Our teachers love children! They have many combined years of training and experience in early childhood education. Their focus is on teaching to the individual needs and talents of every child, and they find great joy in sharing their love of learning with the children and their parents.
As a former NDS parent, I am honored to be part of the team that creates such a magical place for children and families. I love that the teachers at NDS celebrate the true joy in childhood and give lots of space for kids to make messy discoveries.
When I moved to Seattle in 2002, I became a teaching assistant in a pre-k/kinder classroom and discovered I needed to be in the classroom. This led me to get my Masters in Teaching from Seattle University. I then spent eight years teaching 2nd and 3rd grade for Seattle Public Schools. After my first child was born, I stepped away from the classroom but still found various ways to keep my toes in the “teaching waters”. I was a substitute teacher in Seattle Schools and NDS, became an instructor for Roots of Empathy, and led many PEPS groups.
In addition to working with kids, I enjoy cooking, singing, and children’s books. I also love being outdoors either riding my bike, going on long walks, hiking, or skiing.
I come to NDS with a background in design and engineering, bringing with me a passion for lifelong learning. I’m excited to share my love for curiosity and problem-solving with the students at the New Discovery School! My multidisciplinary experience also includes teaching golf, art, and gymnastics, which brings a creative and dynamic approach to my teaching. I’m thrilled to partner with NDS in fostering a resilient and empathetic generation of learners.
From the moment I walked through the doors of NDS, I felt welcome. Having always desired to work with children creatively, I could not imagine a more ideal setting. The sense of comfort and belonging among the staff and community is unparalleled to any working environment I have experienced.
I began my path at New Discovery in the fall of 2000 working with three-year-olds. With a background in and a love for the arts, I began exploring techniques to enhance the creativity in my students. Eventually, I began teaching art to the other classes as well.
In a community that embraces and possesses so many talents, there seem to be no bounds to what we can learn from both the children and each other. The opportunity to take outside classes and be a part of our informative curricula helps me grow as an educator and find new ideas to offer. I am honored to be a part of this community. Being able to fulfill our philosophy and help foster kindness, confidence, and creative expression gives me a deep sense of gratification.
I have 32 years of experience working with children working as a nanny and pre-school teacher. Back in 2006 Susan Gorman asked if I was interested in applying as a teacher at New Discovery and I took the offer and realized this is what I was meant to do. I enjoy helping kids grow as people as they discover the world around them. I like to help them manage their emotions and think through the challenges they encounter.
My favorite activities include running, gardening and animals. I live with my husband in Seward Park.
Marissa has been teaching dance and movement for young children since 2007. Marissa passionately believes in giving children a greater awareness of their global community through sharing dances from around the world. An avid traveler, Marissa brings the flavor of her rich travel experiences to World Dance. She has a special love of Guinean Dance having twice spent a month studying traditional dance in Guinea West Africa and 20 years in Seattle classes. In more recent years, Marissa’s passion has been for Polynesian Dance. Marissa is a student of cultural dances and is deeply grateful to her many teachers. She highly encourages all her students to learn more about these dances from experts, especially ones from the dance’s culture.
Marissa has been teaching dance and movement for young children since 2007. She studied many dance forms as a child including Ballet, Tap and Jazz and as an adult West African, Polynesian and Cuban among others. She has studied Creative Dance and Brain Dance with Anne Green Gilbert and Terry Goetz and Creative Movement with Eric Johnson. She has been a member of Dance Educators Association of Washington and National Dance Educators Organization and values attending conferences for continuing education. Marissa received a BS in Family Community Services from Michigan State University in 1992. She has worked with children in various settings ever since and is especially grateful for her experience gained as a preschool teacher from 1997-2014 at New Discovery School.
It’s hard for me to remember a time when I wasn’t teaching or working with children.
I grew up in Cincinnati, OH where I played teacher in my backyard treehouse. I earned a BA in Communications at the University of Wisconsin and then went on to earn a master’s degree in teaching from the University of Puget Sound. After graduation I taught both first and second grade in the Mukilteo School District. After the birth of my first child, I became a full-time mom and became an active parent in the North Seattle Co-op Preschool Program. Once my two boys were in elementary school I became a substitute teacher with the Seattle School District. After three of working with the Seattle School District I joined the NDS community.
