Faculty & Staff

Marybeth Bohm

Degrees/certificates

Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Studies - Loyola Marymount University - 1993
Master of Arts - Catholic School Administration - Loyola Marymount University - 2009

Years Teaching

22 years teaching

Awards/Achievements

Definitely not "Mom of the Year" - It is difficult being a parent but I am truly blessed to share my parenting role with my husband of 25 years as we raise our three daughters.

Interesting Facts

I am a True Crime Fanatic!!!!  I LOVE decorating for the holidays (any holidays)!

Favorite School Activity

Going to Mass every Friday as a school community.  Meet the Musicians Day and Talent Afternoon.

Personal Comment

In order to take care of and nourish others, we need to nourish and take care of ourselves first.

Favorite Quotes

"Don't cry because it is over.  Smile because it happened."  Dr. Seuss

"Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire."  St. Catherine of Siena

Mrs. North is the St. Monica Catholic School Development Director.  Jamie has been part of the St. Monica staff since 2006, managing several roles including marketing, events and communications.

Mrs. North's history and commitment to this community goes way back.  She and her husband Kevin were married at St. Monica over 26 years ago and they have 3 daughters who attended St. Monica School. Her 15 years as a parent at St. Monica Catholic School were some of the best memories ever and her closest friends today are from those days.

My husband, Greg, and I have been parishioners at St. Monica’s for over 15 years.  We live in Bellevue and our children attend Tillicum Middle School and Sammamish High School.  Our three children have received their sacraments at St. Monica’s and are currently involved as altar servers.  My husband serves the parish as a Sacristan and I am also the Wedding Coordinator for St. Monica’s.  I have loved being involved with my community from being a swim team parent to PTA President. Now I look forward getting to know and serving the St. Monica school community!

Miss Allain was born and raised in Seattle.  She attended St. Luke School for Kindergarten through eighth grade.  She graduated from Shorewood High School and then attended Central Washington University for 2 years before transferring and finishing her B.A. in Psychology at Seattle University.  After graduating Ms. Allain worked for several years as a counselor at Ryther Child Center.  It was during her time working as a counselor that she decided to return to school to follow her passion and obtain her teaching credentials.  Ms. Allain attended City University of Seattle where she received her Master in Teaching of Elementary Education.  After graduating she worked at a number of schools as an instructional assistant and taught first grade for the past three years at St. Mark Parish School.

In her free time Miss Allain enjoys reading, baking, hiking, hanging out with friends and family and playing with her roommate’s new Goldendoodle puppy!

 

Megan Finnerty

Degree / Certificates

Bachelor in Arts in Sociology, Gonzaga University
Masters in Initial Teaching, Gonzaga University
Endorsements in Reading and Elementary Education
Slingerland Method Trained

Years Teaching

3+

Interesting Facts

My siblings and I made history at Gonzaga as the most siblings ever to attend Gonzaga at the same time.
I have a twin brother!
My hobbies include wake-surfing, water skiing, learning how to golf and spending time with my family and friends!
I have lived in Arizona, Idaho, Washington and Florence, Italy.

Favorite School Activity

I absolutely love taking my students to the Seattle Aquarium!

Personal Comment

St. Monica is such a special place! It is an extreme blessing to be the First Grade teacher here. I believe that every child has immense potential with the ability to love, laugh and learn everyday.

Favorite Quote

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine." -Anthony J. D'Angelo

Mrs. (Pomada) Farrell loves teaching at St. Monica Catholic School.  Although this is her ninth year at St. Monica, Catholic education has always been a part of her life.  She grew up in Catholic schools in Bothell and South Everett and went on to attend the University of Portland, earning a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education with a major in Spanish.  After finishing her undergraduate work, she taught first grade through the PACE program at the University of Portland (Pacific Alliance for Catholic Education) at a Catholic school in Yakima, WA while earning her Masters in Education and a reading endorsement. Her study abroad experience in college began in her a love for Spain and Andalucia that she enjoys sharing with her students.

In her free time, she enjoys traveling, playing board games, and spending time with her family and friends.

Cathy Malone

Education

BS Elementary Education from The Pennsylvania State University – graduated with Honors – emphasis in Math and Science
MA Education from the University of South Florida – emphasis in English Language Learners

Years teaching

25 years

Interesting Facts

I student taught in Portsmouth, England.
I have 2 adult daughters, one who is a 5th grade teacher.
I have been part of the Core Team with my husband, for the Mary Queen of Peace High School Youth Ministry for the past 10 years.

Favorite school activity

Going to Mass with school families

Personal Comment

I started to hear the call to become a teacher when I was quite young. It is truly my vocation and it brings me great joy.

