Vicky Mann – Seventh-Grade Language Arts/Social Studies Teacher

Location: Islander Middle School

What she does: Vicky teaches two seventh-grade Language Arts/Social Studies (LA/SS) block classes, as well as one split-block class where she teaches the language arts section. “Language arts and social studies are so well-connected,” says Vicky. “Reading and writing is such a part of history, and it makes both subjects more interesting. We also explore current events and examine how they relate to issues from 200 years ago.” The social studies curriculum is Washington State history, which was transferred from ninth-grade to seventh-grade curriculum several years ago. “Initially,” says Vicky, “we feared it would be too dry for seventh-graders. I grew up in Massachusetts and I’m sure I took a class on Massachusetts history, but I don’t remember it.” IMS social studies teachers tailored the unit to their students. “Because it’s local, they can relate to it,” Vicky explains, “and so much of it is still new to me – a non-native– that it’s fresh and exciting. I hope I bring that to the kids.

Typical day: Vicky is in her classroom by 7:30 a.m. to answer email, confer with parents, and prepare for the day ahead. Class starts at 8:20 a.m. “We might work out of the textbook,” says Vicky, “read a story, or have a discussion. The kids try to get me to veer off on these crazy tangents so we can have long discussions!” Vicky has found that seventh-graders are stronger in verbal skills than written skills. “They are much more eager to talk,” she says, “than to write.” To develop writing skills, she has them write out their thoughts and arguments before allowing them to participate in discussions. “A large part of my day is spent encouraging them to work independently,” Vicky adds. “I’m always telling them, ‘use the tools you are given!’ They tend to want you to show them how to do it, rather than to follow instructions.” Tuesday through Thursday, Vicky can be found in the after-school Homework Center for students who need extra help or just a quiet space to do their homework. She normally ends her day around 5:00 p.m. “And I still have to take work home with me,” she confesses. “I’m trying not to, but sometimes it’s unavoidable.” After work she heads to the gym if she didn’t make it there that morning. “Going to the gym really helps me clear my head.”

Best part of the job: “I love the kids,” Vicky says, “but collaborating with the people at IMS makes it an incredible place to work. My friends say ‘don’t you just teach the same thing every year?’ but I don’t think there is any good teacher who is not a life-long learner. Keeping the material fresh and interesting is part of the job. The very first day of school is probably the scariest for me. The kids are staring at me with expectation, waiting for me to do my magic!” Vicky laughs. Some days, she feels she exceeds their expectations. “This job,” she says, “is about constantly becoming a better teacher, and I have a lot of help. We have so many resources in this district, but it’s the people who make it worthwhile.”

Something people may not know: “I had my glee on long before Glee!” Vicky laughs. In the summer of 1974, she sang with the acapella group, the Whiffenpoofs of Yale. “My high-school friends and I met them on vacation in Bermuda, and we sang Goin’ to the Chapel on stage.” Vicky met her husband, Hummie, at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she worked in the graphic design department and he was on a student visa from Canada. She followed him to Toronto where she got her Bachelors in Education at Ryerson University. After graduation, the couple moved to Los Angeles where Vicky obtained her teaching credentials, and became a special education junior high teacher. After visiting friends on Mercer Island, they moved here in 1996.

Years in district: This is Vicky’s 12th year with MISD. She began with the district as a long-term eighth-grade substitute. After being hired permanently, she taught one more year of eighth-grade before transferring to seventh-grade, which she has taught since.

Outside interests: “I don’t have a lot of time for outside interests,” says Vicky. But when she can, she enjoys films, world music, yoga, traveling, and her book club. Vicky’s husband, Hummie (yes, as Vicky explains, Hummie is his legal name but not the one he was born with – it’s a derivation of a young sister’s inability to pronounce his real name) is a film composer and an educator with his own program called the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program which has recently become affiliated with the Seattle Film Institute. Their two daughters completed their school years in the Mercer Island School District. Sarah is a professional dancer in Los Angeles who will soon make her debut on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew. Jessi will graduate this year from George Washington University with a double major in dance and sociology, and will continue at GWU grad school to study public policy.

