power of choral music. |
| Laurie Carlyon-Ward, US art teacher, at CG since 1986. Bachelor's in fine arts, University of Washington. Bachelor's in education, Western Washington State University. Master's in curriculum & administration, University of Rochester. A surprising thing about me is my passion for exploring the geology and history of eastern Oregon. Along with reading about Malheur County and Lake County comes my love of fishing, hiking, and photographing the region. |
| Len Carr, middle school dean of students, at CG since 1989. Bachelor's in social sciences, Evergreen State College. |
| Li-Ling Cheng, MS Chinese teacher, at CG since 2005. Bachelor's in occupational therapy, National Taiwan University School of Medicine. Master's in occupational therapy, New York Univ School of Education. Growing up in Taiwan I had never heard of mushroom hunting, which has become my favorite pastime since moving to Oregon. With a little rain, mushrooms are the best and most reliable gift nature offers. I enjoy adventuring into the woods, with the wind whistling and streams gurgling in the background, in search of my preferred mushrooms. The hunting trip does not always guarantee harvest, but I do appreciate the time I spend in nature.
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| Francine Chough, LS French teacher, at CG since 1999. Bachelor's in English, Lewis & Clark College. Bachelor's in English, Universite de Dijon, France. Master's in education, Loyola College. I like working at Catlin Gabel because I am surrounded by inquiring students who are all getting a chance to learn at their own pace and are allowed to develop their creative minds, thanks to an environment of caring and nurturing adults. What a joy! I did not have that chance in the school I went to and wish I could have had that opportunity when I was younger. |
| Mike Davis, athletic director & us/ms PE & health teacher, at CG since 1988. Bachelor's in physical education, St. Luke's College, England. Master's in physical education, University of Oregon. Doctorate in physical education, University of Oregon. Mark Twain said, “Golf is a good walk spoiled.” I have played many golf courses that compliment the natural beauty of the surroundings. I have befriended strangers playing golf, and played with great people who are not necessarily good golfers. Golf is great exercise: after 18 holes you’ve walked about six miles. Occasionally I hit a great shot that makes me look like a professional and motivates me to get back out there even when I have had a lousy round. Golfers are usually honest people who play by the rules. How could all that spoil a good walk? |
| Michael de Forest, LS woodshop teacher, at CG since 1996. Bachelor's in sociology, Lewis & Clark College. Master's in visual studies, Minneapolis College of Art & Design.
In 1970 I made a bookshelf out of leftover 2 x 6s using a handsaw, a hammer, and nails. My friend Lee admired my work. I was very pleased. Four years later, I was a youth counselor looking for a career change. Lee, in the meantime, had begun designing and making hardwood furniture. After I begged and pleaded, Lee relented and hired me as his apprentice. Decades later, I bumped into Lee. He told me that when he had admired my 2 x 6 bookshelf, made with only hand tools and no training, he decided that woodworking might be something he could do. He had approached two furniture makers, begged them for a job, and was hired as an apprentice. When he hired me as an apprentice, he was working for the guys who took a chance on him. No wonder he took a chance on me, a chance that launched me on a 35-year journey as a woodworker and a teacher of woodworking.
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| Veronique de la Poterie, US French teacher, at CG since 1986. Bachelor's in French, Portland State University. I feel very lucky to be in charge of my own curriculum. I have created nearly all the texts that I use and I continue to feel blessed that I have the freedom to be as creative as I can - the sky (and time) is the limit! Working with high caliber students who, by the time they graduate from our honors program, are nearly fluent fills me with enormous joy and pride. I have learned so much about children and teaching from the competent, intelligent, and dedicated teachers I work with. |
| Paul Dickinson, US science teacher, at CG since 1969. Bachelor's in biology, University of Connecticut. Master's in education, Portland State University. |
| Nancy Donehower, co-director of college counseling, at CG since 2008. Bachelor's in psychology, Sarah Lawrence College. Doctorate in psychology, Univ of St Andrews Scotland. |
| Lynda Douglas, 7th grade math teacher, at CG since 1998. Bachelor's in biology, Lewis & Clark College. Master's in biology, University of Chicago. Catlin Gabel's natural beauty and close community of progressive and dedicated educators resonates perfectly with my view of what an educational setting should be. My love for math grew from the influence of two very strong math teachers: Virginia Bartell in high school and Elva Fredrickson in college. My first teaching job at the progressive Green Acres School (also on the site of an old farm) cemented and foretold my future. It all came together at Catlin-a beautiful setting in which progressive ideals are held protectively in the hands of inspiring colleagues and where I can share mathematics with my students as simply another way by which to know the world. How lucky I am to have come to this place.
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| Joanne Dreier, kindergarten teacher, at CG since 1987. Bachelor's in education, Portland State University. In the Beginning School I get to be the teacher that I imagined I could be. I get to practice being my best self with those I respect and love: my colleagues, the children, the families. I get to be there when their stories are told. I get to make a difference. I get to feel grateful that my journey to "Ithaca" has included a kindergarten classroom at Catlin Gabel. |
| Ema Eldredge, 8th grade math teacher, at CG since 2004. Bachelor's in mathematics, Pacific University. |
| David Ellenberg, 8th grade history teacher, at CG since 1991. Bachelor's in biology, Brown University. Master's in education, Portland State University. Mr. Molnia was my social studies teacher in 8th grade. He was smart and sharp-witted, and treated me with respect in an era when there was a lot of tension between students and their instructors. Mr. Molnia expected me to think critically about issues current and historic, and he pushed me to defend what I shared with reasoned responses. One lesson stands out. In a Queens neighborhood where Holocaust survivors were many, Mr. Molnia asked the class to list some of the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime. We then generated another list of punishments that we believed the Nazi leadership deserved. Although the lists were not identical in specific content, the two contained some surprisingly similar methodologies. It was clear that vengeance was a preferred aspect of the second list. The debrief was heartfelt and difficult. Seeing the summative lists side by side on the board implied an equivalency that made me squirm. The power of the activity has lasted all these years. Its memory helps guide me as I push my own students to use compassion and critical thinking when working with issues of controversy.