Favorite Quote

But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them: for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  Luke 19:14

 

Shanni Perez

Education

BA Human Services and Spanish from Western Washington University
Master in Teaching from Seattle University

Years of Teaching

3 years

Interesting Facts

I’m a Seattle area native.
I taught Baptism classes, preparation classes for Reconciliation and First Communion, and Confirmation classes.
I have a baby daughter named Mariana. Her name is a combination of Saint Mary and Saint Anne.
I love yams and sweet potatoes!
I can play the ukulele (a little).

Favorite School Activity

The Christmas Tree lighting ceremony! I love getting together as a community in anticipation of our celebration of Jesus’ birth.

Personal Comment

To me, the most important thing we can do for our students is to love them and help them to love. Their love for God as well as their community is going to be the thing that motivates them to learn, to contribute, and to grow up and help our world be the loving, caring, place it needs to be.

Favorite Quote

“When you know how much God is in love with you then you can only live your life radiating that love.” – A Simple Path, 1995 (Mother Teresa)

Jamie McDonald

Degree / Certificates

Bachelor of Science in marketing, minor in education (Clemson University)

Years Teaching

2+ years as an elementary aide at St. Monica's!

Interesting Facts

I love college football, especially the Clemson Tigers; I am originally from Texas, went to school in South Carolina, and then ended up in Washington 3 years ago.

Favorite School Activity

I really enjoy Mass with the students on Fridays and watching how helpful the older buddies are with their younger buddies and how they teach them to love and honor God.

Personal Comment

I have loved getting to work at St. Monica's! It has really helped me to discern that a vocation as a teacher will be good for me. I look forward to going back to school and becoming certified in the next couple of years!

Favorite Quote

Love is the effort and desire to make someone else everything they were created to be. - Tim Keller

Samantha Pottenger

Degree / Certificates

Concordia University-Portland, Bachelor of Arts in Education: Secondary English Language Arts

Years Teaching

5+

Awards / Achievements

Concordia University College of Education Outstanding Graduate of the Year, 2016
Truman Fellowship Nominee, Concordia University-Portland, 2015

Interesting Facts

I'm originally from rural Oregon, and my inner hillbilly still leaps out on occasion
I've been known to ride in a rodeo or two (and not just in my classroom!)
I have a great fondness for bad puns and over-dramatic poetry
I consider J. R. R. Tolkien my favorite author, but Harry Potter is the series I reread most often
I have a cat named after a Nordic goddess
I'm convinced that memes will someday be studied by future generations as rigorously as our own historians study Egyptian hieroglyphics
Someday, God willing, I fully intend to be a 70-year-old who still plays Skyrim on my ancient X-Box (as long as I survive the zombie apocalypse)

Favorite School Activity

Participating in Drama Club! And laughing and enjoying life's crazy adventures with my students!

Personal Comment

One of the most valuable things that my education has taught me, as both a learner and a leader, is that I must be willing to risk failure in order to truly succeed at any endeavor in life... and that often, failure in the adventure of learning holds within itself its own special and dynamic type of growth. It is my response to setbacks or failures that makes the difference. Many times it's a question of whether I grow from the experience, or allow myself to somehow diminish. As the great Albus Dumbledore puts it, "It is our choices that show us what we truly are, far more than our abilities." Success without growth is as hollow as a garden orb... and equally as useless, however decorative it may be.

Favorite Quote

"To live is so startling it leaves time for little else." -Emily Dickinson

 

Hannah Takemori

Education

History Honors Cohort, Department of History at the University of Washington
History Fellow, Department of History at the University of Washington

Years Teaching

4+ years of teaching

Awards/Achievements

Thomas Power Prize for the Outstanding Student Leader, Class of 2018, Department of History at the University of Washington
Husky 100 Member, 2017-2018
Mary Gates Scholar, 2017-2018
Washington Institute for the Study of Inequality and Race Research Grant, University of Washington *Only undergraduate recipient to date
Grand Champion, Library Undergraduate Research Award Outstanding Senior Thesis, University of Washington Libraries
1st Place Thomas Power Prize for Outstanding Undergraduate History Paper, Department of History at the University of Washington
Sleizer and Schwartz Scholarships for Academic Excellence, Full Tuition, Department of History at the University of Washington
Wang Scholarship for Asian American Activism, University of Washington Honors Program
Honors Scholarship for Full Tuition, University of Washington Honors Program
Puyallup Valley Japanese American Citizens League Scholarship

Interesting Fact

Long distance trail runner

Favorite School Activity

Excited to share in the mysteries of mass with her students

Favorite Quote

“The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.” – Pope Benedict XVI

Rebecca Wilkinson is very excited to be a part of the St. Monica learning community!

Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with minors in French and Communications, from Central Washington University. After starting a family, she went back to school at St. Martin’s College in Lacey for her teaching credential, completing her student teaching at Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma. From there she spent 15 wonderful years at Holy Family School in Auburn, mostly as the middle school English/language arts teacher. She has also spent a few years as 6^th and 4^th grade homerooms.

Her two sons keep her busy. When she has a few moments to herself, you can find Rebecca indulging in a few favorite hobbies such as gardening, horseback riding, walking the dogs, glamping (camping in an RV is the only way to go!), and looking for seashells on the beach. She also love reading, crocheting, the occasional cross stitch project, and spending weekends with family.

Mrs. Tavishi Dewan was born and raised in India and studied math and sciences in order to earn her degree in Engineering and Computer Technology. While working within her field of study, she was drawn to having a greater impact on others and to teaching in order to give back and serve the higher purpose that God had intended for her (the interview committee agreed that that was the most beautiful statement of a teacher's / servant leader's heart and a perfect fit for our community). This led her to change her career and to start her vocation in teaching. She has taught 7th grade through high school math, English, SAT Prep, high school computer science and is eager to share her science expertise with our 5th - 8th graders. She spent the last three years in London, England and Boston, Massachusetts teaching in various Charter schools and Private Academies but wanted to teach in a Catholic school in order work with students formed in values that seek to form young people toward caring for others and their community. Mrs. Dewan brings a diversity and uniqueness to St. Monica that will surely be a blessing for years to come.

Talina Briashk

Degree / Certificates

BA in Human Development/Early Childhood Education from Washington State University, Graduated in 2009
K-8 Washington State Teaching Certificate

Years teaching

11 years teaching preschool. This will be my 10^th year at St. Monica Catholic School.

Awards / Achievements

2014 Mercer Island Preschool Association Exceptional Educator Award
Presenter at the 2003 Washington Association for the Education of Young Children Convention
Graduated Magna Cum Laude WSU 2009

Interesting Facts

I live in Snoqualmie with my husband Joey (who is head chef at Eureka in U-Village) our two wonderfully spirited children, MacGyver and Scarlet and our three cats; Lucy, Georgie, and Wombat.

Favorite School Activity

I love morning and afternoon circle time when all the kids are seated with me and we are talking about or day, life, and all those wonderfully random things that pop into the head of a young child.

Personal Comment

I work hard to provide a developmentally appropriate and learning-enriched classroom for all PreK students. I want to help students discover their amazing abilities and get them started on the road to becoming life-long learners. I look forward to what I call "light bulb" moments that happen every day at this age. The moment where something clicks and a student gets excited to have just truly learned something new.

Favorite Quote

From the children’s Book: Ish By Peter H. Reynolds

“Ramon felt light and energized. Thinking ish-ly allowed his ideas to flow freely. He began to draw what he felt-loose lines. Quickly springy out. Without worry.”

This is one of my favorite children’s books written about a young child whose art is criticized. He later discovers that although his paintings don’t look exactly like a tree or a flower they look tree-ish or flower-ish. This revelation inspires the child to look at his artwork in a proud new light and the creativity never stops from there.

Sara Moffat

Degree / Certificates

BA in Education, Early Childhood Education Degree
K-3 Teaching Certificate

Years Teaching

6 years teaching preschool, 2 years at St. Monica

Interesting Facts

I have lived in Washington for my entire life. I enjoy watching Seattle Seahawks and Mariners games. One thing that makes me very happy is traveling to warm places, especially when I travel with family and/or friends, or to go visit family and/or friends. I also love to dance.

Favorite School Activity

I love coaching basketball and volleyball.

Personal comment

Two of my favorite daily teacher moments are when a child says something surprising that makes me laugh out loud, and when a child gets excited about learning something new or when they can figure out how to accomplish a new task all on their own!

Favorite Quote

“To love is to place our happiness in the happiness of another.”

Evelyn Zwolski

Years Teaching

8 years teaching

Interesting Facts

I enjoy spending my free time out in nature where I can appreciate the beauty in God's creations, especially here in the Pacific Northwest, with my husband Cody, my daughter Jaelynn, and my son Caden. I enjoy going on hikes with my family, taking my chocolate lab Rainier to the dog park, ice skating, reading, going to the beach, relaxing with a good movie, and I consider myself an animal lover. It brings me much joy to watch my son Caden play sports and my daughter Jaelynn dancing ballet. When I have extra time on my hands, I enjoy going on trips to Hobby Lobby to gather ideas for a new arts and crafts project.

Favorite School Activity

All the activities at St. Monica during the Advent season!  Christmas morning in PreK is a lovely morning where we all gather around our classroom Christmas tree in our pajamas and pillows and blankets, drink hot cocoa and open a little Christmas gift. We are all a big PreK family!  I also love preparing and watching our preschoolers perform their song at the Christmas Pageant all dressed up in their beautiful Christmas attire. So much joy is in the air during this time of year!

