Mia Williams

Administrative Team

Counseling Team

Teaching Team

Ron Howard

Jennifer Hodges

Kendra Abernathy

Darryl James

Ms. Williams earned a Master Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies as well as a Principal Certification at the University of Washington. She served as assistant principal at Denny Middle School for four years and assistant principal for three years at Salmon Bay School. She received the Distinguished Assistant Principal of the Year Award for 2002-2003. She taught within Seattle Public Schools for seven years and has been a part of the Rainier Valley community for nearly twenty years. She advocates the need for close partnerships with parents, guardians and families; and values the importance of community involvement and participation.

Mike Ayer

Teresa Barber

Rachel BelCastro

Stephanie Berg

Carol Bradley-Williams

Nikki Bunnell

Jennifer Casto

Ramone Costales

Karen Patterson

Jay Gainer

Donna Gilligan-Miller

Administrative

Counseling

Teaching

Aki Staff Teams (scroll down)

Support

Tara O’Brien

Mark Watling

Gina Wickstead

Hannah Williams

David Winfield

Support Team

Amy Anderson

Erlinda Bautista

Elvira Canares

Elaine Bruce-Jones

Quang Hoang

Sandra Heneri

Bruce Jackson

Wendell Hutchings

Jeanette Price

Grace Saturino

Mike Shafer

Mike Shafer is a graduate in General Studies from the University of Washington, and is Phi Beta Kappa.  He is a veteran of the US Air Force (Okinawa and Taiwan, 1967-1971), was a Peace Corps Volunteer (Philippines, 1980-82), and was Program Officer for Instructional Media with the US Refugee Program (PRPC-ICMC: Philippines, 1982-86). In the refugee program he worked in an ESL Program for Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Hmong  “boat-people.”

Mike has been at Aki since a year after it received its namesake, and has always worked with Special Education students.  He really enjoys the diversity of the neighborhood and Aki’s students and staff.  Mabuhay!

Nang Tran

Reed Hutchins

Mike Kaiser

Rosa Tavai

Roderick Booker

Kristin Brewster

Robert Jeffcoat

Jami Johnson

Lisa McDonald

Robin Gannett

Caine Lowery

Stacia Bible

Geireh Abdi

After a successful academic and college basketball career at Seattle University, Ron Howard was drafted by the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.  Howard spent two seasons with the Cowboys before moving back to Seattle for another three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. Howard’s team record for receptions by a tight end in a season stood for nearly 30 years before being broken.

Ron Howard has coached football, basketball, and track at Rainier Beach High School before embarking on a career as a school administrator. He is currently the Assistant Principal at Aki Kurose Academy.

Jay Gainer has been a teacher for 33 years.  Mr. Gainer works with the English Language Learners at Aki Kurose. He received an undergraduate degree from Northern Colorado University and a graduate degree from Northern Arizona University. Mr. Gainer is an avid runner and loves reading books.

Mark Watling has been a Technology Education teacher for 16 years with the Seattle Public Schools, all of which has been at Aki. He enjoys helping students experience Technology.

Gina Wickstead has been a teacher for eight years and this is her seventh at Aki. She received her undergraduate degree from The Evergreen State College and her Masters in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University. She earned her National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certificate. She loves working at Aki and teaching reading and writing to the awesome seventh graders!

Hannah grew up in Bigfork, MT where she learned the "ins and outs" of professional from the Bigfork Summer Playhouse . She received her Bachelor of Education from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA and became a full-time performing arts teacher at Lakeridge Middle School in Sumner, WA where she created, developed and implemented successful middle-school performing arts curriculum. Before coming to Aki, she has directed, choreographed and music directed shows including Oliver, Fame (Rainier Beach High School), Rocky Horror Picture Show, Grease, Singin' In The Rain, High School Musical, Annie, Pippin, West Side Story and fundraising events at The Moore, The Paramount, and the Triple Door. She regularly performs, tours and records with her two bands Friday Mile and Youth Rescue Mission, which she is in with her three younger brothers.

Aki Staff

Michelle Peterson

Jim Buchanan

Manoshi Vin

As a recent transplant to Seattle, Manoshi Vin has lived in Atlanta, Georgia and Boston, Massachusetts. Manoshi holds a masters degree in social work from Boston University with an emphasis on Neurology and Psychopharmacology. As a care coordinator, Manoshi truly enjoys working with kids and has experience working with children and families for over five years.  In her spare time, Manoshi loves to read, travel and spend time with her family.

Sandy Johnson

Mohamed Abdi

Mohamed Abdi has worked in the CASASTART Program at AKI Kurose since Sept.2007.  CASASTART is a school-centered positive youth development program aimed at preventing substance abuse and violence among high-risk 11 to 14-year-olds and helping them to improve their school attendance, grades and behavior. Eligibility is based on the specific risk factor categories.