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| Lisa Ellenberg, LS librarian, at CG since 1991. Bachelor's in education, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. Master's in education, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. |
| Enrique Escalona, LS Spanish teacher, at CG since 2006. Bachelor's in journalism, University of Seville. Master's in Spanish, Stony Brook University. In the early ’90s, while studying journalism in college, I directed a television weather show that aired at 2 p.m. No one in Spain dares to take a siesta without watching the weather information first. That’s how I learned that “the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain” is a fallacy. Before directing the weather program I had spent several months in Bosnia-Herzegovina, covering the war for the same TV channel. Between the war experience and the tedious weather reports (in southern Spain the weather is always sunny and warm with blue skies) I decided journalism wasn’t my thing and that education is the pillar for a more civilized world. |
| Jackie Fuller, 5th grade teaching assistant, at CG since 2008. |
| Ann Fyfield, 6th grade humanities teacher & MS learning specialist. Bachelor's in international studies, Portland State University. When I was a college student, I went through a phase in which I thought foreign films were the only films worth seeing. As a French major, I felt the need to appear cosmopolitan, so I would don a beret, hop on my moped, and ride off to become cultured. I missed some great American films made at the time, but saw some movies I will never forget. "Do Desu Ka Den" by Akira Kurosawa was so intriguing that I eventually changed my major to Japanese and Asian Studies. The film that truly inspired me, though, was "1900" by Bernardo Bertolluci. It was the first time I had seen a multinational cast -- Burt Reynolds, Robert DeNiro, Girard Depardieu, Donald Sutherland -- acting together in a lush, epic film about fascism, love, war, and class. They couldn't all really speak Italian, could they? The film was at least six hours long, but I loved every minute of it. It made me want to study more history, enroll in Italian language class, and most of all eat some very good pasta.
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| Brian Gant, MS health & PE teacher, at CG since 1984. Bachelor's in geography, Simon Fraser University, BC. |
| Aline Garcia-Rubio, US science teacher, at CG since 2004. Doctorate in medicine, LaSalle University Mexico. My greatest Catlin Gabel experiences usually have to do with students thinking about their learning and growth. I had one such moment in class recently when a freshman made the connection between the concepts of energy transformations and entropy. He said, “Oh, I get it, this is why no machine can run forever!” I wanted to scream, Eureka! He came to that conclusion on his own. That kind of interaction makes every minute of my day at Catlin Gabel worthwhile. |
| Zalika Gardner, 2nd grade teacher, at CG since 1997. Bachelor's in psychology, Scripps College. Master's in psychology, Columbia College. I admit it, I like Spam. I can't help it. I was raised on it. Alas, I don't eat it much any more. My husband, the cook in our family, laughs me to scorn at the mere mention of the word. My son pleads with me to revise my position, citing ingredient lists and other useless information. Still, my affection for the oddly shaped canned meat stands strong. I feel that way about teaching. I like it. It is good. When I retire and don't teach much anymore, I expect I will still love it, defend it, and remember it as the most important work I could ever do. I stand strong. I like teaching. It is good. Almost as good as Spam. |
| Madeleine Girardin-Schuback, US French teacher, at CG since 2005. Master's in education, College de Mirecort, France. Catlin Gabel teachers are equipped to engage students in analytical reading, speaking, listening, and writing-whatever the event, the topic, or the enduring social question. The Upper School is intellectually vibrant. It is a school in which each of the students feels himself a part of the whole. |
| Marcelle Gonzalez, 5th grade intern, at CG since 2009. |
| Kate Grant, co-director of college counseling, at CG since 1997. Bachelor's in American studies, Smith College. Master's in psychology, Harvard University. |
| Kabir Green, 7th grade world cultures teacher, at CG since 2010. Bachelor's in religion & fine arts, Haverford College. |
| Peter Green, dean of students, at CG since 2005. Bachelor's in psychology, Williams College. Master's in ecology, University of California, Davis. Somewhere in the far distant past I found myself responsible for groups of teenagers as they explored the wilderness of the North Cascades. I was just 18 years old and had no idea what I was doing, except that I was supposed to return everyone home safely. Now, 30 years later I do know better what to do. The basic rule to return the kids home safely hasn’t changed. I’ve learned the second rule: don’t bring them home quite the same; make the experience worthwhile for each student. |
| Daniel Griffiths, US science teacher, at CG since 2007. Bachelor's in biology, Oxford University. Doctorate in zoology, University of Cambridge. My A level biology teacher, Paul Gainey, started me on my convoluted journey. His enthusiasm and passion for the natural world, combined with his unique teaching style and humour, inspired me and many others. An amazingly high number of students who took his class ended up studying biological sciences at university. He also instilled in us a sense of personal responsibility, allowing us to learn that ultimately the stimulus that drives you to success must come from within. |
| Molly Grove, US administrative assistant, at CG since 2008. Bachelor's in biology, Oberlin College. |
| John Hamilton, MS PE teacher, at CG since 1974. Bachelor's in physical education, Western Oregon University. When I first began teaching and coaching in 1974, veteran teacher and coach Dave Corkran had guided the girls cross-country program to the top of the state rankings. During the past 20 years I have had the great pleasure to work with the cross-country program. During that time the girls have worked hard to become the all-time number-one ranked class 3A program in the state. |
| Michael Heath, upper school head, at CG since 2007. Bachelor's in English, James Madison University. Bachelor's in history, James Madison University. Master's in history, Magdalen College, Oxford University. Doctorate in theology and moral philosophy, Edinburgh University. |
| Jordan Heintz, 5th grade teacher, at CG since 2004. Bachelor's in psychology, Whittier College. Master's in education, Whittier College. It’s 40 degrees outside. I’m on a bicycle looking down a two-mile mud track complete with bogs and hurdles. The guy next to me is wearing a chicken suit. Someone rings a cowbell and a Portland cyclocross race launches to life. For 45 minutes our lungs will burn, we will force our cycles through thick mud, and then throw our bikes over our shoulders as we scramble up hills too steep to pedal. None of the cyclists will win anything but smiles from this ride. All of us will be in pain — laughing and helping each other. As a teacher you have to embrace joy. Delight is alive in children and in the best of teachers. That’s what makes me seek out things like cyclocross racing. It’s a race much like teaching: someone will be the fastest, but that is not the main thing. Savoring the experience is what counts. |
| Sue Henry, kindergarten teacher, at CG since 1990. Bachelor's in education, Washington State University. I have a passion for Native American art and culture that was ignited during a performance by the Lelooska Family when my son, who is in his 30s, was in third grade. They presented Kwakuital stories, masks, dances, and songs that were spellbinding. For many years, my husband and I have traveled on our own and with fellow members of the Portland Art Museum's Native American Art Council to learn about ancient civilizations and native peoples, and to meet artists who are steeped in the traditions and history of their tribes. I am drawn to Native American art and culture because of its exquisite beauty and its deep connection with nature. I enjoy sharing this interest with young children and find that it is a wonderful lens through which we can explore our relationship with our natural surroundings.
