WES Faculty and Teachers | Washington Episcopal School

Katie Abarr
Grade 3 Teacher

I am so excited to be a part of creating an atmosphere of community learning.

Kim Bair
Director of Admission and Financial Aid

The WES community has been my second family from the beginning.

Ivanna Bandura
EC Spanish Teacher

I want to inspire my young students to love and engage in learning a new language, in a fun way!

Ali Bratun
Assistant Director of Development

After volunteering as a parent for years, the Development Office said, “Give her a desk!”

Justin Black
PE Teacher & Basketball Coach

I want to help students meet their fullest potential by providing a safe environment that supports risk-taking.

Barbora Bridle
Grade 5 Teacher

I love Grade 5 because students are developing their opinions and learning how to articulate the "whys."

Tiffney M. Brockway
Registrar

My favorite thing about WES is the sense of community and caring that I share with my colleagues.

Lauren Brooks
PK3 Associate Teacher

I love to see the milestones each child accomplishes over time and the huge smiles on their faces every day.

Courtney Clark
Elementary Division Director

I help students understand their potential and identify their level of success.

Kevin Corcy
MS French Teacher

I am passionate about sharing my culture and getting students excited about learning French.

Emma Cowan
Elementary Art Teacher

It makes my heart grow to work with a bunch of fearless artists.

Kristin Cuddihy
Middle School Director

One of the reasons that I am here at WES is our school's focus on kindness, confidence, and preparation.

Amy Davies
Grade 2 Teacher

I nurture lifelong learners by cultivating curiosity, encouraging teamwork, and inspiring joy.

Lexie DePont
Grade 1 Teacher

“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

Amina DeVries
PK4 Teacher

Sometimes the people we least expect can have the biggest impact on us.

Caterina Earle
Middle School Science Teacher

I love the challenge of developing methods for explaining concepts clearly and efficiently.

Alexis Doyle
Grade 1 Associate Teacher

I knew from an early age that I wanted to give back to children just like my teachers did for me.

Katya Elkassem
PK3 Teacher

I want my students to feel that they are loved and cared for no less than they are at home.

Mehdi Elkassem
Science Teacher & Soccer Coach

My goal is to make EVERY child feel that they are loved and that they matter.

Diana England
EC Counselor

I want to make students feel confident by helping them develop mastery of their social-emotional and academic skills.

Matt Foster
Systems and Ed Tech Administrator

I try to create a safe, inclusive environment for students where they can explore what interests them.

Ann Freniere
Assistant to the Head of School

I'm a fourth generation native Washingtonian and a product of local independent schools.

Kalila Henry
Grade 3 Associate Teacher

I love how autonomous and eager 3rd graders can be about learning new things and I am excited about all that they’ll be learning throughout the year.

Annalisa Herrero
Communications Associate

I love the warm and welcoming environment WES provides.

Jacqueline Hassanzadeh
EC and ES French Teacher

I assess my teaching methods and look to improve to ensure the best experience for my students.

Katie Hopper
Middle School English Teacher

I became a teacher because I wanted to be surrounded by people eager to learn.

Bill Isola
Athletics Director

Win or lose, there is always something that our students can learn from competition.

Ana Karam
Assistant to the EC & ES Directors

I love seeing how our students grow and mature into lovely young people from year to year.

Maureen Kellerman
Middle School Math Teacher

I strive to make every student successful and confident in the material we are covering in their class.

Katherine Kunze
Kindergarten Associate Teacher

I have always loved working with children and knew teaching was the right choice for me.

Will Layman
Director of Development

Everyone I have known who graduated from WES has been kind, graceful, and comfortable in their own skin.

Nick Lellenberg
Assoc Dir of Admission & Fin Aid

WES is a second home, not only for the students, but for parents, faculty, and staff as well.

Caitlin Lennon
PE Teacher & After-School Enrichment Program Director

My goal is to "Be curious, not judgmental."

