Debra Vandegrift – Third Grade Teacher

Location: West Mercer Elementary School

Goal as a teacher: “I want to help each of my students grow as a learner,” says Debra. She has taught different age levels but believes “third grade is the best because that’s when students discover their passion for learning. They find that reading becomes a skill they can use. It’s so exciting!” Debra’s own passions are teaching science and math.

Another of Debra’s passions is the environment. “I love to tuck in a lesson on the environment where I can. The kids are composting leftovers from their snacks (apple cores and orange peels) and all paper towels used in the class. It gives them a feeling that they are not powerless. They can do things to keep their environment healthy.” Since 1994, Debra has taken students annually to Padilla Bay, a National Estuarine Research Reserve in Anacortes. At Padilla Bay, they learn that Puget Sound is a watershed, and their actions affect it. If they wash their car, the water goes into Puget Sound. They learn about playing their parts in taking care of the world. “If you talked to former students of mine,” says Debra, “they’d probably remember best our field trips to Northwest Trek and Padilla Bay. To think this is the last year I’ll go there with my class!” she exclaims, referring to her impending retirement.

Typical day: “Busy!” says Debra. “They walk in at 9:00 a.m., sit down and go to work.” In the morning, the class covers math and language arts. In the afternoon they alternate science and social studies. “At the end of the day I often hear them talk about how hard they worked. I have high expectations for them and want them to do their best.”

Something people may not know: Before kayaking became a common outdoor activity, Debra and her husband were paddling around in ‘ocean boats’ in the early 1980’s. “We put the first ocean boats in Yellowstone Lake,” she confides. The couple regularly took ocean-boat trips around Vancouver Island. “At a lot of the places we went,” says Debra, “we never saw anybody.” Now those pristine places are crowded with people and the ocean boats are gathering dust in the Vandegrift garage.

Years in district: In 1978 Debra joined MISD as a special education teacher at Mercer View Elementary, eventually transitioning to general-education third grade. She will retire at the end of this school year.

Outside interests: Debra is a self-confessed ‘bird nerd’ who enjoys hiking, gardening, and reading. She and her husband, Eric, live in Wallingford. “Our backyard is always full of birds,” says Debra. “Also a worm bin and a goldfish pond. This way, we don’t need a pet-sitter when we travel!” The couple went to Yellowstone last summer, and think of Costa Rica as an all-time favorite destination. “If you’re a birder,” says Debra, “it’s an absolute must-do trip.”

Vicki Wittenberger – Speech Pathologist

Location: Lakeridge Elementary School

Job description: As a speech pathologist, Vicki evaluates and delivers specialized instruction for students with language, articulation, fluency and voice disorders.

Typical day: In the morning, Vicki attends meetings with staff and/or parents, organizes her day ahead, and works on student evaluations and plans, otherwise known as IEP’s. “There is a lot of paperwork,” says Vicki, although nowadays most of it is done online. She has seen many changes in her 40 years with MISD. “When I first started in 1971, I had a caseload of 110 kids. There weren’t any special education laws then, so we had very little paperwork. Ideally now, a full-time caseload would be 45 students.

At 9:20 a.m., when school starts, Vicki sees students individually or in groups of up to four, every half hour. She works with them on their individual speech and/or language goals. As an example, some children have difficulty pronouncing their ‘R’s. Vicki likes to focus on a sound they are able to make, such as the ‘K’ sound and work towards the ‘R’ sound. As both are made with the same high, back tongue position, this muscle work is a way of tricking the tongue. Eventually the tongue is strong enough and the students are on their way to correction.

Best part of the job: “All the staff I have worked with over the years.” But for Vicki, the greatest reward has been working with students. “I feel like I’ve made a difference in a lot of kids’ lives.”

Something people may not know: “I’ve been here since I was 21 years old!” Vicki exclaims. “There’s not much about me that people don’t know!”

Years in district: Vicki started at MISD in 1971 and student taught at Mercer Crest Elementary in 2nd grade and in speech therapy. When a space opened up that year, Vicki, who has a dual-degree, became a full-time speech pathologist, and began shuttling between different schools for the next 40 years. “I’ve been at every school that ever existed in this district!” Vicki says. “But I’ve been at Lakeridge continuously throughout, and it’s always been home.” Vicki will retire at the end of this school year. “I don’t know how I’ll do it,” she says. “I may come back as a substitute!”

Outside interests: “I guess I’d better find some, eh?” Vicki jokes, referring to her impending retirement. Actually, she is an avid quilter and loves to travel. “Last year, my husband and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary in Europe,” says Vicki. “We spent four weeks touring Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, and London. We wanted to do it while we could still jump on the trains!” At home, Vicki enjoys running, riding her bike and hopes to do more volunteering. She and husband, Mike, whom she met while in high school – he was the older brother of a friend – also enjoy golfing. Vicki and Mike live in Bellevue and have two sons, Jason, who is married, and Jeff, who will be married this summer.

