Seattle Public Schools

Seattle Public Schools Shout Outs

Summary: We’re celebrating students and staff whose accomplishments go beyond the classroom.

Submit a Shout Out

If you know a someone who deserves to be in the spotlight, let us know at goodnews@seattleschools.org.

SPS Shout Outs: District Educators Level Up 

From becoming Amazon Teacher Ambassadors to earning paraeducator certifications, we are shouting out SPS staff took their learning to a new level.  

Arbor Heights, Louisa Boren Teachers Chosen for Amazon Ambassador Program 

Two SPS Educators have been chosen for the Amazon Future Engineer Teacher Ambassador Program. 

Jennifer Sawade smiles for a photo
Jennifer Sawade

Jennifer Sawade and Sarah Gerhardt were selected among hundreds of eligible teachers from across the U.S. for the Amazon Future Engineer Teacher Ambassador Program.

The fellowship is meant to inspire their students and colleagues to build computer science skills and increase access to STEM education  

During this two-year paid fellowship, they will play a vital role in bringing computer science education and career exploration to students across the Seattle area. 

Jennifer Sawade brings over 16 years of teaching experience to her role at Louisa Boren K-8, where she teaches art, technology and career and technical education courses.

Sarah Gerhardt started her 14-year teaching career in rural Kansas before joining Arbor Heights Elementary, where she has taught kindergarten, 2nd and 4th grades. 

One of their first major projects will be to conduct a local listening tour, engaging with students, parents, educators, and community leaders to understand the barriers and challenges they face in STEM and computer science education. This understanding will help shape the future of computer science curricula. They will also pilot innovative instructional strategies for teaching computer science in the classroom and receive professional development training opportunities.  

Sarah Gerhardt smiles for a photo
Sarah Gerhardt

Paraeducators Moving Up After Completing Certificate Program 

More than 150 SPS educators completed the Paraeducator Certificate Program, which offers statewide standards-based training for all paraeducators. It also supports career growth for those who wish to advance their career as a paraeducator or pursue a teaching profession. 

Each paraeducator must complete 98 clock hours to earn the General Paraeducator Certificate. Those who already hold that certificate can complete an additional 75 clock hours to earn the Advanced Paraeducator Certificate.  

Seattle Public Schools recognizes these paraeducators who have completed the requirements for certification. We appreciate their dedication to continued learning. 

Advanced Paraeducator Certificate 

  • Yen Hoang, Bilingual Instructional Assistant, David T. Denny International Middle School 
  • Valentina Visscher, Parent Ed Lab Coordinator, Alan T. Sugiyama High School 
  • Christopher Willis, Special Education Assistant/ISE, Rainier Beach High School 
  • Marcus Daniels, Special Education Assistant/ISE, Rainier Beach High School 
  • Connor Lee, Special Education Assistant/ISE, Louisa Boren STEM K-8 STEM 
  • Larisa Bestor, Special Education Assistant/ISE, Roxhill Elementary 

General Paraeducator Certificate 

  • Sheila Lambert, Interagency Programs, Corrections Education Associate 
  • Malik Prince, Ballard High School, HS Graduation Success Coordinator 