Amnee Lindbloom
Grade 4 Teacher

Teaching is a lifelong process where I am consistently learning new strategies and new ideas.

Erica Lopez
Grade 2 Teacher

My educational philosophy is rooted in educating the whole child.

Conner Mace
Campus Security Officer

WES embodies what the family culture means.

Kayla Merryman
Classroom Support Personnel

For me, the best piece of advice is to stay true to myself and not care so much about what other people think.

Jessica Nelson
Grade 4 Teacher

If you love and enjoy teaching the lesson, the students are likely to reciprocate that joy for learning.

Mary Lee Nickel
Early Childhood Director

Children learn best through the power of play and exploration. Let them take ownership of their learning.

Joyce O’Donnell
Kindergarten Teacher

I think mistakes are awesome, because that's how we learn best.

Moira O’Kon
EC/ES Spanish teacher

Teaching is my life, and I believe communication, learning, and enthusiasm are vital.

Katherine Owens
Elementary STEM Innovation Teacher

I have always been fascinated by science, filled with ideas and passion to create useful things.

Patrick Pané
Librarian and Advisor

Every child is a reader. There is a book for every child and a child for every book.

Joel Pizarro
MS Spanish Teacher & Soccer Coach

My role as a teacher is to give children the tools with which to cultivate their own gardens of knowledge.

Sarah Poland
Grade 2 Teacher

I want my students to know they can positively impact their communities-no matter what!

The Rev. Kristen Tossell Pitts
Chaplain & DEI Director

I love when students start to ask more challenging questions about faith and the Bible.

Emily Rice
EC Learning Specialist

My favorite part about being a learning specialist is seeing how much kids grow over the year!

Rachel Rodriguez
Grade 1 Teacher

My goal as a teacher is to reach every child to assist them in becoming avid learners.

Katie Rothwell
Incoming Early Childhood Director

My heart belongs in schools, and I believe there is no one-size-fits-all in education.

Rana Ryan
Classroom Support Personnel

I am passionate about giving children the skills and the atmosphere where they can express themselves.

Dave Schuessler
Facilities Manager

I ensure our Dragons have a well-maintained and beautiful space in which to learn.

Monica Shelly
EC Music Teacher

I believe that music is a vehicle that drives children to learn social emotional skills.

Archana Shukla
PK3 Teacher

I became a teacher so I could help our younger generations grow confident and kind.

Na’Kia Simpson
Front Desk Receptionist

My favorite thing about WES is knowing that new adventures await and the best is yet to come!

Hao Song
Payroll and Benefits Specialist

I love to see smiles on people's faces.

Brittany Sullivan
Grade 4 Teacher

I enjoy helping children grow their love for learning and the excitement of seeing them do new things!

Wendy Tasin
Chief Financial Officer

I am a CPA and received my B.S. in business management from Southeastern Louisiana University.

Tracy Theal
PK3 Associate Teacher

I want children to see the excitement behind learning something new every day.

Ron Valenzia
Performing Arts Director

As the director of performing arts, I want to inspire and cultivate a love for the performing arts.

Catherine Voelpel
PE Teacher & Coach

If the students show up to a fun and engaging environment, then they will be more likely to participate.

Danny Vogelman
Head of School

I have a passion for creating optimal environments in which children learn and grow.

Danielle Werkmeister
Kindergarten Associate Teacher

I want to help kids discover their spark of excitement for learning.

Stacy Xu
Senior Accountant

The highlight of my experience at WES is that people are very kind and supportive.

Cameron Yeutter
Grade 3 Teacher

I became a teacher because I have a passion for helping children grow as learners.

LaKisha Yirenkyi
MS Art Teacher; EC Support Art Teacher

I believe art should be both fun and challenging.

Our Faculty

WES Faculty: Combining Credentials, Individual Attention, and Dedication to Ensure Each Child's Success

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Meet some of WES's passionate and dedicated faculty so that you can get a sense of their kindness and character.

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