Kathryn Murray

Kathryn Murray received her MSW from the University of Washington’s School of Social Work Program which is currently ranked #1 in the nation. Her concentrations were Direct Practice with Children, Youth and Families and School Social Work.  She has previous experience working with adolescent youth in the areas of substance abuse/recovery, grief/loss, and relationship violence/sexual assault.  She is also a proud City Year alum.  She loves reading, learning about history, and participating in the creative arts.  Interesting fact:  She is the proud owner of a puggle (mix between a beagle and a pug) named Charlie.

Sandra Heneri graduated from the University of California in Santa Cruz with a Bachelor of Arts degree. An Art Major, she worked as a Technical Illustrator while going to school. After graduating, Sandra went on to serve two years with the Peace Corps in the Federated States of Micronesia teaching English and Health. She has been working with autistic students at Aki for 8 years.

Mr. Buchanan (also known as Mr. B.) teaches 6th Grade Mathematics.  He sees himself as a mathematics learner along with his students.  He is regularly amazed by the creative mathematical thinking students do every day.  His job is to encourage all students and celebrate our successes.  This is Mr. Buchanan's first year at Aki; he has been teaching mathematics for 16 years, with six years as an instructional coach with Seattle's middle schools.  His academic degrees includes a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Public Affairs from the University of Colorado.  Mr. Buchanan grew up in New Orleans and is a big fan of his hometown's music and food.

Ms. Hodges earned a Masters in Teaching Degree from Willamette University and Principal Certification from City University.  She has been a part of Seattle Public Schools for 14 years as a language arts teacher, Title I Coordinator and currently as Assistant Principal.  Ms. Hodges attended Seattle Public Schools and is a graduate of Rainier Beach High School.  She has a passion for working with middle school students.  Often you will find her greeting Aki students and asking the question, "What are you reading? Tell me more about that." Ms. Hodges has two little boys and enjoys reading in her spare time.

Ms. Bunnell has been a part of the Aki Kurose Staff for 8 years and has taught in Virginia and Mercer Island.  She has a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Seattle University where she also finished her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a Minor in Women’s Studies.  Ms. Bunnell is a great believer in Inclusion, Team Teaching and Collaboration which she has actively participated in for 4 years at Aki Kurose. 

AnneMarie Consentino

Dalisha Phillips

Dalisha Phillips - Success Coordinator with Communities in Schools of Seattle joins the Aki Kurose team as a part of the Diplomas Now Initiative. She formerly coordinated the Building Bridges Dropout Prevention, Intervention, and Retrieval project at South Lake High School and taught the Barista Training and Education Program for FareStart in partnership with YouthCare's Orion Center. She brings comprehensive experience working with at-risk youth coordinating wrap-around services and a dedication to supporting the community in which she was raised. Miss Phillips graduated from Carroll College in 2007 with her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and is currently enrolled in art courses at two local community colleges in preparation for her Master's Program in Child, Couples, and Family Therapy with a focus in Art Therapy. 

Stefanie berg earned her Masters Degree in Special Education at University of Washington. She taught for 13 years with 9 years teaching at Aki Kurose.  Stefanie enjoys teaching her students to be more independent in their home and school communities.

Pam Boroughs

Ms. Gilligan-Miller earned her degrees from the University of Puget Sound and The Evergreen State College.  She teaches special education/math to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students.  She has taught in the Seattle School District for five years.  Before that, she taught in the Lake Washington School District.  She is involved in her children's activities and enjoys spending time with family and friends

Susie Clark

Ms. Clark is very excited to be teaching at Aki Kurose Middle School this year.  She has been teaching for the last fourteen years, but this is her first year at Aki.  Ms. Clark grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and received her Masters in Education from University of Illinois at Chicago.  She loves reading and recently finished the Stieg Larsson series, but she especially love historical fiction.  Her hobbies include: gardening, camping, kayaking, walking her dog Phoenix, and watching her two sons play soccer, baseball, and basketball. 

Carol Bradley-Williams completed a B.A. in English at the University of California, Davis.  She also completed her Teacher Certification and a Masters Degree in Principal Certification from Seattle University.  She taught and administrated for 20 years in the private sector and has taught Language Arts in the Seattle Public Schools for 11 years.  Ms. Bradley believes that students can become independent, lifelong learners as they achieve academic excellence in interactive  environments rich in integrated curriculum.  She advocates for close communication between families and school to join in support of students, our future resources.

Mr. Costales earned his Bachelor in Secondary Education in the Philippines. He taught high school students in the Philippines for almost eight years. He came to the United States in February 20,1998. He started working as a Bilingual  Instructional Assistant in Seattle School District in November, 1998. In April 2001, he accepted a teaching job at Cleveland High School to teach math. He started at Aki Kurose Middle School as teacher for English Language Learners in February, 2006.