General Paraeducator Certificate – Bilingual Instructional Assistants 

  • Nhu-Hien Nguyen, Seattle World School 
  • Sorayya Aly, Dunlap Elementary 
  • Quang Hoang, Aki Kurose Middle School 
  • Peony Chung, TOPS K-8 
  • Luis Chavez, Seattle World School 
  • Dan Doan, Emerson Elementary 
  • Amy Anderson, Aki Kurose Middle School 
  • Linh Lin, Lowell Elementary 
  • Juan Lopez, Chief Sealth International High School 
  • Kwan Cheung, Franklin High School 
  • Boon Siew, Thornton Creek Elementary
  • Harumi Chappel, McDonald International Elementary 
  • Amanda Cumbow, John Muir Elementary 
  • Eden Tumbaga, Aki Kurose Middle School 
  • Liliana Calimlim, Hawthorne Elementary 
  • Maridith Dollente, Madison Middle School 
  • Marta Janer-Villanueva, McDonald International Elementary 
  • Saleban Ibrahim, Emerson Elementary 
  • Maria Parker, Mercer International Middle School 
  • Luul Abshir, John Muir Elementary 
  • Ann Pham, Washington Middle School 
  • Habtamu Kassa, Bailey Gatzert Elementary 
  • Arus Haji, Chief Sealth International High School 
  • Xue Li, Maple Elementary 
  • Nina Machuca, John Stanford International Elementary
  • Sai Ho Lo, Maple Elementary 
  • Philip Ssebuliba, Mercer International Middle School 
  • Michael Gebrehiwot, Jane Addams Middle School 
  • Fekadu Tuli, Seattle World School 
  • Atsede Gebrehiwot, Hazel Wolf K-8 
  • Esther Vazquez Montano, Graham Hill Elementary 
  • Liandi Yuan, Beacon Hill International Elementary 
  • Getachew Yihdego, Seattle World School 
  • Karol Palacios, Franklin High School 
  • Yemane Kassa, James Baldwin Elementary 
  • Lijun Huang, Mercer International Middle School 
  • Yihua Zhou, Maple Elementary 

General Paraeducator Certificate – Braillist Vision Assistant 

  • Pamela Lohse, Special Ed Sensory Services 
  • Natalie Van Gaver, Special Ed Sensory Services 
  • Dawn Ketterling, Special Ed Sensory Services 
  • Aileen McCormack Montojo, Special Ed Sensory Services 
  • Jenna Comstock, Special Ed Sensory Services 
  • Susan Johnson, Special Ed Sensory Services 

General Paraeducator Certificate – Family Support 

  • Toni Hunter-Washington, Family Educator II – Head Start 
  • Sarah Dennis, Family Educator II – Head Start 
  • Jennifer Allen, Family Support Specialist 
  • Elizabeth Browning, Preschool Family Services Coordinator 

General Paraeducator Certificate – Instructional Assistant 

  • Charles Lackey, South Shore PreK-8 
  • Michelle Keowla, Dunlap Elementary 

General Paraeducator Certificate – Language Immersion Instructional Assistant 

  • Junko Cole, John Stanford International Elementary
  • Mayra Castanos-Burgueno, McDonald International Elementary 
  • Naomi Saavedra, John Stanford International Elementary
  • Gabriela Ausland, John Stanford International Elementary
  • Yuko Wylie, McDonald International Elementary 

General Paraeducator Certificate – ELL and International Programs 

  • Haile Wubneh, ELL and International Programs  
  • Lanie Luu, ELL and International Programs  

