Robb Wick – Art Teacher

Location: Mercer Island High School

Job description: Robb teaches beginning and advanced ceramics, drawing and painting, and AP studio art.

Typical day: Robb “hits the floor running” at 7:30 a.m. He unloads the ceramics projects that were fired overnight in the kilns. He preps the lab: checks that the appropriate supplies are in place, that all equipment is ready, and that there is separation between ceramics and drawing/painting supplies and tools. “I teach two incongruent subjects in the same room,” Robb explains. “Painting and ceramics don’t get along!” At 9:00 a.m. when his first class starts, the ‘controlled chaos’ begins. “There are about 30 students in each of my classes. There are so many technical questions that I need to answer, I have to assign them numbers—‘Now serving number…’—like in a NAPA auto parts store!” Shifting gears between concurrent ceramics, drawing & painting and AP studio art classes, Robb says, “You will never find me standing around. Just once in a while, I’d like to have a boring day. My kids are ambitious, innovative, tenacious, and they challenge me professionally.”

Best part of the job: “The ‘young grasshoppers.’ That’s what I call my beginning students,” says Robb. “As the year progresses, it’s a pleasure to watch their confidence and ability grow. Attending their graduation is my motivation to start the next year. The students, they’re like your own children. You nurture and teach them. They take a little piece of your heart, so it’s hard to say goodbye.” Robb has taught in four school districts throughout his career, the first in Montana, and the next two in Alaska. “MISD is the best,” he says. “East Anchorage High School was a very tough school, with gangs, guns and fights. We don’t have any of those problems here. Our students are cordial, caring, respectful, and really want to learn. I can now do activities with these kids that I could only dream of doing at my other schools. They make me look good. I have also received generous support from the Mercer Island Schools Foundation in developing a great ceramics lab. The support and leadership from the administration has been great, and our parents are incredible.”

Years in district: Ten years.

Something people may not know: Robb is a Vietnam veteran. He was Radarman aboard the Navy’s USS Hornet when it recovered astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins from Apollo 11’s command module. Robb participated during the Apollo 12 recovery, as well. Growing up in Montana, Robb loved the outdoors. He moved to Alaska as an adult where he became active in ski patrol at Mt. Alyeska, and was a whitewater rafting guide. He taught art for 20 years in Anchorage, Alaska public schools.

Outside interests: Robb enjoys golfing, fishing, and his home ceramics studio. He is a homebrewer developing a small home brew system where he specializes in ales, pilsners, stouts, and bitters. He and his wife, Susanne, a principal in the Kent school district, live in Fairwood with their two dogs, Snickers and Tucker. Between them they have three grown children.

Cathy Dugovich – First Grade Teacher, First Grade Assessment Lead

Location: Lakeridge Elementary School

Job description: Cathy teaches reading, writing, math, social studies, science, and art. As Assessment Lead, Cathy facilitates a professional learning community for the district’s first grade teachers. They learn about Standards-Based reporting, select assessments, and set benchmarks for students according to state standards.

Typical day: Cathy arrives at 7:30 a.m. to organize daily materials and lesson flipcharts for the ActiveBoard, which is a large interactive presentation panel connected to a computer desktop. “The ActiveBoard helps lessons flow by keeping the kids engaged,” says Cathy. Student leads direct routines such as the morning calendar activity using the ActiveBoard. “Leads aren’t always higher-level students,” says Cathy. “A lead can be someone who might not be very confident, but wants to use the ActiveBoard.” After the morning activities on Tuesdays, the students go to PE, allowing Cathy to plot the rest of the school day. After PE there is Writer’s Workshop. Here again, technology inspires learning enthusiasm. “My students love to share their writing by using the document camera,” says Cathy. “It’s neat because the kids can see peer examples of spelling and word choices, which helps them monitor their own writing.” After recess, they have reading time. Lunch is next, followed by story time and math, then another recess followed by science. The class has just wrapped up a unit on the lifecycle of the butterfly. “It’s a favorite because they get to watch the stages of development from larvae to release,” says Cathy. The release took place in Lakeridge’s butterfly garden last week.

Best part of the job: “I love this age group,” says Cathy. “They are very enthusiastic and loving. I’m a hugger, so in class we end our day with either a goodbye hug or a handshake.” Cathy is amazed by the educational growth in first grade. “The best thing is seeing where they are at the end of the year compared to the beginning. At the end of the year I feel like, ‘We did it!’ I cherish where they are in first grade.”

