UTCS Staff

Bio coming soon

Eleanor is the Outreach Coordinator VISTA. She is working on anti-bias curriculum at UTCS, outreach in the community, and funding for the school. Eleanor is from Portland, Oregon, went to college in Massachusetts, and taught English in western France for a year. Since moving back to the Northwest, she has enjoyed hiking, yoga, running, as well as being closer to her family.

Hayley grew up in the Seattle area and graduated from UW. She has over three years of preschool teaching experience and has also worked as a nanny and as a children’s theatre educator. Most recently, she spent two years in the UK working as an educator in a child-led outdoor program. Hayley is a passionate proponent of anti-bias, child-centered, and Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophies.

I started my journey within childcare with special education, moved on to infant care, and now am lucky to call the toddler age home. I believe play-based learning is such an important and efficient teacher towards social and emotional development- not only for the children, but for us educators to continue to grow in our own experience, knowledge, and future implementation in teaching.

Moving from New Hampshire to Seattle, I have spent nearly two-thirds of my life living in this city. During that time I have graduated from The Evergreen State College with a degree in Sustainable Agriculture, raised three amazing children with my husband Steve, co-owned a bakery for 20 years and finally jumped into the ECE profession. Before landing at UTCS, where I have taught for 13 years, I worked for three years as an infant and toddler teacher at another Seattle preschool. I have been privileged to partner with a dedicated and talented group of teachers while working in the toddler room at UTCS. I genuinely love working with toddlers! They are amazing and teach me just as much as I teach them. Witnessing and participating in their development is exciting and inspirational. Every day brings new challenges and wonders and an opportunity for professional growth and self-reflection. I draw on the RIE philosophy in my work with toddlers. It is a philosophy which cultivates a relationship of respect and trust. I enjoy gardening, cooking, and outdoor adventures, and strive to integrate these interests into our classroom curriculum. I also like to read, ride my bike, dance, and take long walks with my grand dog Maya. But most of all I love playing with my totally delightful family, including my eight-month old granddaughter

Arion has taught a vast range of learners at different ages, needs and developmental stages over last 30 years ranging from bilingual schools in Thailand, public and charter schools in New Orleans, and clinical schools for children on the spectrum of autism. Moving through different classrooms in the role of support teacher has bridged many of those philosophies and teaching approaches over the years. I am delighted to be part of the UTCS team with all of our unique learners to experience the joy of learning, growth and discovery!

Meg is an Australian born global citizen, having lived in Australia, Italy, Ecuador, Kenya, Great Britain and the United States. She and her family are happy to have called Seattle home since 2011. Meg started her early childhood teaching career in 1993, working with toddlers and preschoolers at the Harvard Law School Child Care Center. She has an MEd from Lesley University (Collaborative Internship Program with the Shady Hill School in Cambridge, MA), a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education from the Queensland University of Technology and a BA from the University of Queensland.Her teaching experience ranges from toddlers to second grade, with preschool being her "sweet spot.” Meg believes that young children learn best in an environment that promotes connection and relationship, with hands on exploration, collaboration, problem solving and play taking center stage.