Staff Directory 2022-2023 - St. Mary Magdalen

Front Office

Dr. Bernadine Mahar

Principal

I am so blessed to be a part of the St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School Community. I am in my first year, here, as principal. I have been working at SMM for 3 years. I hold a Doctor of Education from the University of Washington, A Master of Arts degree in Psychology from Antioch University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Psychology from Michigan State University. I have been in education for over 35 years and get the greatest joy from working with students, teachers, and families. I live on a small farm on Whidbey Island with my husband. In my spare time I love to cook and watch sports.

Melissa Morrier-Turk

Advancement/Bookkeeper

My name is Melissa Morrier-Turk. I am a graduate of SMM (class of 1986) and have been a member of the parish community much of my life. I have a B.S. in Business with an emphasis in Human Resources from Central Washington University and have spent my 23 years working in this field before coming to SMM last year. My husband and I have two kids. Our son is a senior at Archbishop Murphy High School and our daughter is an 8th grader here at SMM. In my off time I enjoy running, cycling, hiking, anything outdoorsy really. I have absolutely loved working with and getting to know so many of the families here at SMM as a parent and as part of your school community!

Colleen Olson

Registrar/Admin Assistant

I graduated from Washington State University with a BA and went to work in Seattle as a Clothing Buyer, which was my dream! This career eventually took me to Portland where I met and married my husband. When we decided to have children, I had to end my career as a buyer due to the hours and travel. I worked part-time as an executive assistant to the Director of the Japanese Garden Society of Oregon until my husband was transferred back to the Seattle/Everett area. This is where we settled and have now lived for 18 years. I was lucky enough to stay home and raise my darling daughter, send her to St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School and become a part of the SMM community. In my spare time, I love to cook and putter in the garden. Most evenings I can be found relaxing with my 20 lb. cat on my lap!

Support Staff

Angela Crabtree

Support Staff

This is my 1st year working as an aid in KA with Mrs. White. I have spent the last 10 years at home with my children and before that, I worked for 10 years in Youth and Young Adult ministry at St. Thomas More. All four of my children attend SMM and I am so happy to be a part of this wonderful community!

Maria Elsa Flores

Support Staff

I am Mrs. Flores and I studied in a Catholic School for 12 years old in my country. I have experience working as a teacher in different grades for 13 years. Currently, I have the privilege of being a part of SMM as a teacher assistant since 2018. It brings me joy to be part of this wonderful team of teachers, kids and families!

David Hookfin

My name is David Hookfin and I’m the technology/security representative for SMM. My focus is to see kids learn, and teachers teach, while remaining safe. My responsibilities are to support the networking, computers, and security cameras to ensure they run correctly and efficiently. I have been a parent volunteer/staff member at SMM for last the six years. I am on several committees at the school along with coaching CYO sports. I have my B.S. in Computer Science/ Networking and Telecommunications and many years of work experience including the Seattle School District, Los Angeles Unified School District, Microsoft, and Boeing. In my spare time I love to watch my daughter play sports!!

Erin Saparto

Support Staff

This is my 2nd year as an aid in PreK with Mrs Castro. I had an in home daycare business for 15 years and now, I’m enjoying being in the classroom. I’ve been married for 32 years and have 5 wonderful children. Not including, my fabulous daughter in law and my first grandson. All my children attended SMM and I am very excited to work at place where I feel very at home. GO IRISH GO BEAVS GO COUGS!!

Vivian Valenzuela

Support Staff

I graduated with an AA in Early Childhood Education and a BA in Child Development at the University of La Verne in California. I worked for Options State Preschool for 5 years. My husband and I have 2 amazing children. I decided that I wanted to stay home and raise our children so I didn’t work for many years. We moved to Texas to be close to family and were there for 4 years before my husband accepted a position at Boeing here in Washington. As my children got older I wanted to get back to working in education so I applied here at SMM and was so blessed to get hired! I started here as a Preschool Aide and am now a support staff for preschool through third grade. I enjoy this new position as I get to work with such a wonderful staff and children. In my spare time I enjoy spending it with family and friends.

Jennifer Zahn

Extension Staff

I’m Jennifer Zahn. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology with a specialty in Archaeology. This is my fourth year at Saint Mary Magdalen. Before that I was a stay-at-home mom, and before that, I worked at Saint Cecelia’s on Bainbridge Island. I have loved working for the Archdiocese all these years. I love children and the loving atmosphere of this school. My son is in the first grade here. In our free time, our family loves to go on long drives and adventures. We took to finding glacial erratic’s and record-breaking trees of this state in the last year. I am happy to be here for the needs of your family!

