Vinnie Duffy-Owner, Director

This is Vinnie’s 31st year at The Learning Tree. Vinnie is Director of The Learning Tree and is Head Teacher for the PM program. Vinnie graduated from the Child Care Director’s Certificate Program at North Seattle Community College. He graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in History.

He has participated in local Boy Scouting and was the Cub Master for Pack #9 on Capitol Hill. Vinine founded and is a leader of the Social Justice Committee at this church. Vinnie is Dad to four children, grandfather of three, with his wife Roslyn Duffy. Vinnie is a militant vegetarian, whose interests include: bread making, Tai-Chi, gardening, hiking and biking.

Visit him in the office anytime before 2:30 or meet him in the classroom after 2:30.

Sarah -Admissions Director, Office Manager

This is Sarah’s twelfth year working at The Learning Tree, but would you believe that before that she was a student? She spent 1981, 1982 and 1983 as a preschool/kindergarten student here!

Sarah is very happy to work with her old preschool and kindergarten teacher Vinnie.

Sarah has two children; a son, Abdul, who will attend O’Dea High School in September. Abdul holds the honor of being the first LT grandchild! Sarah also has a daughter, Mia, who will start the fourth grade at St. Therese School. Music brings much joy into their lives-they are truly a musical family! All three of them play marimbas and Abdul and Mia travel with their bands professionally (Shumba Youth Marimba Ensemble).

Sarah’s hobbies are reading, playing and watching baseball, singing in her church choir and taking walks near any body of water.

Sarah works in the office Monday - Friday

James

James is starting his 9th year full time at The Learning Tree. He has been a part of the Learning Tree family for the past 13 years. His wife, Karen Campbell, is a teacher here. His three daughters have attended The Learning Tree--Kesha (19), Nia (16), and Japera (11)--and he also has a son named Chandly, who is 23. He will be working 11:00-6:00 in the afternoon program. James is a talented musician, who loves drumming and is in The Bakra Bata Steel Drum Band.

Karen

Karen came to the LT as an intern in 1994. She earned her AMS certificate and taught until 2000 at LT. She left for two years and earned her Washington State Teaching Certificate and taught in the public schools before coming back to LT.

Karen lives with her husband James, also a teacher at LT and her children Nia, 16 and Japera, 11. Karen’s two older children Chandly, 23 and Kesha, 19 are off in college.

Her hobbies are reading, watching baseball and frequent trips to Montana where she has family.

Karen is co-head teacher in the Dogwood and Pre-K classes. She teaches from 8am to 3pm.

Laura -Assistant Director

Laura Holt has been in Montessori education for 22 years. 20 of those years she has been at Learning Tree, give or take a few years off for babies, travel and family issues. She has served on the board of PNMA (Pacific Northwest Montessori Association) for most of these years, as well as CDAGS (Childcare Directors Association of Greater Seattle). She has been actively involved in issues regarding Early Learning and continues to help influence the Early Childhood community. Laura has 2 boys, Stephen-17 and David-15, both graduates of Learning Tree, who you may see occasionally helping with projects around the school. Laura is now the Assistant Director but spends much of her time in the classroom. When not in the classroom, she helps with staff development, curriculum development, parent education, and other duties that include landscaping and scrubbing.

Laura enjoys working in her yard, watching her boys play select baseball, and reading.

Margo

Margo has been at LT since her son Kepler, now 9, was 3! Margo received her Montessori training from Spring Valley in 2006. Her special passions include: song-writing, reading and children (not always in that order! ☺ ). “Learning Tree is a wonderful party of my life!”

Margo is co-head teacher in the Dogwood class. She teaches from 8:30am till 3pm.

Amy Yount

I am a Michigan native and the 2nd oldest of seven from blended families. A trained Art Historian and activist at heart, fight for social justice and civil rights issues - equality, women's issues and education, among others and enrich young people through art as a means of creative expression and to further develop skills. I love the outdoors and have recently discovered the wonders of hiking and am excited about low tide in June.

Amy is the teacher assistant in the Juniper class. She opens the school at 7:30am and teaches until 3:30pm

Marella

This is Marella’s fourth year at the Learning Tree. She graduated from the University of Washington in 2006 in English Literature, and recently completed her Montessori certification with the United Montessori Association. She enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with family and friends. She is excited to begin her fourth year at The Learning Tree.

Marella comes in at 11:30 for lunch, nap and afternoon time.

Anastasia

Anastasia is very happy to be teaching at the Learning Tree and enjoys the parents and children tremendously. She has been a Montessori teacher since 1992, has a Master's degree in Education and has worked in and with Seattle's public Montessori programs. Anastasia is an avid horsewoman and spends as much time as possible riding her Norwegian Fjord, Bree. She lives with her son and husband on Capitol Hill in a house that is over a hundred years old, is heated only with wood and has a garden that is 3/4 of an acre! Now if she could only get the horse in the yard...

Anastasia is co-head teacher of the Juniper class. She teaches from 8:30 till 12:30 daily.

Timothy

This is Timothy’s third year at the Learning Tree! His focuses have been sculpture, photography, painting and book arts. Applying and imparting his love for visual arts in to our classrooms has and will continue to be his main focus here at The Learning Tree.

Timothy opens the Learning Tree at 7:30am. He teaches in the Dogwood class and pre-k until 3pm.

Noam

Noam started working at The Learning Tree in the winter of 2005. He completed his Montessori teacher training at the Montessori Educational Institute of the Pacific Northwest. His interests include friends, family, community experimental theater, and wholesome ethical living.

Noam is co-head teacher of the Juniper class. He teaches in the classroom until 12:30, then teaches Pre-K. His hours are 8am till 3pm.

Bridget