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| Mariam Higgins, 4th grade teacher, at CG since 2006. Bachelor's in medical illustration, Ohio State University Medical School. Master's in education, Lewis & Clark College. Carefully striding down the rock-strewn path, I revel in the electricity in the air and gusting wind of an impending storm. Admonishing, finger-wagging Haitian women, old uncles, even children would run up to me, always with a smile, warning me again of the obvious and ominous dark clouds. I adore exploring, particularly in foreign environments. I am well prepared, but impulsive, open to new opportunities. This engaging pastime has taken me to the deepest rainforests of Malaysia, remote islands off Mexico, mountains of Haiti, swamps of Florida, rivers of China, ruins of Malta, and coasts of Ireland, not to mention many not-so-civilized pubs and cafés around the world. Nearly every weekend I discover a new trail somewhere in the Oregon woods. I hope the feeling I enjoy is similar to that of my students’: curious, alive, observant, and eager to experience more. |
| Leslie Hillman, 2nd grade teaching assistant. |
| Beining Hu, US Chinese teacher, at CG since 2006. Bachelor's in Chinese, University of China. Master's in Chinese, University of Oregon. I enjoy my life here every day and appreciate that Catlin Gabel gives me such a great chance to grow in my profession. It is wonderful to work with the caring and thoughtful people here. As I teacher I also learn from my students and my colleagues. Teachers can be guided by their own interest or be led by the students’ interest. The students are encouraged to do their best and extend their own personal limits with a variety of possibilities. |
| Larry Hurst, 6th grade science teacher, at CG since 1998. Bachelor's in biology, California Poly State University. Master's in latin American studies, University of Florida. |
| Yoko Iwasaki, US Japanese teacher. Bachelor's in agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture. Master's in English as a second language, Portland State University. |
| Hedy Jackson, MS health & PE teacher, at CG since 1996. |
| Herb Jahncke, 2nd grade teacher, at CG since 2007. Bachelor's in biology, Rollins College. Master's in teaching, Lewis & Clark College. My animal physiology teacher in high school, Mr. Scarano, had an easy way of being in the classroom, a sense of humor, a gentle playfulness about him, and high expectations for his students. I learned from him to enjoy time and interactions with the students, without sacrificing academic expectations. Serious learning can be fun. |
| Christa Kaainoa, 7th grade English teacher, at CG since 2004. Bachelor's in journalism, University of Oregon. A bird flew into my classroom window within the first minutes of my first class today. Left a cloud of tiny feathers suspended in the air outside the window. Of course the class ran to the window to see the bird on the ground below and watched as it struggled for breath, bleeding from the mouth. It was terrible. I made everyone sit down and write a poem about the bird - from the bird's perspective, or from the student's, a eulogy or a prayer for recovery. We spent five minutes writing silently, and then looked outside again. The bird had stopped breathing. I sat there for a good minute or two, trying to figure out what to do. Was it okay to continue my class and listen to "Ice, Ice Baby" while searching for poetic devices within the lyrics? It just didn't feel right. So we took our bird poems and headed outside. The kids chose a burial spot in a cove of trees, and I dug a hole with a serving spoon and a Tupperware bowl, and we buried the robin. One kid assumed the role of minister and read a passage from a bible he had found in the classroom, and other kids read their poems out loud. We had a moment of silence and covered the bird with dirt. Marked the grave with a stone and a branch. RIP birdie.
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| Nagme Karamustafaoglu, 6th grade math teacher, at CG since 2009. |
| Richard Kassissieh, director of information technology, at CG since 2006. Bachelor's in biological anthropology, Harvard University. Master's in education, Stanford University. |
| Kathie Kimmy, LS learning specialist, at CG since 2007. Bachelor's in English, Whitman College. Master's in education, Boise College. |
| Bob Kindley, US math teacher, at CG since 1968. Bachelor's in mathematics, Reed College. Master's in mathematics, University of Oregon. I was born in Portland and have lived most of my life in Oregon with the exception of three years, during my first three years of high school. My freshman year was in Rapid City, South Dakota, my sophomore year was divided between Littleton, Colorado, and Memphis, Tennessee, and my junior year was in Independence, Missouri. Upon returning to Portland I spent my senior year at Grant High School and graduated from Grant. |
| Ginia King, US English teacher. Bachelor's in English literature, Yale College. Master's in English literature, University of North Carolina. Doctorate in English literature, University of Pennsylvania. Three teachers inspired me most: Giuseppe Mazzotta with whom I first read Dante, Boccaccio, and Petrarch, R. Allen Shoaf who taught Chaucer, and R. Howard Bloch who taught me Old French and introduced me to twelfth-century romance. I still remember the awe I felt sitting in Harkness or Linsly-Chittenden listening to them speak about the texts they loved with passion and authority. An hour would fly. Sometimes we would burst into spontaneous applause at the end of a lecture. They were witty and approachable, generous with their time, happy to talk to undergraduates outside of the classroom, advocates of their students for graduate school and careers. Bloch and Mazzotta continue to inspire students at Yale, and Shoaf teaches at the University of Florida, Gainsville. For better or worse, they were the reason I went to graduate school.
