By Aisha and Luke
This year Westside has many new spectacular people to add to the staff and administration. We had the opportunity to meet them and ask them about how they like Westside and random fun facts about themselves as well. Here's a list of the teachers and their answers below.
New Staff
Debbie Treen
Laura Anderson
Amanda Jones
Caroline Alben
Jacob Lucero
Kate Kandarian
Leslie Youngblood
Sophia Tolentino
Amanda Jones
What's your position at Westside?
“I am a Fourth Grade Classroom Teacher”
How's your experience at Westside been?
“It has been wonderful teaching here. The staff is so warm and welcoming and I have a fantastic class.”
What was your job before you came here?
“I have been teaching 5th and 6th grade at a small school in Poulsbo (on the Kitsap Peninsula). I miss them terribly but I LOVE living in West Seattle and everyone at Westside has helped me not feel so homesick.”
What do you like most about Westside?
“Hmmm, that is a really hard question. I guess I would say that I love seeing so many happy and smiling people everyday. The staff at Westside is really fun to work with.”
What made you choose to work at Westside?
“I loved that "Joyful Learning" is so highly valued her and I was excited to work for a school that was growing like Westside is. I can tell that the students and families are very invested in academic success.”
What was the most interesting thing you did this Summer?
“Well, moving over here was pretty exciting but I would have to say it would be a tie between a sixty mile canoe trip in Utah and racing my first Ironman.”
Leslie Youngblood
What's your position at Westside?
“I'm the 3rd Grade Instructional Assistant in Jana's class.”
How has your experience at Westside been?
“I'm having a great time at Westside! Every day is a new adventure.”
What was your job before you came here?
“Right before I started here, I was a supervisor at one of the top ten busiest Starbucks in all of Seattle. Before that, I toured the US and Canada with the Missoula Children's Theatre.”
What do you like most about Westside?
“I love how friendly everyone is! I enjoy it when new people say hi and introduce themselves. My goal is to meet everyone by the end of the year.”
What made you choose to work at Westside?
“I wanted to work with kids again. It had been a while and you guys are a lot of fun!”
What was the most interesting thing you did this Summer?
“I was in a musical called "Urinetown" this summer! It's a silly title, but a fun show.”
Sophia Tolentino
What's your position at Westside?
“ I am a Kindergarten Teacher”
How's your experience at Westside been?
“Good! The staff is very welcoming!”
What was your job before you came here?
“I was a Pre-K Teacher at Bertschi School.”
What do you like most about Westside?
“The friendly community.”
What made you choose to work at Westside?
“The community! (and the fact that it is much closer to my home than my last job)”
What was the most interesting thing you did this Summer?
“I went on a family vacation with 17 of us in one big house in Hawaii...it was amazing!”
What's your position at Westside?
“I am an Instructional Assistant in second grade.”
How's your experience at Westside been?
“I am enjoying the position, people, and students at the school. We are having a blast!”
What was your job before you came here?
“I was a private music instructor with a studio of 28 students who played violin, viola, guitar, and ukulele. Along with lessons I was performing professionally around Colorado.”
What do you like most about Westside?
“I like the school atmosphere. The teachers are great to work with and it is a fun place.”
What made you choose to work at Westside?
“On the website there was a phrase that stuck with me. The phrase was "we make learning fun." Once I read that I knew that I had to be part of the team.”
What was the most interesting thing you did this Summer?
“The biggest thing was that we moved to Seattle in July. I had a little road trip from Colorado to Seattle and it was nice to see the different states.”
What is your position at Westside?
“I am a 4th grade Instructional Assistant.”
How has your experience at Westside been?
“Excellent! The people here are incredibly welcoming and kind. I am greatly enjoying myself thus far.”
What was your job before you came here?
“I was a manager at a bakery and an after-school teacher in San Francisco, California.”
What do you like most about Westside?
“The people!”
What made you choose to work at Westside?
“Westside embodies a lot of the same ideals and philosophies that I hold most important.”
What was the most interesting thing you did this Summer?
“I moved! From San Francisco to Fremont.”
Laura Anderson
What's you're position at Westside?
I am the Senior Accountant at Westside School.
How's you're experience at Westside been?
I have worked here since July 14th and since then I have learned a ton, I have made mistakes too - but making mistakes always tells me I'm learning.
What was your job before you came here?
My job before was with Charlie's Produce and before that I worked for the Seattle Boat Show.
What do you like most about Westside?
I enjoy everything so far about working at Westside, the work is busy and engaging and the people are very fun to work with.
What made you choose to work at Westside?
?
What was the most interesting thing you did this Summer?
This summer I took my daughter to college in Flagstaff Arizona and was able to spend some time there seeing the town she is going to live in for the next four years.
Debbie Treen
What's your position at Westside?
I am the Consulting CFO (Chief Financial Officer).
How's your experience at Westside been?
I've fallen in love. It's my first time working in a school environment. I love hearing the kids in the hall and the youth atmosphere.
What was your job before you came here?
I was a consultant for many other companies. Working with a non profit organization working with domestic violence. I also worked in the Insurance and Funeral business.
What do you like about Westside?
I like the Teacher Appreciation days. There's lot of good food.
What made you choose to work at Westside?
I came because I knew I could reach make the financial needs needed for the new school campus.
What was the most interesting thing you did this Summer?
I went to the White River Amphitheater and saw Soundgarden and Nine Inch Nails.
