Heidi Harmening – Kindergarten teacher

Location: Lakeridge Elementary

Job Description: Heidi’s philosophy about teaching kindergarten is to “love the kids and instill in them a love for learning. In addition to academics, I help them with the social side and to discover their independent natures. I try to give them tools to be successful in life.”

Typical day: Heidi greets her kindergartners at the classroom door first thing in the morning. “They are bursting at the seams to tell me whatever has transpired in their lives during the previous 12 hours!” she says, smiling. After writing in their journals, they practice reading, have independent work time, recess and snack. Fortified, they learn writing, followed by music, PE or library. After lunch and recess they have math, science, social skills/social studies, and free choice time where they self-select an activity such as art, reading, or imaginary play. It is during imaginary play that life skills such as problem-solving and negotiating are developed. “These are skills,” Heidi laughs, “that you can never learn too early.” Every child in Heidi’s classroom spends a week as the Star Student. The designated Star Student gets to bring show and tell items and create a poster about himself/herself to share with the class. This weekly honor, which is divided equitably so that all students get their chance to be ‘on stage,’ provides two very important lessons—students get to feel special and to be comfortable with attention. “Even the shyest kids just beam in the spotlight,” Heidi says, “and it teaches those in the audience to let others shine.”

Best part of the job: “Building relationships with the kids and their families,” says Heidi. She also appreciates her colleagues. “It is great to be surrounded by fun, thoughtful, brilliant people,” she continues. “It makes me want to be a better teacher.”

Something people may not know: Heidi didn’t set out to be a kindergarten teacher. Growing up in Blaine, WA, with a father who was a secondary choir teacher, Heidi had ideas about broadcast journalism. But after working at a summer camp during college break, she knew she had to change her major. “Teaching,” she says, “chose me.” Also during her Pullman college years (“Go Cougs!”) she lived in Australia for a time and traveled to Costa Rica. Her goal was to find a teaching job where she could spend at least six months of the year traveling. The necessity to make ends meet while trying to determine the best international opportunities led her to MISD. “This job changed the course of my life,” Heidi says. “It pulls you in, in a good way.” She smiles – “I’ll just have to use my summers to travel.”

Years in district: 4 years.

Outside interests: Heidi is an athlete who is training for her second half-marathon. She lives in Leschi, which, she says, is a “great area for running.” Heidi enjoys boating and wakeboarding in the summer, snowboarding in the winter.

Julie Hovind – K-5 Teacher on Special Assignment for Technology Integration

Location: West Mercer, Lakeridge, Island Park

Job description: Julie’s relatively new position as a K-5 ‘TOSA’ is, as she says, “evolving on the fly as I go!” Her primary responsibility is to support teachers and their technology-integration needs. Julie works alongside K-5 teachers to implement integrated technology projects: modeling technology-rich lessons, co-teaching to facilitate complicated projects successfully, pulling students to complete projects while the teacher continues with the whole group, and even just being on-hand when teachers are trying technology tools they are not quite confident with yet. As she says, “It’s really helpful having another teacher by your side when attempting a brand new technology project.” In addition, she performs the necessary legwork to implement technology integration effectively. This includes managing online training opportunities as well as leading after-school teacher workshops, researching tech tips and teacher learning websites, crafting the components (resources, templates, rubrics, etc.), and exploring software for the computer lab. Julie writes 2020 grants with teachers and brainstorms with staff about technology needs and next steps. She also spends time just trying to stay current in the fast-paced world of technology advancement.

Typical day: “Every day takes on its own shape based on what teachers ask of me that day,” Julie explains. She may be found in the computer lab leading or supporting as requested, in a classroom demonstrating, in the hall working with individuals or small groups, or racing down the hall – even the island – to respond to a teacher’s last minute/unforeseen request for help. “Part of my job is about being in the right place at the right time,” says Julie. “I’ll be walking down the hall and someone will see me and remember they need my help with something, and off I’ll go! I try to be whatever a teacher needs me to be, when they need me. It can be dizzying—but a lot of fun.” As a former fifth-grade teacher at West Mercer, Julie says, “I especially love working with teachers in the classrooms.”

Best part of the job: Though Julie misses classroom teaching, being a TOSA gives her a sense of the district as a whole, and she likes what she sees. “I am amazed at the level of teaching that goes on here. I get a real sense of K-5 and the personalities of the elementary schools. To play a small part in helping wonderful teachers grow in the direction they want is very energizing. If I could have my cake and eat it too I’d be doing both jobs – classroom teacher and TOSA. But it’s great to be of service to people who are teaching kids.”

