St. Anne School - Seattle WA

St. Anne School has talented and dedicated staff that is deeply committed to their chosen vocation.

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"It is not how much you do, but how much love put into the doing that matters."
- Mother Teresa

Staff Directory
The school phone is 206-282-3538. Faculty extensions and email are listed below:

Mary Sherman
Principal
At St. Anne since 1992
Education: BA Education, Seattle University; MS Educational Administration, National University; K-12 Teaching Certificate
Experience: Prior to being the assistant principal at St. Anne, I taught first grade at St. Mark School for ten years.
Passion/Interests: My husband and I have four (almost) grown children, all of whom are graduates of St. Anne School. I am also a graduate of St. Anne School. In my spare time, I enjoy running and sharing free time with my children and husband, Principal of St. Madeleine Sophie School in Bellevue.

Theresa Hagemann
Vice Principal
At St. Anne since 2010
Education: BA Geography, University of Washington; K-8 Teaching Certificate and MA Curriculum and Instruction, Antioch University; MEd. Educational Administration, Grand Canyon Univeristy
Experience: Prior to being the Vice Principal at St. Anne, I was Vice Principal and taught at Christ the King School for 12 years.
Passion/Interests: I absolutely love working with children of all ages. Their curiosity and love of life makes coming to work every day a joy. I am passionate about Catholic education and working with teachers to create curriculum that inspires students to learn. My husband and I have two adult daughters that keep us on our toes with laughter and their adventures. In my free time I enjoy cooking, great movies and walks with my dogs.

Laura Bonney
Administrative Assistant
At St. Anne School since 1999
Experience: Prior to joining St. Anne School I was the office manager at Restaurants Unlimited's corproate headquarters for ten years. I was lucky enough to join the company just as the Cinnabon World Famous Cinnamon Rolls product was "rolling" out. Someone had to taste test them!
Passion/Interests: My husband and I each have adult daughters. He and I enjoy outdoor camping and sports, especially in the fall and winter months. I love working in a Catholic environment. Working at St. Anne School keeps me mindful of what it means to be Catholic and I'm reminded daily (by the students) of how I should demonstrate my faith. I have just begun year 2 of a three year Catechist Certification Program. After completion of this course I would like to teach Faith Formation to 2nd graders as they prepare for First Reconciliation and First Communion.

Pat Covich
Office Assistant
At St. Anne School since
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Heidi Austin
Grade 7, 8 Science, Grade 8 Algebra, Grade 7 Math
At St. Anne since 1998.
Education: BA Biology, Gonzaga University; Teaching Certificate, University of Washington.
Experience: In my initial years at St. Anne, I spent three years as the K-8 Art teacher and K-5 Hands-on-Science teacher. From 2002-2006 I taught middle school Math and was the 7th grade homeroom teacher. Since 2006, I have been teaching middle school Science.
Passion/Interests: I love working with middle school students and have a deep interest in science, math, and art. One of my favorite quotes is from Richard Feynman: “The world looks so different after learning science. For example, trees are made of air, primarily. When they are burned, they go back to air, and in the flaming heat is released the flaming heat of the sun which was bound in to convert the air into tree. And in the ash is the small remnant of the part which did not come from air, that came from the solid earth, instead. These are beautiful things, and the content of science is wonderfully full of them. They are very inspiring, and they can be used to inspire others.” My husband and I have four sons, two in college and two in grade school. When I have extra time I like making quilts and pottery and spending time outdoors with my family.

Pam Sturgeon
Grade 8 Literature, Grade 6-8 Social Studies, Grade 6 Science
At St. Anne from 1995-2004 returned since 2007
Education: BS Psychology and Masters in Public Administration, University of Washington; M.A. in Psychology, Humboldt State University, CA; Principal Credentials, Seattle University.
Experience: I have taught 5th – 8th grade at St. Anne School. My career prior to education was in civil rights-EEOC, and the Northwest Women’s Law Center. I have taught all grades K-8, except for 2nd grade-five years in public schools and over 10 years in Catholic schools.
Passion/Interests: My passion is to further quality Catholic education, service outreach, and to open student’s minds to the greater world around them. I have two grown children who graduated from Catholic Schools-Blanchet and Kennedy. In my free time I enjoy family, reading, traveling, volunteering for political campaigns, and gardening.

