Education: University of Washington, B.A. English Major, Education Minor; University of Washington Masters in Teaching; Western Governors University Masters in Education – Learning and Technology
How I Got Into Education: I was a very reluctant reader as a child until my grandmother sat me down and showed me how to envision myself within the context of any book. When I finished reading Robinson Crusoe, I felt a huge sense of relief (as well as achievement) having finished it. Even though I have forgotten the story, I still remember that feeling. I have been always interested in working with students; I would volunteer during the summers as a vacation bible school counselor or tutoring in my free time. After working years in retail management and human resources, I realized that teaching is where my passion lies. Though it may be lots of hard work and long days, this work is still the most rewarding. My goal is to inspire my students the way that my grandmother did for me all those years back.
Hobbies: swimming, eating, reading, watching movies, T.V. shows, and Anime (currently getting caught up with Bleach), binging Netflix, traveling, eating, and more eating
Hello! My name is Katie Walden. This will be my 8th year as a teacher and I am so excited to be part of the Viewlands community. I recently moved to Seattle with my husband, Drew. I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. After graduating from Vanderbilt University in 2014, I taught 2nd and 3rd grade in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2018, Drew and I moved to Amsterdam, where I taught at an international school for three years. My favorite parts about living in Amsterdam were cycling to work, the abundance of flowers, and the city’s architecture. This summer we had a beautiful wedding in St. Louis, honeymooned in Antigua, and explored the National Parks around Seattle. My hobbies include reading, traveling, cooking, hiking and photography. I love trying new restaurants, eating popcorn with M&Ms, and spending rainy days with a good book.
I have been a teacher for over 20 years and I have taught in many countries. I grew up in the Netherlands, in Europe. I studied Chinese and Mongolian in Leeds in England and I worked for many years in Mongolia and in London. I have been Seattle since 2000 and I taught at the University of Washington and at Mercer Middle School and James Baldwin, before coming to Whitman Middle School.
Hello! I am Alexandra Godoy, and I am proud to be a part of Coe’s learning community and incredible first-grade team. I love first graders’ sense of humor, curiosity, and inspiring wonder. In first grade, we learn to decode the English language, allowing us to unlock the joy of reading! Books can be passageways to unknown worlds and help us reveal what we know and love. It is an honor to witness their joyful “aha moments” throughout this early journey into literacy.
I was born in El Salvador, grew up in California, and have lived in beautiful Seattle for ten years, teaching for three. Aside from teaching, I enjoy kayaking, picnicking, hiking, and exploring delicious restaurants with my husband. As a Salvadoran, speaking and reading Spanish has helped me stay connected to all that was left behind. Similarly, our collective history, music, and familial stories have kept me anchored throughout my life. My bilingual experience has been a rich resource in my learning. I strive to engage students with their rich resources to help them develop their creative potential as storytellers and innovators in their communities.
