Faculty Bios

  

 
Kim Walter, Principal
kwalter@sevenpeaksschool.org
Education: University of Northern Colorado; MA Educational Leadership, Colorado State University; BA Human Development and Family Studies
Experience: Began teaching in 1991; at Seven Peaks since 2005. Favorite part about teaching at Seven Peaks:
Our school community epitomizes the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child,” by encouraging parental involvement in all facets of education. We’re staffed with gifted teachers who go the extra mile to ensure their students’ success. I value how we teach the whole child, encouraging students to grow academically, socially and artistically.

     

Megan Martin , Vice Principal
mmartin@sevenpeaksschool.org		   John L. Kailey, School Counselor
jlkailey@sevenpeaksschool.org
      Education: Oregon State University; BA in Education, Social Studies, Minor in Science, Western Oregon State University; Standard Oregon Personnel Certificate Experience: Began teaching in 1971; began teaching at Seven Peaks in 2005.
    Favorite part about working at Seven Peaks: I feel like I have the best job at Seven Peaks because it is so student-focused. I get to connect with students and families, and it’s fulfilling to see students come to school each day expecting challenges and successes.
     
Melissa Baker, Office Manager
mbaker@sevenpeaksschool.org		   Deborah Mullen, Office Administrative Assistant
dmullen@sevenpeaksschool.org
Education: Portland State University
Experience: Began working at Seven Peaks in 2006. Favorite part about working at Seven Peaks: I love being able to help children and work with the teachers. It’s a very rewarding job.		   Experience: Over the past twenty years, I have held office management and administrative assistant positions at various electronic, computer, commercial real estate companies, and, most
    recently, at an advertising and promotional company. I enjoy volunteering at my children’s school, church and at various organizations throughout our community, as well as continuing my education through various courses at the community college.

 
John Gibbon, Technology
jgibbon@sevenpeaksschool.org		   Megan Griffith, Library
mgriffith@sevenpeaksschool.org
Education: Boise State University; MS Educational Technology, Central Washington University; BA Education. Experience: Began working at Seven Peaks in 2006. Favorite part about working a tSeven Peaks:      
The parental involvement is one of the things that sets Seven Peaks apart. I enjoy working with students and staff who are interested in learning more.    
     
Gale Putnam, Preschool and Junior Kindergarten Teacher
gputnam@sevenpeaksschool.org		   Tracy Swearingen, Preschool and Junior Kindergarten Aide
tswearingen@sevenpeaksschool.org
Education: Lane Community College
Experience: Began teaching in 1989; began teaching at Seven Peaks in 1998.Favorite part of teaching at Seven Peaks: I appreciate the support of the staff and families.		      
It provides a great environment for learning. I believe that Core Knowledge provides a progression of experiences and activities to foster whole-child, long-term learning.  

 
Char Kelly, Kindergarten
ckelly@sevenpeaksschool.org		   Lani Dunithan, Kindergarten Aide
ldunithan@sevenpeaksschool.org
Education: Sacramento State University; BA. Experience: Began teaching in 1980; began teaching at Seven Peaks in 1991. Favorite part about working at Seven Peaks: The staff and families of Seven Peaks makes for a warm and   Education: Chemeketa Community College; Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education 
Experience: Began teaching in 1976; began working at Seven Peaks in 1995. Favorite part about
nurturing environment. Our kindergartners are filled with wonder, enthusiasm and the love of learning.   working at Seven Peaks: Seven Peaks is a small, supportive community that nurtures kindergarteners’ burgeoning independence. I love how our class is a fast-paced, never-a-dull-moment place where the kids are excited to learn.
Kristen Brannan, 1st Grade
kbrannan@sevenpeaksschool.org		   Tamie Hoover, 1st Grade Teaching Assistant
thoover@sevenpeaksschool.org
Education: George Fox University
Experience: Began teaching in 2001; began working at Seven Peaks in 2005. Favorite part about working at Seven Peaks: The thing I value most about working at Seven Peaks is the 		  As a very involved parent, I've participated in committees and volunteer activities and have been at the school for 10 years.
Experience: Began teaching at Seven Peaks in 2000. Favorite part
community, both of families as well as staff.  I also value the Core Knowledge Philosophy of learning and believe that it motivates students to learn more and to feel confident about their learning.   of teaching at Seven Peaks: The curriculum builds on itself each year from K-8th grades. There are no gaps in the student's education. Favorite part of teaching at Seven Peaks: First graders love to learn. They are excited to be at school and give lots of hugs to their teachers. I have two sons that have attended SPS. The small class size, Core Knowledge curriculum and excellent staff make Seven Peaks a great place for students as well as employees.
     
