The island’s school district welcomed an eclectic mix of new educators to Bainbridge this week.
The new teachers, principals and others will take on their new roles as the school year begins on Aug. 29.
David Shockley will take over as principal of the Commodore options School in the wake of Catherine Camp’s retirement from the position.
Shockley brings with him his experience as assistant principal and principal of various high schools and middle schools in Bellingham. He was also the director of program development for the Meridian School District. He has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Western Washington University.
Melinda Reyannan left her position as principal in the Central Kitsap School District to be principal at Ordway Elementary. Reyannan, however, is no stranger to the island. She has previously been an associate principal and teacher of Sakai. She has bachelor’s from Saint Martin’s College and a master’s degree from the University of Portland.
Leticia Blacker is a speech language pathologist coming on board with the district.
She has a bachelor’s from the University of California and a master’s from Columbia University in New York.
Sue Constan is stepping in as a counselor at Sakai.
She previously interned with the Bainbridge Island School District after obtaining her bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and a master’s from Seattle Pacific University.
Emily Eigen will teach English at Bainbridge High School.
Eigen has previously worked in the island school district for approximately a year. She has a bachelor’s from the University of Washington and a master’s from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
Kristopher Gallagher has spent years as a substitute teacher at various school districts in Arizona and Washington including right here on Bainbridge Island. He will take on the role of physical education teacher at Blakely Elementary and at Wilkes Elementary.
He earned a bachelor’s at the University of Arizona and a master’s from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York.
Kate Garfield is a seventh-grade language arts and social studies teacher at Woodward Middle School.
Antioch University awarded her a master’s degree after she earned he bachelor’s from Kalamazoo college in Michigan. She was previously a teacher in Port Townsend for 14 years.
Andrew Glass is the new special education teacher at Sakai Intermediate School.
His bachelor’s is from California State University. He has spent 12 years teaching in the Los Angeles School District.
David Goldberg will be wowing students in his physical science and chemistry classes at Bainbridge High School.
He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Washington. He has been a substitute teacher on Bainbridge Island for one year.
Tamra Hauge is the new kindergarten teacher at Wilkes Elementary School.
After earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Puget Sound she completed a master’s degree at Seattle University. She taught in Sweden before teaching in Seattle for seven years. She has taught at Ordway on Bainbridge Island for one year.
Joseph Lanza teaches math at Bainbridge High School.
His bachelor degree is from Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif. He has taught at schools in California for over two years.
Jennifer Ledbetter will impart her knowledge of math while on special assignment for the Bainbridge Island School District.
Her master’s degree is form Walden University in Baltimore. Her bachelor’s is from Washington State University. She has been a math teacher and coach in Bremerton for 14 years.
Andrea Oliver is a new Spanish teacher at Eagle Harbor High School.
She comes to Bainbridge Island after teaching for seven years in Maryland and Michigan. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Oakland University in Rochester, Mich. and her master’s at John Hopkins University in Baltimore.
Katie Parys come to Bainbridge Island after filling in as a substitute teacher in Bellevue and Seattle for two years.
She boasts a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska and a master’s from the University of Phoenix.
Wilkes Elementary welcomes Kelleen Pellegrino as its new kindergarten teacher this year.
Pellegrino has a bachelor’s from Lewis and Clark College in Portland and a master’s from the University of Nevada. She taught in Las Vegas for 11 years before teaching one year in Silverdale.
Briley Proctor is the new psychologist at Bainbridge High School.
She has a bachelor’s from the University of Colorado, and a master’s and a doctorate from the University of Florida. She spent six years as an associate professor with tenure as well as six years as an assistant professor at Florida State University.
Melody Simrell will put a song in students’ hearts at Ordway. She will take on a role as music teacher at the elementary school.
She had the honor of earning her bachelor’s as a Viking at Portland State University. She has taught in the Portland School District for 12 years.
Blakely Elementary will benefit from the instruction of Robyn Stahl, who will step in as a third-grade teacher at the island school.
She has previously taught as a teacher and substitute teacher in Washington for 11 years before coming to Bainbridge Island. She has a bachelor’s from Boston University and a master’s from the University of Washington.
Chris Thomas will carry a tune as band instructor at Bainbridge High School.
The band leader has a bachelor’s from Central Washington University and a master’s from the University of Montana. He has instructed band at schools in Washington and Montana for the past five years.