Preschool Educators

Felice Castro

Pre-Kindergarten

I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from the University of Guam. This will be my 23rd year of teaching and my 5th year at SMM. My husband Cris and I met on Guam and moved to Washington state in 2000. We have a daughter who is 13 years old and a son who is 9. I enjoy cooking, travelling, hiking and biking on the weekends with the whole family.

Irma Mendosa

Preschool 3 yr olds

Teaching runs in my blood! I graduated in the year of 1999 in Guadalajara, Mexico. I have a BA in Elementary Education and over 20 years of teaching experience in Mexico and Puerto Rico. In 2001, I got married and moved to Puerto Rico. Shortly after, I started working in a Catholic school as a third-grade teacher, roaming the halls of the Colegio Ponceño for nearly 8 years. My beautiful son, Sebastian was born in 2005. I had to put my teaching career aside when my husband was diagnosed with brain cancer. He passed away peacefully after a long and grueling battle. I decided to start a new chapter. Leaving the island I held so dear searching for a better life for the two of us. I believe God did this for a reason. I got married to a man who loves both me and my son. In 2012, I gave birth to my second son, Christian!

Primary Years Educators

Katie White

Kindergarten

I have been at SMM since 2014 and have been teaching in Catholic schools since 2002. I love being part of the early learning process in kindergarten and seeing the amazing connections students make every day. I graduated with a BA in education and history from CWU (go Wildcats!), earned a M.Ed. from Seattle U (go Redhawks!), and earned a ENL certification from Notre Dame (go Irish!) I live in Everett with my husband, two sons, and two dogs. When I am not in the kindergarten classroom, I love to spend as much time as possible exploring the beautiful PNW.

Jennifer Stemerick

Kindergarten

I enjoyed going to St. Mary Magdalen School K-8th grade and Archbishop Murphy High School. I received my Bachelor degree in Elementary Education from Western Washington University (2007) and Master’s Degree in Literacy Instruction at Seattle University (2015). I recently studied Slingerland’s Multisensory approach to reading, writing, and spelling. I have taught at S.M.M. since 2011, mainly in third grade, and I am very excited to be teaching kindergarten! My husband and I were honored that Father Olson married us at St. John’s Mission in 2010. We are blessed with our three kids. My favorite things are relaxing with family and friends, reading, hiking, art, learning sign language, and taking lots of pictures.

Heidi Harris

1st Grade

I have been teaching at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School for fifteen years. I grew up in Seattle and attended Assumption-St. Bridget’s School and Bishop Blanchet High School. I graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor of Education degree and Communication degree. I also completed my Master’s Degree in Literacy and Special Needs at Seattle University. My husband and I have two children (Asher and Hailey) who also attend St. Mary Magdalen. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, playing board games, playing with my dog (Oscar), reading, and traveling to new places. I look forward to an exciting and successful school year!

Jeanine O'Connell

1st Grade

Jeanine O’Connell has been teaching grades K-6 in public and private schools for over thirty years. She earned her undergraduate degree in art from Gonzaga University and her teaching certificate from Seattle University. She holds two Master’s degrees. One is in Curriculum and Instruction: Integrating the Arts into the Curriculum from Lesley University. The other is in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling. Jeanine has a private counseling practice in Lynnwood called Emerge and Thrive Counseling. She enjoys time with her Cavapoo Ruby, time with friends, laughter, golf, photography, learning, movies, and reading.

Nicole Martin

2nd Grade

I hold a Bachelor of Arts in English-Elementary Education from Western Washington University (2007) as well as a Master of Arts in Literacy for Special Needs from Seattle University (2014). Learning is a life-long process, so I often enroll in professional development to learn skills and strategies for meeting the needs of all learners. I have taught at St. Mary Magdalen School for 14 years. I love my family, running, reading, hiking through beautiful Pacific Northwest mountains, and swimming in the ocean! Inspired by the faith of Mother Teresa, I try to live by this quote: “There are no great things, only small things with great love. Happy are those.”

Haley Ure

2nd Grade

I am so happy to join the SMM community. I have been working with children for over 12 years and enjoy exploring new places, dancing, and walking with my dog!

Bernie Houghton

3rd Grade

I have been a part of St. Mary Magdalen School Faculty for thirty-six years, teaching both 2nd grade and 3rd grade students. I feel blessed to work with students, parents, and teachers in a faith-filled community that cares for each other. I enjoy teaching all subjects, religion being my favorite because I can teach my students about their Catholic faith. I am a graduate of Western Washington University. I hold a B. A. in Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. I have been married for forty years. I have two sons, Scott (38) and Nick (34) who are both graduates of St. Mary Magdalen School. My husband, Doug, and I are members of St. Mary Magdalen Parish and serve as sacristans for the Parish. I am also a member of Catholic Daughters of America (Court St. Rita) and an advisor for a group of Junior Catholic Daughters. In my free time I enjoy working in the vegetable and flower garden, going on walks, and scrapbooking with my friends. I continue to be inspired and motivated to teach students with enthusiasm.

