Faculty & Staff

Marybeth Bohm

Education

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

Years teaching

22+

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

Jamie North

Years at St. Monica School

12+

Interesting facts

I was married at St. Monica Church 27 years ago; my three daughters attended the school and received their sacraments here. This is my home!

Favorite school activity

School Auction, such a great community event

Personal comment

I love travelling the world with my husband especially now that we are empty nesters!

Favorite quote

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” - Maya Angelou

Michelle Klecan

Years at St. Monica School

1

Interesting facts

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.

Favorite school activity

Back to school time

Personal comment

I have loved being involved with my community from being a swim team parent to PTA President. I look forward getting to know and serving the St. Monica school community!

Michelle Allain

Education

B.A. Psychology, Seattle University

Master in Teaching of Elementary Education & WA state K-8 teaching certificate, City University of Seattle

Years teaching

5+

Interesting facts

I took my first trip to another country this past summer!

Favorite school activity

Christmas Pageant

Personal comment

I love working in a Catholic school and being able to share my love of the faith with my students!

Favorite quote

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

 

Megan Finnerty

Education

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

Kristin (Pomada) Farrell

Education

BA in Elementary Education and Spanish, Masters in Education with an Endorsement in Reading

Years teaching

11 years teaching, 9 years at St. Monica

Awards / Achievements

UP President’s Scholarship, Kappa Delta PI International Honors Society in Education, Pacific Alliance for Catholic Education (PACE) through University of Portland, St. Brendan Parish School 2009 distinguished graduate, Fulcrum Foundation STAR Grant recipient

Interesting facts

Studied abroad in Granada, Spain

Favorite school activity

2^nd grade washing of the feet on Holy Thursday

Personal comment

I was recently married and live in Bothell with my husband and our golden-doodle Edgar.  In my free time, I enjoy traveling, playing board games, and spending time with my family and friends.

Favorite quote

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” Norman Vincent

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 Pérez

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

Education

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

Education

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+

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

Education

BA in English, minors in French, Communications; Continuing Certificate with endorsements in French, Speech, and English

Years teaching

19+

Awards/achievements

Motherhood

Interesting facts

I grew up around horses. I would have been a vet if I hadn't become a teacher.

Favorite school activity

6th grade camp

Personal comment

Teaching is not just about the subjects taught in school: it is about helping each child reach an understanding of their own potential and the responsibilities of being a good human being.

Favorite quote

“Beauty of whatever kind, in its supreme development, invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears.” – Edgar Allan Poe

Tavishi Dewan

Education

Engineering and Computer Technology degree from India

Years teaching

5+

Interesting facts

I 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.

Favorite school activity

Science Fair

Personal comment

I was born and raised in India and studied math and sciences in order to earn my degree in Engineering and Computer Technology. While working within my field of study, I 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 me. This led me to change my career and to start my vocation in teaching.

Talina Briashk

Education

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

Education

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+

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

 

Sandy Llamas

Robert Cory

Education

BS in Physical Education from WSU
Masters in Education Technology from City University

Years teaching

20+

Interesting facts

In my spare time I love to ride motorcycles, play baseball, travel the world, and raise my 3 children.

Favorite school activity

Field Day of course!

 

 

 

Lourdes Velázquez de Pérez

Years teaching

8+

Interesting facts

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.

Favorite school activity

“El Día de muertos” celebration projects

Personal comment

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.

 

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

Education

Studied at the University of Denver and the Universita Cattolica di Milan
Seattle University Bachelors of Interdisciplinary Arts, 2016
University of Washington Masters in Music, 2018

Years teaching

1+

Interesting facts

Specializes in opera and classical voice, but also trained in musical theater, jazz, and pop. I have also been a cantor at St. Monica for over 10 years and graduated from St. Monica School in 2008. I am a proud Alumni!

Favorite school activity

Christmas Pageant

Personal comment

I am especially excited to help develop and expand the choir and drama programs at St. Monica.