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| Carter Latendresse, 6th grade language arts teacher, at CG since 2007. Bachelor's in English, University of Washington. Master's in English, University of Washington. When I'm not roller skating, bike riding, or gardening with my family, I'm often talking about books with friends. Some of my favorite writers include Mary Oliver, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Rumi, Gloria Anzaldúa, Morris Berman, Marcus Borg, Walt Whitman, Lucille Clifton, Elaine Pagels, Anne Lamott, Wendell Berry, James Baldwin, Shakespeare, Molière, Joseph Heller, Zora Neale Hurston, Dostoevsky, Tolkien, Tolstoy, Marilynne Robinson, and J.D. Salinger. Just rattling off these heroes makes we want to get back to my quiet reading chair and a cup of tea.
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| Mark Lawton, US math teacher, at CG since 2005. Bachelor's in electrical engineering, Syracuse University. Bachelor's in television production, Syracuse University. Master's in electrical engineering, University of California, Berkeley. Master's in liberal arts, St. John's College. I’m an expert napper. Beat this: I once mentally scheduled a nap, on a chairlift, and woke up fully refreshed, on schedule, three minutes later. At St. John’s College I pulled off the nap of all time. I had an afternoon Shakespeare class. Henry V was on the table, a seminar table of course. But I couldn’t stay awake. I left the room, lay down on the cement—yes, cement—didn’t even have a pillow. Woke up and was back in class quoting old Will within 7 minutes: I never nap while rock-climbing, mountain-biking, or kite-boarding, and certainly not while teaching. |
| Susan Lazareck, 3rd grade teacher, at CG since 1994. Bachelor's in education, Cornell University. I left a traditional school with a hardtop playground for a beautiful campus, a fir grove, wide grassy fields, and a view of the changing seasons right out my classroom window. I found a community of excited and energetic teachers, children, and families. Smiles, warm welcomes, and offers of help and encouragement from every side. It felt like coming home! I have always believed in the power of children to engage in wonder, and to question and wrestle with big ideas. I love how we teach children that with freedom comes responsibility. Families are the key to making school a place to love, and at Catlin Gabel they are all about making connections and building community. My colleagues are passionate about teaching and curriculum and books and ideas. I have so many opportunities to take classes and expand my repertoire. I feel invigorated and engaged, a wonderful feeling for a veteran teacher! |
| Veronica Ledoux, US science teacher, at CG since 2008. Bachelor's in biochemistry, Mercyhurst College. Doctorate in neuroscience, Northwestern University. |
| Art Leo, US English teacher, at CG since 1995. Bachelor's in English, Williams College. Master's in English, University of Texas at Austin. On August 27, 1995, I agreed to visit the Catlin Gabel campus for the first time to chat with a distinguished gentleman named Clinton Darling, head of the English department. Clint and I talked genially about minor league baseball. Somehow, roughly 40 hours later, on the first day of fall faculty meetings, Clint was leading the Upper School staff in a brisk rendition of “Happy Birthday” to me before I had been introduced to a even a single new colleague. I could figure out neither how Clint knew the date of my birth nor how I had been bamboozled into leaving a job I loved for a new adventure in new school. . . . In my time at Catlin Gabel, my roles as a Catlin Gabel father and Catlin Gabel English teacher have always been intertwined. For example, on my first day of teaching, my wife called me in my office with the news that my daughter Casey was going to have a little sister. This year I’ll have children enrolled in the Beginning, Lower, and Middle schools while I’ll be rushing off to my classrooms for my 15th year in the Upper School. |
| Nance Leonhardt, US art teacher, at CG since 2007. Bachelor's in fine arts, Evergreen State College. Master's in teacher education, Seattle University. |
| Gerard Lester, jv boys soccer coach. |
| Rachel Ludt, strings program instructor. |
| Ginny Malm, director of before/after school care, at CG since 1988. Bachelor's in English, Whitman College. |
| Todd Mansfield, head varsity girls tennis coach, at CG since 2008. |
| Jennifer Marcus, BS woodshop teacher, at CG since 2004. Bachelor's in art, Mills College. I transferred to Catlin Gabel in the middle of my sophomore year of high school. This was not my decision. At first I was baffled by the friendly teaching style and the respect my new teachers gave me. I especially loved Paul Dickinson's biology class. I was inspired by the way he guided us through labs and discussions with stimulating and exciting challenges. "Mr D" taught by asking questions, not by answering them. This is the key to how I teach today. |
| Brett Mathes, US English teacher, at CG since 2007. Bachelor's in English, Dartmouth College. |
| John Mayer, 1st grade teacher, at CG since 2006. Master's in education, Lewis & Clark College. My most influential teacher was a whimsical wonder woman named Nura Yingling, who taught my 11th and 12th grade English and writing classes at a small Quaker school in Virginia. After going to school in a series of large public schools, everything about my new school felt different on my first day. Nura's room was organized in a circle of large tables with no assigned seats, instead of the desks in rows that I was accustomed to. The other kids were filing in and hugging each other while catching up on their summers. I quickly felt like I did not belong. Nura strolled into class, finding the last chair open and settling down to chat with the kids to either side of her. I didn't understand. Wasn't she the teacher?! Why wasn't she at the front of the room? A minute or two later she quietly said, "For those who don't know me, I'm Nura, I love writing, and I can't wait to learn from you all about how to make my writing better." I remember thinking, "I'm John, I love writing too, and I've never been asked to teach a teacher anything." This sharing of the direction of the classroom was a new concept to me, and I was thrilled to be a part of it. I credit Nura for inspiring me to want to be a teacher in her image. |
| Betsy McCormick, kindergarten teacher, at CG since 1983. Bachelor's in English, University of Oregon. Master's in education, Portland State University. A few years ago I had never heard the names Soloway, Goren, Cohen, or Watson, all famous bridge players. I've become addicted to their game! Learning the strategies and systems of bridge has been an intellectual challenge. The reward for me as a teacher is that my struggles with the game have helped me become more empathetic with my students and to understand, firsthand, why using a variety of teaching methods is so important in the classroom |