Elaine Panwar

3rd Grade

Hello! I am delighted to be joining the wonderful staff at St. Mary Magdalen. I am a recent transplant from California and a UCLA alumnus. I have taught language arts and English as a second language to elementary, middle, and high school students as well as to adults both in the United States and abroad for over twenty years. As a teacher, I strive to ignite the spark of imagination, curiosity, and a passion for learning. When I am not teaching, I am hiking, playing tennis, or reading my favorite author, Charles Dickens. I have two adult children who now live in Seattle.

Intermediate Educators

Meghan Mason

4th Grade

This is my second year teaching as SMM’s 4th Grade teacher. I attended St. Mary Magdalen and Bishop Blanchet High School. I graduated from Carroll College with a BA in Elementary Education and Special Education. I am grateful to be back and a part of the SMM family. My favorite quote is “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think!” from Winnie the Pooh and I make sure to incorporate it into my classroom every day. I enjoy coloring, camping, hanging out with my family, playing with my puppy, and love all things Disney.

Margaret Sprague

4th Grade

This is my fifth year teaching at St. Mary Magdalen and my second year teaching fourth grade. I grew up in the Puget Sound area, attending St. Mark in Shoreline for grade school and Holy Names in Seattle for high school. I earned my bachelor’s degree in political science and anthropology from the University of Boston and my Masters in Teaching Middle Grade Mathematics from Western Governors University. For fun, I enjoy trivia nights, escape rooms, and good books!

Alisa Yee

5th Grade

This is my second year as an SMM teacher and I am very excited to be joining this amazing staff. I completed my student teaching here during the 2019-2020 school year and received my MA. in Elementary Education/Teaching Certification in May 2020. I taught in the Everett School District last year and subbed as a Para Educator and Guest Teacher position since 2014. Teaching is a second career for me as I previously worked in HR and spend time as a stay at home parent and PTSA board member. I am originally from Hawaii, love to travel, spend time with my family and eat great food. My family (husband and two high school aged children) are members of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. I’m looking forward to a great year!

Dan Juhl

5th Grade

This is my first year teaching at SMM and my second year as a parent, here at SMM. I hold a BA in English from Wartburg College and a Master’s leadership certificate from the University of Washington. My prior teaching experience was teaching ESL but, I have spent the past twenty years in banking and finance. I am excited to join the talented staff and the vibrant community at SMM.

Middle School Educators

Cory Kellogg

6th Grade History/ELA/Religion

I am a proud Husky graduate from The University of Washington where I majored in journalism, and went on to earn my Master’s Degree in Education from Western Governor’s University. This is my 11th year teaching, but first here at Saint Mary Magdalen Catholic School. I am so honored to work with a group of educators and families who put the learning and well-being of the students first – it simply is not that way at every school. This is a special place, and I am so blessed to be a part of it. Hobbies and free time are spent traveling and enthusiastically following our local sports teams. Go Hawks! Go Dawgs!

Dawn Lesniak

6th Grade Math/Science

Hello, my name is Dawn Lesniak, and I am our 6th Grade Math and Science teacher. I attended Queen of Angels Catholic School in Port Angeles and graduated from Gonzaga University in Education and Psychology (Go Zags!). I have been teaching at SMM for 28 years and adore middle schoolers. I love spending family time with my husband, Jeff, and kids Elise (17) and Charlie (15), both SMM graduates, and current students at Archbishop Murphy High School. My favorite things are family, our pets, Harry Potter, iced-coffee, photography, Words with Friends, science documentaries, and the beach.

Jocelyn O'Donnell

7th/8th Grade History

An SMM Alumna, I grew up in the Puget Sound region and graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a BA in English with an emphasis in Literature. I worked in communications and hospitality before continuing to my true calling: secondary education. I pursued my Master of Education (M.Ed.) with an emphasis in Secondary Education with independent endorsements in both English Language Arts and History. In my down time I enjoy spending time with my family, baking, and trail running. I’m thrilled to be back in this tight-knit community I know and love!