Something people may not know: Julie is an erstwhile thrill seeker. However, “having kids puts a new perspective on the possibility of bodily risk!” In her earlier days, Julie once jumped out of an airplane. Scuba diving is still a favorite hobby. She has dived in Washington, California, Florida, the Caribbean, and Australia.

Years worked in district: 10 years.

Outside interests: Julie and her husband, Matt, are parents to daughters Katie, age 5, and Bridget, age 2. The family’s black labs, littermates Pepper and Pongo, are approaching their tenth birthday. Julie’s favorite activities are playing with her kids and dogs, reading, gardening, and do-it-yourself home improvement projects at their Bellevue home.

Jan LaFountaine – Executive Assistant to the Superintendent

Location: Administration Building

Job description: Jan provides administrative and secretarial support to the superintendent and the board of directors. Her keys to success are communication skills and flexibility. “We all have our strengths,” says Jan. “One of mine is working with people. Someone else might have better technology skills than I do, but I’m confident that I can assist everyone, even if they are having a bad day!”

Typical day: Jan arrives at 7:30 a.m. unless she has an early meeting. She then goes through the phone and email messages that have accrued overnight. After that, she tackles the multitude of tasks and goals she has written on post-it notes and places them all over her desk. Some of her regular duties include keeping the superintendent’s calendar, board communications – board agendas, minutes, and board-packet preparation, and posting information to the website. Jan plans executive sessions and prepares talking points and minutes for superintendent committee meetings, as well as for the superintendent’s weekly meetings with his cabinet and with the board president and vice president. Jan is the “go to” person for the district’s administrative and board policies, which have just gone through a major overhaul and continue to be an on-going project. She interacts with district legal counsel and fields all calls and visitors to the superintendent’s office.

Best part of the job: The people. Jan truly enjoys people and loves the MISD staff. “Our teachers and support people are so passionate,” she says. “It is a pleasure to see the enthusiasm they have for their work. Teamwork is a priority in the district and makes things so much easier.” She is also impressed with Mercer Island parents. “I have never seen parents as supportive of their children’s education as they are on Mercer Island.”

Something people may not know: In her early 20’s, Jan was an assistant stockbroker and the youngest assistant vice president of the trust department of a large banking institution. After marrying and moving to Anaheim, California, she worked at Disneyland as the executive assistant to the Executive Director of Marketing. As part of her executive training, she spent one day dressed as a Disneyland character – in her case, as Doc, one of Snow White’s seven dwarfs. “You’d be amazed at how many little kids tried to stomp on my feet!” she laughs. “Also, those costumes are so hot inside!”

Years worked in the district: One year. Prior to coming to Mercer Island, Jan worked for 25 years in the Renton School District, where she was Executive Assistant to the Superintendent for the last eight years.

Outside interests: Jan and her husband, Mark, have been married for 35 years. They met on a blind date. They have two children, Jennifer, age 34, and Chad, age 31. Jan and Mark like to motor around the San Juan and Gulf Islands on their 34’ Camano Trawler. They also love to travel, camp, hike, and bike.

Karin Hummel – 6^th Grade teacher

Location: Islander Middle School

Job Description: Karin teaches 6^th grade math and science, as well as 8^th grade math.

Typical day: “Chaos!” Karin laughs. As a mother of four children attending MISD schools, her day begins long before she arrives at work. Once in the classroom, she teaches two periods of math, preps, then teaches two science classes and an 8^th grade math class.

Best part of the job: “I really enjoy 6^th graders,” Karin says. “I have been teaching them for 26 years! I like their excitement for the middle school experience. Every year I tell my husband, ‘I have the best class ever!’ and he always reminds me that I say that every year. It’s true – each year is different, but wonderful. Here at IMS, I am fortunate to work with a fabulous staff, including the student teacher and paraprofessionals who work in my room.”

In Karin’s math classes, “I love it when a parent tells me their child never liked math, and now he/she does.” In science, she enjoys watching her students do hands-on projects. ‘Punkin Chunkin’ is a popular 6^th grade science tradition that Karin started years ago to teach about motion. The students build catapults, sling shots, or trebuchets and measure the distance and speed they propel a small pumpkin. “Hands-on science projects give students a chance to shine where they might not in bookwork,” Karin explains. Robo Lab (formerly known as Lego Logo) gives students an opportunity to build Lego projects and write computer programs to make them move. Students always look forward to it and often remember it for years afterwards.

