Check out the amazing staff who are dedicated to helping our students learn!

DAN WARREN
​Principal
djwarren@seattleschools.org 

Hello!  I’m Dan Warren.  I have worked in Seattle Public Schools (SPS) since 1999.  During my 23 years in SPS, I have worked as a middle school social studies teacher, an assistant principal, an elementary principal (John Hay Elementary 2005-2010 and Sand Point Elementary 2010-2015), Human Resources, and now recently as an Instructional Coach. 
I graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor’s in history and from Whitworth College with a Master’s In teaching.  Additionally, I earned my administrative credentials through the Danforth Educational Leadership program at the University of Washington.

In each of my teaching and administrative roles, I have focused on the individual wellness and academic success of each student, supporting a positive and fun school climate, authentic communication and honoring and celebrating the humanity of each of my students and their families.
 
I reside in Lake Forest Park with my wife Erin, our daughters Abigail (14) and Grace (13) and our golden retriever, Captain Solo (5).  I love spending time outdoors in our beautiful Northwest forests and mountains, cycling, backpacking and cross-country skiing.  Additionally, as a family we enjoy supporting our Seattle sports teams.
 
I’m very excited about joining the Queen Anne community and meeting you and your child!

KAREN ALVAREZ
Administrative Team
ksalvarez@seattleschools.org
​
Having recently relocated to Seattle from Orlando, Florida, I chose to work at Queen Anne Elementary as the Administrative Assistant because of this amazing community! I bring to QAE 25 years of working in the education field beginning as a Montessori classroom teacher, which has evolved into different positions in both public and private schools. Born and raised in Omaha, NE, I spent 11 years in Sacramento, CA and 14 years in Florida and without a doubt Seattle is my favorite city! I have one adult son, Charles, who also started a new adventure the year before we moved to Seattle. Together we enjoy many of the wonders that can only be found in the Pacific Northwest. In my spare time I enjoy cooking, reading, exercising and spending time with close friends. I look forward to meeting all of you and interacting with your child throughout the day. 

MARA OBLAK
Preschool Teacher
mkoblak@seattleschools.org

My name is Mara Oblak and I am thrilled to join the Queen Anne Staff as the Developmental Preschool Teacher! 

I have spent the past 18 years working in schools and clinical settings in New York, Louisiana and Washington. I completed my undergraduate degree in 2005 at Gonzaga University (GO ZAGS!!!), where I studied Special Education and got dually certified as a Special Education and Elementary Education Teacher. Following graduation, I moved to New York City to pursue my graduate degree at Teachers College, Columbia University in the Teaching as Applied Behavior Analysis Program. I completed my MA in 2007 and PhD in 2010. I then moved to Louisiana where I worked as a teacher in a full inclusion public school, serving as both the Special Education and General Education teacher of the classroom. I also had the opportunity to work with teachers in training from the local university. As a native Seattleite, my heart pulled me back to the PNW in 2012. For the past decade, I worked as a Behavior Analyst in a clinical setting here in Seattle. This is my second year working in SPS and I couldn't be more excited to be back in a school setting!

Outside of work, I enjoy skiing, hiking, traveling, photography and spending time with friends and family. I'm also a proud member of the Croatian community here in Seattle and play music (Tambura) in a local Croatian orchestra! 

PRIYANKA JAYANTHI
​Kindergarten Teacher
pcjayanthi@seattleschools.org

I am thrilled to teach here at QAE! I started teaching in 2014 after graduating with my B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Indiana University. I moved back to my hometown of Columbus, Ohio where I spent three years teaching K-3rd grade. I relocated to Seattle and became part of the QAE community as a 3rd grade teacher. The next year, I moved to kindergarten and have stayed there since.

I took a leave of absence last year to attend University of Washington and earn my M.Ed in Education Policy and am back at QAE for my 6th year teaching here! I love teaching kindergarten and getting to know our youngest explorers as they learn to love school.

I live in Capitol Hill, but you can find me running and biking around any Seattle neighborhood! My other favorite activities included reading, soccer, cooking, and hanging out with my friends and my two extremely energetic cats.

