Karen Campbell – Drama Director and Theatre Manager for MIHS Performing Arts Center (PAC)

Location: Mercer Island High School

Job Description: As drama director for the high school, Karen teaches students the craft of stage performance and directs all school plays. She also teaches the MIHS Actors’ Studio, Improv, and Drama 2 (Dreamstate Productions). As theatre manager, she oversees a staff that includes the theatre technician, house managers and tech assistants. She is in charge of all aspects of putting on a play, including props, designing and creating costumes, and set design and production.

Typical day: “Just as I never direct the same play twice,” Karen says, “each day here is a little different from the last.” Karen directs three main stage plays per year and works on numerous smaller performance projects. Because stage performance is about collaboration, she starts each class by having everyone stand in a circle. “Look around,” she tells students. “These are your partners. It’s not about being solo. It’s about sharing an experience.” Karen invites guest artists from the community to work with her students. This year's guest artists have included: Terence Kelley–noted choreographer, David Duvall– frequent music director for MIHS musicals, and Steffon Moody–mask and movement specialist.

Best part of the job: Karen loves to see how creativity unfolds in her students. “In my improv class, some of the kids— you wonder if they have a scriptwriter in their heads! Some are very shy, so for their parents, it’s gratifying to see this other side of their child.”

Something people may not know: As a young woman in Tennessee, Karen’s mother was known as the singing ‘Belle of Memphis.’ “When I was seven years old we went back there on a family trip. I ended up singing on a local children's TV show as “The Daughter of the Belle of Memphis!” Karen laughs. “Of course, I thought I’d be the next Mary Martin.” After young adult stints as musical performer and director of local productions, training as a classical singer and singing opera, Karen obtained her teaching certificate and a BA in theatre from the University of Portland. She later earned her MFA in Drama from the UW (with split focus between Child Drama and Directing), but had by then decided that her greatest joy came in teaching high school students to perform. “My students give from deep within their souls. Backstage, they are regular kids. On stage, they are transformed.”
Years in district: 12 years.

Outside interests: An award-winning quilter, Karen also enjoys knitting, swimming, seeing plays, reading, and writing script adaptations. Karen has been married to husband John, a counselor and poet, for almost 40 years. They have two grown children—Anny and David. Their remaining ‘children’ are Lhasa Apsos' (Rusty, Mahli, and Rufus), a Shih Tzu (Sophie), and Clifford the cat.

Aaron Miller – Associate Principal

Location: Islander Middle School

Job Description: As associate principal, Aaron works in tandem with the principal, Mary Jo Budzius, in overseeing the operation of the middle school.

Typical day: On most days, Aaron’s calendar is booked with whatever needs to be done, such as coordinating facility issues, student discipline concerns, or communicating with student, staff or parent groups. “A day without anything on my calendar is rare,” Aaron says, “and that kind of day fills up quickly.” In between tasks, Aaron pops into classrooms and hallways to interact with students. “This is a job that requires flexibility and multitasking,” says Aaron.

Best part of the job: Getting to know the kids and developing relationships that make coming to work worthwhile. Aaron, who hails from a family of teachers, says, “I have always wanted to work with middle school students. There’s a uniqueness to them and they create a positive buzz around the school.”

Something people may not know: Aaron grew up in Kent and, after graduating from Kentridge High School, considered becoming a lawyer. “The law seemed like a field I might do well in, because my brain works in a concrete, sequential way. But after my first political science course I felt disappointed. So I decided to go into teaching because working with kids keeps you vibrant and in touch with the world.“ He got his BA at Western, and his Masters of Teaching and Education Administration at Grand Canyon University in Arizona. Aaron began his teaching career in the Kent school district—six years as a middle school classroom teacher, and one year as Dean of Students.
Years worked in district: Five years.
Outside Interests: Aaron lives in Maple Valley with his wife Trez, daughter Kylie, age five, and son Jack, age 4. In his (rare) spare time, Aaron likes to golf and play softball.

Angela Carey – Music Teacher

Location: Lakeridge Elementary

Job Description: Angela teaches the study of music, instruments, and musical performance.