| Peggy McDonnell, LS music teacher, at CG since 1978. Bachelor's in education, University of Maryland. Master's in curriculum & instruction, Portland State University. |
| Robert Medley, US theatre teacher & theatre director, at CG since 1981. Bachelor's in education, University of Portland. |
| Andrew Merrill, US computer science teacher, at CG since 1999. Bachelor's in mathematics, Swarthmore College. |
| Olivia Miller, MS outdoor education teacher, at CG since 2009. Bachelor's in earth sciences, Wesleyan University. |
| Rieko Mine, LS Japanese teacher, at CG since 1997. Bachelor's in English literature, Rissho University, Japan. |
| Paul Monheimer, 7th grade world cultures teacher, at CG since 1995. Bachelor's in German, Lewis & Clark College. Master's in education, Lewis & Clark College. Thomasine Wilson at Berkeley High School taught me the power of concise speech, clear writing, and logical thinking. She allowed me enough time to understand Descartes, and, more importantly, to be able to explain his teachings to my classmates. Then there was John Richards, longtime Portland Symphony tuba player, grandfather of a Catlin Gabel student, and professor at Lewis & Clark College. John taught education psychology not just by lecturing, but by actually encouraging his students to experiment and experience all things psychologically related to education. Finally, Eugene Williamson, Cedar Park Middle School, taught me the value of maintaining high standards for students, creating demanding curriculum, and taking students on field trips. Gene was never satisfied in the classroom: he lived the ideal that experiential education is the only real kind of school kids need.
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| Kristin Ogard, MS counselor, at CG since 2001. Bachelor's in physical education, Pacific Lutheran University. Master's in counseling psychology, Lewis & Clark College. When I was a student growing up here in Portland my high school my drama teacher, Mr. Lesch, encouraged me to audition for a commercial being filmed here in town. It was for the Dairy Farmers of Oregon. If I were selected for the part I would be promoting milk consumption and the dairy industry as we knew it in 1982. As it turns out, I was selected for the lead role and I became the "face of milk" for a brief period. My career path did not lead to further auditions or any other roles in television, and I am quite happy and content in my role as a middle school counselor: no cameras, no lights, but lots of drama!
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| Chenoa Ohlson, preschool associate teacher, at CG since 2006. As I make my way through life, my 7th grade English teacher, Mr. Palucci, is never far from my thoughts. At an age as precarious as thirteen, I felt seen and heard in a way I hadn't experienced in other classes. He introduced us to great literature, but it was our voices and ideas he encouraged most. When I stepped through his classroom door I entered a safe, warm harbor from the confusion of junior high. He put his whole heart into his work-and that is the kind of teacher I aspire to be every day. |
| Lark Palma, head of school, at CG since 1995. Bachelor's in English, George Mason University. Doctorate in English literature, University of South Carolina. |
| Rhonda Patten, BS music teacher, at CG since 2006. Bachelor's in music, University of Wisconsin-Madison. I love the writing of Margaret Mahy, a children's author from New Zealand. Her ability to play with words and language, sense of place, and her use of magic in the everyday world transport the reader (or me) to a place where the story so much more than the words and images. Reading her work is like listening to a well-crafted concert. The sound, emotion, and story wash over me and leave me feeling transformed. |
| Mark Pengilly, jv girls soccer coach. |
| Sue Phillips, upper school librarian, at CG since 2004. Bachelor's in English literature, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Master's in English literature, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Master's in library science, Portland State University. |
| Joan Piper, US math teacher, at CG since 1999. Bachelor's in mathematics, Bates College. Master's in mathematics, University of Wiconsin, Madison. I have really enjoyed working on the senior project committee for the past several years. I love to see what students choose to pursue when given pretty unlimited options at the end of their senior year. Everything from flying airplanes to baking bread, to participating in political campaigns to working in a cancer research lab, has sparked someone’s interest lately. My role as a facilitator of these opportunities has been extremely rewarding and I am looking forward to lots more creative projects this spring. |
| Rebecca Plaskitt, 4th grade teacher, at CG since 2004. Bachelor's in education, Eastern Oregon State College. Having lived in England for 10 years, working in international schools, I was fortunate to explore many beautiful landscapes in Britain with my family. Most memorable was hiking the Monroes of Scotland. We spent a couple weeks each summer adventuring at the lakes and mountains in the Highlands. I remember a morning climb up Ben Lawers, one of the highest mountains in the southern part of the Scottish Highlands. We arrived at the top, singing “Highway to Heaven,” and could see all the way to Ben Nevis in the north. Every hike was a new adventure. I love adventures, taking risks, and finding new paths.
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| Carol Ponganis, 7th grade science teacher, at CG since 1988. Bachelor's in biology, University of California, Santa Cruz. We recently held a field test for our upcoming trip to Japan. All the kids brought their packed luggage so we could practice taking public transportation, buying train tickets, eating out as a group, and hauling our luggage around. We even had simulated Japan Rail Passes that the students had to present on command. It turned out to be a great learning experience for all because Murphy's Law was in full swing that day. Everything that could go wrong did. The school building alarm went off as we tried to leave for the train, which made us 15 minutes late for the train. When we got to the train station, a ticket machine was broken, so 20 people had to buy tickets from one machine. Needless to say, we missed the train. But lunch went off without a hitch, so we returned to school patting ourselves on the back for a job well done. Then a student reported that he had left his backpack with all his money and camera on the bus! It was great practice for the resilience and resourcefulness we were going to need on our trip abroad!
