Faculty and Staff
Administration and Staff
 | Matt Neely Head of School Matt joined Epiphany School in July 2008 and brings over 15 years of educational and leadership experience to the school community. Before spending two years as Principal of the American Overseas School of Rome in Italy, Matt was a classroom teacher and administrator in Mountain View, California. He also served as the Mayor of Mountain View and has a deep and sincere passion for civic engagement. Matt has two Masters' Degrees from Stanford University and a Bachelor's Degree from Yale University. When not engaged with school leadership, Matt enjoys reading, watching football and baseball, dining and spending time with his wife Erica and son Owen. |
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 | Sally Amey Business Manager Every good school has someone who can do almost anything; at Epiphany that's Sally Amey. For over 20 years, she has served as Business Manager at the school where she is responsible for all financial operations. Sally enjoys traveling; reading and the joy of seeing her grandchildren grow up. |
 | Jessi Christiansen Assistant Head of School Jessi is an experienced classroom teacher and school administrator who serves as the Assistant Head of School. Jessi brings her years of experience to her job, which centers on faculty enrichment, working with parents and curriculum development. Jessi grew up in Germany and loves to hike and ski. She has a love of music, whether it’s playing her guitar or listening to opera. In fact she began her academic career as an opera major at Gettysburg College and received her Masters degree in Elementary Education from Bank Street College of Education in New York City. |
 | Bridget Dolan Office Manager Bridget comes to Epiphany School with a diverse background, including environmental and outdoor education, teaching experience with AmeriCorps*NCCC, and experience as an office assistant. Bridget is an alumna of Gannon University graduating with a bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. She loves soccer, and in her spare time coaches a girls' youth team, in addition to playing on several adult recreation teams. |
 | Bethany Furubayashi Director of Development Bethany brings over ten years of development experience in Seattle's independent schools, having served as a classroom volunteer, Board Chairperson, Auction Consultant, and most recently, Annual Giving Manager. Bethany especially enjoys working with volunteers; she is a big believer in bringing different perspectives to the table in order to work together toward a common goal. Bethany's free time is spent with her husband and two teenage children, taking full advantage of all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Bethany holds a B.A. in both Mathematics and Computer Science from Indiana University. |
 | Becky Melonson Registrar Becky wears many hats at Epiphany. She serves as the School's Registrar, assists with the Kindergarten program, plays a supportive role for teachers and contributes in a variety of ways to the life of the School. Becky has been at Epiphany School since 1990 and also brings a vast amount of knowledge about Epiphany School's history. |
 | Judy Mock Capital Campaign Coordinator Judy comes to Epiphany after five years with the City of Bellevue, working in IT, HR and for the Parks Department, most recently for the beautiful Botanical Garden. She brings over 13 years of experience serving on PTSA and other non-profit boards, and has enjoyed working on several different types of fundraising auctions. Both of her twin daughters are off to separate colleges, so she and her husband, Jeff, both Seattle/Bellevue natives and UW graduates, look forward to having more time to walk their Shiba Inu, Kobi, and spend time with in their garden or on their hobbies. |
 | Jim Monnerjahn Director of Facilities Jim has had a lengthy career in the construction and maintenance field. Over the past two decades, Jim has been involved in all facets of construction and maintenance, including owning his own commercial remodeling business in New Orleans. After moving to Seattle in 1989, Jim worked over 18 years as National Facilities Director for Shurgard Self-Storage. Jim was responsible for maintaining and improving over 125 million square feet of storage buildings, as well as managing a national staff of 45 maintenance professionals. His attention to detail and commitment to quality makes Jim a perfect partner for Epiphany School's growth and sustainability. |
 | Anne Sarewitz Director of Admission and Financial Aid At one time or anther Anne has done almost every job there is to do at Epiphany School. She is a former parent, officer of the EPA, Board of Trustee member and Chair of the Board. She is now the School’s Director of Admission and Financial Aid and uses her great knowledge of the school community to attract wonderful new families to Epiphany School. Additionally, she acts as an advisor in the middle school outplacement process. She is a graduate of Washington State University with a degree in Bacteriology and Public Health and is certified as a Medical Technologist. When she is not at school, Anne spends a great deal of her boundless energy raising her three daughters, skiing, and being involved in a variety of civic and community activities. |
