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Toddlers Class Teacher
Ashley Heiskanen
Having been a part of the North Seattle Cooperative program for the past eight years as a parent, I am excited to now be on the other side of things as the Toddler Teacher at Wedgwood Co-op! My previous experience as a classroom teacher at a private Montessori school provided me with many skills that I believe can be applied in the Toddler classroom as well. I enjoy being around children and find toddlerhood to be a truly fun and exciting age. My experience in multiple co-op classes with my three daughters has given me insight into how a co-op classroom runs, and I appreciate the family participation and inclusiveness that comes along with being a part of a co-op community. I look forward to a fun and energetic school year ahead!
Ashley Heiskanen
Having been a part of the North Seattle Cooperative program for the past eight years as a parent, I am excited to now be on the other side of things as the Toddler Teacher at Wedgwood Co-op! My previous experience as a classroom teacher at a private Montessori school provided me with many skills that I believe can be applied in the Toddler classroom as well. I enjoy being around children and find toddlerhood to be a truly fun and exciting age. My experience in multiple co-op classes with my three daughters has given me insight into how a co-op classroom runs, and I appreciate the family participation and inclusiveness that comes along with being a part of a co-op community. I look forward to a fun and energetic school year ahead!
Toddlers Class NSC Parent Education Instructor
Rebecca Hoyt
Prior to becoming a Parent Educator, I trained therapeutic foster parents for children with behavioral and developmental challenges and coached birth parents preparing for reunification with their children after foster care placement.
After my first son was born, I took several years off during which I sang "The More We Get Together", supervised sensory table, and scribbled copious notes during Parent Ed while participating in Crown Hill Co-op. Fun fact - Betty Williams was my first Parent Educator! I now have two boys, both Co-op alumni.
When my boys were recently interviewed by their teachers for a Mother's Day project about what I like to do in my free time, one said "Go to the playground at Seattle Center!" and the other said "Sit on the couch!" Truthfully, the climbing structure at Seattle Center terrifies me and I can't remember the last time I just sat on the couch - though it does sound nice. If I really get to choose, we'd all be hiking to an alpine lake, taking bets on who would be the first to jump in the icy waters.
I am looking forward to supporting all of you on this wild ride of parenting (and turning over sensory table duties to you!)
Rebecca Hoyt
Prior to becoming a Parent Educator, I trained therapeutic foster parents for children with behavioral and developmental challenges and coached birth parents preparing for reunification with their children after foster care placement.
After my first son was born, I took several years off during which I sang "The More We Get Together", supervised sensory table, and scribbled copious notes during Parent Ed while participating in Crown Hill Co-op. Fun fact - Betty Williams was my first Parent Educator! I now have two boys, both Co-op alumni.
When my boys were recently interviewed by their teachers for a Mother's Day project about what I like to do in my free time, one said "Go to the playground at Seattle Center!" and the other said "Sit on the couch!" Truthfully, the climbing structure at Seattle Center terrifies me and I can't remember the last time I just sat on the couch - though it does sound nice. If I really get to choose, we'd all be hiking to an alpine lake, taking bets on who would be the first to jump in the icy waters.
I am looking forward to supporting all of you on this wild ride of parenting (and turning over sensory table duties to you!)
Pre-3s Class Teacher
Beth Graham
I began my journey with Wedgwood Co-op as a parent in the Toddlers class. As my daughter Maya has moved up to Pre-3’s so have I, as the new Pre-3 teacher. I have been so grateful for the experiences and community that Wedgwood has provided, and I am eager to share my love for early learning and play with the Wedgwood community. I feel like the Wedgwood Co-op is a magical place and I am so excited to share in that magic.
In my life before children I was an elementary school teacher. I have my Masters in Elementary Education from Seattle University. With over ten years of teaching experience, first as a reading specialist and kindergarten teacher, then later as a fourth and fifth grade teacher, I am quite passionate about learning. I am really looking forward to a fabulous start to the school year!
Beth Graham
I began my journey with Wedgwood Co-op as a parent in the Toddlers class. As my daughter Maya has moved up to Pre-3’s so have I, as the new Pre-3 teacher. I have been so grateful for the experiences and community that Wedgwood has provided, and I am eager to share my love for early learning and play with the Wedgwood community. I feel like the Wedgwood Co-op is a magical place and I am so excited to share in that magic.
In my life before children I was an elementary school teacher. I have my Masters in Elementary Education from Seattle University. With over ten years of teaching experience, first as a reading specialist and kindergarten teacher, then later as a fourth and fifth grade teacher, I am quite passionate about learning. I am really looking forward to a fabulous start to the school year!
Pre-3s Class NSC Parent Education Instructor
Beth Goss
I’m looking forward to spending time with your children, and supporting you and your family on this parenting adventure! Let me tell you a little about myself.