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| Chris Potts, outdoor education teacher, at CG since 2008. Bachelor's in English literature, University of Washington. Master's in creative writing, University of Washington. My favorite movie is Federico Fellini's "8 1/2," the pinnacle of both Italian cinema and a work by the Maestro at his strongest. Shakespeare's "Tempest" is endlessly fascinating, I can turn to any page and find a meditation on the temporal nature of our existence. Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" seems to somehow combine every issue of imperialism and be thrillingly relevant today. I live for the Seattle Mariners, which is obviously (especially lately) problematic. |
| Mark Pritchard, MS music teacher, at CG since 1998. Bachelor's in music, New South Wales Conservatory of Music. I was state certified as a masseur in 1993. I took evening classes for one year while teaching at Riverdale School during the day. I had one opportunity to pass the written and hands on (excuse the pun) exam. The day after I sat for the test, the state requirements increased to two years' worth of classes and had I failed the test, I would have had an additional 12 months of classes to contend with. I passed and not long after, moved back to my native Australia for five years. I worked as a professional masseur off and on but ultimately decided to stick with music and teaching.
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| Kathy Qualman, MS learning specialist, at CG since 1991. Bachelor's in English literature, Boston University. |
| Dale Rawls, MS art teacher, at CG since 1989. Bachelor's in art, Portland State University. Master's in education, Lewis & Clark College. Art professor Ray Grimm was an important role model for me. Not only did I meet the love of my life and wife of 34 years in his college class, but I was his studio apprentice during several summers in college. He modeled problem solving as an effective way to teach and continued to have shows and make art during the 35 years that he was a college professor. He continues to be a friend and mentor to this day.
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| Lauren Reggero-Toledano, US Spanish teacher. Bachelor's in education, University of Miami. Master's in Spanish, University of Salamanca, Spain. My maternal grandfather was Greek and I was raised in a very proud Greek-American family. I began the formal study of Modern Greek during the spring of 2007 when I spent the semester in Spain. My husband and I had classes twice a week with a Greek exchange student. I had to start from zero while my husband could pull from his memory of the Ancient Greek class he took in college. Our classes with Fotini prepared us well for our first trip to Greece that spring. After returning to Portland, we found a wonderful teacher and we take independent Greek with Erna once a week. Learning Greek has made me appreciate nuances of the culture in which I was raised. It has made me a more empathetic Spanish teacher. I have also recently joined the programming committee for the Hellenic-American Cultural Center of Oregon and Southwest Washington.
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| Suzie Roane, 3rd grade teaching assistant. |
| Vicki Roscoe, lower school head, at CG since 2002. Bachelor's in early childhood, Central Washington University. Master's in teacher education, Bank Street College of Education. What keeps me here? The students' genuine love of learning keeps me here. I love working with truly outstanding teachers who know how to engage students deeply in learning. I have seen some of the strongest parenting skills in my career right here. The strong sense of community continues to amaze me since our families are spread all over the greater Portland area. There is magic here every day and it warms my heart.
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| Sue Sacks, LS learning specialist, at CG since 1991. Bachelor's in special education, NW Nazarene. Master's in learning disabilities, Northwestern University. As a volunteer at a shelter for women and children I was asked to teach computer skills. I met Susan, a recovering meth addict trying to stay clean and restart her life. She had limited schooling and no confidence in her abilities. We sat together at the computer and she told me that she knew nothing. Susan had become frustrated and unsuccessful with an earlier typing assignment. Together we found an online typing program that turned out to be perfect for her. She bravely began practicing. The look on her face when she saw her first score of 10 letters a minute with 89 percent accuracy was amazing. Priceless, even. That is why I teach. Whether working with a 4th grader learning to solve algebraic equations, a struggling reader who figures out a challenging word by herself, a parent or teacher who gains understanding about why a child learns the way he does, or a middle aged woman learning to type four letters on the computer, being a part of those “aha” moments is why I am here. |
| Bob Sauer, US science teacher, at CG since 2001. Bachelor's in physics, Whitman College. The strong sense of community, academic enthusiasm, and integrity of the students at Catlin Gabel, and the care, compassion, and competence of the faculty and staff alone would make this a marvelous place to work. But on top of all that there are so many fascinating opportunities outside the classroom, in which I immerse myself (and my kids) as much as possible. I’ve enjoyed participating in overnight class trips; hiking, skiing, canoeing, rafting, climbing, and backpacking with the outdoor program; traveled with students to Turkey and Peru; and restored the environment in the Mt. Hood National Forest for one week each summer with the Elana Gold ’93 Memorial Environmental Restoration Project. It has been a fun adventure learning to drive a school bus, which allows me to drive for my own geology, astronomy, and physics class field trips. I greatly appreciate that my own kids are able to attend Catlin Gabel. They are currently in the Lower School, having a great educational and social experience, in which I am more fully able to participate, as I’m in the same location. It will be especially thrilling when they come to the Upper School! |
| Allen Schauffler, head preschool teacher, at CG since 1968. Bachelor's in music, Lake Erie College. Master's in education, Lesley University. I had a teacher in college named Clive who was the head of the technical theater department. As he both pushed and led me through the intricacies of setting lighting and running the board he also gave me space to be an observer. The view from the catwalk over a stage is a great place to watch plays in rehearsal. I take my role as observer in the classroom seriously and with great humility. What I learn from keen observation is where to shine and focus the lights. |
| Peggy Schauffler, LS art teacher, at CG since 1994. Bachelor's in art education, University of Oregon. Master's in education, Portland State University. I first came to Catlin Gabel riding on the shoulders of my father, choir and woodshop teacher Dave Schauffler. I was three — a little transplanted fish from an Illinois farm. From that squirmy young age until I was 18 years old I received the most amazing education a little Illinois fish could ever ask for. The greatest teachers of my life (my father at the top of the list) nourished and challenged me until I was ready to swim. My destinations were Europe, the East Coast, West Coast, and many places in between, until I was drawn back to Portland, my home. With my own children in arms, I looked for the best education I could find for them. I looked for the most challenging and nourishing teaching environment I could find for myself. I was very fortunate to find Catlin Gabel again. Now, young students look into my eyes every day, asking for nourishment and challenges. I teach them, as I was taught, so many years ago. |
| Lauren Shareshian, US math teacher, at CG since 2010. Bachelor's in mathematics, New York University. Master's in mathematics, Duke University. |
| Hsiao-Yun Shotwell, LS Chinese teacher, at CG since 2008. Bachelor's in Chinese, Chong Hsing University, Taiwan. Dr. Pease, my Chinese professor at Portland State University, has influenced my professional and personal growth ever since I started teaching Mandarin. Learning languages is not about improving skills. It is about the excitement and joy of learning another culture and meeting people from other countries. |
| Peter Shulman, US history teacher, at CG since 2003. Bachelor's in history, Haverford College. Master's in history, University of Michigan. It’s 3:15 p.m. and I’ve just completed a long day of teaching, but I feel exhilarated and grateful. My 7th period U.S. history students continue to amaze me with their intellectual curiosity and depth of engagement with the texts. The questions are sophisticated and interesting; there’s no showboating, but a pure desire for learning in effect. A student stays after class, curious about the veracity of charges leveled at President Lincoln over the abuse of civil liberties. Every day, I walk out with the same thought: I am incredibly lucky to work at Catlin Gabel. |
| Lynn Silbernagel, MS librarian, at CG since 1995. Bachelor's in English, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Master's in library science, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Master's in education: curriculum & instruction, Portland State University.