I love teaching four-year-olds and enjoy working with such a supportive community of teachers and parents.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to nurturing the lives of young children. My path to “preschool teacher” has been winding, beginning early on with babysitting, and progressing to longer term nannying positions as I grew into adulthood. Along the way, have been many days spent volunteering in elementary classrooms, as well as teaching in a private elementary school. Wedged in through the years is also a BA in Psychology earned from the University of Washington, and my later entry into motherhood. I became a NE Seattle Co-Op Preschool Parent & Class Chair, and also a PEP’s Group facilitator. I’ve enjoyed logging lots of time soaking up information from local & national experts, authors, & educators on child development on the way.
In 2012, I crossed paths with a preschool director looking to expand his teaching staff. I was lucky enough to have been offered the position, & I knew by the end of my first day, I had finally found where I was meant to be!
I feel true joy and connection working with early learners. Witnessing their wonder and discovery is powerful and inspiring. I take great pride and responsibility in supporting a child’s social, emotional, & academic growth. Encompassed within this, is also a strong desire to support parents. This is an exciting time in children’s development but can also sometimes feel overwhelming. I’ve made it a focus of my teaching to create space for parents to know that I’m here to support their journey as they travel alongside their child.
I am so excited to be starting my 6th year teaching within the NDS community and honored to be part of these children’s lives!
One of the things I really love about teaching is that children are natural scientists. One of my great passions is science and math literacy in early education. Kids have so much ability from the start, and it is something that can be nurtured. Their curiosity, need to ask questions, and ability to experience so many things for the first time, all inform the learning process. It is such a privilege to be a partner in that. The thing that I love about NDS, is that built into every part of the day, there are so many ways for children to do that kind of exploration. In general, I am delighted to be here.
I am a longtime educator with 25+ years in the field working in various contexts including classroom teacher, behavior/family interventionist, curriculum development, and inclusion specialist. My areas of interest as an educator include play-based learning, positive behavior guidance, anti-bias approach and inclusion. I have a BA in communicative disorders from San Francisco State, and a master’s in early childhood special education from UW; I am also a State of Washington DCYF certified teacher trainer and a certified Incredible Years parent educator.
I enjoy live music, reading with children, travelling, and working the NYT crossword puzzle.
I began my work in the field of early childhood education in 1995 after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in world religion from the University of Colorado. After moving to Austin, Texas, I gained my core training in the early childhood field, working in special needs inclusive environments as a classroom teacher, collaborating with teams of teachers and therapists. I have been a lifelong lover of music and the arts and have brought my guitar and music skills directly into the classroom as a teaching tool and community builder.
After moving to Seattle in the year 2000, I had the good fortune to be hired as a classroom teacher and music specialist at New Discovery School. Founding Director Susan Gorman promoted me to the position of Program Manager in 2015 where I was primarily responsible for upholding and researching best practices in social and emotional learning while also attending to administrative duties and coordinating or leading parent/teacher educational opportunities. Upon the retirement of Mrs. Gorman, I worked as Assistant Director, classroom, and music teacher under Director Alissa Nasiatka until her departure from NDS in 2019.
I am a long-time student of contemplative practice, certified as a mindfulness instructor and facilitator with Shambhala International and have helped integrate research based, secular, developmentally appropriate mindfulness aspects into the social and emotional curriculum at NDS. I’m a Washington state certified teacher trainer for the Department of Children Youth and Families, as well as a Talaris Institute ‘Parenting Counts’ trainer.
I am committed to the mission of New Discovery School to foster a warm community, while protecting play, loving relationships, and the arts as central components in early learning.
I will be working on Fridays as the lead teacher with the 4‘s children in Gwyn and Alex’s class. You will also see me from time to time in other classrooms as a sub.
It has been a joy getting to know the children and the staff at NDS.
I have been working with preschoolers and elementary schoolers for 10 years. When I moved to Seattle 14 years ago, I got to know my granddaughter’s teachers at our local preschool and eventually began subbing there. That experience led me to New Discovery School.
I enjoy working with children and especially love being a part of the NDS community. It is such a nurturing and vibrant place.