KATHERINE DODSLEY
Kindergarten Teacher
kmdodsley@seattleschools.org
​​
I hold a Master in Teaching from the University of Washington with endorsements in elementary education and English Language Learners. I have Bachelor of Arts degrees in Art and Art History from UW, too. I have taught 4th grade, 2nd grade, and been a kindergarten literacy tutor. Before working in schools, I was a bookbinder and instructor. Some of my favorite pastimes include gardening, reading, listening to music and podcasts, and making things (anything - food, crafts, gifts). My husband, two teenage sons, and I stay active exploring city parks and beaches, hiking, playing soccer, playing card games, and watching anime.

KAITLYN VERTREES
1st Grade Teacher (On Leave)
kmkessel@seattleschools.org | @mskesselatqae
​
I love teaching at QAE! I have been a part of the QAE learning community since 2019. This is my 9th year teaching. I absolutely love teaching 1st grade. I grew up in Washington. I attended the University of Washington, Seattle (Go Dawgs!). For my master’s in education, I went to the University of Puget Sound. A few of my favorite things to do are crafting, gardening, and golfing. I am looking forward to another great year at QAE. ​

SOPHIA MANDELL
1st Grade Long Term Substitute Teacher
skmandell@seattleschools.org

RACHEL SCHEER 
1st Grade/2nd Grade Split Teacher
rascheer@seattleschools.org​ ​| @msscheerqae

My favorite part of teaching is following student questions and interests and all of the unexpected places they take us! This is my twelfth year as an elementary classroom teacher and I absolutely love being a lifelong learner beside my students. I grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and attended the College of William and Mary in Virginia for my undergraduate degree. I later moved to Philadelphia to attend the University of Pennsylvania for my graduate degree in education. After years of living on the east coast, I picked up and moved to Seattle in 2014. I felt an instant connection with this dynamic city and the surrounding mountains and water. I never want to leave! I currently live in Greenwood with my husband, daughter and two cats. If it's nice out, you can find us on our porch with friends, kayaking or hiking. You might also look for me on my yoga mat or at my artist table writing and illustrating comics!

LORIN BELCHER
2nd Grade Teacher
Website | @mrsbelcherqae | ltbelcher@seattleschools.org

I am so excited to enter another year at Queen Anne Elementary School! My teaching career began in 2003 as a fourth-grade teacher outside of Boston, MA. I have a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and a Master’s Degree in elementary and special education from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Over the years I have taught second, third, fourth, and fifth grades in both Massachusetts and Washington State. It is an honor to become a part of the families that I teach.

​Since relocating to Seattle in 2008, I have fallen in love with the PNW and its' awe-inspiring beauty. I love being active and outdoors and I especially enjoy rock climbing, hiking, biking and walking around Greenlake while listening to a podcast or audiobook. My family, which includes my two sons, my husband, dog (Kora!) and bunny (Audrey Hopburn!), enjoy backpacking, swimming, paddle boarding, bird watching, kayaking and sitting around our firepit. My newest hobby is gardening, and I have found great joy in cultivating garden beds around our home.

BONNIE DUDLEY
3rd Grade Teacher
​bjdudley@seattleschools.org

This is my 8th year at Queen Anne Elementary. After working as a tutor in all of the 1st grade classes for several years, I was so inspired by the teachers and students here that I went back to school to get my teaching certificate with endorsements in both elementary and special education. My husband and I have two daughters, one in college and one in middle school. An additional family member is a large white and brown dog named Pippin. We all love spending time together, travelling, walking, and beachcombing. I like to garden but can't seem to get anyone else in the family on board. Maybe one of these days!