 | Jane Stonecipher Chief Financial Officer Jane joined Epiphany in July, 2007 as the School's first C.F.O. With a background in finance and marketing, she focuses on long-range financial planning for the School. Jane has degrees from the University of Alabama and the Harvard Business School. She enjoys Camano Island beachcombing, Crimson Tide football, good books, and playing soccer mom for her two daughters. |
Classroom Teachers
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Alan Barta Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Alan, originally from Texas, is thrilled to be teaching at Epiphany School, where he is building upon almost a decade of experience, working with children between the ages of 4 and 5. Alan graduated from Trinity University with a B.A. in Psychology, and enjoys bowling, volleyball, baseball, and occasionally attempts to play golf. Alan loves keeping up with his family and friends, an enjoys all that Seattle has to offer. |
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Jenny Cummins Pre-Kindergarten Teacher The Epiphany Pre-Kindergarten is a small place where one class revolves around an inspiring adult: Jenny Cummins. Jenny has been teaching Epiphany students since 1989 and holds two Master's Degrees in education from the University of Virginia. She has three children, one who graduated from Epiphany. She enjoys watching the Mariners, reading, and continuing to perfect the Pre-K curriculum. |
 | Candace Coe Kindergarten Teacher “Candi” loves Kindergartners, the outdoors, traveling, and opera. Candi has molded Epiphany Kindergarten students since 1981. Epiphany Kindergarteners learn their academic basics as well as the importance of having good manners and developing friendships. Candi combines a variety of teaching strategies including reading to her class, teaching them environmental responsibility by "saving nature", and incorporating learning via listening to her favorite operas. |
 | Denise Dyette Kindergarten Teacher Denise has enjoyed teaching Kindergartners since 1995. What she loves about Epiphany School is the feeling of community. In class, her students are encouraged to take thoughtful risks, celebrate mistakes, and invite each other to the "peace bench" in order to resolve conflict. She is a graduate of the University of California and has served three years as an educator and Program Coordinator in Peace Corps in Paraguay. She is currently working toward her Masters Degree in Education at Seattle University. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, making scrapbooks and spending time with her family. |
 | Lee Badovinus First Grade Teacher “Ms. B” has been teaching First Grade at Epiphany for over a decade. She received her B.A. in English and Elementary Education from the University of Washington and an advanced Montessori certificate from the University of Puget Sound. Her classroom is always a place where children can enjoy learning, speaking their minds, and constant, positive reinforcement. Lee’s varied interests include interior design, travel and the adventures of her two grown children. |
 | Megan McGrath First Grade Teacher A Seattle native, Megan earned her B.A. in Drama from the University of Washington and her teaching certificate from City University. She has continued her education through Seattle Pacific University, Antioch, and University of Puget Sound. In a teaching career that spans over two decades, Meg has worked with children from the ages of one to fourteen in a variety of educational settings and says, "I thoroughly enjoy kids". Meg, a Ballard resident, loves to walk, swim, read, travel, sing, and dance. |
 | Anthony McGrann Second Grade Teacher Anthony has been teaching for more than ten years and brings those skills to Epiphany's Second Grade. He holds a B.S. and a B.Ed degree from the University of British Columbia and has a Master's of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Seattle University. He is a firm believer in making his students independent learners who gain confidence in their social, emotional, and academic development. Anthony stresses the use of different learning styles in his classroom and maintains wide-ranging interests in art and music outside of Epiphany. He is currently serving on the Program Advisory Board for the Curriculum and Instruction program at Seattle University. |
 | Dina Pigott Second Grade Teacher Dina brings great enthusiasm and energy to the classroom. She is a graduate of Hamilton College and recently completed the Professional Certification Program at Seattle University. Dina is currently working on her Master's in Curriculum Design and Instruction. Following her role as the school's librarian, Dina enjoys the close relationships she develops with her second graders and looks forward to exploring a variety of areas through her class's curriculum. Outside of school Dina enjoys spending time with her family and reading books of all genres. |
 | Mark Shone Third Grade Teacher After graduating from Harvard University with a focus on Political Philosophy and Russian Studies, he spent five years in the business and investment banking worlds before making a career commitment to education. Mark first taught in the New York City public school system, and in the summers worked in curriculum development and college-level teaching. Mark's current hobbies include rugby, sailing, improvisational theater, and home improvement. |