A bit of background: I was an instrumental music teacher at both the elementary and high school level. It has been my experience that working with children of all ages is fun and challenging.
After having children, I made a career change, went to school to be a landscape designer and started my own business which I ran for 15 years. After deciding to take a fairly early retirement, my husband and I travelled for a few years and landed in Seattle by way of LA and Portland and ended up coming to Seattle to be with my family.
After graduating with my BAS in Early Childhood Education from North Seattle College in 2019 I decided to continue my education and am now a proud UW alum with a Master of Library and Information Science. I am so grateful to apply my education toward and learn daily from the New Discovery School community. I love using the environment and emerging interests to raise questions and gather information alongside children.
Before coming to NDS I spent 8 years teaching in a variety of early learning centers throughout Seattle, as well as teaching American Sign Language and leading summer camps. I enjoy exploring the outdoors almost as much as I love books and all things library.
As a lifetime Seattleite, I was born and raised in the Wallingford neighborhood, and my life has always been filled with children. My parents started fostering babies when I was three years old and continued for close to 40 years. From a young age I learned about and lived with children with many special needs, truly this was an amazing gift. While in college I began a nanny job and brought their children to an amazing preschool, which then lead to a teaching position there, and eventually the preschool director. I had taken some time away from teaching and then with the pandemic and the need for teachers, I found myself feeling the pull to come back to teaching. With over 25 years of teaching experience, I enjoy creating an environment where children feel safe, have the freedom to explore, develop friendships, and discover the joys of learning. In my spare time I love being outside, hiking, long-distance walking, and home remodeling. I love to bake sweet treats and hang out with my foster brother. I’m happy to be a part of New Discovery and working with a great group of teachers!
Learning through play is not only a pedagogue for me: it’s a joy. In my two years of assistant teaching I have yet to find a school environment more conducive to such joy than at NDS. I’m honored to be helping our students explore their understanding of self, their environment, and the world through games, utilizing my philosophy background to help kids reflect on the why’s and how’s of their play. I love to engage with children on their interests and match their excitement for them, asking questions that enhance and grow their appreciation for the topics they already adore.
I believe that each child holds a universe of their own in their minds, and that engaging with them in thoughtful play is the best window in. I’ll be hopping around lots of different classrooms as needed this year, so I’m excited to get to explore and learn with as many of our students as I can!
I am so excited to join the NDS team for the 2025-26 year!
I am a recent graduate from the University of Washington with a B.A. in Early Childhood and Family Studies and a B.S. in Psychology. During my four years at UW, I was able to merge my passion for supporting early learners and research by conducting fun experiments centered on language, cognition, and development. Some projects I’ve participated in include understanding how children think of time, number knowledge/counting, play and space, and the relationship between language input and children’s early sounds. I learned that children are more than blank slates but come with knowledge that is further built through experience and engagement.
Apart from research, I have worked with children for more than five years in various capacities such as volunteering as a reading tutor, VBS leader, and Jumpstart member in a Head Start classroom in Seattle. I plan to pursue graduate studies in school psychology but understand the importance in gaining first-hand experience in the classroom to help children thrive in learning environments. There is so much more for me to learn about children and teaching, and I am so grateful to start my professional journey as a child advocate in a community that emphasizes play, socio-emotional learning, and warm connections.
Outside of the professional setting, I love to bake, be active, read (when I can), and review restaurants!
Preschool was one of my fondest memories growing up, and I have spent my adulthood chasing that same joy. When I was in preschool my mother taught in the classroom next to mine, and I remember writing her letters and delivering them to her classroom. The school was very community and family based. Memorable moments in preschool included playing with shaving cream, spending time outdoors, making friends and being encouraged to explore creatively.
In college I spent a lot of time creating and performing in theater. It was my joy of performance and narrative that led me to getting my degree in storytelling from Cornell College (the school in Iowa… we were first!). When I moved to Seattle, I began working at a Montessori school. The materials and philosophy intrigued me, so I went to get my training to be certified to teach in a Montessori classroom. I had a lot of fun teaching in a Montessori classroom, but I found myself relishing the “non-Montessori” moments. The moments of loud laughter, imagination, and unconventional creativity. I felt limited teaching within the boundaries of the method. That is what led me to New Discovery. Upon first walking into the school, I was flooded with my own childhood memory of preschool. While New Discovery looks nothing like the school I attended, it embodies the same playful, respectful, and community-based spirit I remember and loved. Plus, there are stretchy hammocks here! I am overjoyed to be teaching here and I feel lucky and humbled by my opportunity.