Katy Zia, 2nd Grade
kzia@sevenpeaksschool.org		   Deborah Asato , Spanish
dasato@sevenpeaksschool.org
Education: Indiana Wesleyan University; MA Education, George Fox University; BA Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education. Experience: Began teaching in 2004; began teaching at Seven Peaks in 2004      
Favorite part of teaching at Seven Peaks: I enjoy the dedication to quality education by providing Core Knowledge curriculum, small class sizes, and balanced learning with Art, Music, and Spanish.  

 
     
Jackie LaFrenz, 3rd Grade
jlafrenz@sevenpeaksschool.org		    
Education: Montana State University; BS Elementary Education. Experience: Began teaching in 1995; began teaching at Seven Peaks in 1997. Favorite part about working at Seven Peaks: I love Seven Peaks’ small class size and our fun,      
sweet, engaged students. I have the freedom to develop and design my own lessons to cover content and because the kids are so well behaved and eager to learn, I get to teach, not manage, children! Oh, and the kids like my corny jokes.    
     
Jaime Kinsella, 4th Grade
jkinsella@sevenpeaksschool.org		   Lauren McParlin, 3rd & 5th Grade Teaching Assistant
lmcpartlin@sevenpeaksschool.org
Education: California State University, Chico; BA Liberal Studies  
Experience: Began teaching in 2001 began teaching at Seven Peaks in 2007.Favorite part about working at Seven Peaks: Seven Peaks has a 		     
wonderful staff, supportive parents and creative students. I love the emphasis on curriculum and making learning new concepts fun.    
     
Jennifer Baughman, Grade 5
jbaughman@sevenpeaksschool.org		  
Education: Eastern Oregon University, MS Elementary Education, Multidisciplinary Studies. Experience: Began teaching at Seven Peaks in 2004. Favorite part about working at Seven Peaks: I’m fortunate to teach at a school that receives so much      
support from its families. The Core Knowledge curriculum sets our school apart from others. Most importantly, I’m surrounded every day by our fabulous kids!    
     
Dante Biancucci, 6th Grade Science and Mathematics
dbiancucci@sevenpeaksschool.org		   Allyson Hamlik, 6th Grade Language Arts/Social Studies
ahamlik@sevenpeaksschool.org
Education: University of Alaska, Anchorage; MAT, United States Air Force Academy; BS Ergonomics  
Experience: Began teaching in 1999; began teaching at Seven Peaks in 2007. Favorite part about working at Seven 		  Education: Concordia University; MA Teaching, Western Washington University; BA Business  
Experience: Began teaching at Seven Peaks in 2005. Favorite part about working at Seven Peaks:
Peaks: Teaching in anenvironment where class sizes are small and the school’s culture reinforces the importance of virtues and the community is productive, genuine and fun for both students and teachers. Science and math provide a rational lens for our 6th graders to marvel at the world’s wonders.   I value the teachers, the curriculum and the underlying common ground of providing the best education for the kids. My love of reading and history is fed each day, and I can share these important interests with my students.
     
Marcia Van Horn, Grades 7–8 Science
mvanhorn@sevenpeaksschool.org		   Greg Conrad, Grades 7th and 8th Social Studies
gconrad@sevenpeaksschool.org
Education: University of Nebraska; B.S. Public Health Education, B.S. Secondary Education, Minor in Biology and Zoology
Experience: Began teaching in 1977; began teaching at Seven Peaks in 2003. Favorite thing about teaching at Seven		   Education: Our Lady of Holy Cross College; BS Elementary Education 
Experience: Began teaching in 1997; began teaching at Seven Peaks in 2005. Favorite part about working at Seven Peaks: I love
Peaks: The community of Seven Peaks provides an environment in which I take a great deal of professional and personal pride. The smaller class size, parental involvement and enthusiastic staff all add to a rich and rewarding place to do what I love most: teach!   getting the kids excited about history and making the connection between past and present. Teaching at Seven Peaks allows me to teach at a higher level.
     
Jan Webb, Grades 7–8 Math
jwebb@sevenpeaksschool.org		   Susan Walker, Grades 7-8 Language Arts
swalker@sevenpeaksschool.org
Education: Wesleyan University; MA Liberal Studies; Oral Roberts University; BS Math, Minor in Education
Experience: Began teaching in 1983; began teaching at Seven Peaks in 2006. Favorite part of teaching at Seven Peaks		   Education: Whitman College; BA English, Minor in Art, Post-graduate work in anthroplogy
Experience: Began teaching in 1984; began teaching at Seven Peaks in 2006. Favorite part of
School: Trust between faculty and administration, professionalism of faculty and the ability to be creative all make Seven Peaks a great place to teach. With the advent of graphing calculators, teaching math is more exciting than ever. The art and science of teaching are truly coming together.   teaching at Seven Peaks: I have one child who has completed his Middle School education here at Seven Peaks. I currently have another child also attending here. I believe in the SPS philosophy of Core Knowledge and Core Virtues. Seven Peaks is set apart as a learning institution because of its focus on each student as a unique person. The bottom line at Seven Peaks is always “What is best for this student?”
     