Something people may not know: After graduating from Hazen High School in Renton, Cathy followed her family’s tradition and went to Boeing. She was a hydraulic tube swedger for several years while going to college at BCC and the UW. Though employed by Boeing, Cathy wanted to become a first grade teacher because, “I loved my own first grade teacher,” she remembers. “I was one of those really shy kids. I wanted to grow up and be as nurturing to other kids as my first grade teacher had been to me.”

Years in district: 21 years. Cathy previously taught for two years in the Bethel School District, and one year in Corona, California.

Outside interests: Cathy and husband Bill—they met as 16 year-olds while interviewing for jobs at the now defunct Renton Cinemas—like to travel. Their most recent trip was to Tahiti. They have two college-age children, Ashley and Nick. Cathy enjoys bike riding, flower gardening, and entertaining family at her Kent home.

Michelle Hayes – High School Math Teacher

Location: Mercer Island High School

Job description: Michelle teaches Algebra 1 and 2

Typical day: Michelle lives on five acres near Mt. Teneriffe, about seven miles outside downtown North Bend. She also has two young children—so her day starts early! Her first two classes at the high school are prep and office periods. “It’s nice to have that quiet time to organize and get ready for class,” says Michelle. She teaches Algebra 2 starting at third period, and Algebra 1 in the afternoon.

Best part of the job: “I love math,” says Michelle. “I enjoy helping kids make sense of it – to own the knowledge themselves. It’s not always easy for them to see how math matters in real life. Some of it is learning to think and problem-solve. Some of it is making connections among concepts and how they might apply to a possible career path.”

Years in district: Ten years. Michelle worked for Sylvan Learning Center previously. Before that, she was a dealership auditor for Yale Forklift in New Jersey.

Something people may not know: Growing up in a food-loving Italian family in New Jersey, Michelle developed a passion for cooking. “My mom and grandma were the kind of cooks who never bothered to write things down,” she says. “You just had to sit by their sides and learn.” Her sister is an executive chef, and Michelle would like to open a restaurant someday. Michelle was also a competitive horseback rider for fifteen years, starting at age five.

Outside interests: When she’s not cooking, Michelle enjoys hiking, fishing, and family fun time. Michelle and her husband, Jason, an arborist, have two children – Matthew, age five, and Jacob, age two.

Kere Loughlin – Third grade teacher

Location: Island Park Elementary

Job description: “I see my job as helping my students communicate their ideas, get in touch with their passions, and integrate those passions into the classroom,” says Kere. “I encourage them to develop their own opinions about what they are learning. I say, “Don’t just believe what I tell you! Have an opinion and back it up!” When they express themselves in a way that makes sense to them, they come alive. It’s really exciting! They’re eight and nine years old! Awesome.”

Typical day: Kere puts her students in charge of the morning routine. At 9:15 a.m., a student leader will direct the class in a salute to the flag. Afterwards, another leader will direct the daily language practice. “Up until 10 a.m. my students run the show,” says Kere. “They do a great job, and it allows me to meet quietly with individual students to go over problems they might be having in their work.” Afterwards, there is reading and math. In the afternoon they have science, social studies and art. “My kids work hard!” Kere exclaims. “Their day is packed! We have so much to do that sometimes it’s a challenge to integrate art into the day. But we manage it.” Evidence is in the hallway outside their classroom, where Kere’s students are creating a mural based on their study of Puget Sound sea life – merging science and art. After dismissal in the afternoon, the second part of Kere’s day begins. She tackles emails, grading, and reviewing student work.

Best part of the job: “I love to hear the kids’ stories,” says Kere. “Once you have gained a child’s trust, they are so willing and earnest about sharing their lives with you. These kids are smart and perceptive. They have such interesting ideas about the world, sometimes with perspectives that have never occurred to me. I think, ‘Wow! I want to take that with me.’”

Something people may not know: Kere earned an undergraduate degree in theatre and vocal performance from the UW. “I had this whole other life in theatre,” she says. “It was great training for teaching.” This will be Kere’s final year at MISD. She will head to WWU in the fall, to study for her (second) master’s degree, in mental health counseling. Her first masters and teaching certificate were obtained at SPU, several years after she began working at West Mercer and Island Park as a paraprofessional. “Kathy Morrison was the principal of Island Park then. She became a phenomenal mentor for me. I would not have become a teacher if it hadn’t been for her.” It will be difficult for Kere to leave this job she calls “magical.” But it is an opportunity to try new work she wants to explore –counseling children and families in a therapeutic setting. “I am dealing with very mixed feelings about leaving,” Kere admits. “I’ve talked to my students about it. One of them said, ‘Well, Ms. Loughlin. You just have to follow your heart.’”