After doing my graduate work in Elementary Education at Eastern Michigan University, I moved to Seattle and began work as a preschool teacher. After several years of spending my days with infants and toddlers, as well as becoming a mother myself, I realized that I wanted to shift my focus to Early Childhood Education. I was a preschool teacher, a childcare administrator, and a teacher trainer before I started working at North Seattle College in 2002. I also work as a perinatal and postpartum educator at Swedish Medical Center and I'm a Certified Gottman Educator and Training Specialist, specializing in the transition to parenthood.
My two children are 23 and 19 and are happily engaged in their semi-adult lives. I have found, however, that my mom was right- you never stop parenting your kids!
My goal is to help your child's teacher create a safe, welcoming space for you and your child, where you feel supported. I’m available during the school year to answer your parenting questions and to provide you with education and resources which will help you make the best choices for you and your family.
Beth Goss
I’m looking forward to spending time with your children, and supporting you and your family on this parenting adventure! Let me tell you a little about myself.
After doing my graduate work in Elementary Education at Eastern Michigan University, I moved to Seattle and began work as a preschool teacher. After several years of spending my days with infants and toddlers, as well as becoming a mother myself, I realized that I wanted to shift my focus to Early Childhood Education. I was a preschool teacher, a childcare administrator, and a teacher trainer before I started working at North Seattle College in 2002. I also work as a perinatal and postpartum educator at Swedish Medical Center and I'm a Certified Gottman Educator and Training Specialist, specializing in the transition to parenthood.
My two children are 23 and 19 and are happily engaged in their semi-adult lives. I have found, however, that my mom was right- you never stop parenting your kids!
My goal is to help your child's teacher create a safe, welcoming space for you and your child, where you feel supported. I’m available during the school year to answer your parenting questions and to provide you with education and resources which will help you make the best choices for you and your family.
3-5s Class Teacher
Katie Matesky
Katie Matesky has been a part of Wedgwood Co-op since 2014, as a parent for three years and now enjoys being the 3-5s Teacher. She has a Masters in Teaching from Seattle University and has classroom experience teaching Kindergarten and Second Grade.
Katie sees great value in the self-directed play of young children. She aims to keep the classroom child-centered and to get the class outside to play every day. Katie engages with the children in spontaneous lessons as they arise in addition to leading informal song, game and literacy gatherings of the class as a whole. Katie appreciates the joy, humor, respect and support that Wedgwood families bring to the co-operative classroom experience.
Katie Matesky
Katie Matesky has been a part of Wedgwood Co-op since 2014, as a parent for three years and now enjoys being the 3-5s Teacher. She has a Masters in Teaching from Seattle University and has classroom experience teaching Kindergarten and Second Grade.
Katie sees great value in the self-directed play of young children. She aims to keep the classroom child-centered and to get the class outside to play every day. Katie engages with the children in spontaneous lessons as they arise in addition to leading informal song, game and literacy gatherings of the class as a whole. Katie appreciates the joy, humor, respect and support that Wedgwood families bring to the co-operative classroom experience.
3-5s Class NSC Parent Education Instructor
Betty S. Williams
I can think of no better way to spend my time than working with children and families as we nurture these young lives to thrive in a supportive community. I feel so fortunate to have this opportunity to provide education, resources and support to families with young children during such a foundational time in their lives.
I have a BA in Psychology from Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tennessee. I grew up in East Tennessee, and moved out to the great Northwest with excitement for the beauty of the Puget Sound area after I graduated. I received my MSW with an emphasis in working with children and families from the University of Washington. I worked in the child care field for many years as an infant, toddler and preschool teacher, program supervisor, and center director. My husband Mike is also in the early childhood education field and currently works at Child Care Resources. We have two daughters; my stepdaughter Mari, who lives in Shoreline with her husband, Chris, and son Gabriel, and Jessica, who graduated from Lewis & Clark College and is now living in Germany with her husband Shaun. When Jessica was 2 years old I moved into teaching Early Childhood Education and Parent Education Classes as a part-time instructor at Seattle Central Community College. Since 2004, I have been working as a full-time instructor in Parent Education at North Seattle College (NSC), where I now coordinate the program as well as teach four classes.
My vision for Parent Education is to provide a balance of opportunities for you to share concerns, discuss challenges and strategies, and receive information from the field of early childhood education. I know that living in supportive community is the best way for children to grow, learn, and fulfill their potential as caring citizens of the world. I am happy to share resource information with you anytime, so don’t hesitate to catch me when I attend the preschool classes, or call/email me in between classes.
My role with the co-op board is as an advisor, since your co-op contracts with NSC for my services and commits to following certain guidelines as outlined by the Risk Management Manual. This document is produced as a resource for all of the cooperative preschool programs throughout Washington State that are affiliated with the Parent Education Programs in their local Community Colleges. I am very pleased to be part of such a valuable program that seeks to improve our communities and help our children get off to the best possible start in their lives. I welcome your feedback regarding Parent Education and your co-op experience anytime.