Karen Sherwood – AP US History/Honors English Block and World History Teacher

Location: Mercer Island High School

What she does: “I love taking students beyond facts and statistics to examine the big themes in history and why it matters. It’s not my job to tell them what to think,” says Karen, “but to teach them TO think.” This distinction comes up frequently when evaluating our nation’s policies, both in the past and in the present. In a recent unit on industrialization-era immigration, Karen’s students had a lively debate on the question of what factors should influence our immigration policies. They’d studied different points of view regarding current Arizona immigration laws in the news, and were making connections to those of the past, comparing how attitudes have changed and evolved. In the block class, History and English combine well to teach students to articulate their opinions in a clear voice. “They all have fabulous ideas,” says Karen, “and our class helps them learn to formulate those ideas into coherent arguments with strong support.”

Typical day: Karen’s day begins with two block periods (four hours) of AP/Honors American Studies followed by her prep periods and then 7th period World History. Though classes are over by 3:00 pm, she regularly stays after school for individual writing conferences with students. Most evenings are devoted to grading papers and projects because, as she says, “I really try to give them meaningful feedback.” Collecting 120 AP-level essays at a time requires significant time commitments for grading beyond the regular work day.

Best part of the job: “The most exciting part,” says Karen, “is watching my students discover that they can be agents of change in the world.” Karen was the first MIHS teacher to participate in the Multicultural Scholarship Program run by Museum Without Walls, a non-profit educational organization. She accompanied students from MIHS and Rainier Beach High School on a Civil Rights tour of the American South. “It was so powerful for my kids,” says Karen. “They got to know the students from Rainier Beach and to see how different their lives are, even though they live only 10 miles away. They had meaningful discussions with them about race issues. They learned they could become people who make history happen.”

Something people may not know: “I am a total anglophile!” she says. “It stems from a three-week King Arthur study tour in eighth grade. My English teacher took us to England where we visited the fabled king’s haunts – places like Avalon and Glastonbury Abbey.” Her junior year of college at Oxford cemented her love for the UK. Born in Massachusetts, Karen and her family moved to Chicago, and then to Mercer Island. Karen is a 1991 graduate of MIHS. “I still have long-lasting, rich friendships from that time,” she says.

Years in district: This is Karen’s ninth year with MISD. “But I taught informally before that,” she says. As an employee of the City of Seattle, her job was to raise resources for emergency food providers. She created a middle school service-learning program to promote hunger-awareness on a local and global level. “The more I worked with the students, the more I realized how much I liked teaching,” she says. “It helped me focus my direction.”

Outside interests: Karen and her boyfriend, Jeff, like to kayak, and regularly visit the San Juans and the west coast of Canada. She credits her outdoor-loving boyfriend with pushing her to develop new skills in these pursuits. “I like that I’m not afraid to hop in a boat and have an adventure!” Karen also enjoys traveling, frequently visiting her sister Deborah who lives in the Netherlands. “Her home is a good base from which to jump around Europe.” Karen lives in Leschi. “I can see Mercer Island and the floating bridge from my balcony,” she says. “I check the traffic over my coffee in the morning!”

David Bynum – Trip Coordinator, Bus Driver, and Driver Instructor

Location: Transportation Department

What he does: As a trip coordinator, David schedules transportation for field trips. He will assign an MISD bus or, for long trips, such as to Spokane or Ashland, Oregon, he will charter a bus through a tour-bus service. As a bus driver, he drives an elementary route in the morning and afternoon, and a Kindergarten-route midday. To keep their certification, all MISD bus drivers are required to receive training at yearly in-services. David updates his driver trainer certification each year before school starts, where he obtains new information to pass onto drivers in his position as driver instructor.

Typical day: Although some days as many as 14 field trips are scheduled, three to five trips per day is the average. From 7:30 to 8:30 in the morning, David reviews the day’s trips, confers with the lot mechanic, and handles last-minute changes. Then he ‘pre-trips’ his bus – a morning routine of about 50 checkpoints that all drivers perform – tasks like checking the gas, oil, and tires. He then drives his bus route for Island Park and Lakeridge. He is back at his desk by 9:30 am for more trip preparation. MISD has about 650 field trips per year. After his last route, he returns to his desk for more trip-planning before his workday ends.

Best part of the job: “It’s rewarding to use my skills and abilities in service to the schools,” says David, “and to pull off a challenging trip, such as graduation or Day of Service. It’s fun to interact with the kids and staff.”

Something people may not know: ““Everyone knows I love to golf,” says David. “I think I’m pretty transparent!”