Join Hope for an afternoon of storytelling, improv games and acting. Hope has been teaching preschool for over ten years and performs improv regularly at CSz Seattle. She has combined her love for teaching, comedy, storytelling and acting for this Drama Club. Your child will play silly improv games, act out stories and work as a group to create a short play. At the end of the session they will perform their short play for an audience (you 😜). This club is not only fun, but will help expand your child’s confidence, collaboration skills and comfort level speaking in front of others.
I began teaching American Sign Language at NDS in the fall of 2000, while working as the production manager for a large corporate gift company. After moving to a position as office manager for a plumbing company, I jumped at an offer to join NDS as the full-time administrative assistant to the director, while still teaching ASL one day a week. Over the years I have taught ASL to many age groups, but my favorite is the preschooler, with their eagerness to learn. I enjoy teaching them a new way to powerfully express themselves.
It has been a pleasure to be part of the NDS community; I love greeting everyone as they arrive and enjoy helping to keep the school running smoothly. Whether I’m answering phones, applying Band-Aids, giving hugs, or even fixing the plumbing, it all seems like a labor of love, and not a job. When not at NDS, I enjoy dancing, gardening, travel, and hiking in the desert.
I am a returning Seattle native! I spent two years teaching kindergarten in Chicago through Teach for America, where I fell in love with working in an early childhood classroom. During that time, I worked to graduate (June 2024) with a master’s degree in early childhood education.
I was very excited to return to Seattle to teach at NDS last year and enjoyed teaching in the 5’s class. I will continue teaching in the 5’s with my amazing coworkers this year too. While I never attended NDS, I have many family members that have (and still have) fond memories of their experience. I love to spend time outside, reading, and being with friends.
I am so happy to be part of the New Discovery School! I have over five years of experience teaching young children in Russia, Bulgaria, UAE, and Armenia. I love helping children grow through play, creativity, and curiosity, and I believe every child learns in their own unique way.
I hold a BA in Education I completed in Russia (Moscow) and recently completed the Early Childhood Education Certificate Program at North Seattle College. I am excited to bring what I have learned so far into the classroom and to keep growing alongside the amazing team at New Discovery School.
I enjoy using music, movement, and storytelling to create a warm, engaging learning environment. I also speak several languages and love sharing different cultures and ideas with children and families.
Outside of teaching, I love baking, playing drums, and traveling. These activities inspire me to bring new energy into the classroom.
I met Susan Gorman, the founder of New Discovery School, shortly after I graduated from Willamette University. We both rowed for the Sammamish Rowing Association. Susan saw the potential in me and invited me to come and teach at her school, where I began working in the fall of 1996. Beyond the introductory education classes I took in college, and my yearly continuing education classes and workshops, I have had the honor to work with many amazing and inspiring teachers over the course of my career at NDS who have all greatly influenced me and the way I approach teaching preschoolers.
I love teaching four-year-olds. I love their joy and honesty and the wonder-filled way they see the world. It is so rewarding to watch them grow and challenge themselves over the course of the year. I enjoy sharing new sensory experiences with the children, whether through a messy art exploration, a hands-on science experiment or a cooking project. It thrills me to share with them about the natural world and all the fascinating creatures that swim, fly and crawl around us.
I feel so fortunate to be a part of this wonderful school where I have worked for more than half my life. I have two children who were able to come with me to school as infants and who attended NDS during their preschool years. They continue to come in and help out when they have a day off from their schools. They have truly been raised by NDS. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the incredible teachers and families I have contact with every day. I love being a part of such a generous and supportive community.
