Marissa Baratian:
Marissa began
teaching dance to children in
1986. From that time she has
worked with children in many different and rewarding settings. After
receiving her degree in Family Community Services from Michigan State
University, she moved to Seattle. She has been happily teaching at New
Discovery School since 1997 and expresses deep gratitude for being part
of such a wonderful community.
Marissa continues to dance with children as well as study and perform
dance
herself. She is excited to be incorporating a new program of dance into
the NDS community.
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Pam Carter:
Pam Carter came to NDS in 1998.
She started teaching in 1982 while getting her MS in geology. She has
specialized in art and science. Pam enjoys rock climbing,
skiing, soccer and dining out with her children,
Malya and Dylan, and her husband, Roy. In the last
years she has become a writer
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Holly Beste
Holly joined NDS as a teacher in the 3’s
class in 2006. She graduated from WWU in Bellingham in 1991 with a BA
in recreation. She started college as an education major but was drawn
to the recreation program because of its clear understanding of the
importance of play. Holly has worked as a fully time nanny,
and a pre-school teacher in both Seattle Public school’s Head Start
program and a private school. She is thrilled to have found
NDS. When not at New Discovery School, Holly can be found hiking,
growing vegetables in her P-patch garden, and learning how to knit.
Paige Orthmeyer
Paige Orthmeyer joined NDS in the fall of 1996. She began by
teaching in the Fives Class, but has since been a Fours Class teacher.
Paige has a B.A. from Willamette University where she studied Spanish,
English Literature, and Education.
When
Paige is not teaching, she enjoys traveling, cooking with her husband,
hiking, and reading. She is now further occupied by being a
mom to her adorable baby girl, Hazel Skye born in May, 2006.
Paige loves the warm, supportive environment at NDS and really
appreciates its strong community.
Bret Ellerton
Bret Ellerton began his career in Early Childhood
Education in 1995 after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in World
Religions from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Bret
moved to Austin, Texas where he worked with special needs children,
ranging in age from infants to five year olds. Bret spent his
free time playing in a rock and roll band.
Bret joined New Discovery School in 1999 where he
is the Lead Teacher for a Three’s class as well as the school music
specialist. He has developed a unique music program that
focuses on sound and instrument exploration; developing unusual sounds
with the children, experimenting with recording their sounds as well as
songs they create themselves.
In his spare time, Bret enjoys spending time with
his wife, Sonya, writes, plays and records music, and walks around town
appreciating the vivid sensory phenomena.
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