General Paraeducator Certificate – Special Education Assistant/ISE 

  • Liwliwa Ucol, Maple Elementary 
  • Anne McJunkin, Special Ed Transition/Voc Ed 
  • Andrea Russell, Roosevelt High School 
  • Israel Garcia, Madison Middle School 
  • Lorie Buob, Special Ed Transition/Voc Ed 
  • Beverly White, Bailey Gatzert Elementary 
  • Sharon Worth, Daniel Bagley Elementary 
  • Natacia Vanison, Orca K-8 
  • Elizabeth Enriquez, West Seattle Elementary 
  • Joyce Hall, Meany Middle School 
  • Karin Haines, West Seattle Elementary 
  • Pamela Davis, Special Ed Transition/Voc Ed 
  • Karla Boyd, Arbor Heights Elementary 
  • Fualaau Areta, Cleveland High School 
  • Jill Jeakins, Olympic View Elementary 
  • Julia Anderson, Whittier Elementary 
  • Sharon Newman, Daniel Bagley Elementary 
  • Rana Coffee, Nathan Hale High School 
  • Ann Schlossman, Jane Addams Middle School 
  • Akemi Miyama, Roxhill Annex 
  • Martha Levenson, Hazel Wolf K-8 
  • Sasha Anderson, Special Ed Transition/Voc Ed 
  • Dennis Fletcher, B. F. Day Elementary 
  • Leslie Norman, Loyal Heights Elementary 
  • Jean Catron, Thornton Creek 
  • Kerry Lindal, West Woodland Elementary 
  • Marie Walker, Ballard High School 
  • Amanda Trainum, TOPS K-8 
  • Benjamin William Zook, Mercer International Middle School 
  • Rebecca Northway, Pathfinder K-8 
  • Chika Imanishi, John Stanford International Elementary
  • Azeb Hailu, Nathan Hale High School 
  • Adam Jose, Emerson Elementary 
  • Jackie Harden, McClure Middle School 
  • Marla Rasmussen, West Seattle High School 
  • Shelley Cowan, Genesee Hill Elementary 
  • Julie Fisk, Genesee Hill Elementary 
  • Karen Lindburg, Olympic Hills Elementary 
  • Alyssa Seni, Wing Luke Elementary 
  • Kiana Harris, Dunlap Elementary 
  • Amanda Price, Ballard High School 
  • Katie Chevalier, Special Ed Transition/Voc Ed 
  • John Anderson, Special Ed Transition/Voc Ed 
  • Mary Lundemo, Ballard High School 
  • Yayoi Avakyan, Olympic Hills Elementary 
  • Herminia Cornelio, Chief Sealth International High School 
  • Jeanette Bath, Franklin High School 
  • Elizabeth Andrews, David T. Denny International Middle School 
  • Penny Eachus, West Woodland Elementary 
  • Uchenna Aroh, Rainier Beach High School 
  • Darci Severns, Arbor Heights Elementary 
  • Leanne Brock, Madison Middle School 
  • Richard Pham, Maple Elementary 
  • Heather Cowan, Broadview-Thomson K-8 
  • Kathie Simicich, Ingraham High School 
  • Kathleen Roll, Whittier Elementary 
  • Michele Farnung, West Woodland Elementary 
  • Timothy Johnson, McClure Middle School 
  • Melanie Nalbandian, Washington Middle School 
  • Ian Raezer, Franklin High School 
  • Cynthia Lucas, Special Ed Transition/Voc Ed 
  • Kyong Yun, Arbor Heights Elementary 
  • Lisa Books, Bailey Gatzert Elementary 
  • Mary Sanderson, Arbor Heights Elementary 
  • Nigel Farr, Aki Kurose Middle School 
  • Sima Daad, Lincoln High School 
  • Mary O’Neil, Franklin High School 
  • Winona Roberts, Special Ed Transition/Voc Ed 
  • Rebecca Schmidt, Hazel Wolf K-8 
  • Brian Rohloff, West Seattle High School 
  • Takara McCoy, Emerson Elementary 
  • Wiroonrat Harris, Fairmount Park Elementary 
  • Daniel Natter, Ballard High School 
  • Janet Battaglia, Thurgood Marshall Elementary 
  • Kevin Pape, Olympic View Elementary 
  • Aeryn Gray, Louisa Boren STEM K-8 
  • Kareen Cavalerie, Olympic Hills Elementary 
  • Jelisa Manuel, Franklin High School 
  • Ellen Morgia, Special Ed Transition/Voc Ed 
  • Monte Carlow, Loyal Heights Elementary 
  • Tifany Russell, South Shore PreK-8 
  • Lakisha Sheffield, Emerson Elementary 
  • Shou Chiu, Nathan Hale High School 
  • Chung-Ho Lee, Chief Sealth International High School 
  • Alexis Espinosa Roldan, Lincoln High School 
  • Lauren Lee, Wing Luke Elementary 
  • Rhianna Dolley, Chief Sealth International High School 
  • Kristen Beers, Speech Language Pathologists 
  • Micheal Melonson, Franklin High School 
  • Mahamoud Gaayte, ELL and International Programs 

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