Clay Laughary - Technology TOSA (Teacher on Special Assignment)

Location: Mercer Island High School and Crest Learning Center

Job goal: Clay’s primary goal is to help teachers and staff learn to use technology effectively in their teaching. He tackles problems and questions as they arise, holds before- and after-school training sessions for teachers and staff, and confers individually with staff as the need arises.

Typical day: It might include researching and implementing technology for specific lessons or units, going into classrooms to assist teachers with new programs, researching iPad applications and then making staff aware of the applicable ones, fielding technology integration questions, and training staff on a variety of technology usages. This is Clay’s first year as a technology TOSA. He’s on leave from his regular position as a math teacher. "People aren’t going to ask me to teach poetry, but if they want a poetry blog so students can have a more authentic audience and have "conversations" about each other's work, I can help set up the blog! It’s a lot of multi-tasking. Actually, I like to think of it as ‘multi-switching.’” Demonstrating his ability to multi-switch during this interview, he asked, “What’s the next question?” as he downloaded a program that would help this interviewer with transcribing.

Best part of the job: “Helping to smooth out some of the frustrations that teachers have with technology,” says Clay. “I know how busy the days are when you teach. It’s valuable to have someone on hand to make technology tasks easier and faster.”

Something people may not know: Clay is an award-winning baker! At his previous school, Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, his apple pie won first prize in the annual pie-baking contest. “I think it won because the crust had a maple leaf design and it was really flaky,” says Clay. “I spent a lot of time on it, and no, I’m not giving up my pie-baking secrets!” Clay, who completed his National Board Teacher certification in 2009, might have trouble locating that particular certificate but, “I know exactly where my winning pie contest certificate is!”, he says with a laugh. (It’s hanging in his school office). Clay’s family prizes his baking talents, as well—every Thanksgiving there is a standing order for his rolls.

Years in district: This is Clay’s sixth year with the district. He followed older brother Creighton to MIHS several years after Creighton was hired as an English teacher. Two brothers who share a last name and whose first names start with C sometimes cause workplace confusion but, surprisingly, “we look nothing alike,” says Clay.

Outside interests: Clay is a competitive Life Master bridge player. ”I should be a Bronze Life Master before summer starts. And I’m looking forward to playing in the National tournament held in Seattle this upcoming fall,” says Clay. “I try to play in a club game at least once a week.” Clay grew up in Spokane, WA, attended WABASH College, and earned his Masters in Teaching at Arizona State.

Marlene Liranzo - Family and Consumer Science Teacher

Location: Mercer Island High School

Job description: Marlene teaches Image, a course that is mainly for grades 9-10, and Personal and Family Relations (PFR ), a course geared primarily towards grades 11-12. “My classes are about life,” says Marlene. Image, billed as a time management, organizational skills, team building and cooperative learning skills course, covers a spectrum of ‘life’ topics including stress management, self-esteem, healthy coping skills, nutrition, fitness, healthy relationships, and internet safety. PFR covers topics such as goal setting, listening skills, conflict resolution, sexual assault information, alcohol and drug issues, parenting choices, financial health, and social concerns. “I am into happiness,” says Marlene. “I want to be a role model for health. I want my students to see that they can choose to be positive and to take care of themselves. I think parents recognize the importance of these classes and believe they are good for their kids.”

Typical day: “Very hectic!” says Marlene, who works closely with MI Youth and Family Services, colleagues and community experts on regular class presentations. Any day might include a representative from Youth Eastside Services to talk about dating violence. Someone else from the Public Health Department might be in to discuss sexuality. Ron Feinberg, a Mercer Island clinical social worker, has given talks about relationships. Betsy Zuber, from MIYFS, regularly presents information about aging. Why do high school students need to learn about aging? “Because,” says Marlene, “by the year 2030, for the first time in history, there will be more older people than younger people in the United States. These kids will be a part of that demographic.” Betsy also talks to the PFR class about aging relatives and dementia. “I learn from our resource people, too!” says Marlene.

Besides teaching classes, Marlene co-chairs the CTE department and is an advisor to the Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) club, which orchestrates drives for homeless shelters and Childhaven, and presents talks on subjects such as suicide prevention. She is also co-advisor (with Cathy Gentino) for Natural Helpers. The Natural Helpers club is comprised of a group of 9-12^th graders who are selected by their peers to develop their natural communication and empathy skills. These students are identified in their school community as safe people to go to for help with problems who can provide resources, including referring to an adult, if necessary.

