Meet the Faculty and Staff

Faculty

• Barbara Hair

  Mrs. Hair, Principal and 4th/5th Grade Teacher, earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Washington State University and her Masters of Arts in Education from San Francisco State University. Mrs. Hair currently holds a Washington State teaching certificate and has over 25 years of experience teaching preschool through 8th grade in private independent, parochial and public schools. Mrs. Hair worked at the Hamlin School of San Francisco where she held positions as Assistant Lower School Director and Director of Intern Teacher. During her time at Hamlin, Mrs. Hair, recognized for excellence in teaching, received Teacher of the Year Award. Mrs. Hair is a parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Issaquah where she is a member of the Respect Life Committee.

• Charlene Bamford

  Mrs Bamford, Pre K 3 & 4 Teacher, holds a BA in English, and Secondary Education from Northern Michigan University, with continuing education in Elementary Education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Mrs Bamford has spent many years living and working in magnificent Alaska. Directly out of college, Mrs Bamford and her husband homesteaded in the Hogatza River Valley, Alaska. She has served as City Clerk in Barrow, Alaska, worked for Fairbanks North star Borough, and worked seven years for the State of Alaska. Mrs Bamford loves hiking, painting, and is an avid writer. She has written radio and TV commercials for Borealis Broadcasting and Northern Television in Fairbanks and is currently a contributing editor for an online weblog.

• Christine Wood

  Mrs. Wood, Kindergarten/1st Grade Teacher, earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Childhood Education from New Mexico State University. Mrs. Wood holds a Washington State Teaching certificate with endorsements in elementary education as well as early childhood education. Mrs. Wood is Chapter Vice-President of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, an International honorary society of women educators that promote professional and personal growth of its members and excellence in education. Mrs. Wood loves all sports, particularly golf and bowling. She enjoys sewing and loves musicals and plays. She is a parishioner of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Covington where she has taught Religious Education and served as Eucharistic Minister.

• Kim Bentler

  Mrs. Bentler, 2nd/3rd Grade Teacher, received her Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Washington and holds a Washington State teaching certificate. Mrs. Bentler is currently working towards a Reading Endorsement through Seattle Pacific University. She has taught at St. Catherine Catholic School in Seattle and ran her own State-approved day care. Mrs. Bentler raises chickens and she loves to garden with her daughters. Community volunteer work is very important to her family. Providing food and serving together, they help feed the hungry in their community at the Issaquah Meals Program through Catholic Community Services and St. Joseph Church of Issaquah where Mrs. Bentler and her family are parishioners.

• Leah Krautter

  Mrs. Krautter is the middle school language arts and history teacher and the homeroom teacher for 6th gradeShe earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Seattle University and her Master of Arts in Teaching as a member of PACE (Pacific Alliance for Catholic Education) from the University of Portland. Mrs. Krautter holds a Washington State teaching certificate and has seven years of experience teaching at the middle and high school level. Mrs. Krautter played basketball in college at Seattle University and is an avid runner and triathlete. She will be participating in her first marathon this summer in Kona, Hawaii. Inspiring her students with a love for running, Mrs Krautter started the Emerald Heights Academy Running Club which participates in a number of 5K runs throughout the greater Seattle area and also hosts its own annual 5K “Spirit Sprint” at Lake Sammamish Park. Mrs. Krautter enjoys participating in community charity events such as the Chron’s & Colitis Foundation’s Team Challenge, the Cancer Federation’s Relay for Life, and Habitat for Humanity. She is fond of spending her free time outdoors biking, camping, hiking, and river rafting. Mrs. Krautter attends Mass at Seattle University's Chapel of St. Ignatius and is a member of Our Catholic Neighborhood, a social networking community for Catholics.

• Bridget Smith

  Mrs. Smith is the middle school math and science teacher and the homeroom teacher of 7th/8th grades. Mrs. Smith graduated from Gonzaga University earning a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching and Mathematics. She holds a Washington State teaching certificate. Mrs. Smith is a member of Gonzaga University Circle K Club, a fellowship of students who serve their community in many different ways. She is also a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. Mrs. Smith loves to bake and the middle school students are tremendously grateful to her for having brought her culinary skills to Emerald Heights Academy’s Middle School Enrichment Program. Mrs. Smith is a parishioner of St. Monica Catholic Church on Mercer Island.

• Amy McOmber

  Mrs. McOmber, Music Teacher, attended Brigham Young University and continued her schooling in music and elementary education at Bellevue Community College. She and her husband, Howie, have been teaching for fifteen years and together they run Small Hands on Art, a not-for-profit musical theater company that instructs students in the performing arts. This past school year, Mrs. McOmber and her cast of enthusiastic and talented Emerald Heights Academy Drama Club students entertained their audience with a wonderful version of Little Orphan Annie. Mrs. McOmber and her family raise four beautiful children, one of whom is autistic. The McOmber family works with the Seattle Chapter of Autism Speaks. Mrs. McOmber loves to travel and has brought many wonderful international music experiences to the children of Emerald Heights Academy.

• Bridget Ardissono

  Mrs. Ardissono, Spanish Teacher, has developed her life-long passion for the Spanish language and many different beautiful and vibrant Spanish cultures while living, studying, working and travelling throughout Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador and Spain. Mrs. Ardissono earned her degree at Eastern Oregon University. She earned her teaching credential in Elementary Education with a special endorsement for Bilingual Education and Spanish for kindergarten through high school levels. Mrs. Ardissono has taught at junior high and high schools around the states of Washington and Oregon. She has worked on various curriculum committees at the district level and has piloted and developed her own Spanish curriculum for two local elementary schools.

• Pat Bucy

  P.E. teacher, Mr. Bucy, is a steadfast UW Husky fan, who earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington. He later went on to complete a Master of Arts in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville. In his spare time, if he's not playing pickle-ball with his brothers, he enjoys playing bluegrass music with his friends or boogie-boarding on the Washington coast. He is also a very talented photographer and videographer with a great affection for movies and creating videos. Mr. Bucy is a parishioner at Blessed Sacrament Church in Seattle.

Emerald Heights Academy Staff

• Christine Sollom

  Miss Sollom, Dean of Students and Director of Advancement, attained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Anahuac University in Mexico and is currently completing her degree in Pastoral Studies from the Regina Apostolorum in Rome. For over 12 years Miss Sollom has worked in schools affiliated with NCE, holding positions at Everest Academy in Michigan, CECVAC School in Monterrey, Mexico and Highlands School in Madrid, Spain. Miss Sollom is fluent in Spanish and she loves travelling and learning from other cultures. She attends Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Issaquah.

• Heather Miller

  Miss Miller, Office Manager, earned her Associate of Arts in Computer Animation and Graphic Art from the Art Institute of Seattle. She administers general office and information technology to the school as well as teaches a technology course to grades 4/5. Miss Miller has extensive experience with adults and children with Autism and special needs. She holds Therapeutic Applied Behavior Analysis Training and Behavior Management Certification from Professional Network Inc. in conjunction with DSHS. Miss Miller has worked as the administrative assistant for Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Seattle. She was a therapeutic teacher for Children Village Therapeutic school. She has received Special Olympics Coach awards in track, swimming, baseball and basketball, Hearing Impaired Helper Award and Autism Aid Award. She has been involved with SERC for Americans with Disabilities and donates her time on the weekend teaching children with Autism and teaching the elderly computer skills. She founded the YAM group at Sacred Heart Parish (Young Adult Ministry) which serves the community in a variety of ways from cleaning shelters, serving food to the homeless and raising money for Birthright Counseling. Miss Miller attends Mass at St. Jude Catholic Church in Redmond.