Seattle Public Schools

I grew up on Bainbridge Island, Washington, attended the Northern Arizona School of Business, then moved to the Netherlands to attend the Hogeschool Haarlem School of International Business and soon after started a bicycle taxi business with my brother Erik while living out of a tent in Valdez, Alaska. The bicycle taxi business was sold after 1 summer, and I then moved to New York, and worked on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as a trader for the following 3 years. The imminent move toward automation prompted me to pursue another passion in Teaching. I attended Western Washington University for two years, getting my teaching degree, and taught 5th grade for several years in Snohomish, ultimately settling in Seattle to teach high school CTE. I am an avid skier in the winter, and I enjoy boating in the summer, hunting for edible mushrooms in the fall, and though I don’t much like it, a lot of house remodeling all the time…

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Hi, I’m Tara Sullivan and I am so excited to bring theatre to Lincoln. I graduated from the University of Montana, studied at Circle in the Square Theatre School, performed in summer theatres, and acted in two national tours before the opportunity to build a high school drama program presented itself at Timberline High School in Boise, Idaho. In high school I loved theatre, and really wanted to be a teacher that created a theatre program from the ground up.

During my 11 years at Timberline, I directed over 20 productions including plays, musicals, and improv nights. Every day I was amazed at what high school drama students could accomplish. Taking theatre has many great benefits. When kids leave a theatre program they have skills that help them in every aspect of life. They develop problem solving, interpersonal, leadership, and spatial awareness skills. They learn about self-care, the art of storytelling, use theatre for social change, and the importance of following through on a commitment.

I also teach math and connect it to the arts whenever possible. I hope to see you in my class. I am so excited to be a part of the new Lincoln community.

Hi there! I am Alexander Theoryn and I am a math teacher here at Lincoln High School. I was born and raised in Southern California before going to the University of Arizona for my undergrad degree. From there my wife and I have lived in Tennessee, back to Arizona, and now have found our home here in the PNW. Out of the many places we have lived I have loved my time in the Lincoln and Seattle community. Much like many of my students, I too was in school during the pandemic, finishing my Masters degree completely online at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ. When I am not teaching I am probably soaking up as much family time as possible with my wife, son, and three dogs. I am a huge sports fan and also love to work out and play sports as well. I am always on the lookout for a good book and documentary. I am so excited to be returning to Lincoln for this school year!

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I am very excited to be the Climate and Culture Specialist (also known as Activities Coordinator) for Lincoln High School. I have been a teacher since 2002; first in Texas and then in Renton from 2007-2019. I have been immersed in student leadership since 2011, including working as an ASB advisor, leadership teacher, club supervisor, leadership camp counselor, and serving in various capacities within the Association of Washington Student Leaders. I have a deep passion for equity and one of my greatest joys is working with high school students as partners in the process of creating positive climate and culture within a building. I believe in the power and importance of student voice and building strong, healthy relationships with all people in a school community.

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Daniel Noyes has logged more than 20 years teaching social studies, ELL and academic writing. Out of all the levels that he has taught, he is particularly endeared to teaching High School, since it is those teenage years that see students emerge as adults, whether they want to or not. It's especially rewarding to see students become aware the world is bigger than their own perspective. He is excited to be at Lincoln, not just because his father graduated there in the 50s, but because starting in a new school means that you can design learning experiences that truly prepare all students to be ready for that all essential political Office of Citizen.

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I have a Bachelor of Arts in History/Social Studies and Political Science and a Master of Arts in Teaching, both from Western Washington University. My greatest passion is helping students build the skills they need to effectively participate in and contribute to their communities. I believe every student can be a leader in their community and enact positive change, which is one of the many reasons why I’m so thrilled to be a part of this new, action-oriented school. In my spare time I enjoy being outdoors in any capacity, though my favorite pastimes are golfing, running, hiking, camping, and most of all, backpacking. Last summer, I completed the 93-mile Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier, solo, in nine days! When I can’t get outdoors, I love drinking coffee, playing Dungeons and Dragons, watching bad horror movies, and cuddling with my cat.

I teach IB Literature Year 1 (11th grade) and World Literature (10th grade).

Education: BA in Literature and in French, MA in Literature, MA in Education.

Hi, I am Darryl Puri. I grew up in Woodinville, Washington and went to the University of Washington where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics and minored in Math. Next, I received my Masters in Teaching Math and Science from Seattle Pacific University. I was lucky enough to be a long term sub at Lincoln during its first year and have been there ever since. Outside of school I like to go to museums, read, cook, and spend time with my wife (Sierra), my son (Camilo), and friends.

Ryan Kastl is a science instructor who is enthusiastic about problem solving and critical thinking. He is excited to be a part of building a positive and creative culture at Lincoln High School. Ryan has been working at Lincoln since reopening and has background in Project Based Learning in both chemistry and physics.

Ryan graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Biochemistry and returned to the UW to obtain his master’s in teaching. Ryan is a National Board (NBCT) teacher and is continuing to improve his teaching pedagogy through peer and student feedback. Ryan has been part of physics and chemistry collaborations between SPS teachers and other community partners to implement science instruction that is beneficial to all learners.

Coach Kastl is also the head coach for the girl’s swim team at Lincoln High. He has 15 years of swim coaching experience as well as coaching experience in golf, Australian rules football, and Track. Ryan was a varsity swimmer at the University of Washington for 4 years and was the team captain his senior year. Ryan was also a member of the US National team for Australian Rules Football for 8 years and played in multiple US and International tournaments.

Ryan lives in north Seattle with his wife and 2 young sons. Ryan enjoys spending time with family, camping, hiking, snowboarding, playing sports (golf, footy, soccer, etc.), watching sports, and attending Husky football games.

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I am excited to be a part of the Lincoln High School community. I studied physics and mathematics at the University of Washington, receiving a B.S. and M.S. in physics. As a graduate student I did research with the Physics Education Group, focused on inquiry based learning and iterative instructional improvement. I then taught for 12 years, covering physics, calculus-based physics, and math topics ranging from pre-algebra to AP Calculus and college level applied math. Along the way I completed a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, spending 8 years in administration serving as an education director, elementary principal, and middle school associate principal.

While my family lived in the Seattle area for about 14 years, we had moved to my wife’s hometown in Montana for about 11 years. As careers progressed, we decided to return to Seattle in 2021. Although I have enjoyed all the positions I have held in education, the move presented an opportunity to reflect and focus on what I love most, teaching students. My goal is to help all students become scientifically and mathematically literate, able to use a wide assortment of skills to solve hard problems in ways that are sensitive to our cultural diversity and are ecologically sustainable.

I have a hobby of collecting hobbies, so I have been known to bounce from one thing to another. Some days I may be inside playing video or board games, other days I am camping or cycling. Both of my children are in college, so I have filled their space at home with two English bulldogs, Walter and Henry.