 | Amanda Pierce Third Grade Teacher Amanda is thrilled to be part of the Epiphany School community after returning to Seattle in 2005. After graduating from the University of Puget Sound with a degree in Music Education, she attended Boston College where she received her Master's degree. She began her teaching career in Marin County, California where she gained a wealth of experience as an educator and administrator. Amanda loves singing with her Seattle ProMusica family, is an avid marathon runner, and finds the laughter of children to be the sunshine she needs on gray Seattle days. |
 | Sally Stafford Fourth Grade Teacher Sally has been teaching Fourth Grade at Epiphany since 1988. Her students thrive in her very interactive classroom, where they are expected to state their opinions, take risks and stay organized. She has a B.A. from the University of Washington, a M.A. from Leslie College and has taken a variety of courses at UCLA, SPU and California State. Sally’s two grown daughters are both Epiphany graduates. |
 | David Bush Fourth Grade Teacher David comes to Epiphany School with over twenty years of experience as a professional educator. He graduated from California State University with a degree in social work and teaching credentials. He brings a diverse background of experiences including public school instruction, specializing in gifted education, working with diverse culture and language groups, and teaching overseas in China. David strongly believes in experiential learning, high standards in the classroom, nurturing close relationships with students and parents and promoting optimal child development through music, art and physical fitness. David is a marathon runner, a volunteer for Big Brother/Big Sisters, and a worldwide traveler. |
 | Celia Russo Fifth Grade Teacher Celia is a graduate of Brown University with her Master's in Teaching degree from Seattle University. She taught for seven years at the Pacific Science Center where she held many roles including curriculum writer, outreach performer, and community education supervisor. Celia also taught Third Grade in the Seattle Public Schools. She believes that both science and math provide tremendous opportunities to engage a child's natural curiosity and individual learning style. An avid reader and hiker, Celia also enjoys working with her husband, David, who is a filmmaker. |
Subject Specialists
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Davis Bell Science Teacher Davis brings over 12 years of both public and independent school teaching experience to his position as Epiphany's Science Teacher. He has traveled extensively in Europe and Asia and has taught in Japan, China, El Salvador, Poland, and Mexico as well as the United States. Davis received his B.A. from Rhodes College and a M.I.T. from Seattle University. His wife, Stacey Archibald, is also a teacher, and remains at home with the full-time responsibility of caring for their two young children. Davis enjoys time with his family, gardening, backpacking, skiing and cycling. |
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Tina Bell Physical Education Teacher Tina is very excited about living in Seattle and being a member of the Epiphany School community. She is dedicated to teaching children the importance of a healthy lifestyle, good sportsmanship, and teamwork. She received her B.S. in Physical Education with a minor in Health Education from Missouri State University and has her Master's in Curriculum Design and Instruction. Tina has over a decade of teaching experience in a variety of age levels. Her free time is spent enjoying a variety of outdoor physical activities. |
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Autumn Bock Lifetime Fitness Teacher Autumn holds a teaching credential in Physical Education and has taught elementary PE for several years at Marin Primary and Middle School in Larkspur, CA. Autumn has a B.S. in Health Education from Idaho State University and obtained her teaching credential at California State University, Fresno. Besides raising their sons Samuel and Noah, Autumn and her husband enjoy a variety of activities such as the outdoors, and fitness. Enid Trenholm is filling in for Autumn for the first part of the 2008-2009 school year while Autumn is on maternity leave. |
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Barbara Buchman Art Teacher When you visit Epiphany's campus one of the first things that you will notice is all the student art work on display. The art curriculum provides opportunities for the children to study and express their ideas in the elements (line, shape, color, form, texture, space, value) and principles (emphasis, balance, harmony, variety, rhythm, proportion, unity) of art. Costumes and sets for the school's three performances, and fundraiser art are integrated into the art curriculum. Barbara has a B.F.A. from Youngstown State University and an M.F.A. from the University of Washington. She enjoys experiencing and creating art, food, and gardens. |
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Marilyn Henry Lower Grade Math Specialist Not only does Marilyn grow almost everything in her garden, she uses the harvests to teach her students. Her garden, only two blocks from school, has become an outdoor classroom. Marilyn teaches math to our Kindergarten, First and Second grade students, and holds a B.A. from the University of Washington. She has been teaching at Epiphany since 1986. |
