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

JANINE ROY
​Principal
jbroy@seattleschools.org | @janineroy3

​​I moved to Seattle in June 2016 to become principal of Queen Anne Elementary. With our Creative Approach focus on our Five Pillars, social emotional learning through Positive Discipline, Project Based Learning, and digital leadership, Queen Anne Elementary is truly my dream school. I am so fortunate to be part of this dynamic, enthusiastic community dedicated to empowering students to make a difference in the world. I was born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada where I lived and worked for most of my life. After being an elementary teacher for many years, I became principal at an elementary school and an international middle school and worked as District Principal of Learning Initiatives for several years. My husband Robert and I have two wonderful children, Matt and Hayley. Robert and I joyfully hike, bike and travel around the Pacific Northwest. I tried kayaking for the first time this summer and loved it! I also love running (slowly), reading (voraciously) and eating (lots)!

If you want to reach me, I would love to hear from you. You can email jbroy@seattleschools.org or call the school at 206-252-2480. Follow me on Twitter @janineroy3. Please follow our Twitter hashtag #QAE to see what our students and staff are sharing with the world. ​Looking forward to our wonderful year together!

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. 

CATIE COYLE
Administrative Team
cmcoyle@seattleschools.org

​I’m excited to be back for my second year working in the front office! It’s wonderful being part of the QAE community. I grew up in the Bay Area and fell in love with this city when I attended Seattle University. When I’m not working in the office I am busy photographing weddings, traveling with my husband or reading a book with my cat on my lap. My favorite hobbies include playing the violin and tap dancing.

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

​I am thrilled to be a part of the QAE community as both a parent and a teacher! After earning my BA at the University of Massachusetts, I went on to earn my M.Ed in education and taught fourth grade outside of Boston for five years. My husband and I relocated to Seattle in 2008 while he earned his MBA and I taught fifth grade on Mercer Island. We fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and our 'two year stay' became 10+ years, two kids, a dog and a bunny! When I'm not in the classroom, you can find me chasing after my own kiddos, running around Greenlake, cooking healthy meals, or bouldering at the local rock gym. I also love getting lost in a book, riding my bike and working in my garden. Come up and say hello!

JERRIKA DICKERSON
1st Grade Teacher
jrbailey@seattleschools.org

I am greatly looking forward to my first year as a Seattleite educator at Queen Anne Elementary this year! I graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2017 and have been teaching the most wonderful first graders in Texas for the past two years. I am a Colorado native, and a Texan by marriage, but my husband and I are anxious to begin our next adventure in North Seattle this summer. To me, education is more than a passion, it is my calling. I am dedicated to learning beside my students as we tackle new challenges and continually grow. I am overjoyed to be joining the learning movement at QAE and invest in the creative community that thrives here. My simple joys include reading everywhere, all the time, the smell of roasted garlic, and shopping local. I also love cooking my husband a "phenomenal" dinner, swimming, and coffee dates. I just can't wait to meet you!

BONNIE DUDLEY
1st Grade Teacher
​bjdudley@seattleschools.org

This is my 7th 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!

MADDIE SCANNAPIECO
Kindergarten Teacher
kmginder@seattleschools.org

I am very excited to be joining the QAE community! After growing up on Bainbridge Island, I attended Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida where I received my bachelor's in Elementary Education while playing college soccer and soaking up the sunshine. Following Rollins, I taught kindergarten at an incredible school named Grand Avenue in the heart of downtown Orlando. I fell in love with teaching primary grades during this time and knew this is where I wanted to be. In 2016 after I had to go on an unexpected sick-leave from teaching, my fiancé Nick and I, and our puppy Finn moved home to Seattle to be closer to family. I have spent the last two years transitioning back into my love of teaching as a substitute for Seattle Public Schools, most recently as a long-term Reading Specialist at Catharine Blaine K - 8 School. I am incredibly grateful to have my health back and to be able to do what I love most, teach! This summer my fiancé Nick and I are getting married on Bainbridge Island and we cannot wait! Outside of our careers, you can find us outside hiking, exercising, exploring the PNW, eating good food, reading, watching movies and spending time with our family and friends!