Shannon Schuler
Grade 7 Language Arts and Literature, Grade 6 Math Technology Curriculum & Integration
At St. Anne since 2003
Education: BS Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington; Teaching Certificate and MA in Teaching, City University with a K-8 endorsement.
Experience: During my time at St. Anne I have taught 6th, 7th and 8th grade. While a 6th grade teacher, I taught all subject areas. Since then I have happily found myself teaching 7th grade math, language arts, and literature; 8th grade language arts; and helping the school troubleshoot technological problems.
Passion/Interests: I am a product of Seattle Catholic schools attending St. Catherine in Maple Leaf, Christ the King in Greenwood and graduating high school from Bishop Blanchet. I enjoy teaching at St. Anne School because of its commitment to excellence and its focus on educating the whole student.

Julia Reade
Grade 6 and 8 Language Arts and Grade 6 Literature and Religion At St. Anne since 2010
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Paola Womac
Grade 7 and 8 Religion, Service Learning Coordinator and Stewardship
At St. Anne since 2006
Education: BA Economics and Human Services, Villanova University; MA Education, University of Notre Dame
Experience: I have taught in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Diego and Seattle during my teaching tenure.
Passion/Interests: I have a particular love for the curiosity, energy and intelligence of middle school students. When not teaching, I enjoy free time shared with my daughter, husband, friends and family, as well as time spent traveling and reading great books.

Monika Dempsey
Grade 5
At St. Anne since 2007
Education: BA Elementary Education, University of Portland with endorsement in Middle School Mathematics and minor in Spanish; Teaching Certificate in Oregon and Washington.
Experience: I have taught 5th grade at St. Anne for a year and assisted staff in organizing a Penny War to benefit students in Guatemala, assisting with the Sunday Mass Children's Choir, and serving as the Math Coordinator for the Enrichment Program.
Passion/Interests: My long-term professional goal is to become a principal, and spend all my time in the Catholic School setting. I am absolutely thrilled to be working at St. Anne because of the close-knit, service-oriented community, the talented, compassionate, and hilarious students, and the young, energetic faculty & staff.

Jenni Condon
Grade 4
At St. Anne since 2009
Education: BA Elementary Education, endorsements in reading and art, Whitworth University; MEd Curriculum and Instruction, Seattle University.

Experience: I previously taught second grade for four years in a local Catholic school. Prior to that I did substitute teaching in grades Kindergarten to fifth in both public and private schools.

Passion/Interest: I have a passion for constantly learning and reading. I strive to integrate the arts into my core curriculum when appropriate. I am thrilled to be working in the St. Anne communitywhere I can share and grow in my faith. In my free time, I love spending time with my husband, daughter and son. I also enjoy running, exercising, reading, and traveling.

Britta Banchero
Grade 3
At St. Anne since 2010
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Meghan Miller
Grade 2
At St. Anne since 2006
Education: BA Diversified Liberal Arts, University of San Diego
Experience: Over 5 years of elementary school teaching experience.
Passion/Interests: My goal as an educator is to facilitate and promote the student’s natural curiosity and drive to learn. I believe in supporting students in finding intrinsic value in the process of questioning and discovery. By developing their higher order thinking skills students will be able to make each learning experience their own. The classroom environment should be one of safety, both physical and emotional, so that as students take risks academically they know there will be a soft place to land. In order to maintain this atmosphere it is crucial that communication between the classroom and the home is ongoing and constructive. We are working as a team to help your student become a thoughtful and confident member of the Catholic community at St. Anne’s as well as their larger community.

Michaela Soroczak
Grade 2 Instructional Aide
At St. Anne since 2006
Education: University of Washington
Experience: I have been worked as a teaching assistant at St. Anne for the past couple of years.
Passion/Interests: I was born and raised in Seattle and am married with a little girl. I feel so lucky to be part of the St. Anne community. I love working with children and want the children to have the same positive experience that I had at Catholic schools. In my spare time I love to be with my family, paint and read.

Danielle Perkins
Grade 1
At St. Anne since 2010
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Michele Betts
Grade 1 Instructional Aide
At St. Anne since 1996
Experience: I began working at St. Anne as a kindergarten aide and after a three year break I returned as the first grade aide.
Passion/Interests: I was born and raised in Seattle, attending Catholic schools from kindergarten through high school. I have four grown children and four granddaughters. In my spare time I love to be with my family, reading, and traveling with my husband.

Traci Sauvage
Kindergarten
At St. Anne since 2007
Education: BA Education, Eastern Oregon University; MA Creative Arts in Learning, Cambridge MA.
Experience: I have been teaching in the Catholic Schools for ten years. My experience ranges from Pre-K through 4th grade.
Passion/Interests: I love teaching. Teaching Kindergarten at St. Anne’s school has been a very enjoyable experience. I love the children, staff, parents and the greater St. Anne community. My husband and I feel so comfortable we even joined the parish. My husband, is the PE teacher here at St. Anne School. Our family enjoys spending our free time playing baseball in our yard, going to M’s games or traveling to see our friends and family in Wisconsin and Alaska.