Anne Marie Consentino has been teaching math for 16 years.  She received her Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Brown University and then decided she really wanted to teach math to middle school students.  She taught in Los Angeles for five years and in Seattle Schools for eleven years, the past three years as an instructional coach in middle and high school math. This is her first year at Aki and she’s thrilled to work with students as they recognize their power to do rigorous mathematics with confidence.

Ms. Gannet has experience teaching students who speak English as a Second Language, Elementary Physical Education, Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, and students with a variety of learning disabilities.   She managed and implemented an Autism Inclusion program for five years.  She has also taught Sailing in Maine, Elementary Physical Education in Illinois and the Bay Area, and at the School for the Deaf in New Mexico.  This is her twenty-ninth year of teaching, the last fourteen have been with the Seattle Public Schools.  Ms Gannet loves to read, write, garden, hike and eat French fries.

Ms. O’Brien earned an undergraduate degree from St. Bonaventure University in New York. She moved to Seattle and earned a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Seattle Pacific University. She taught 4th and 5th grades at Thorndyke Elementary School for seven years before coming to Aki. This is her 8th year teaching math at Aki.

Erlinda Bautista has been the Aki Kurose School Nurse since 2005. She earned her Associate Degree in Nursing in Luzon Colleges, Philippines, in 1974, and passed the RN board exam. In 1990, while working as Registered Nurse, she earned Bachelor of Science in Nursing in Governors State University, Illinois. Before working as a school nurse, she worked as Critical Care Nurse for 11 years in Jackson Park Hospital, Illinois. She was an Oncology Nurse for 11 years at Swedish Medical Center, University of Washington Medical Center, and Virginia Mason Medical Center. As a school nurse, she has been compassionate to work with school children and to help students manage their health concerns to be ready to learn.

Mr. Lowery grew up in Portland Oregon, attended elementary, middle, and high school there.  He attended College at Portland State University majoring in Black Studies and Social Science.  Mr. Lowery continued his schooling at the graduate level at Lewis and Clark college majoring in Secondary social studies. He moved to Atlanta Georgia in 2006 as a member of Teach for America teaching fifth grade.  In the summer of 2008 he moved to Watts, California to train new teachers to work in urban schools, and worked at Gompers middle school.  Mr Lowery began teaching at Aki Kurose in the winter of 2008, and this will be his fifth year at Aki.

Grace Saturnino has been at Aki Kurose School since 2004. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines. She taught college at San Sebastian School, Manila for two years while pursuing her Bachelors of Law degree at the same time. She later earned an MD (marriage degree) and is happily married with two daughters. She moved to Seattle in 2000 and worked with the Kent Regional Court and Renton Police Detectives Unit as a CASA (Court Appointed State Advocate).  She passionately believes in upholding the virtues of compassion, respect,  fairness and consistency especially when working with kids. She tries her best to be culturally competent and service oriented as she reaches out to Aki’s diverse studentry.

Tiffany Satterfield

Tiffany Satterfield earned her Bachelor of Art degree in studio art from Knox College, her Master of Science degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, and has spent the last few years teaching in Chicago and Philadelphia public schools.  Ms. Satterfield is looking forward to helping Aki girls build their confidence, character, and leadership skills so that they can make help make our world a better place.

Scott Anstett

Scott holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Art History, and Education. He pursued his interests in the arts at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and returned to the West Coast in 2001.

Scott is a creative and inspired teacher who truly loves his work and the daily interactions with young artists. He has been teaching and working with young artists since 1999 and began teaching in the Seattle Public Schools in 2001.

Deanna Barrett

Deanna Barrett has taught in Seattle Public Schools for 17 years, and for the last 11 years at Aki Kurose.  She teaches 7th and 8th grade Language Arts, encouraging students to become avid readers and voracious writers.

Amy Beard

Michael Connelly

Laura Glaus

Kylie Henderson

Stefanie Hardgrave

Ms. Richardson grew up in California and attended the University of California at Santa Cruz. She studied International and Comparative Politics for her undergraduate degree. Her college experience inspired her to be a thoughtful and engaged global citizen and to ask deep questions about the world around her. She has since been interested in making positive changes in the communities she is a part of and around the world. After traveling and living in many places, Ms. Richardson moved to Seattle and attended the University of Washington, where she earned her Masters in Teaching. Her goal as a teacher is to share knowledge and create experiences that challenge her students to become critical thinkers and to find what they are passionate to learn more about.

Mike Kreiger

Jessica Long

David Nelson

Christine Nevala

Audrey Roach

Desiree Robinette

Tiffany Robinson

Katie Schmidt

Justin Sklar

Josie Smith

Alana Murphy

Deanne Bodeau

Marina Woodall

Tania Westby

Akbar Brooks

Bryan Erlebach

Gary Chevas

Katrina Hunt

Frances Johnson

Ana Parada

Terry Thompson Jr.

Brian Manzo

Christie Anderson

Dori Guterson