From the time I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to be a librarian. I grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, and stayed there through graduate school and the start of my career. I was happy as a children's and young adult librarian at a public library. I had not considered deviating from my path until I got a call and several e-mails from Catlin Gabel's Upper School librarian telling me about a job opening in the Middle School. I did not think I was interested in working in a school, where my responsibilities would expand into classrooms and curriculum, but I was persuaded to visit Portland. After doing extensive research about the school and over the course of a daylong interview on campus I discovered that Catlin Gabel was, indeed, exceptional. I knew this was a place where I could be a learner as well as a teacher and librarian.
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| Chris Skrapits, 8th grade science teacher, at CG since 1998. Bachelor's in biology, State University of New York at Geneseo. Master's in education, Lewis & Clark College. |
| Kathy Sloan, US math teacher, at CG since 1996. Bachelor's in mathematics, Middlebury College. I am a risk taker. I look for opportunities to step outside my comfort zone both physically and mentally. This can take the form of joining the outdoor education program for a midnight climb up Mt. Hood in freezing rain, to joining a high school Winterim, to learning how to swing dance at a public dance in downtown Portland. In my classroom I am not afraid to stray from the perfect lesson plan to entertain a thoughtful question that takes us off topic. Sometimes the thoughtful question comes from me, and I interrupt the class flow to put it out there for the students to ponder. I find myself often saying, " I wonder what would happen if...." I always find things interesting when I step outside the box, physically and intellectually. |
| Richard Snell, 3rd grade teacher, at CG since 2000. Bachelor's in social sciences, San Jose State University. Bachelor's in education, University of Oregon. Master's in education, Oregon State University. When I was eight years old, I was famous for one day in Redwood City, California. I stepped in a posthole and got my foot so stuck the fire department had to free me. The next day I was on the front page of the local newspaper ringing the fire engine bell resplendent in a fireman's hat. Ah, the good old celebrity days. |
| Chris Snelling, head varsity girls volleyball coach. |
| Ron Sobel, US Spanish teacher, at CG since 1977. Bachelor's in political science, San Jose State University. Master's in Spanish, Middlebury College. Homework Club is a wonderful service program where our students mentor younger Latino students after school in their apartment complex. Watching our students interact, as well as participating myself as a tutor, reinforces in me the importance of this special type of community outreach. |
| Kelly Stark, kindergarten teaching assistant, at CG since 2009. Bachelor's in sociology, University of Oregon. |
| April Stephens, 1st grade intern, at CG since 2009. |
| Tony Stocks, US English teacher, at CG since 1999. Bachelor's in English, Oberlin College. Master's in English, Cornell University. |
| Karen Talus, US history teacher, at CG since 2008. Bachelor's in history, Smith College. Master's in history, University of Chicago. I was returning to one of my afternoon classes after many days of canceled school because of snow. When I walked in the door, a great chorus of “Hello, Karen!” rose up from 13 throats in unison (obviously carefully rehearsed). What a lovely welcome back to school, even if we all then had to knuckle down to an analytical essay with footnotes. |
| Mimi Tang, 1st grade teacher, at CG since 2005. Bachelor's in English, University of Washington. Master's in education, University of Washington. Although my memory of what my 3rd grade teacher looked like or sounded like has faded, I will never forget how Mrs. Cleveland made me feel. When she looked at me, she saw me. She truly saw me. As a shy, introverted, voiceless child, I was never invisible in Mrs. Cleveland’s universe. She succeeded in drawing me out of my typical way of being, challenging me and including me in the culture of the classroom seamlessly and respectfully. Many of her former students became teachers. Her spirit of kindness and ability to include all children lives on in us. I feel so fortunate to have learned from a master teacher and memorable human being. |
| Dave Tash, US math teacher, at CG since 2004. Bachelor's in computer science, University of Utah. Bachelor's in mathematics, Lewis & Clark College. |
| Nichole Tassoni, US English teacher, at CG since 2007. Bachelor's in women's studies, Wesleyan University. Master's in education, Columbia University Teachers College. My favorite book of all time is "Bread and Jam" for Frances by Russell Hoban. What could be better than a story whose moral is "I think eating is nice"? Yes, it's still my favorite book. And "King Lear." |
| George Thompson, US counselor, at CG since 1989. Bachelor's in history, Colorado College. Master's in counseling psychology, Lewis & Clark College. Master's in history, University of Washington. I have come to rely on my love of music to enrich my life and inform my work. I belong to a singing group that performs in the Portland community on an occasional basis. I sing and play guitar, mandolin, and drums. Recently, I've been teaching guitar classes in school, and I absolutely love it. Every year, Tom Tucker, fellow Catlin Gabel alumnus and colleague, and I take a gaggle of kids to the beach in Neskowin for a guitar playing retreat. In the years since we began doing this, it has become a weekend both of us ardently look forward to. I have to say that an avocation like music makes the work I do here all the more worthwhile, enjoyable, and easy to sustain. |
| Casi Ticer, kindergarten teaching assistant, at CG since 2009. Bachelor's in business, Pepperdine University. |
| Bich Trinh, 4th grade intern, at CG since 2009. |
| Tom Tucker, MS woodshop teacher. |