Molly Thole
Kindergarten Instructional Aide
At St. Anne since 2006
Education: BA Criminal Justice - Seattle University
Experience: I taught preschool at St. John school for five years prior to coming to the St. Anne Kindergarten program.
Passion/Interests: I was born and raised in Seattle, going to catholic schools from kindergarten through college. I am a graduate of Bishop Blanchet as well as Seattle University. I love working at St. Anne, it is an amazing community! I truly love Kindergarten! I think it is the perfect age to teach. They are just gaining some independence and they are so ready to learn! The growth we see from the start of the year to the end is amazing! My husband and I have 2 beautiful children. I am an avid reader. I love going to the beach or the pool, and I enjoy playing tennis.

Pre-Kindergarten

Katy Gibson
Pre-Kindergarten
At St. Anne since 2002
Education: BA Elementary Education, Seattle Pacific University
Experience: I taught first grade for six years (on year in a public school) and moved to the St. Anne Pre-K program after having my son.
Passion/Interests: My husband and I both live and work on Queen Anne and strive to be active members of the community. We love to stay fit and exercise and you can see me most afternoons at the park with my son and dog! Two of my future goals are to sell more of my artwork (oil paintings) and obtain my Masters in Teaching.

Erica Barry
Pre-Kindergarten Aide
At St. Anne since 2003
Education: BA Psychology, Seattle Pacific University.
Experience: Over five years experience in Pre-K and working in the aftercare program at St. Anne. I have worked with children for many years, including work at the Children’s Museum, Seattle, and as the children’s church teacher at Calvary Chapel Paris in France.
Passion/Interests: Aside from being a full-time graduate student studying school counseling at SPU, I enjoys collecting antique children’s books and spending time with my husband.

Kacy McNaull
Pre-Kindergarten Aide
At St. Anne since 2009

Education: BA English - Providence College

Experience: After college, I spent 12 years in the fields of Advertising and Technology Sales. I found my new passion for Pre-K after spending time as a long-term substitute at St. Anne's in Pre-K last school year.

Passion/Interests: I was born and raised in Albany, NY and received a Catholic education from Kindergarten through college. I moved to Seattle in 1997 and joined St. Anne Parish the same year. My husband, Peter, and I have 2 sons currently attending St. Anne School. We love to spend time outdoors - biking, hiking and skiing.

Kristin Earnst
Art Specialist
At St. Anne since 2008
Education: BA in English, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, University of Washington; Teaching Certificate Program at UW with endorsements 4-12 English, 4-12 Language Arts, and K-12 Art.
Experience: I am new to St. Anne this year, teaching K-5 art on Thursdays and Fridays. Presently and for the past seven years, I have been teaching Pre-K through middle school art at the Jewish Day School in Bellevue. For eleven years prior to that, I taught English, speech, and the Seattle University Matteo Ricci class at Eastside Catholic High School.
Passion/Interests: After the wandering childhood I experienced in a Navy family, I settled in Ballard 20 years ago and would happily spend the rest of my life there! I love all kinds of art making, most frequently working in charcoal or oil paints. I’ve spent summers painting in southern France and in the Skagit Valley—both equally beautiful settings--or taking classes at the Frye Art Museum or Pratt Fine Arts Center.

Pilar Griffin
Spanish
At St. Anne since 2006
Education: MA Education, UNED-Costa Rica; MA Curriculum and Instruction, Seattle University; MA International Law, UN-UPEACE
Experience: I have taught school since 1992 at the preschool, elementary, middle school and university level in Costa Rica, the US and as volunteer work in India and South East Asia. I have provided translation services to UN organisms regarding women, children and indigenous rights.
Passion/Interests: I love to teach bringing real issues into the classroom. I enjoy working at St. Anne School because the students are very respectful and eager to learn. I love to travel, to be part of the Peace and Justice commission in my parish and, most important, to spend time with my husband and daughter.

Kathleen Mills
Music
At St. Anne since 2000
Education: Bachelor of Music in Composition and Arranging, Combs College of Music.
Experience: I studied with composer Romeo Cascarino and concert pianist Susan Starr in Philadelphia, and with Broadway conductor Lehman Engel at BMI's Musical Theater Workshop in New York City. My performing experience includes singing and dancing in several musicals, notably 5th Avenue Theater Company's productions of Cinderella, Jesus Christ Superstar, My Fair Lady and in the national tour of Mame starring Juliet Prowse. I have worked as a private music instructor in Seattle since 1989. I am also the composer of "The Steadfast Tin Soldier, A Story Ballet" produced annually by DanceFremont! since 1997. My work with DanceFremont! since that time has also included writing and directing the Musical Theater/Costume Design and Production Camp show each summer.
Passion/Interests: I am passionate about helping students identify and use their talents in pursuit of excellence in mind, body, and spirit.

