Preschool Staff '11-'12
Cathy Anderson is a graduate of Newport High School and Washington State University. She earned her BA in communications, with an emphasis on business. While at WSU, she enjoyed earning extra credits in early childhood development and journalism. Cathy has taught in the Bellevue Community College cooperative preschool program with 3-year-olds, and at Teddy Bear Camp in the summers, held at Mercer Island's Sunnybeam School. Cathy is thrilled to be on board at MIPC and looks forward to her tenth year with us! She will be teaching the Toddlers, Threes and PEZ classes this fall.
Kelly Fujiwara is a graduate of Blanchet High School and Western Washington University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. She went on to attend the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a Master of Social Work degree. Kelly worked as a Medical Social Worker providing crisis counseling, education and discharge planning to patients and families in hospital/rehabilitation settings in the Seattle area for 15 years. In 2005 she decided to change her focus and return to school to earn a Master of Teaching degree from City University. Kelly has taught Kindergarten in the public school system for four years, and now joins the Pebble to teach the morning fours class. Kelly has a special interest in early literacy and writing with young children. She loves music and art and weaves the joy of singing and creativity throughout her teaching. Kelly has been married for 15 years and has a daughter who is in middle school. She enjoys reading, scrapbooking, spending time with her Yellow Lab “Buddy”, and helping both her daughter and husband engage in a multitude of highly competitive sports. She is excited to begin her second year at Pebble and contribute to the love and learning that exists here.
Susan Gallagher is a native of Silver Spring, Maryland. She has a B.A. in Sociology/Anthropology from Carleton College and a Master’s in Elementary Education from Boston University. Before having her own children, Susan taught fourth and fifth graders in Massachusetts, Missouri and California. More recently, she has worked in an early childhood center, substituted in several preschools and tutored elementary school students. Susan is very excited to continue in her job as the assistant in the Pebble office!
Dawn Gomez grew up in a military family and has lived in several places throughout the country, but has proudly called Seattle her home for the last 13 years. She graduated for the University of Washington with a BA in Psychology. While participating in the North Seattle co-op preschool program with her eldest son, she was strongly encouraged to apply for a preschool co-op teaching position. She was elated to accept the position, and taught within the North Seattle Community College Preschool program for four years in the toddler and threes classes. In addition to teaching preschool, she also is the lead teacher for her church's Sunday Childcare program. She is extremely excited to begin her second year at the Pebble in the threes class and looks forward to a fabulous school year!
Heidi Lewan is a graduate of Eastside Catholic High School in Bellevue, WA and Concordia University in Irvine, CA. Heidi earned her BA in both Early Childhood Education and Liberal Studies, with a Child Development emphasis in 1996, and completed a fifth year of study to earn her Elementary Teaching Credential. In addition to a four year Early Childhood degree, Heidi has also taken classes in Preschool Administration. She completed her student teaching in Pre-K, kindergarten, and fourth grade, and directed and taught at Little Lambs Christian Preschool for three years. Heidi has been at the PEBBLE PRESCHOOL since it opened in 2001 and teaches threes and Pre-K.
Cynthia Lungmus is a graduate of Indiana University where she earned a BA degree in Journalism, focusing on advertising with a minor in business. She moved to Chicago after college, where she worked in the advertising field for 12 years. In 1996, she and her husband, Perry, moved from Chicago to Mercer Island with their two young children, Kara and Jamie. Cynthia volunteered in her children’s classrooms and served on various school committees over the years. When her daughter left for college, Cynthia decided to follow her heart, hoping to work with young children. She began doing reading volunteer work with first-graders in Tukwila, along with working at the Pebble during Lunchbunch. She also gained invaluable hands-on teaching experience as a regular substitute teacher at the Pebble, having the opportunity to work in each of the classrooms throughout the year, and getting to know the children. Cynthia is beginning her third year here and is looking forward to teaching in the Toddler, Threes and Pre-K classrooms this fall.
Emerald Magbaleta joined the Pebble last year in the threes classroom. Prior to the Pebble, she was at Bright Horizons (The Boeing Family Preschool/Daycare) for three years. She was responsible for designing and implementing curriculum as a lead teacher for three and four year olds. She then a spent a period of time in the Kent school district as an Enrollment Specialist. After the birth of her second daughter she wanted to return to preschool teaching and we were fortunated to have her come here. Emerald is married with two daughters and lives in Renton. She has been an Tagalog interpreter and presently teaches preschool Sunday school at her church. She is half a a dynamic duo that brings fun and excitement to our TTH Bear classsroom.
Dana Shephard, a Mercer Island native, earned her degree in Family Studies from Central Washington University in 2008. She spent two summers in Bellingham working at Camp Firwood as a counselor, and received the “Outstanding Counselor” award in 2006. In addition, Dana was a middle school intern at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church where she created and fostered relationships with middle school students and their families, taught Sunday school, and lead a weekly youth group. At the Pebble, Dana had the opportunity to lead Lunch Bunch once a week, where she discovered her passion for teaching preschool. Dana joined our staff teaching fours and Pre-K last year and is excited to continue her work with preschoolers and their families at the Pebble.
Suzi Parker has been mother, teacher, preschool director, community volunteer, real estate agent and now has the opportunity to return to the joy of her life, children, as Director at The Pebble. She is a graduate of the University of Washington with a BA in Speech and Elementary Education with Post Graduate work at the University in Elementary Education. She received her Early Childhood Education endorsement from Bellevue Community College. She taught in the Shoreline School District, Eugene, OR, and substituted in the Mercer Island School District. As director at Country Village Day School her goals were to create a developmentally appropriate learning environment for preschoolers and an atmosphere of loving acceptance for children and families. She is looking forward to her second year as director anticipating the beginning of the school year and the return of the children and families attending the Pebble this year.