| Roberto Villa, US Spanish teacher, at CG since 1984. Bachelor's in French, Pacific University. Master's in French, Portland State University. Since 2001 we have been fortunate to send three student groups to Cuba despite many roadblocks and government restrictions. In our role as ambassadors we toured the island, visiting schools, hospitals, medical facilities, and churches, where we made humanitarian donations on behalf of our country. In March 2008, given the political climate of the island and the transition of power, our 25 students witnessed history in the making. Every day the government announced a new law or lifted a restriction (such as the ability to buy a DVD or stay at a tourist hotel). These actions seemed to give the Cubans a sense of hope and economic optimism. During our short stay in Cuba we met hundreds of people from Pinar del Río to Trinidad. In every case, we were treated graciously and with respect, despite the differences between our two governments. I am proud of my students, who represented our school and country with dignity and respect. |
| Holly Walsh, 8th grade English teacher. |
| Pat Walsh, US history teacher, at CG since 2006. Bachelor's in art, University of California, Berkeley. Master's in history, California State University, Chico. Doctorate in history, University of Texas. When I was a kid, there was a low-rent movie house in the warehouse district of Berkeley that showed Marx Brothers movies each winter right around my birthday. I don't know how many times I watched "Duck Soup" or "Horse Feathers" with a bunch of friends in lieu of a "regular" birthday party. Thirty-some-odd years later, I still watch them regularly. Harpo and Chico and especially Groucho are like favorite uncles, old friends who help me with what it means to be a grown-up. |
| Jonathan Weedman, LS counselor, at CG since 2008. Bachelor's in psychology, Lewis & Clark College. Master's in counseling psychology, Lewis & Clark College. When I was in graduate school, I had the joy of working with a professor named Greg. I was in the second year of my program and feeling overwhelmed working and going to school full time. I considered quitting. Greg, as the brilliant teacher and therapist he is, sent me a card that said that he felt I was born to do this work and that I needed to remember this in times of doubt. His words changed my outlook, and I came back to the program with renewed vigor and passion. To this day, when I doubt myself, I read that card. |
| Spencer White, MS Spanish teacher, at CG since 1996. Bachelor's in hispanic studies, Lewis & Clark College. My own middle school experience was horrendous. I felt as if no adult could tolerate my presence. Was I like the students I teach now? I have so much fun spending my days with young adults and their boundless energy. They are by far the most exciting people around. Running a close second to my students are my fabulous colleagues. This place is magical.
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| Hannah Whitehead, beginning school head, at CG since 1982. Bachelor's in English literature, Reed College. The teacher who influenced me most was my father. He was a professor who had come to education late in life, and so gave it special value. He was always on his students' side. With probing questions, he helped them do their best work, threw them lifelines when they froze during their orals, and mentored them after they left his care. He had a talent for making those around him look good. He was good at explaining things, had a wonderful sense of humor, and was sharp as a tack. His and my mother's greatest gift to me was to send me on a six-month trip home from Australia through Asia, the Suez Canal, and Europe to finish high school in the U.S. That trip was an amazing education in itself. |
| Sheila Williams, LS PE teacher, at CG since 1990. |
| Wally Wilson, 7th/8th grade Spanish teacher, at CG since 1980. Bachelor's in American studies, Williams College. Master's in education, Trinity College. The summer after my third year teaching U.S. history, I went on a blind date that made all the difference. You have to know Maine summer camps to understand how the date could have possibly lasted from noon to midnight, but there I was facing 12 hours with a woman I did not know. Within one hour we discovered that we both knew Spanish, and that covered the rest of the date - 11 hours without a word of English. This anthropology major taught me that language is the culture carrier, and the light flashed on. Within a year I was a Spanish teacher, and the change in direction led me to Oregon and Catlin Gabel. And the date? It led to another date, and another, and so on - nearly two score years later.
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| Rebecca Wirth, preschool associate teacher, at CG since 2008. |
| John Wiser, US history teacher, at CG since 1970. Bachelor's in history, University of California, Riverside. Master's in history, California State University, Sonoma. |
| Daniel Woytek, LS library assistant, at CG since 2008. |
| Becky Wynne, US science teacher, at CG since 1998. Bachelor's in architecture, Portland State University. Bachelor's in chemistry, Swarthmore College. Master's in education, Cornell University. I attended kindergarten in Moscow, USSR, during the Cold War. My parents are mathematics professors, and we would go on sabbatical to visit and work with mathematicians in other countries. When I was 5, we spent six months in Moscow. I remember going to kindergarten, learning Russian, learning to cross country ski and play chess. I remember the cold of the winter, but also how warm and welcoming the Russian people were. My experiences living in foreign countries when I was a child (we also lived in Warsaw and the West Bank of Israel) made me a global citizen at an early age. I believe in the basic goodness and humanity of people in this world, no matter where they are from. |
| Dale Yocum, robotics program director, at CG since 2007. Bachelor's in computer science, Univ of California, Santa Barbara. |
| George Zaninovich, PUPLI director, at CG since 2008. Bachelor's in environmental studies, University of Pennsylvania. Bachelor's in political science, University of Pennsylvania. Master's in urban and regional planning, Portland State University. |