Something people may not know: Karin is an avid hiker and has reached the 10,000-foot Camp Muir level of Mt. Rainier five times. “The summer before each of my children enters 6^th grade, I take them on this hike – like of a rite of passage,” Karin explains. “One of my daughters still says it was the worst day of her life!” With every climb, Karin relies on the companionship and guidance of her friend, 85 year-old local mountaineer Bronka Sundstrom – the oldest woman ever to climb Rainier.

Years worked in the district: 11 years.

Outside interests: Karin tutors kids in math and other subjects. “I just love kids!” she exclaims. “I had four of my own, which is a little extreme in itself! I guess I just never get enough of them.” Karin and her family – husband Mark, a 1977 graduate of MIHS, and children, Kristin, Courtney, Katie and Jacob, live in Issaquah.

Rob Darling – First Grade Teacher

Location: West Mercer Elementary

Job Description: Rob teaches reading, math, science, and social studies, shoe tying, hygiene, and manners.

Typical Day: Rob greets his students at the door as they arrive in the morning. “First graders thrive on routine,” he explains. That is why every morning Rob’s students can expect to find a piece of paper on their desks as their first task. Rob has found that this helps settle them down and focus. After completing the exercise, they write in their journals, do the Daily 5, have recess, study math, and then go to lunch. In the afternoon they might have science, social studies, PE, music and library specialists. Rob talks fast – “I try to keep up with first grade attention spans. I have a good five or six minutes before they’re on to something else,” he smiles.

Best part of the job: “Knowing I am making a difference.” Rob says. “Every day one or two of them has an ‘Ah Ha’ moment where I know something finally clicked. I can see their confidence grow which just inspires more learning.” He and his students recently wrote to President Obama. “In my letter, I said, ‘you want kids in this country to get the best education but you’re cutting education funds. If education is not a priority the best teachers won’t be able to afford to do it, students won’t receive the best education possible, and everything will consequently suffer.’ My first graders believe they really can make a difference. They were thrilled when we got a letter back from President Obama.” Rob reflects, “I did some different things before I became a teacher. I was a sports director, a college coach, and a pavement maintenance contractor. Nothing compares to teaching. This is the most gratifying thing I’ve ever done.”

Something people may not know: Rob is a concert pianist and went to Ricks Jr. College on a music scholarship. Ten years later, he finished his AA at Peninsula College, his BA in Elementary Ed. at City University of Seattle, and his Masters in Education, Curriculum and Instruction through the University of Scranton. Rob still teaches piano lessons.

Years in district: 3^rd year teaching, 2^nd year in the district.

Outside interests: Rob and his wife of two years, Erin, have a blended family of four children – Tyler-Ann, 10, Dalton, 10, Braeden, 12, and Kollin, 13 – two 4^th graders, two sixth graders. Rob enjoys coaching his very active children in assorted sports, playing baseball/softball, and doing woodwork in the new house the family built in Maple Valley. Rob is also a marathon runner. “When I started running marathons in 2005 I lost 50 pounds. The only reasons I ever ran before were for booting a groundball or dropping a pass. The first marathon was brutal! But I got hooked. The finish line is worth every cramp, spasm, chaffing, and early morning. I’ve run five since and plan on doing at least one a year until I die.”

Christina Jimenez – Resource Room Teacher

Location: Island Park Elementary

Job description: Christina teaches reading, writing and math to students who have been identified as having learning disabilities and/or need support in the Resource Room.

Typical day: Christina’s day begins at 8:15 a.m. with either a meeting or a small group of students. About two-thirds of her day is spent with students, the other third is spent in meetings and collaborating with the Learning Support Team of paraprofessionals, teachers, and parents to help students meet their IEP goals. In between teaching and collaboration, there is documentation. “Here at MISD there is a level of accountability which is great,” Christina says, “but it means a lot of paperwork!”

Best part of the job: Christina enjoys getting to know her students’ interests and learning styles. “It’s satisfying to figure out how to use a child’s strengths to support his or her learning struggles,” she says.

Something people may not know: Christina grew up in Princeton, New Jersey. She became a caseworker for New York City foster children and in helping to place them in schools, discovered that she loved the energy of the classroom. Christina got her masters degree at Teachers College, Columbia University and has taught for 9 years.

Years worked at district: 1 year.

Outside interests: Christina is a gourmet cook. She loves to camp and to chef creatively over an open fire. “You can cook anything in foil!” she says. As a lifetime New Yorker, she had no need for a driver’s license. It wasn’t until deciding to move to Seattle that she got her license and cut her teeth behind the wheel driving cross-country along old Route 66 and the Pacific Coast Highway. Though she now enjoys driving, “I still don’t like to park—I often base where I’m going on how easy it will be to park there!” She also enjoys running.