Typical Day: Angela’s schedule varies from day-to-day. At 8 a.m. she might have 4th-5th grade choir. After that, she might see different grades in half-hour increments the rest of the day. Angela’s 1st and 2nd grade students recently studied Mozart’s opera, The Magic Flute. Her 3rd graders are getting ready for their Fine Arts Showcase performance. Her 4th graders are learning to play the recorder and will eventually study music composition. Her 5th graders are doing a song-writing unit and recently performed their Operetta ‘Horton Hears a Who.’ Angela teaches about 200 K-5 students per day.

Best part of the job: “Sharing my love of music with the kids.” Angela knows first-hand how exposure to music can influence a child’s interest—she fell in love with music as a three-year-old in Maltby, WA when she received her first instrument, a miniature organ. Angela went on to learn the piano, guitar, drums, and other instruments. “My 4th graders are learning to play the recorder right now,” she says. “I can hear them tootling away at recess! It is really gratifying to watch my students spread their wings and share their enthusiasm for music with others.”

Something people may not know: Angela tries to make time during lunch hour to play music with the other Lakeridge music teacher, Rachel Pesis. Angela also performs in several local bands: Yaamba— a marimba band, and an accordion band. She got her Music Ed degree at Western Washington University.
Years in district: Nine years.

Outside interests: Angela enjoys reading novels, and likes to hike Snoqualmie Pass and travel with her husband Aaron (their most recent trip was to Cozumel, Mexico, where a stranger at the airport taught her to play ‘Ain’t She Sweet’ on her ukulele). Angela and Aaron are collaborating on a video game music project.

Colin Bush – Social Studies Teacher

Location: Mercer Island High School

Job Description: Social Studies: Honors Humanities, and 12th Grade International Studies Teacher

Typical Day: Colin begins his day at 5:30 a.m. well before his students arrive, to plan lessons and choose texts that will help students understand real-world philosophy and how to apply it to events around the world. His Humanities class, in fulfilling the Contemporary Events requirement for seniors, is currently discussing Haiti’s recent earthquake. They are exploring how past thinkers have responded to natural disasters—how have they tried to answer these questions: “Why did this happen? Did God cause this? Did we?” They are currently reading Voltaire’s Candide, which was written four years after an earthquake struck Lisbon and killed a quarter of the population.

Best part of the job: Colin is passionate about teaching students to put themselves in the shoes of people from all walks of life, and to look at different sides of world issues. “Students are often only dimly aware of conflicts in various regions of the world. They tend to get a one-sided version from the mainstream media. I suggest that there is no ‘one’ story—that there is a range of opinions and experiences. I want them to discover their own beliefs.”

Something people may not know: After growing up in Kentucky and graduating from Oberlin College with a degree in Comparative Religion, Colin worked as a long-distance truck driver and as a landscaper. He moved to Seattle in 1993 with his Malaysian wife, Uma, whom he met while both were junior year exchange students in Munich, Germany. They have been married for twenty-one years, although it only seems like nineteen. He completed a Master’s in History at the University of Washington in 2002 and his Master’s in Teaching from Seattle University in 2007.

Years worked in the district: Three years.

Outside interests: Colin enjoys spending time with his wife and children Mirabai (age eight), Kabir (age six) and their dog Fela (named after a Nigerian musician). The family lives in North Seattle. He collects 60’s era blues, rock, jazz, and soul music, enjoys identifying classic cars, and usually likes the kind of movies best that end unhappily. His life’s ambition is to create a joke with universal appeal.

Brian Racy – Technology Specialist

Location: Mercer Island High School

Job Description: Brian supports the high school’s wireless computer network and provides technology support to students and staff for computers and printers.

Typical Day: Brian arrives before employees typically arrive to make sure that the high school’s wireless and wired networks are functioning well. Then he checks his email and voice mail for requests for computer help from staff. The remainder of his day is spent training and working with the student Technology Assistants, a small group of interested high school students. The students learn all aspects of technology assistance, “from both the human and machine standpoints,” says Brian. This could mean anything from maintaining the mobile computer labs that are moved from classroom to classroom, troubleshooting the network, or helping staff members with specific computer or printer issues.