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Leslie Larkin Music Teacher |
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Chaya Keefe French Teacher Foreign languages seem to come naturally for Chaya. Not only is she fluent in French and Kannada (an Indian language), she has also studied Italian, and is working on her Portuguese. In the classroom, Chaya strives to create a safe environment where her students can explore cultures and perspectives that may differ from their own. She earned her Master's degree from Antioch in 1996, and has a broad range of educational experiences. When she’s not speaking French at Epiphany, she enjoys reading, cooking, and keeping up with her two young children. |
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Susan Mackay Librarian |
 | Charlotte Pickett Pre-Kindergarten Assistant |
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Steve Ward Upper Grade Math and Technology Specialist Born and raised in South Dakota, Steve graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a degree in Finance. After six years in the business world, he spent the next eight nurturing his two young children. This experience led him back to school to be certified as an elementary teacher in Minnesota where he taught two years in public schools, then served 14 years at a private Episcopal school. After moving back to beautiful Seattle, Steve spent the last two years at a parish school in Ballard.He and his wife, Martha, live in Wallingford and enjoy bicycling, hiking golf, Bible study, and time with friends. His son, Nick, works in Boston as a software engineer and his daughter, Joanna, is in Mali, West Africa with the Peace Corps. |
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Lise
Wolken Latin Teacher |
Learning Skills
 | Teri Barnett Director of Learning Skills and Testing Teri is the Head of Epiphany’s Learning Skills Program and Director of Testing. She has been teaching at Epiphany since 1989 and has had two children attend our school. Teri received a B.A. from Colgate University and her M.A. from the University of Washington. Her roles as teacher, learning specialist, and parent have confirmed her belief that children thrive in a close community of fellow learners and caring adults. When not teaching, Teri enjoys reading, gardening, watching her daughters play on fields and courts, and traveling with her family. |
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 | Logan Favia Learning Specialist A native of New York, Logan has enjoyed working with students of all ages in one-on-one and small group settings for several years. Logan earned her B.S. in Biology with a Minor in French from Denison University, where she was on the Dean's List and a member of the Women's Diving team. Outside of school, Logan is passionate about yoga and enjoys spending time at the local farmers' markets, cooking and baking with her friends. |
 | Tory Names Learning Specialist Tory joined Epiphany School with over 10 years of classroom teaching experience. After graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in French Language and Literature, Tory began teaching French to Third and Fourth Graders. In the years following, she earned a Master's degree in Education from Antioch University and gained a wealth of experience through teaching Kindergarten, First, Seventh and Eighth grades, in both public and private schools, including the International School of Beijing. While teaching at a school for gifted children, Tory focused her professional growth on social emotional education and differentiated instruction for core subject area of skills. Outside of school, Tory's passion include tennis, yoga, equestrian sports with her thoroughbred mare, Ally, and traveling. |
 | Lindsay Schwartz Learning Specialist After growing up in Baltimore and earning her B.A. and M.A. Ed from Washington University in St. Louis, Lindsay moved to Seattle and loves it here. Lindsay has both classroom teaching and one-on-one tutoring experience. Along with her enthusiasm for teaching reading, Lindsay enjoys swimming, playing kickball and spending time outdoors. |
Epiphany School Care Program
 | Resa Moore Director of the Epiphany School Care Program Resa joined Epiphany School in 2007 after 25 years as a full-time mom. Starting as an Assistant, she now serves as the E.S.C.P. Director. She loves spending time with students who flock to E.S.C.P. at the end of the school day. She earned her degree in Economics at University of Washington and spent four years working as a commercial property underwriter. Resa has three children, and enjoys reading, walking her chocolate lab, hiking, playing tennis, and wants to learn to kayak. She is working on writing her first book, which she hopes to complete this year. |
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 | Becky Poore ESCP Assistant Director Becky comes to Epiphany with a diverse background in education and the performing arts plus lots of ambition to learn more. Most recently, she served in AmeriCorps, working with a tutoring program and an arts education organization here in Seattle. Becky received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Lewis & Clark College and is always looking for more ways to share her passion with kids. An avid reader and occasional musician, Becky also enjoys finding new adventures to experience with her husband. |