PRIYANKA JAYANTHI
​Kindergarten Teacher
pcjayanthi@seattleschools.org

I am beyond thrilled to be part of the QAE community! I grew up in Columbus, Ohio and received my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. After graduating, I moved back to Columbus where I subbed for one year. During that year, I had a long-term position for two months in a second grade classroom. I then worked for two years at a lovely school called Summit Academy. There, I was a multiage teacher for K/1/2 and then K/1. In 2017, I wanted a change of pace from Ohio (although I still say Columbus is the greatest city in the world) and I moved out here and joined the Queen Anne Community! My first year here, I taught third grade and then I moved down to kindergarten last year. As I start to gear up for this year, I am thrilled to be staying in kindergarten for the second year in a row! When I am not teaching, I spend most of my time running, climbing, playing soccer, reading, exploring the mountains, and lounging around with my two cats!​

KAITLYN KESSEL
1st Grade Teacher
kmkessel@seattleschools.org | @mskesselatqae

I am overjoyed to join QAE as a 1st grade teacher. I am thrilled to join a community that is passionate about making a difference in the world. I have always loved new adventures and I now can continue my next adventure with QAE Explorers. In 2013 I graduated from the University of Washington, Seattle (Go Dawgs!) with a double major in English and American Ethnic Studies. I received my Master of Arts in teaching with an endorsement in K - 8 education from the University of Puget Sound. This will be my sixth year teaching. I have taught Kindergarten and 1st grade. I absolutely love teaching 1st grade. It is a year full of mastering foundational skills and the amount of growth students make is remarkable. A few of my favorite things to do: running, paddle boarding, golfing, hiking, crafting and shopping at Target. When spending time with my family, we like to travel, play board games and go on hikes. I enjoy collecting children's books and sharing my passion for reading. My collection has grown to over 1, 000 books. I am beyond excited for this upcoming school year and to be a new member of this community. I can't wait to meet everyone. This will be a great year filled with exploring and learning. 

RACHEL SCHEER 
2nd Grade 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! Over the past eight years I have taught fifth, first and fourth grades and a 2nd/3rd grade multiage class. I absolutely love being a lifelong learner beside my students. I grew up just outside of 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 Capitol Hill with my husband and two cats. If it's nice out, you can find us on our porch with friends. You might also look for me on my yoga mat, on a hike, or at my artist table writing and illustrating comics!

MIKE BACKMAN
4th Grade Teacher
mcbackman@seattleschools.org

I couldn't be more excited to be part of the Queen Anne Elementary team! I have been working in education for the past 6 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 four 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 am thrilled to start this new chapter and can't wait to meet everyone who makes the Queen Anne Elementary community great!

SARAH GOLDMAN
5th Grade 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. 

LIZ HARTMANN
​4th Grade Teacher
ehartmann@seattleschools.org

I'm thrilled to be a part of the Queen Anne community! Originally from Southern California, I taught in Los Angeles before moving to Seattle to study curriculum and instruction at UW and to coach preservice teachers in Seattle schools. I took a two-year break from my studies to teach at the University of Fukui in Japan and work with teachers in Japan and Singapore on a collaborative project studying project-based learning. After teaching mathematics education courses for Western Washington University and working on my doctorate at UW, I couldn't be more thrilled to be back in the classroom! All my experiences led me right back to the most important part about teaching: students. I'm excited be in a school community that focuses on students' social and emotional learning and project-based learning. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy cooking and trying new foods, hanging out with my partner and our dog Ginger, traveling and doing anything that gets me outside, like hiking and rowing. 

ELIZABETH THRUELSEN
3rd Grade Teacher
emthruelsen@seattleschools.org

I am so excited to join Queen Anne Elementary this year! 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 8th 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!

LAUREN APPEL
Visual Arts/MakerSpace
leappel@seattleschools.org

I am very excited to be part of the QAE community! I hold a BA from Smith College and a M.S.Ed in Museum Education from Bank Street College of Education. After many years working as an educator at 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 Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, I am thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues, students, and families at QAE to explore visual arts and grow our MakerSpace together! Prior to joining QAE I was Director of Arts Integration at Arts Corps, and worked as a teaching artist with the Highline Creative Schools Initiative. I currently serve as a faculty member of the Washington State Teaching Artist Training Lab. When not teaching I am seeking creative outlets for myself and my four-year-old, spending time outdoors, telling my two cats that I have already fed them, and engaging in social justice solidarity work in my community.

LINDA BROWNSTEIN
Instructional Assistant
lfbrownstein@seattleschools.org

This is my eighth year as a Special Ed IA. I love helping the kids tackle challenges, both inside and outside the classroom. In my free time I love to play with my dog, hike and read. I live near Green Lake with my husband. We enjoy traveling to new places and cooking.  I am so glad to be back at QAE.​

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!

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. 