Kevin Riordan
Drama
At St. Anne since 2009
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Amy Sachwitz
Library
At St. Anne since 2001
Education: BA English, University of Washington; MA Teaching, City University
Experience: I taught second grade for five years at St. Anne before moving to third grade for the past several years.
Passion/Interests: I believe in facilitating a positive learning environment in which all students feel successful, while being challenged. My goal is for every unique student to feel safe while learning and sharing during the school day. It is important for each student to be respectful of their parents, teachers, and each other. I love working at St. Anne School because of its wonderful community. I feel that members of the faculty, parish, families, and students all are supportive of one another. I appreciate each family’s love for Catholic education. When not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my husband, family and friends, cooking, reading, and vacationing!

Libby Rain
Learning Resource
At St. Anne since 2002
Education: BA Teaching, University of Dayton; MA Teaching with a Reading Certification, National University
Experience: Before becoming the Resource Specialist in 2007, I taught 4th grade and Kindergarten at St. Anne School.
Passion/Interests: I attended Catholic school my entire life and always knew I wanted to work in a Catholic school. My goal as an educator is to foster a love for learning in every student. I have a particular interest in the field of reading. My hope is for all children to experience the joys of reading and I strive to make learning to read a positive experience. I enjoy spending time with my husband and daughter, cooking, reading, and doing most anything related to the outdoors.

Denise Rousso
Counselor
At St. Anne since 2000
Education: BA Journalism, University of Houston; MA School Counseling, Seattle University
Experience: While at St. Anne, I have focused on developing a preventative and comprehensive School Counseling Program. The counseling curriculum currently targets problem-solving, anti-bullying, anger management, friendship skills and personal safety K-8. I also work with students one-on-one and do small groups.
Passion/Interests: Being able to help kids to express themselves and to watch them connect more with themselves and others is rewarding, especially as research continues to support the importance of emotional intelligence in achieving a balanced and happy life! Plus, I get to absorb and watch all the funny and energetic things that kids say and do – which usually makes for a pretty entertaining day! In my spare time, I enjoy the outdoors, traveling and spending time with my husband and stepson.

Mary Pat Iaci
Development Program Coordinator

At St. Anne School since 2004
Experience: I have worked in the field of development for over 20 years. My experience comes from my involvement in many non-profit boards in the community.
Passion/Interests: Volunteerism is what brought me to the development office at St. Anne. While my daughters were attending school here, I volunteered time doing some of the things I do now. I love being here at St. Anne, not only because of the strong foundation it gave my daughters for high school and college, but because my responsibilities are diverse, the school is full of energy, and the sense of community is strong. I am able to work with the teachers, students and parents and I like this interaction. In my personal life I am married and have two daughters and a son-in-law. In my free time, I enjoy volunteering, gardening, cooking, golf, knitting, reading and travel.

Erin Oest-Larsen
Fundraising Coordinator
At St. Anne since 2005
Education: BA Advertising, Louisiana State University
Experience: Over 12 years of event planning experience and 8 years of experience with auction and fundraising.
Passion/Interests: I enjoy working at St. Anne School because I thrive on the spirit of the students and their parents. I feel that they truly want to make St. Anne School the best it can be, which enables me to fundraise successfully. I am married and have two daughters attending St. Anne. I enjoy working out with friends at early morning boot-camp and tennis, traveling as a family and hanging out at home playing Wii bowling!

Ben Sauvage
Physical Education
At St. Anne since 2000
Education: BA Physical Education, Eastern Oregon University.
Experience: I have been teaching for over 12 years including 8 here at St. Anne.
Passion/Interests: I believe that Physical Education should give all children the opportunity to participate and succeed in a large variety of sports and games. I also believe that an effective P.E. class is one where all kids are busy all of the time. I ran track, cross country and met my wife Traci who is the Kindergarten teacher at St. Anne at Eastern Oregon University. In my free time I run a lot. I have run 24 marathons and still compete in many local and national cross country and road races. I am also the cross country and track coach at Seattle Prep, and coach CYO track and volleyball at St. Anne. Despite all of this, my favorite things to do are play golf, basketball or baseball with my son.