ELIZABETH THRUELSEN
3rd Grade/4th Grade Split Teacher
emthruelsen@seattleschools.org

After spending a decade away from the area, I am so inspired to find the school of my dreams right back in my home. Project-Based Learning, partnerships with parents, and an intentional focus on Social-Emotional Learning? Yep, I knew QAE was "the one!" I studied Spanish Language and Culture and earned my TESOL certificate at Western Washington University in Bellingham. Years later, I returned to school and graduated with my MA.Ed at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Over the years I've been so fortunate to have teaching experiences in a public dual-immersion school in Los Angeles. Every experience in my teaching has reaffirmed with conviction that our children are at the center of education, not teachers. Now, coming into my 9th year of teaching, I can't imagine a better place to be than at Queen Anne Elementary. Outside of the classroom, I am a Pacific Northwest enthusiast: I love coffee-house culture, our excellent alternative rock scene, and a good hike. I'm an active member in a lay-Buddhist organization and recently became a member of the Nordic Heritage Museum. After filling my passport last year, I'm determined to travel abundantly and fill my new one! I'm looking forward to meeting the families and children of Queen Anne Elementary and joining this great community!

SARAH GOLDMAN
4th Grade/5th Grade Split Teacher
​Website | szgoldman@seattleschools.org

After a journey that has taken me across the country, I am so excited that I have landed in my new home at Queen Anne Elementary! I am thrilled to be joining such a dynamic community of learners, teachers and families. I come by way of the Northeast, the Midwest and the Northeast (again). Raised in the Boston area and growing up in the child of an educator, I never imagined that I, too, would find my passion in teaching. I had meaningful experiences teaching 3rd and 4th grade in Chicago Public Schools before moving back "home" to work as a 4th grade teacher in a wonderfully nurturing Boston-area public school. As an educator, I am driven to foster learning environments that inspire risk-taking and critical thinking as well as encourage students to envision and create a more socially just world. My background also includes a love for the theater arts and I am continuously looking for ways to incorporate dramatic play into everyday teaching and learning. My partner Kristina and I have been drawn to Seattle for its proximity to natural beauty as well as good friends. Outside of education, my joys in life include playing with my little nieces and nephews, singing karaoke with friends, traveling, basking in nature and getting sucked into a fantastic book. ​

MIKE BACKMAN
5th Grade Teacher
mcbackman@seattleschools.org

I couldn't be more excited to be a part of the Queen Anne Elementary team! I have been working in education for the past 8 years after earning my B.A. from The University of Iowa and my M.Ed from Seattle University. After graduating from Iowa, I spent time teaching in Ireland, Thailand and Minnesota before I decided to move to the pacific northwest 6 years ago to teach 5th grade. I fell in love with Seattle immediately and have never looked back on my decision to move west from snowy Minneapolis! When I am not in the classroom, I enjoy spending time outside hiking, running, reading, and drinking coffee. I look forward to leading 5th grade explorers in math and science this year as we navigate these challenging times together!​

LAUREN APPEL
Visual Arts/MakerSpace
leappel@seattleschools.org

​I am so fortunate to be part of the QAE community as both a teacher and a parent! I have worked in arts education for over 20 years and love collaborating with colleagues, students, and families at QAE to explore visual arts and grow our MakerSpace program together! I am also a faculty member of Washington State Teaching Artist Training Lab. Prior to my role at QAE I was Director of Arts Integration at Arts Corps and I’ve worked at a number of cultural institutions in Washington and New York, including Hilltop Artists, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Youth Theatre Northwest, Rubin Museum of Art, Henry Street Settlement, and the Guggenheim Museum. When not teaching I am seeking creative outlets for myself and my kids, spending time outdoors, telling my cat that I have already fed him, and engaging in social justice solidarity work in my community.

NANCY BURAN
Nutrition
​​nlburan@seattleschools.org

I can’t believe that I am starting my eighth year as Lunchroom Manager for Queen Anne! Every year I thoroughly enjoy welcoming the incoming kindergarten students and watching them grow and develop over the six years they are with us. It brings back many happy memories of my time volunteering when my own two children were in elementary school.

Although I have lived in Seattle for over 30 years, I grew up on the East coast in a small town in upstate New York. I have been married for 34 years to my husband Tom who grew up in a similar small town across the Susquehanna River from me. We live in Ballard and as a family we enjoy travel, hiking, backpacking, scuba diving and soccer. Visiting National Parks is one of our favorite things to experience. Tom and I are essentially “empty nesters”. Our son Eli is in graduate school at Portland State University getting his masters in Public Health and our daughter Anna is a senior at Linfield College in Oregon majoring in Biology and Math. 

