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Claudio Salusso
Claudio Salusso Classroom Teacher
Head of Pedagogy/Science, Woodwork
Claudio Salusso

Claudio Salusso

Classroom Teacher
Head of Pedagogy/Science, Woodwork

Years of teaching experience? 35

What three things do you most enjoy in life? Family, time and hobbies (books, motorcycles and cooking).

What is one thing you'll never do? Try to convince anyone of anything.

Favorite place you've traveled to? Within.


Kyle Walenga
Kyle Walenga Classroom Teacher, Gardening
Kyle Walenga

Kyle Walenga

Classroom Teacher, Gardening

Years of teaching experience? 10

What three things do you enjoy most in life? Skipping stones, super burritos and seeds.

What is one thing you will never do? Root for the Dodgers.

Favorite place you've traveled to? San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina


Lalla Carini
Lalla Carini Classroom Teacher
Head of Pedagogy/Language Arts, Learning Specialist
Lalla Carini

Lalla Carini

Classroom Teacher
Head of Pedagogy/Language Arts, Learning Specialist

Years of teaching experience? 27

What three things do you most enjoy in life? The three things I enjoy most, besides my family, are playing with watercolor paints, loudly singing while driving and conversations about things that matter.

What is one thing you'll never do? I will never attempt skydiving, I mean not in this lifetime.

Favorite place you've traveled to? India, because it was the most unfamiliarly familiar of the places I have visited.

Yana Meydbray
Yana Meydbray Math Teacher,
Russian, Head of Finances
Yana Meydbray

Yana Meydbray

Math Teacher,
Russian, Head of Finances

Years of teaching experience? 7

What three things do you enjoy most in life? Morning coffee, a good sweat, and a sense of humor

What is one thing you will never do? Say no to a cheesy bite.

Favorite place you've traveled to? Utsjoki, Finland.


Hisae Chako Tanaka
Hisae Chako Tanaka Lead Kindergarten Teacher,
Handwork, Japanese
Hisae Chako Tanaka

Hisae Chako Tanaka

Lead Kindergarten Teacher,
Handwork, Japanese

Years of teaching experience? 14

What three things do you most enjoy in life? Using my hands, silence and Japanese festivals.

What is one thing you'll never do? Touch a cockroach.

Favorite place you've traveled to? To the top of a mountain, any mountain.


Akemi Zoshi
Akemi Zoshi Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
Akemi Zoshi

Akemi Zoshi

Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
Years of teaching experience?

33 years

What three things do you enjoy most in life?

Being a mother, Taking a nap, and Knitting

What is one thing you will never do?

Reading or watching horror tales

Favorite place you've traveled to?

Hot springs

Robin Barneby
Robin Barneby Lead Preschool Teacher,
Learning Specialist
Robin Barneby

Robin Barneby

Lead Preschool Teacher,
Learning Specialist

Years of teaching experience?

19 years as both a Teacher and a Speech-Pathologist

What three things do you enjoy most in life?

Enjoying conversation over a home cooked meal, time with my family, simplifying

What is one thing you will never do?

Skydive....again

Favorite place you've traveled to?

Praia do Rosa, Brazil

Leny Gonzalez
Leny Gonzalez Preschool Teacher
Leny Gonzalez

Leny Gonzalez

Preschool Teacher

Years of teaching experience? 6

What three things do you enjoy most in life? 

  • Listening to relaxing music and the chirping of birds
  • passing the time with my family,
  • walking in the forest

What is one thing you'll never do? Surf

Favorite place you've traveled?   Chichen Itza, Mexico - a place where the Mayas built ancient stone pyramids 

Beatrice Gonzalez
Beatrice Gonzalez Preschool Assistant Teacher
Beatrice Gonzalez

Beatrice Gonzalez

Preschool Assistant Teacher
Years of teaching experience?

1 year at the new village school

What three things do you enjoy most in life?

Children, water, peace

What is one thing you will never do?

Fail to be surprised by life's mysteries

Favorite place you've traveled to?

Anywhere with a hot spring

Kalanit Kohn
Kalanit Kohn Preschool Assistant

Kalanit Kohn

Preschool Assistant
Lucas DeGiulio
Lucas DeGiulio Lead Outdoor Education Teacher
Lucas DeGiulio

Lucas DeGiulio

Lead Outdoor Education Teacher

Years of teaching experience? 22

What three things do you most enjoy in life? The three things I enjoy most, besides my family, Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens, Campfire Singalongs and Stories under a canopy of trees and stars, Being in the Ocean.

What is one thing you'll never do? Appreciating the Mystery.

Favorite place you've traveled to? A Secret Abalone Cove in Mendocino, CA

Amelia Meier
Amelia Meier Outdoor Education Assistant Teacher
Amelia Meier

Amelia Meier

Outdoor Education Assistant Teacher
Years of teaching experience?

