OUR STAFF

TEACHER LAURIE

Laurie Smith opened The Secret Garden Preschool in 1998. She is the Director, as well as a teacher, at The Secret Garden. Laurie has a BS in Zoology, both an MS and a PhD in Microbiology and received her teaching certificate from the University of Washington as well. Because of her science background, Laurie loves working with the kids on science projects and introducing them to some basic scientific concepts.

Laurie loves her work at the The Secret Garden and finds that the children are still able to teach her new things after all these years. She lives in Seattle with her husband, Greg, and her three children: Gemma, Max and Emily.

TEACHER DEBBIE

Teacher Debbie has taught at The Secret Garden since 2008 but has been a part of the school, as a parent, since its beginning. She has worked with children in a variety of roles including as an assistant teacher for a Pre-K school and as a reading advocate for a Seattle-area private school. Debbie loves working with children and finds their excitement about learning inspiring.

Debbie has a BA from the University of Florida and lives in Seattle with her husband, Bob, their three children Shannon, Connor and Tierney and their dog, Jack.

TEACHER AMY

Teacher Amy brings with her a love of both art and literature. She worked in architecture before her children were born and then joined forces in her husband’s freelance video business once she became a mother. She brings years of volunteer experience at her daughters’ schools as well as experience as an assistant to the art and library teachers at a local elementary school.

Amy lives in Seattle with her husband Kevin and their two daughters, Sylvia and Lydia. She started teaching at The Secret Garden in 2009.

TEACHER EMILY

Teacher Emily has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Seattle University where she also took several classes in development and education. Before coming to The Secret Garden, she volunteered in a first grade classroom as well as at a preschool in Fall City and also spent several years as a nanny.

Emily has always been interested in education and loves working with children.

TEACHER EMIKO

Teacher Emiko has over 7 years of experience as a teacher. She has taught in Japan as well as in the United States. Emiko brings her knowledge of the Japanese language to children at our Capitol Hill location. Emiko especially enjoys doing crafts and hands on experiences with children.  Her educational philosophy is that learning is most effective when it comes spontaneously from children’s interests and ideas.  Emiko’s goal is to support her students’ unique ways of thinking and to bring joy to the learning process.  Emiko also loves singing and dancing with children.

Emiko has a BA in English and Education and lives in South Seattle with her husband, five-year-old son and mother-in-law.

TEACHER SARAH

Teacher Sarah previously taught Pre-K at a school in Everett and has also been a children’s garden educator with Seattle Tilth. In addition, her love of children has lead her to volunteer at Giddens Elementary School and serve as a Camp Counselor for Camp Fire USA. She loves bringing kids together around common goals or projects since it gives them a chance to practice teamwork, camaraderie, collective problem solving.

Sarah has three BA degrees from the University of Washington. She lives with her daughter, Maddie, and her fiancé, Greg in Wallingford.

TEACHER CINDY

Teacher Cindy brings many years of experience coordinating programs and planning curriculum for all ages of children. Most recently, she managed St Joseph’s Children’s Faith Formation program for ages 4-11. She especially loves working with small children whose ideas about life are so pure, clever and sweet.

Cindy has a BA in Sociology from Gonzaga and has 3 children of her own: Thomas (11), Clare (10) and Mimi (8). Her kids go to St. Joe’s and Cindy Ann and her family live just two blocks from The Secret Garden.

TEACHER KELSEY

Teacher Kelsey has a BA in Psychology from the University of Washington.  She has been a Toddler Art Instructor at Miller Community, is a trained Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist and has been involved with preschool aged children through her job at Kid’s Club. In addition, she has volunteered countless hours working at day camps with young children through the Girl Scouts.

Kelsey has a strong interest in bringing science into education programs and plans to pursue an MEd. in the coming years.