Personal Comment

As a preschool teacher I believe I play an important role to care for, guide, encourage, support, and inspire my young students. To help them to grow into motivated life-long learners, to develop a love of God, a deep love of themselves and others, and to be respectful and kind human beings. Children should be free to explore the world with their curiosity, ask questions, and be in a place where their self-expression and creativity is always welcome. These early experiences in life are so incredibly important in shaping the people these little learners will become.

Favorite Quote

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:13

 

Cindy Cole

Interesting Facts

I am a Mercer Island native and St. Monica Alum (class of '93).  After 17 years in the Veterinary Field, I have decided to come back to and pursue one of my first loves which is being surrounded by and being in the presence of children.  I have one daughter, Kinzie, whom is the light of my life.  At home we have 1 dog, 1 cat, 2 bunnies, and 1 fish.

Favorite School Activity

Field Day!  P.E., Reading Books, Science, and Art.

Personal Comment

To see light and wonder in the the eyes of children, to see that spark alive inside them, I believe there is nothing more magical in this world.  I feel so blessed to be a part of that every day in the St. Monica Early Learning Center.

Favorite Quote

"Let all that you do be done in love " 1 Corinthians 16:14

Mr. C is excited to be teaching Physical Education at St. Monica. He received his BS in Physical Education from WSU and his Masters in Ed. Tech. from City University. Mr. C has been a Physical Educator for over 20 years.

In his spare time, he loves to ride motorcycles, playing baseball, traveling the world, and raising his 3 children.

 

My name is Lourdes Velázquez de Pérez. People know me as Mrs. Pérez. Some of you already know me as I’ve been a school parent and a parishioner for many years. I am very excited to be the new Spanish Teacher for the 2018-2019 school term. I was born in Mexico City and moved to the US in 1999. I have been working in the Education field since 2010. I started in Preschool and then as a Spanish Teacher for Elementary and Middle School K-8th.

My passion has always been teaching and sharing my native language and my culture as well as –Latin American cultures are very rich in history and traditions. As a Spanish Teacher and been bilingual myself, I am convinced learning and practicing a second language is very important. I am eager to work with all the students to help them learn and improve their Spanish. In addition to a professional advantage when they grow, learning a second language will help them to be familiar and value other cultures and traditions.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be your children´s new Spanish teacher. I look forward to teaching your children and meeting you.

Cordially,

Mrs. Lourdes Pérez

Kristin Frey

Education

Ohio Wesleyan University, Teaching Degree Visual Art K-12, 1997
Columbus College of Art and Design, computer Graphics Cert/Bachelors in Fine Arts, 1997
Art Abroad Program, Piazza Savonarola, Syracuse University, Florence Italy, 1996

Years Teaching

16 Years with 10 years National Board Certified Instruction

Awards / Achievements

4 year, Tuition Arts scholarship recipient 1992-1997
National Boards for Professional Teaching Standards, 2007 Visual Arts K-12
Nationally Recognized for  “The Power of Art” Award for work with diverse learning styles,
Lab school, Washington DC, 2011

Interesting Facts

I see everything as related some way to ART!
I used to play the clarinet and the cello and can read music still.
I love to run, garden, sail/ paddleboard, hike and be outside enjoying the art of nature. In my free time I am never bored.
The world is my canvas. I enjoy decorating faces, rooms and artwork, based on my of all kinds.  I am a makeup Artist for Brides and models. I have taught special effects Makeup to film students at the community college- so I have experience working with realism related to cuts, wounds and real life events as well as the art of beauty and nature.
I love to travel internationally and bring new cultures and experiences to my students.

Favorite School Activity

Watching school musical events, school masses and out of school activities. “I love seeing students take a leadership role in our church services and as innovators in the community!”

Personal Comment

I think it is up to each and every one of us to connect to others and create our own happiness doing the things we love. Learning to make yourself happy, sharing this joy with others and learning to appreciate the unique perspectives and talents defines our citizenship in the world.

Favorite Quote

“Be the Change You want to see in the world” – M. Ghaandi

Gemma Balinbin graduated from St. Monica in 2008. She studied at the University of Denver and the Universita Cattolica di Milan before graduating from Seattle University in 2016 with a Bachelors of Interdisciplinary Arts and later from the University of Washington in 2018 with a Masters in Music. She has been a cantor at St. Monica for over 10 years. She specializes in opera and classical voice, but is also trained in musical theater, jazz, and pop. Gemma is especially excited to help develop and expand the choir and drama programs at St. Monica.