Best part of the job: “The kids,” says Marlene. “They are funny and dear. I try to connect with them so that by the end of the semester they will know I’m here as a resource for them and also, maybe, for other people in their lives because relationships are part of health. Even if just one kid knows I’m here and that I care, it makes it worth it for me.” Marlene cherishes the connections she has made over the years and marvels at how small the world can be. “Last Christmas I was in Cabo, watching a Husky game, and a former student found me in the crowd and came up to talk. Another time, I ran into a former student when I was in Sorrento, Italy!”

Something people may not know: “I love humor and being silly,” says Marlene. “The kids make me laugh. I joke with them that I want to be a standup comic and use material about THEM!”

Years in district: Marlene started at Mercer Island School District when her daughter was in first grade in 1987. Her daughter, Lindsey, is now a teacher herself.

Outside interests: Marlene is big-time Husky fan and has season tickets. She lives in Sammamish with her husband, Rich. She enjoys reading, gardening, and spending time with daughter and son-in-law, Lindsey and Matt, and son, Michael. Traveling is a favorite thing to do, and she never knows which former student she might run into!

Libby Wotipka – Third-Grade Hand-in-Hand Paraprofessional

Location: Island Park Elementary

Job description: “I imagine my job is what being a grandparent is like,” says Libby, “We get the fun stuff, while the teachers and counselors, like parents, have the hard work.” But a paraprofessional’s job is more than just fun – it’s hard work, too. Hand-n-Hand Paraprofessionals are unique to Island Park Elementary. The positions are funded entirely by parent donations. They help in classrooms providing learning support and friendship support. “I work with students in small groups and observe things that teachers don’t always have time to see. I catch wind of problems and report my concerns to the teachers and counselors. We brainstorm together to come up with solutions.”

Typical day: “We rarely sit down during the day,” says Libby. “I’m lucky if I get a minute to check emails in the morning!” Libby rotates between all of the third-grade classrooms, where she helps small groups with reading, math, computer lab, or science. “Our third grade has 107 kids and you actually do get to know each of them pretty well.” In addition to her assistance in the classrooms, Libby conducts ‘recess camp’ for 3-5^th graders once a day. Children who are struggling, having trouble making friends, or are simply quieter souls looking for alternatives to the playground, thrive with the TLC provided in recess camp.

“Working quietly on a project in camp will often help children with behavioral issues improve without negative intervention,” Libby says. For her recess camp, Libby started a sewing group that caught on like wildfire with the girls, but not many boys were interested so she started a Lego project for them. “Sometimes we have 30 kids crammed into our little workroom!” Wanting to teach her kids to reach out beyond themselves to those less fortunate, Libby developed the ‘pillows for homeless kids’ project. Both girls and boys took to this sewing project. “On weekends while watching the football game with my husband, I’d cut shapes out of polar fleece – aliens, birds, fish – for the kids to use in their pillow designs.” They pin their creations together, and, until recently, Libby took their pieces home to sew together on her mom’s old sewing machine. But after the PTA granted her request for an inexpensive sewing machine to use at school, they can now do their own sewing. “The kids like the idea of helping others and are okay with not keeping their pillows for themselves. They can always make their own at home,” says Libby.

Best part of the job: While Libby cites the creativity and variety of her job as major perks, she concedes that the best part is “when you connect with a child and they have that ‘aHA’ moment. It’s a terrific feeling.”

Something people may not know: During college, Libby worked in fish canneries in Seattle, the San Juans, and Alaska. “They were smelly, long hours and it was a lot of hard work,” says Libby, “but it paid great. I am not big on cooking fish today but if someone else cooks it, I’ll eat it.” The same goes for donuts, due to a high school job at Winchell’s, which was located on the present-day site of the downtown Bellevue Park.

Years in district: This is Libby’s sixth year with MISD.

Outside interests: Skiing and knitting are two of Libby’s passions. She often, surprisingly, pairs them together – knitting during weekend drives to the mountain passes to ski. “I’m a novice knitter.” Libby confesses, her New Years resolution was to learn to make Norwegian hats.

Tracy Davis – Fifth Grade Teacher

Location: West Mercer

Her job: Tracy uses the principle of Multiple Intelligences in her classroom. Multiple Intelligences theory suggests that there are limitations to I.Q. testing. Instead, a child (or adult) will have natural affinities for one or two of the following multiple intelligences:
• Linguistic intelligence – word smart
• Logical-mathematical intelligence – number/reasoning smart
• Spatial intelligence – picture smart
• Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence – body smart
• Musical intelligence – music smart
• Interpersonal intelligence – people smart
• Intrapersonal intelligence – self smart
• Naturalist intelligence – nature smart

In the beginning of the school year, Tracy helps her students discover what their learning strengths are. She then tries to craft personalized lessons that will align with those strengths. “I got my Masters in Creative Arts in Learning,” Tracy says. “It’s all about visual arts, drama, movement, poetry, and story-telling. Personalized learning makes teaching so fun for me!”