Shane A. Bennett, Junior-K-2nd PE
sbennett@sevenpeaksschool.org		   Sue Wilhelm, Grades JK-8 General Art
swilhelm@sevenpeaksschool.org
Education: Teaching degree from Western Oregon University  
Experience: Began teaching in 1995; began teaching at Seven Peaks in 1999. Favorite part about working at Seven Peaks: The best thing about Seven Peaks 		  Education: Siena Hights College, BFA Drawing and Painting; Minor in Art History
Experience: Began teaching in 1974; began teaching at Seven Peaks in 1996. Favorite part of
is watching students’ self-confidence increase when they find an athletic skill or an event that they enjoy. I see it help them in many ways outside the PE room.   teaching at Seven Peaks: We are building community at all levels when we educate our youth and support our families. We are setting the stage for a productive, positive, enriched, high quality and exciting future. Core Knowledge allows students to gain the basic knowledge that equips them to fully contribute to our culture, society and future.
     
Maureen Anderson, Grades 3-8 PE & Health
manderson@sevenpeaksschool.org
  Suzanne Mudge, Grades 4-8 Band
smudge@sevenpeaksschool.org
Education: Western Oregon University; BS K-12 PE/Heath Education, Working on MS in Health Education
Experience: Began teaching in 2002; began teaching at Seven Peaks in 2006. Favorite part about teaching at Seven 		  Education: University of Arizona; MA Music, University of the Pacific; BA Music
Experience: Began teaching in 1997; began teaching at Seven Peaks in 2007. Favorite part of
Peaks: The students are amazing young individuals who inspire me every day. The support from the families is something you don’t find at other schools and the staff strives for excellence in all areas of the students’ academic and extra-curricular lives. I love coming to school knowing that this is my second family.   teaching at Seven Peaks: There are two reasons. First, 95% of my teaching had been in the California public schools, at the middle and high school levels. I always had large classes (35-65 kids on average in each class).  Seven Peaks has small classes, which allow kids to receive more individual attention. Secondly, everyone at Seven Peaks is a team player and the team works in the best interests of the kids.
     
Beth Basham, Grades 3-8 Music
bbasham@sevenpeaksschool.org		   Hope Royes, Grades 7-8 Art
hroyes@sevenpeaksschool.org
Education: California State University, Northridge; BA Music and Music Education. Experience: Began teaching in 1975; began teaching at Seven Peaks in 2004. Favorite part about working at Seven Peaks: Everyone is learning
  Education: Eastern Oregon University; MA Education, BS Visual ArtsExperience: Began teaching at Seven Peaks in 2007. Favorite part of teaching at Seven Peaks: I came to Seven Peaks because it is a
without realizing it because they’re having so much fun. I enjoy seeing the musical development in each child.   community raising a child. I am part of a team that is supportive and enthusiastic about a child’s education, as well as the person they are becoming. Core Knowledge is great. It is a continuum of knowledge, built on each year without gaps or missing pieces.
     
Rachel Vander Kamp, Grades 3– 8 Spanish
rvanderkamp@sevenpeaksschool.org		   Colleen Rastovich, K-2nd Grade Music Teacher
crastovich@sevenpeaksschool.org
Education: San Diego State University; BA Spanish. Experience: Began teaching in 2002; began teaching at Seven Peaks in 2005. Favorite part of teaching at Seven Peaks: I like the small class sizes, personal attention and wonderful staff   Experience: Began teaching in 1979; began teaching at Seven Peaks in 2007. Favorite part of teaching at Seven Peaks: I love the focus on arts and science and the personal commitment of the staff
who put so much energy into making a difference in the students’ lives. The family atmosphere and parental involvement is amazing. Seven Peaks also has wonderful music and arts programs. The students have the chance to participate in a variety of electives every Friday that are not offered at other schools.   and of the parents. I love the Orff music philosophy. All of the kids get to participate and there’s no wrong answer. I also like the 4 “S’s” of Core Knowledge: Solid (body of lasting knowledge), sequenced, specific and shared. Music is a personification of those same elements.
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