ALEX DUGDALE
​Instrumental Teacher - 4th & 5th Grade
agdugdale@seattleschools.org

Queen Anne Elementary is so fortunate to have Alex Dugdale as our Instrumental Teacher for our fourth and fifth grade students. Alex Dugdale is a graduate of Roosevelt High School and holds a B.M. degree in Jazz Performance from the Eastman School of Music and a master's degree in education from Seattle Pacific University. He first performed with SRJO in 2006 in the Duke of Ellington Sacred Music Concert and has done that every year since then. In 2016, he received the Earshot Jazz Emerging Artist of the Year award. Alex teaches band and orchestra at the elementary level in Seattle public schools. He is a faculty member at Jazz Port Townsend. He also works as a private instructor and frequently performs in Seattle and western Washington with his group FADE. 

JULIA MANNO
Resource Room Teacher
jemanno@seattleschools.org

I feel so lucky to be a part of the Queen Anne community! I moved here from New Jersey, where I was surrounded by beautiful farmland and beaches not too far away. I moved to Seattle in January of 2017 and am loving the mountain and water views! As a child, I went to Oak Crest Day Camp, where I eventually became a counselor and discovered my love for working with children. I have always been passionate about supporting children in need and guiding them as they reach their full potentials. I graduated from Rider University in 2014 with three teaching certifications: Elementary Education, Special Education and Early Childhood Education. In NJ, I had wonderful experiences teaching 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade in inclusion and resource classrooms. My absolute favorite subject to teach is reading/phonics. I am always so excited to build relationships with my students and their families and am looking forward to a great year ahead. I live in Fremont with my husband, Nick, and our labradoodle, Biggie. For fun, I enjoy drawing, knitting, exercising, playing guitar and spending time with friends and family at the beach. 

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.

DR. EMILY VALDEZ
​Librarian
​elvaldez@seattleschools.org

I'm so excited to be part of the QAE community as a teacher librarian. After earning my BA from Bowdoin College, I traveled the world for a year on my own to get a better sense of what I wanted to do with my life. After a short stint in a software start-up, I went back to school to get my M.Ed in special education. For three years I taught special education in high school in rural Idaho and decided that I wanted to get my doctorate. I headed for Seattle and started the program at UW. After fifteen years of doing research on education innovations and policy, I decided that I missed the classroom and most of all I missed daily interactions with students and other teachers. I recently went back to school (again) to get my endorsement in library and media science at SPU where I discovered the best job possible - teacher librarian, which combines my absolute love of books and kids. When I'm not in the library, I enjoy hiking, camping, and playing sports with my daughter, Eva; my husband; and my black lab, Helo. 

BRIANNA VELEBER
Physical Education
Website | bcveleber@seattleschools.org

Ms. Veleber is on maternity leave during the start of the 2019 school year! Her maternity leave sub is Mr. Trevor Stevenson until December 2019.
I am thrilled to be welcomed at Queen Anne Elementary as the Physical Education Teacher. After graduating from Gonzaga (Go Bulldogs!) with my certificate in Health/Fitness and Elementary Education, I spent a year substitute teaching with Edmonds School District, then taught PE for six years at a private school in Bellevue. My goal as a physical educator is to provide students with the tools to develop in to physically educated individuals who have the knowledge, skills and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual and social wellness. I grew up in Shoreline with a wildly big family, spending most of our time playing outside or playing sports. During the summer, I spend my time fishing commercially for salmon in Alaska on my family's boat with my husband and older brother. I love to spend time outside, enjoying all that we are so lucky to have surrounding us in the PNW, as well as cooking and baking for friends and family. Some of my favorite ways to move around include running, hiking, mountain biking, playing soccer, softball and snowboarding. 

TREVOR STEVENSON
Physical Education
twstevenson@seattleschools.org

Trevor is filling in for Ms. Veleber until December.
Hello to all, my name is Trevor Stevenson, and I am at Queen Anne Elementary, as the  P.E. substitute teacher, until early December. I started teaching in February 1979 and retired from full time work at the end of the 2017/18 school year. During my career I taught mostly physical education or special education, at all levels, from pre school to high school. I enjoy teaching, and look forward to getting to know this year’s group of Explorers

I was born and raised in Brisbane, Australia, but have been in Seattle since December, 1987. I have been married to Janet for 36 years, and have two children, Spencer, 27, and Sophie, 24. I love to travel, ride my bicycle, read, and  see live music. I am a long time fan of the Australian cricket and rugby teams.