Typical day highlight: “I love adding some kind of art throughout all subjects,” says Tracy. The class is currently doing a science unit on the human body. “They each read a book about a physical or mental disability,” Tracy explains. “Then they research the disability and complete a project using options that I provide through the Multiple Intelligences.”

Best part of the job: “Brainstorming how to be more creative in my teaching,” says Tracy. “I stick to the curriculum but love coming up with new ways to make it interesting. I taught art at various Mercer Island schools. That’s why I love to integrate arts in the curriculum. Doing this with fifth graders is great because they are still young enough not to think it’s silly. They can still be kids.”

Something people may not know: After growing up on Mercer Island and graduating from college, Tracy became a flight attendant for American Airlines. “I loved the traveling,” Tracy confesses, “but being a flight attendant was hard living. I shared a one-bedroom apartment with six girls in New York City. I had to leave for work three hours early on the subway. It was a great after-college job because I got to travel, but I barely got by, financially.” After three years, Tracy quit the airline and became a substitute for MISD.

Years in district: This is Tracy’s 16th year with MISD.

Outside interests: Tracy enjoys playing tennis and swimming. Husband Jon was a teacher for the Bellevue School District in the 90’s but left teaching for a sales job. When Jon and Tracy married three years ago, Jon decided to return to teaching. He started a job this year as a Learning Support paraprofessional at Lakeridge and “he loves getting back into the classroom teaching kids, boosting their self esteem,” says Tracy. She and Jon have a blended family of four children, ages 9, 12, 13, and 14. Though they live on Mercer Island, the family recently purchased a weekend getaway/future retirement home in Cle Elum.

Jan Lamont – Administrative Assistant for Human Resources

Location: Administration Building

Job description: As assistant to the HR coordinator, Jan processes all employment applications, prepares job announcements and posts them to the district’s website. She is in charge of maintaining all personnel files, including subs, coaches and archived files. Certificated staff must complete 150 clock hours over 5 years to maintain a continuing teaching certificate or to move up on the salary schedule, and Jan assists them by recording their continuing education clock hours. Jan meets with new employees, subs and coaches, and processes their paperwork, fingerprint info, answers questions about benefits and retirement. She prepares the contracts and letters of assignments for all employees.

Typical day: For Jan, it begins at 7:00 a.m. by answering the voicemails and emails that have come in overnight. Then she tackles the project of the moment. Currently, the payroll and human resources departments are in the process of moving to Skyward. It is a new interface to the main database where school districts house all of their records on students and personnel. “We have to clean up a lot of data for the big conversion in April,” says Jan. “It’s a steep learning curve, but we’re getting trained monthly in Everett.” The rest of her day is filled with greeting applicants, welcoming new employees, and answering employment and benefits questions for current employees. “I am a people-person,” says Jan, “so I especially enjoy that part of my job.” “I do a lot of tracking,” says Jan. “I track mandatory employee trainings, staff evaluations, optional hours and technology training forms. A lot of different things go on in our department.”

Best part of the job: “Of course, I work for the best boss in the world,” Jan smiles, referring to Judy Shannon, the HR coordinator. “She’s like no other boss…kind, caring, funny, she’s just great.” Another highlight for Jan is the opportunity to meet new people and learn about current employees. “I’ve always been good at connecting people,” she says. “In a previous job, I knew a person who needed to sell her house. I knew another person who wanted to buy one. I set the two of them up and they closed the deal! I guess you could call it matchmaking.” And yes, over the years she has instigated one or two meetings that led to marriage.

Something people may not know: Jan owned and managed a secretarial/answering service company for 22 years. She also worked in the Issaquah School District for six years prior to MISD. “I dragged my husband, John, out of retirement to be a full-time bus driver,” Jan says. “He was bored, he needed something to do. He loves the eclectic group of drivers he gets to work with, as well as the kids he drives and their parents.”

Years in district: Nine years. Jan started as the receptionist in the MISD administration building.

Outside interests: “I like anything that involves the great outdoors,” Jan says. “I ski, bike and hike.” She and John travel frequently. A favorite destination is Hawaii, where they regularly house/dog sit for two families. “It’s wonderful. We get to be in the sun, play with dogs, and stay in palatial houses.” Back home in Sammamish, Jan and John enjoy spending time with their grown children, son Kevin, and son Darren and daughter-in-law Tracy. The family is completed by two border collies, Louie and Pepper. Jan has a low-key side business as provider of border collie puppies to many district employees. “I often get Christmas cards from MISD employees with pictures of the dogs they got from me. They love them so much!”