Best part of the job: “Unquestionably,” says Brian, “working with the Tech Assistants.” Brian feels invested in the success of all of his past and present Tech Assistants and maintains contact with them even after they have graduated. He composes recommendations for colleges and stays up-to-date on their careers. Brian will be retiring at the end of June, after 38 years of service. He is ambivalent about a future job in technology if it does not involve teaching because his experience at MIHS has been so enjoyable. “The kids here are great,” he says.

Something people may not know: “I am also a teacher,” says Brian. He graduated from Eastern Washington University with a double major in French Language and Literature, and minors in Earth Science and English. He taught regular middle school and high school classes for 20 years until 1993, when then-high school principal Gary Bridgman asked him to head the acquisition and installation of “this new thing called personal computers,” in the high school’s classrooms. “Until then,” says Brian, “all we had were a few Apples and a huge IBM mainframe in the administration building that handled student registration and records.”

Years worked in district: 36 years.

Outside interests: Brian and his partner Mike live in West Seattle. They have two cats Oscar and Ginger, ages 17 and 13. Brian greatly enjoys riding his Honda CBR 954RR sport bike when the weather's fine, and he and Mike love to wander Washington and Oregon, especially the eastern halves, in their motorhome.

Julie Riccio – Special Education Teacher

Location: Islander Middle School’s self-contained classroom

Job Description: Julie teaches functional academics and life skills to middle school students with special needs. In addition to the core subjects like science, math, reading and writing, Julie teaches individualized social and life skills. Problem-solving, from helping students make friends to learning to count change at the grocery store to making healthy food choices, forms a big part of Julie’s objective: to help her students reach independence and become well-balanced individuals. In her classroom, Julie’s students find consistency in a safe and loving environment, where they are also held accountable.

Typical Day: Julie arrives at 7 a.m. and begins to organize the day, answer emails and meet with colleagues and parents. Her students arrive at 8:05 a.m. Julie works with a consistent group of students and others who come and go during the day. General education peer mentors join the class to model social skills, make friends and learn more about what it means to be a special need student.

Best part of the job: The authenticity of her special needs students. “Typically, adolescents become insecure during the middle school years. But my kids never go through that. One of my students does not like it when I wear my hair up, and he is not shy about telling me, either. But he’s quick to compliment when I wear my hair down! It’s never a dull moment around here, and we laugh a ton.”

Something people may not know: Julie practices meditation daily and is a member of a meditation group with the goal of promoting peace and stillness in life. She even incorporates simple meditation techniques in her classroom to help students de-stress and learn to love themselves. “All people perform better and are happier in life when they are happy with themselves.” Julie says.

Years worked in the district: 3 years. Prior to coming to Mercer Island, Julie taught special education in Boston’s public schools. She got her undergrad degree at Connecticut College, and her masters at Boston College.

Outside interests: Julie and her husband Cam live on Capital Hill with their extremely loving 11-month old Pit-Bull/Sharpei, Teddy. Due to Teddy’s recent leg surgery, Julie’s students ask daily for a ‘Teddy update.’ Though Teddy is currently out-of-commission, Julie continues to do what she loves— “to move. Like my students, I have a hard time sitting still.” So she bikes, swims, snowboards, rock climbs, runs, and plays soccer.

Nathan Friend – Radio Broadcasting Teacher

Job Description: Nathan teaches audio production and radio broadcasting at Mercer Island High school.

Location: Mercer Island High School’s radio station, KMIH “Hot Jamz” 88.9/94.5fm

Typical Day: Nathan is a part-time teacher so he arrives mid-morning and prepares for his afternoon class of 20 students. The yearlong course introduces students to the radio industry with a focus on hands-on training for a variety of jobs such as production, engineering, programming, and business. Nathan spends half of his time teaching and half managing the station. He also works with community volunteers who advise and assist him in running the station.