I am deeply interested in bringing joy and creativity to children’s lives. Working here at New Discovery School since March of 2022, I have had the opportunity to do just that. I began my work in childcare through nannying and teaching private violin and viola lessons. In 2018 I worked as an Assistant Strings Teacher for the Northshore School District. These experiences inspired me to pursue this career path and obtain both the Washington State Initial Certificate and the Short Certificate of Specialization in Early Childhood Education from North Seattle College. Currently, I am building on these certifications and working towards a bachelor’s degree. I plan to pursue a master’s in speech and language pathology, eventually working with preschool age children. Beyond my academic and professional pursuits, I enjoy crafting and playing roller derby. In 2022 I started a small business selling my art at local markets and events. Balancing my diverse interests has been a great learning experience, and I’m excited to see where these passions will lead me in the future.
I have been working at New Discovery School since 2013. I earned my teaching certificate in 1999 and completed my master’s in human development in 2004 at Pacific Oaks College NW. Prior to working at NDS, I worked with toddlers and taught kindergarten through second graders.
I love going on nature walks, especially with kids. I also love birding, swimming, gardening, arts & crafts, and playing music.
I enjoy being in the moment with the four-year-olds, watching their imaginations unfold and finding ways to support their ideas. I love working at a school that values their play and recognizes all the learning that comes from it.
I am inspired by the kids, my co-workers, and the community at NDS.
Finally, I love starting my day out at song circle!
I have been working with children and families since 2014 and I am thrilled to be at the New Discovery School. I earned an associate’s degree at North Seattle College in ECE and completed a degree in Education, Communities and Organizations at UW. I am very excited to have the opportunity to use some of the skills I have learned in my schooling. Outside of NDS I enjoy watching movies, making art, reading, and running with my partner. I am excited to meet you all and get to know you.
Hello NDS community! I graduated from Western Oregon University in June 2016 and then 3 months later I moved to Seattle to start my new adventure with my partner, now my wife. I was living in Seattle for about 2 days before I got a job working at my first preschool job and ever since I have loved working with children. I worked at Kids Inc for 7 years. I started as a part-time teacher and then moved up into a lead teacher role in the preschool for 6 years. For my last year working at Kids Inc I was the assistant director. That chapter closed and then I became a preschool teacher at Pike Market Preschool and childcare. Now I am working at NDS, and I am loving every second of being a part of the team! I have been in early childhood education for 10 years and it’s been such a rewarding experience!
One of my favorite things to do is camp with my wife and our little pup named Ramsey! We spend the summer on the road heading to our favorite campsites. I am addicted to my Kindle and am always looking for new mystery books to read. I enjoy going to concerts and spending time finding new music to listen to!
I have always loved working with kids. My mom was also a preschool teacher, so I followed in her footsteps. I always say I love working with kids because they also teach me, and I love learning from them. I believe in centering the child and helping them expand their learning. I am looking forward to getting to know you all and your children!
Seattle, born and raised, on the playground where I spend most of my days…
I have been with New Discovery School since 2013 and have worked with the 5’s, 4’s, and currently in the 3’s program as well as working in the extended day and summer programs.
I was first drawn to NDS because of the strong sense of community. The school is a very nurturing environment for children as well as for the staff. I value my time invested in the New Discovery School community and hold a strong belief that it does take a village to raise a child. I appreciated the village I had around me when I was raising my daughter.
Before my time at NDS, my mother owned and operated a licensed home preschool for over 20 years. I like to think I started “teaching” around the age of 4 and have continued to refine my teaching skills with each passing year. I studied American Sign Language starting in high school and then continued my studies into college. To this day, ASL is one of my passions. I received my BCTMB after completing a Massage Therapy degree at Ashmead College in 2003. Another passion of mine is swimming. After school I teach private swimming lessons all year round at Little Fish Swimming School.
I spend my free time with my family, going to yoga, relaxing with the fur babies at home, and enjoying all PNW has to offer!
I studied air transportation management back home in Indonesia. When I came to the U.S. in 2005, I began teaching and loved it! I earned my Child Development Associate degree in 2009 and have continued taking additional early childhood education workshops. I joined the NDS staff in the fall of 2011.
I love teaching and spending my days with children, helping them to learn and explore every day to prepare them for the future. I also enjoy creating an environment for them in which they feel secure and loved while away from home.
I like sharing different cultural experiences through cooking, stories, and pictures. Throughout the day, I introduce the children to a little of the Spanish and Indonesian /Malay languages. I love coming to New Discovery School, because it’s an amazing place where we are always learning from one another.
