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Meet Our Teachers

Christy Collins

 

Christy teaches Spanish for the Around the World in 4 Days class.  An adovocate for young children being taught a second language, Christy likes to inspire her students to discover how wonderful learning can be;  she says she likes to teach Spanish to young children because they are not intimidated to learn and to try new pronounciations.  She also teaches Spanish to 3-10 year old children in her at-home preschool.

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Wendi DeYoung

An artist with a degree in sculpture from Portland State University, Wendi believes it is extremely important for each child in her Movements with the Masters (hands-on art history course) to have their own unique voice or at least be given the opportunity to discover that voice and a confidence in their own power of artistic expression.  Each child, she says, responds differently to different ideas and images and each child, she has observed, finds a bit of their own creative voice and it is delightful to see that happen.   Her artistic background comes through when she excitedly promotes that the most important aspect of education in her opinion is “inspiration” both for the student and the instructor.  Art, she says, is one of those subjects that is all about personal vision and expression and that is  what she teaches best!

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Ken Hansen

 

A retired teacher who taught for 28 years speech/English at McNary and North Salem High Schools, Hansen likes to proclaim his membership in “CCI” (Child-Centered Investigation),  the idea that studying the clues to the mystery of what makes individual students learn best is how to benefit the child!  Teaching, says Hansen, gives him a chance to share exciting discoveries and, in turn, take joy in the discoveries students share with him.  Hansen teaches the speech class at the EA where he advocates that speech is a skill and that the more a student practices the more comfortable she will become and that preparation prevents panic---all speeches need a definite plan.

Ken received a Crystal Apple Award in 2000; as well as receiving an Associated Oregon Industries “Teachers of the Year” award, 1993; and was a finalist for the Channel One’s #1 Teacher Award, 1998.

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Kyle Jorgesen

Kyle believes that each student in his class, Young Inventors, has an ingrained inquisitive nature and comments that he hopes to find or develop that curiosity while providing the best guidance for this point in the child’s life journey.  Kyle is also a teacher at Forest Ridge Elementary for the 4th and 5th grades.  All students for this teacher get to experience real life science through trial and error, failure and success in his class---and he says they love that sense of experimentalism.  With this approach Kyle says students gain confidence and develop a high level of thinking and problem solving skills to carry with them through school and life.  He hopes to foster a student with a capable and informed outlook who is ethical and can make a positive impact on society.

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Jane Kuenzi

 

Jane teaches the Kids Cooking Throwdown for the Enrichment Academy as well as 3rd grade at Keizer Elementary School.  A great fan of cooking herself, Jane has spent time in Avignon, France where she took cooking classes.  Jane believes children need educational adventures  and that positive educational experiences that inspire help children make their own way in the world and become contributing members of society.  She also hopes her cooking classes help inspire kids to be excited about working in the kitchen and help cook with their families.

 

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Sue Luft

 

With years of educational background and on-location expertise in Russian and Japanese language and culture, Sue currently teaches the Japanese portion of the Around the World in 4 Days class; she also teacher middle school to grades 6-8 at Parrish Middle School.  She is completely enthralled with being an educator and loves the inquisitive, creative and sometimes rambunctious nature of her students.  Sue believes that education can help a person surmount many obstacles in life giving one a basis for lifelong positive change.  She is a 2005 Crystal Apple recipient.

 

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Traci Sabine

 

During the school year, Sabine who calls herself a “very proud Canadian”, teaches Theatre at Claggett Creek Middle School; she teaches the same subject for the EA.  Sabine’s teaching style revolves around the idea that a child’s learning style needs to be connected to their experience so that they can feel powerful, self-confident, and motivated to learn.  She tries to find out what a student’s interests are and build upon those interests so the student is proud and excited to do more to learn what they love and learn how to incorporate this into something productive.   Sabine believes that the Theatre is very “last minute” meaning she will try and explore the kids’ imaginations and interests in a very short time and give them as much as she can so they have the freedom to explore.  She advocates teaching her students that all the world is a stage to be enjoyed and explored by all.

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Marian Scadden

 

Marian teaches the Lights, Camera, Action class at the EA.  Her and her husband co-own Cwerks Interactive Theatre where they travel to schools, libraries, fair and festivals to perform original works.  Graduating from BYU in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in Children’s Theatre, Marian has been heavily involved in theatre ever since.  She has taught mime and theatre skills as well citing that theatre skills give kids instruction in speaking clearly, speaking loudly, gaining confidence and many life skills that are related to getting a job, making presentations, and giving reports.  She says that the theatre is a wonderful creative outlet for young people to explore and let their individual talents bloom.

 

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Angela Sotelo

 

Teaching Sleuthing, Logic and Mystery for the Enrichment Academy, Angela also teaches 5th grade at McKinley Elementary School.   She sees her teaching goals as helping kids in both their educational pursuits as well as social…..as more than anything she would like her students to have fun while learning something new and make a new friend or two!  She promotes a classroom environment where kids work together to figure out solutions and gain confidence in themselves as learners independently as well as cooperatively with their peers.