Best part of the job: “I like working hands-on with students, watching them learn and have fun with the recording/editing equipment. Since this is my first teaching job, everything is new!” Nathan recently worked with Brody LaRock at Crest Learning Center on a digital storytelling project called, “This I Believe.” “I particularly enjoy field recording and storytelling,” says Nathan.

Something people may not know: Nathan was managing the high school internship program at KUOW when he heard about the opening at MIHS. He still works at KUOW doing production work.

Years worked in the district: Less than one year. Nathan grew up in Seattle and graduated from Shorewood High School. After college he taught English in Italy and then worked for KUOW as an assistant producer and managing editor of the internship program.

Outside interests: Nathan loves the outdoors and is hosting a new “green” lifestyle reality TV show, “Mission: Sustainable.” The concept is similar to the home makeover shows; only this one is about a “green makeover” for an entire lifestyle. Nathan does environmental outreach for the City of Seattle, plays soccer and manages his own adult soccer league. He also enjoys hiking, running, biking – anything outside, which is “probably why I am so passionate about the environment.”

Miriam Friedman – Occupational Therapist at Lakeridge, IMS, and High School

Job Description: Miriam works with several different students to help improve fine and gross motor skills that impact each student’s educational performance. Miriam identifies the underlying impairments that contribute to a motor dysfunction and plans her treatment accordingly.

Location: At Lakeridge Elementary 3.5 days per week. At IMS and MIHS the remainder.

Typical Day: On average Miriam works with 33 students per week. She tries to make therapy fun. “If it isn’t fun,” Miriam says, “it isn’t good therapy.” She sees students from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, and the rest of her day is spent doing paperwork, session planning, evaluations, screenings, meetings, and communicating with parents.

Best part of the job: The challenges. Miriam loves knowing she is helping students overcome challenges in fun ways. There is one game in particular that she and her younger students enjoy: A child lies stomach-down on a swing, which hangs in the middle of the OT room. Miriam holds out a large plastic ring to the child and they play “tug of war” until someone lets go—which either sends Miriam stumbling backward or the child swinging off in the opposite direction. “It’s a hoot!” Miriam says. “The kids have no idea they are building their proximal shoulder strength. They just know they are having fun.”

Something people may not know: After growing up in Chicago, Miriam began a career in advertising but then rediscovered an interest that took root at age 7 when she volunteered her time on Sunday mornings to help children with disabilities. After moving to Seattle, she pursued a Masters of Occupational Therapy degree at the University of Washington. Miriam then worked at Harborview in trauma rehabilitation prior to joining MISD in March of 2009.

Years worked in the district: 1 year.

Outside interests: Miriam and her husband, Jon, moved to Seattle six years ago when he began a job with Microsoft. They enjoy spending time with their children Jacob (age 3) and daughter Iyla (age 6 months), and traveling, often to visit family back in Chicago. Their most recent trip was to Israel.

Stephanie John-Lewis – 5th Grade Teacher

Location: Room 16 at Island Park Elementary School

Job Description: Stephanie teaches math, science, language arts, social studies and art to 24 active 5th graders.

Typical Day: Stephanie works from 8 am until 4 pm and doesn’t stop until she gets in the car to go home with her two sons Kaleb and Jakob, both students at Island Park. She is always working on new ways to engage her students in learning and has recently introduced “itouches” to her students for research, recording, taking notes and keeping track of their homework. “The kids are learning in a new way,” says Stephanie.

Best part of the job: “I love teaching, especially 5th graders. They are independent, smart and a lot of fun!”

Something people may not know: Stephanie has a Masters degree in Educational Technology, and often assists her colleagues in working with technology as a tool for learning. She holds “open labs” in everything from building and managing web sites to working with First Class, the district’s email system.

Years worked in the district: 16 years. Stephanie grew up in Yakima and received her BA from Central Washington and MA from City University.

Outside interests: Stephanie and her husband Kelly John-Lewis (who is a coach and security liaison at MIHS), spend a lot of time with their two very active boys. “Name a sport and they are in it!” says Stephanie. She also enjoys gardening and travel, especially to Mexico and Europe.