Years in district: 11 years. Prior to joining MISD, David was a partner in a local construction business for 12 years.

Outside interests: In high school, David rebuilt several car engines. Because of that, when his automotive shop teacher was hospitalized, the substitute, who knew nothing about auto shop, asked David to teach the class for most of that year! “I really like teaching,” says David. “I like teaching new drivers, and teaching kids how to ride the bus.” David and his wife Paula, a software company accountant, will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary this summer. They have five children ages 17-31 – Christine, Colin, Matthew, Erin, and Hannah. The family has lived in the Lake Hills area of Bellevue for 25 years. David and Paula plan to move to Arizona when David retires in a few years.

Ann Palmason – Music Teacher

Location: West Mercer Elementary School

What she does: Ann teaches elementary music using the Orff Method, developed by composer Carl Orff, in which musical concepts are learned through singing, dance, movement, drama and the playing of percussion instruments. She helped found the local Evergreen Orff Chapter which holds workshops and retreats in professional growth in music, and has helped train many music teachers. This June she will be teaching an Orff Music class to teachers at the University of Oregon. “The Orff Method is an active form of learning-by-doing that engages mind and body,” says Ann. “I try to create an atmosphere in my classroom that is expressive, and to bring all kinds of music and creative movement to the students. Music training not only helps with vocabulary, reading and writing, it also ties in with the district’s 2020 vision of personalized learning because the Orff method promotes using songs composed by the children themselves.” Ann’s students begin writing songs in kindergarten. Students have the opportunity to experiment with all sorts of instruments, too, from piano to recorder to ukulele to guitar. “This district has always supported music,” says Ann “and we are so lucky to have the PTA and the Foundation.”

Typical day: In the morning, Ann provides six half-hour sessions for different grade-levels, all before lunch. After lunch she teaches three more sessions. “It’s like this,” she says as she snaps her fingers rapidly - snap, snap, snap! “One class is leaving as the other arrives. I change hats from grade-to-grade in order to meet the needs of all age groups.”

Best part of the job: There are two ‘best parts’ for Ann: “Getting to know the kids,” she says, “and the fact that no two days are alike.” Because she minored in art during college, Ann incorporates artistic concepts into her music teaching. “The arts are an amazing way to teach kids. I get to work with their brains, their hearts and their senses of self. I’ll often give them lessons that are infused with art, color and design to show what they’re learning. As they grow up they will find art in everything.”

Something people may not know: “I love to windsurf,” says Ann. “A fellow teacher taught me how, years ago. He and I windsurfed most of the way around the island.” Ann also loves to climb, both mountains and buildings! She climbed Mt. Rainier and the old Mt. St. Helens before doing her really ‘Big Climb’ for lymphoma/leukemia research, walking up 69 flights of the Columbia Tower. Ann hails from a large Mercer Island family with roots on the north end of the island as well as with the school district. Ann and her sister still live on property purchased by their grandparents in 1911. Their father, aged 97, was a member of the school board when West Mercer was built, and both of Ann’s children attended West Mercer. Ann herself attended Mercer View Elementary when a boys’ detention camp was located at present-day Luther Burbank Park nearby. “Sometimes during class we’d hear a loud alarm go off, which meant a boy had just escaped!”

Years in district: Ann began her music-teaching career at MISD and will end it here when she retires in June. She started 39-years ago at South Mercer Junior High School, as well as elementary-level at Island Park, Mercer Crest, and Mercer View. She went on to teach in Bellevue, the Bush school (for 19 years), and six years in Edmonds. Ann returned to teaching on Mercer Island at West Mercer five years ago.

Outside interests: Ann and her husband Jon, a tenor, are very involved in the arts in Seattle. She sings in the choir and produces musicals for her church, and has performed in Gilbert and Sullivan shows. She and fellow teacher David Baxter (“my brilliant co-producer”) have produced musicals for West Mercer. Her entire family, in fact, is musically inclined. “My son, Scott, is an improvisational actor and also performs in musicals in Los Angeles. My daughter, Jenny, works for a record company in L.A. and is a wonderful soprano.”

Ann and Jon enjoy traveling. They’ve been to Iceland and have toured through Europe. After retirement, Ann will substitute-teach, visit museums, and possibly teach private music lessons. She also plans to create a home art studio and do a lot of cross-country skiing.

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.