Julie Tyndall

7th/8th Grade Science/Religion

This is my seventh year as a teacher at Saint Mary Magdalen. I previously taught 5th grade at SMM, but this year I had the amazing opportunity to teach one of my favorite subjects, Science. I am currently the Middle School Science Teacher. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies and a minor in Spanish from California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) in 2000. A year later I earned a CLAD Teaching Credential from CSUSM. I grew up in San Diego, California and relocated with my husband to Everett in 2008. I have three sons who attend SMM. I have twin boys named Matthew and Mikey who are in 4th grade, and another son Brian who is in 6th grade. The latest addition to our family is our new puppy, Copper. I enjoy reading, walking my dog, swimming, skiing, sewing, and camping with my family.

Elizabeth Wilson

7th/8th Grade Math

I have a Mechanical Engineering degree from Kansas State University (Go Cats!) and worked as an Engineer at Boeing for years. I left Boeing to stay home with my daughter who went through school here at St. Mary Magdalen. During this time, I returned to school at UW-Bothell to obtain a teaching certificate with a Middle School Math endorsement. After two years at Harbor Pointe in Mukilteo, I came to SMM in 2012 in the position of 7th and 8th grade Math teacher. I love traveling, reading, photography, baking, musical theater, watching sports, hiking and biking, koalas, elephants and spending time with family and friends!

Ryan Wirtala

7th/8th Grade ELA

I have a BA in English Education from Washington State University (GO Cougs!!). Growing up, I attended St. Brendan for K-8 education and then went on to attend Bothell High School. I worked for Archbishop Murphy High School for a year and a half, before coming to SMM as the 7th and 8th grade English teacher. I love to read and road trip to national parks with my wife, our favorite being Bryce Canyon in Utah!

Specialists

Gilda Barata

Spanish Specialist

My name is Mrs. Gilda Barata. I teach Spanish from 5th to 8th grade. I am a native speaker of Spanish, a language that I love and would like to share with your children. I worked for more than 29 years teaching Spanish at a Catholic School in Miami, and I am delighted and thankful to God and the Virgin Mary for the opportunity to teach at St. Mary Magdalen. I love spending time with my family, walking, felting, sewing, reading, studying languages, and playing with my daughter and son-in-law’s cat, Squeakers.

Maureen Buennagle

Library/Media Specialist

I hold a B.A. in Elementary Education from Seattle University and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in literacy from Lesley University. I am in my 26th year teaching at St. Mary Magdalen. This is my first year as the school librarian and media specialist where I am combining my passions for literacy and technology. I have been the faculty liaison to the Technology Committee for the past 21 years. My husband and I both graduated from SMM and I was honored as the Distinguished Graduate in 2009. I love to camp and have visited many national and state parks over the years.

Raven Daley

Physical Education Specialist

This is my 3rd year working at SMM. I graduated from Western Washington University and currently live in my mother’s basement…(yikes). I love to skateboard, play golf and tennis, and exercise. However, my main obsessions are primarily comedy, the UFC, and all things mixed martial arts.

Annalise Latta

Reading Specialist

This is my 17th year in education and 14th year at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School. I graduated from the University of Portland with a Bachelors in Elementary Education and later became a certified teacher at the Slingerland® Institute for Literacy. I have worked as an elementary school teacher and reading specialist. I love to travel and spent 3 years teaching abroad in Warsaw, Poland. I live in Everett with my husband and our four children

Laura Lynch

School Counselor

I am excited to be the school counselor at St. Mary Magdalden! My undergraduate degree is in communications from Washington State University (go Cougs!) and my M.Ed. is in School Counseling from Seattle Pacific University. My husband and I have three boys, now mostly grown, and we love traveling, hiking and hanging out at our cabin near Leavenworth.

Houston Schmutz

Physical Education Specialist

Hi, I am Houston Schmutz (Mr. S) and this is my first year at SMM. I attended St. Alphonsus in Ballard, and Archbishop Murphy High School located in Everett. I played college baseball at a couple schools, before transferring to Western Washington University to pursue a degree in Physical Education and Health. I love sports, hiking, fishing, and spending time with friends and family. I am so excited to be at SMM and am looking forward to a happy and healthy year!

Oliva Seidel

Music Specialist

Hello, my name is Olivia Seidel. This is my second year of teaching at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School and I am very excited to join the school! For the past 3 years I have been teaching private instrumental music lessons for a variety of string instruments and piano at Half Note Music School in Bellevue. I attend the University of North Dakota and received my Bachelors in Music Education in 2018. I love reading, hiking, and playing board games with my husband Trevor. We also recently purchased our first home and are enjoying all the new adventures that come with it!

Front Office

Support Staff

Preschool Educators

Primary Years Educators

Intermediate Educators

Middle School Educators

Specialists

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