10 working with kids and 2 teaching

What three things do you enjoy most in life?

Reading a book in the sun, spontaneous hangouts and adventures with friends, slow time with family.

What is one thing you will never do?

I’ll try most things at least once! 

Favorite place you've traveled to?

Monteverde, Costa Rica or Gili Air, Indonesia.

Marta Shcharbakova
Marta Shcharbakova Classroom Teacher,
Russian

Marta Shcharbakova

Classroom Teacher,
Russian
Melanie Jacobs
Melanie Jacobs Elementary Classroom Teacher
Melanie Jacobs

Melanie Jacobs

Elementary Classroom Teacher

Years of teaching experience:  36 years working with children

The 3 things I enjoy most in life: 1) Being out in nature - especially near and in water swimming or snorkeling. 2) Going to live music concerts 3) Spending time with friends, family and my cat.

One thing I will never do: Stop practicing gratitude

Favorite place that I have traveled: The Yucatan in Mexico and Hawaii

Fabian Ramirez
Fabian Ramirez Spanish Teacher
Fabian Ramirez

Fabian Ramirez

Spanish Teacher
Years of teaching experience?

I have been teaching since Aug. 2017. This August I will have completed my 7th school year and I am happy and excited to begin my 8th.

What three things do you enjoy most in life?

The three things that I can't live without and I enjoy the most are cooking/baking, music, and hiking.

What is one thing you will never do?

Skydiving or Paragliding because I am afraid of heights.

Favorite place you've traveled to?

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

Adam Kirk
Adam Kirk After School Music Coordinator

Adam Kirk

After School Music Coordinator

Years of teaching experience? 31

What three things do you enjoy most in life? Laughter, beauty, and friendship

What is one thing you'll never do? Bungee jump

Favorite place you've traveled?  Greece

Harpreet Sidhu
Harpreet Sidhu Punjabi Teacher
Harpreet Sidhu

Harpreet Sidhu

Punjabi Teacher
Years of teaching experience?

8 years

What three things do you enjoy most in life?

My favorite three things in life are spending precious moments with family, exploring new destinations through travel, and giving back to the community through selfless service (seva) to make a positive impact on others.

What is one thing you will never do?

I would never refuse a cup of masala chai.

Favorite place you've traveled to?

The Butchart Gardens, British Columbia

Amy Novesky
Amy Novesky Middle School Language Arts Teacher
Amy Novesky

Amy Novesky

Middle School Language Arts Teacher
Years of teaching experience?

This is my first year teaching and I bring nearly 30 years of experience writing, editing and publishing children’s books

What three things do you enjoy most in life?

My home. My family. My son, Quinn. The ocean, here and in Kauai. Riding horses.

What is one thing you will never do?

Never say never! I will not likely ride on the back of Señor Salusso’s motorcycle again.

Favorite place you've traveled to?

Greece.

Kiki Wykstra
Kiki Wykstra Aftercare Teacher
Kiki Wykstra

Kiki Wykstra

Aftercare Teacher

Years of teaching experience? 5 years at the New Village School

What three things do you most enjoy in life? Time outside with people I love. Staring up at the stars on a crisp, cool night, from the comfort of my sleeping bag. Exploring new places. 

What is one thing you'll never do? Stop learning.

Favorite place you've traveled to?  It’s impossible to name one. The differences are what make each so great. However my favorite trips are consistently long trips outside (often on rivers), disconnected from phones, computers and what feels like the outside world.

Yomi Origunwa
Yomi Origunwa Substitute Teacher
Yomi Origunwa

Yomi Origunwa

Substitute Teacher

Years of experience? 3

What three things do you enjoy most in life?  Birds, photography, meeting new people

What is one thing you will never do? Stop hiking

Favorite place you've traveled to? Cienfuegos, Cuba

Sofia Salusso
Sofia Salusso Substitute Teacher

Sofia Salusso

Substitute Teacher
Mitchell Danielson
Mitchell Danielson Business Manager and Bookkeeper
Mitchell Danielson

Mitchell Danielson

Business Manager and Bookkeeper

What three things do you most enjoy in life? Reading novels, exploring new environs and pitching in on projects.

What is one thing you'll never do? Buy a lawn mower.

Favorite place you've traveled to? Bathsheba, Barbados

Sam Wilder
Sam Wilder Admissions Director,
Gardening
Sam Wilder

Sam Wilder

Admissions Director,
Gardening

Years of teaching experience? 8

What three things do you most enjoy in life? Growing, cooking, and eating. 

What is one thing you'll never do? Refuse a hot bowl of soup.

Favorite place you've traveled to?  Vietnam


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