Years in district: Seven years in the district, three as a teacher.

Outside interests: “I love all beaches,” Kere says. “I love to read, walk and spend time with my amazing family.”

John Sutherin – IMS Technology Specialist

Location: Islander Middle School

Job Description: “If it has electricity, I deal with it,” says John. The school’s computers, printers, and AV equipment all fall under his care. John also manages the sound system in the Multipurpose room, and helps staff with digital presentations and networking issues. “Basically, I’ll make it work,” says John. “We’re a school district. That’s what we do.”

Typical day: “There is no typical day. Ever,” says John. “I never know what kind of fire I’ll have to put out.” John works with student T.A.’s every period in the Business Center. He trains them to install operating systems on MacBooks. He verifies that every laptop in the building works correctly. He monitors all computer labs to ensure that students are following the computer rules of use. He spends a lot of time resolving connectivity issues with document cameras and LCD projectors.

Best part of the job: “I like working with kids,” says John. “They all know who I am, and they ask me questions about their computers. I had a computer business when I lived in California, and I volunteered to hire an autistic high school student. That’s how I found out I liked working with kids.”

Something people may not know: John was a deputy sheriff in San Diego County for 12.5 years. During his police career he worked in four different maximum-security jails, where he trained incoming deputies. “After working in the jails, you can’t faze me. I’ve seen it all,” says John. He became a nationally certified Drug Recognition Expert, making him qualified to testify in any courtroom in the country. John got involved with technology while working in the jails – he managed the fingerprint computers, and did re-wiring for the computer terminals. Being a policeman, John says, was the fulfillment of a childhood dream. “It was a Starsky and Hutch kind of thing,” he explains. “I loved it.” The dream came to an end, however, when a foot injury forced him into a medical retirement.

Outside interests: John and his wife Susan, who is a counselor at MIHS, live in Bellevue with their two dogs, Nalu (Big Wave) and Murph. John enjoys remote control cars and trucks (the dogs do not). He also builds model trains and likes to ride his motorcycle, a 1998 BMW K1200RS. “I am one of those people who can do a hundred things at once,” says John. “Sometimes it’s hard to do just one thing!”

Keith Ellis – Director of Maintenance and Operations

Location: Maintenance, Operations and Transportation Building

Job description: Keith is in charge of making sure that all district buildings are running properly.

Typical day: Beginning at 6:30 a.m., Keith drives to each school to check on operations – to confer with custodians and see that the buildings are safe and ready for kids. “To make sure,” as Keith says, “that everything is up to snuff.” After his inspections, Keith returns to the office. When the school day begins he checks in with principals to ensure that their needs are being met. Dean Mack, Keith’s immediate supervisor, also receives a daily briefing. “We do a lot of preventative maintenance,” says Keith. “We try to take care of problems before they become big ones.” Keith is involved in the drive to make MISD a full-fledged ‘King County Green School District’ by the end of this year. “Island Park, Lakeridge and IMS are level-one Green Schools,” says Keith. “West Mercer and MIHS are in the process. The schools are escalating their efforts in composting and recycling with the help of a ‘green committee’ of parents, staff and citizens.” At the end of his workday, if there is time, Keith visits each school again to touch base with the evening custodial crews.

Best part of the job: “It’s great being around the kids,” says Keith. “The little guys, especially, appreciate what our maintenance and custodial crews do. For instance, we put up new tetherball equipment at Island Park. The kids made a poster thanking us for that. It really makes your heart feel good when they notice what you are doing for them.”

Something people may not know: Keith started his public school career in 1974 as a night custodian in Palmer, Alaska. Over 20 years there, he progressed to day custodian, lead high school custodian, custodial foreman, and finally, maintenance and operations foreman. After two of their daughters moved to Seattle, Keith and his wife, Raye Jean, came for a visit. They had a decision to make – should they relocate to Seattle or Arizona? “We spent August in Arizona and that settled that,” explains Keith. “Too hot!” Shortly after settling in Seattle, Keith was hired by MISD as operations supervisor; he was later promoted to director of maintenance and operations.

Years in district: 15 years. Keith will be retiring from the district in November, 2010.

Outside interests: Keith and Raye Jean have four children and nine grandchildren, residing here and in Reno, Nevada. “That’s what we’ll do in retirement,” says Keith. “Babysit the grandkids.” Though they plan to divide their time between Seattle and Reno, Keith and Raye Jean will also continue their annual sojourn to Arizona for the Mariners spring training.