Staff Directory

Personal Message

Teaching is my second career. Fourteen years ago I left a career in accounting/finance to be a teacher and I have no regrets. Children are the best co-workers! I am passionate about connecting with nature and the outdoors. Gardening has been a great way to integrate that connection with nature into science, math, social studies, and literacy, so I love being involved with the Decatur garden. I love seeing my students get their hands dirty while learning! In my free time you can find me outside.

Biography

5th Grade ELA Teacher

,Personal Message

I'm originally from Orlando, Florida. I am a sports enthusiast, specifically football and volleyball. My favorite subject is WRITING! I've previously taught 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and am currently in 5th grade. I love working with students each day, and helping to foster their independence and success. 

Go Gators! 

I graduated from Central Washington University in 2012 with a bachelors degree in Physical Education and an endorsement in Elementary Education. I went back to Central Washington University in 2018 and graduated with my masters in Health and Physical Education in 2020.

I am teaching 1st-5th grade Physical Education and Health. I have taught K-12 and I enjoy teaching the little kids. I am looking forward to my 7th year at Decatur Elementary.

I am a Seattle native, born on Capitol Hill and raised in Wallingford. As a child, I always wanted to become a teacher like my grandmother. She was a middle school Spanish teacher in Detroit, Michigan for over 30 years. I loved hearing her stories and always knew that being a teacher was my destiny.

I attended The Evergreen State College and received a BA in Spanish and Latin American Studies. After graduating from college, I spent time living and traveling in South America.

After returning to the United States, I decided to return to Evergreen where I earned a Master’s in Teaching. I began teaching elementary school in 2001 in the Shoreline School District. I spent eight years teaching grades three through six in both Highly Capable and regular education classrooms.

I was also a literacy coach and mentor teacher which has helped me to support both new and experienced teachers. In addition to my experience in elementary school, I taught Language Arts and Social Studies at Whitman Middle School in the Seattle School District. My broad classroom experiences provided me with a strong foundation in instruction and differentiation.

I have been the Decatur principal since the building reopened in 2018. Previously, I served as the founding principal of Cascadia Elementary School when it was located in the Lincoln High School building. Leading Cascadia was an incredible experience that helped prepare me for my position as the principal at Decatur Elementary School.

As a parent and principal in Seattle Public Schools, I understand what makes a school successful and I am excited to be opening Decatur Elementary School and working with our amazing teachers and families to make the school a community for everyone.

Go Gators!

This is my twelfth year teaching in the HCC program. I live in Shoreline with my husband, thirteen and eighteen-year old children, a delightful golden retriever and a sassy kitten. In addition to teaching  third grade, I love the outdoors (especially mushroom picking!), gardening, and cooking.

Personal Message

I love being a Decatur Gator. Working in a small elementary school has big benefits. I get to know each student by their first name!

Personal Message

I am thrilled to be a part of the collaborative staff at Decatur Elementary! In the library we’re fostering and expanding students’ reading lives and encouraging them to be critical users and producers of information. I am also a .2 literacy specialist where I support students in classrooms with reading and writing.

Previously, I was an Instructional Technology/Digital Learning Specialist for SPS serving 14 schools (K-12), and before that I taught at Syre Elementary in the Shoreline School District.

I come from a long line of Huskies (Go Dawgs!) where I received a B.S. in Zoology and continued on at Seattle Pacific University where I received my teaching certificate. More recently, I received and M.A. Ed from Antioch University with a focus on Library Media.

Biography

Elementary Visual Arts Teacher

,Personal Message

Teaching art to eager elementary students is a dream come true and I am so lucky to be doing just that at Decatur.

I started teaching in Seattle Public Schools in 2006. I am a Husky and bleed purple!  My son, Liam graduated from UW Bothell in 2014. My daughter Lily graduated from Ballard High School in 2016, so I have been a part of SPS for over 20 years.  My Australian husband loves to build things. We love spending time on the water - liquid and solid, especially in Chelan where we have a second home. I love ART, sports, theater, photography, music and writing.  Being creative feeds my soul and I believe everyone needs a chance to express themselves creatively as much as possible.

Biography

Hello! My name is Ms. Rifkin (she/her) and I am thrilled to be a first and second grade teacher this year! I have a degree from the University of Vermont in Elementary Education and Environmental Studies, and this is my fourth year as a Decatur Gator. I love being outside in any way, from expeditionary sea kayaking to learning about the geology of Washington. I often bring my outdoor education aspects into the classroom...even virtually!

,Personal Message

For more information, head to our class' Seesaw page!

Biography

BA, University of Montana; MFA, Pacific Lutheran University; Post Graduate, University of Washington, Bothell.

Previously I worked at Amazon.com, as well as community newspapers (Carbon County News) and regional publications. In college, I worked for the US Forest Service, which is my second dream job. My first is teaching!

This year I will be teaching 4th grade, specializing in literacy. Previously I taught 1st, 2nd and 4th grade at Decatur, specializing in math.

Personal Message

You are your best thing.

-Toni Morrison (Beloved)