I am very happy to be in our “new” school and look forward to an exciting year of learning!

 Fun fact: In July of 2020 I will be heading to Arizona with family and friends to hike the Grand Canyon from the North rim to the South rim!

AMANDA SIMINGTON Amanda 
School Social Worker
adsimington@seattleschools.org

Hello Queen Anne Elementary School. My name is Amanda Simington and I am your Part-Time, School Social Worker. I will be at Queen Anne on Thursdays, Fridays and alternating Wednesdays.
 
I grew up in South Seattle, completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology at Eastern Washington University and pursued my Masters of Social Work degree at the University of Washington.  I worked for the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) as a Child Protective Services Investigator, Family Assessment Response Specialist and Family Voluntary Services Specialist.  During my time with DCYF, I referred children and families to in-home mental health services, conducted home visits and partnered with community members to ensure families' unmet needs were addressed.  I also worked for the Developmental Disabilities Administration as a Case Resource Manager for children with disabilities ages 3-21.  As a Case Resource Manager, I worked with families and providers to prevent disruptions in services and collaborated with families and community partners to advocate for the needs of my clients.
 
I love engaging with children and their families and look forward to working with you all to help remove systemic and social justice barriers for students and their families.  In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my son, listening to music, playing board games and baking. I look forward to working with you all at Queen Anne.

KIM CHIN
Nurse
krchin@seattleschools.org

​Hello QAE! I have been a Registered Nurse for twenty years with almost the entirety of my career being based in family planning and reproductive health. A few years ago, I made the switch to school nursing and am loving this new adventure in health care. I grew up in a military family, so I've been fortunate to have traveled the world from the beginning of my life. I think this early childhood "life on the go" has stuck with me. I'm an avid traveler and use any free time to travel the world with my partner Brian and our Kids Kohen and Beckett. This summer we are headed to Peru! Aside from traveling, I love capturing images on my camera, backpacking, sailing and I also run a non-profit arts organization with my partner. 

HELENE McCORMICK
K - 2nd Grade Reading Specialist
hemccormick@seattleschools.org

I am delighted to be part of the academic support team at Queen Anne Elementary. It's very special to be able to teach literacy skills to young readers as the Reading Support Teacher, as well as teach second language learners in my role as the ELL teacher. I enjoy collaborating with the families and staff that make up this unique and wonderful learning community. Raised in Ojai, California, I have lived in Seattle since 1994. I earned my bachelor's degree in Political Science from UC Santa Cruz. I received my teaching certificate from Western Washington University in Bellingham. My teaching endorsements are in Elementary Education, Special Education, ELL, and Political Science. I have been teaching for almost fifteen years. My teaching experience includes classroom teaching as well as reading and ELL in the Seattle and Mukilteo School Districts. I live in Ballard with my husband and my two children. I enjoy spending time with family outside, gardening, reading and traveling.

TOBY JARMAN
Learning Lab Teacher
tjarman@seattleschools.org

I've been a joyful member of the Queen Anne Elementary team since 2021. Engaging with children in creative work and play is a passion and a calling. I’ve worked with Seattle Public Schools since 2012 – as an instructional assistant at B.F. Day Elementary, as a UW student teacher at Wing Luke Elementary, and as a special education teacher at Robert Eagle Staff Middle School.
 
I grew up in Pennsylvania, but Seattle feels like home. I live in the Fremont neighborhood with my husband, our delightfully quirky teens, and our two silly cats. I love writing, hiking, gardening, yoga, and visiting the harbor seals at the Ballard Locks.

JOSIE HALEY
PE Teacher
jhaley@seattleschools.org
​​
I am beyond excited to come aboard the QAE team!  Children’s health and well-being are my passion and  I have 4 kids of my own; Carlos, Helen, Kelly and Joe. I look forward to collaborating with this outstanding staff and getting to know and learn alongside this wonderful community. Outside of school you’ll more than likely find me with my extensive family in Poulsbo, Bellevue, Phoenix, Boston, San Diego, Mexico, Sweden, Australia…