UTCS Staff

Bio coming soon

I started my journey within childcare with special education, moved on to infant care, and now am lucky to call the toddler age home. I believe play-based learning is such an important and efficient teacher towards social and emotional development- not only for the children, but for us educators to continue to grow in our own experience, knowledge, and future implementation in teaching.

Hayley (she/her) grew up in the Seattle area, graduated from UW, and has been working with children ever since. Hayley’s favorite thing about UTCS is the team’s strong alignment on child-centered and anti-bias educational philosophies. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, escape rooms, crafts, and nature. 

Eileen is currently a student at the University of Washington studying biology and anthropology. Although her long-term goal is to pursue dentistry, working with children is something she genuinely enjoys and finds meaningful. Over the years, she has built connections with the children and their families, watched the kids grow, and become part of their everyday experiences. She believes consistently showing up and being someone the children recognize and feel comfortable with makes a real difference and is one of the most rewarding parts of her job. She loves getting to know each child’s unique personality, celebrating their little milestones, and being part of a close-knit community where families, teachers, and children grow together. Outside of school, she enjoys working out, trying new sushi spots, spending time with friends, and going on adventures. She loves exploring new places, trying new things, and is grateful to be part of a community that has become such a meaningful part of my college experience.

Moving from New Hampshire to Seattle, I have spent nearly two-thirds of my life living in this city. During that time I have graduated from The Evergreen State College with a degree in Sustainable Agriculture, raised three amazing children with my husband Steve, co-owned a bakery for 20 years and finally jumped into the ECE profession. Before landing at UTCS, where I have taught for 13 years, I worked for three years as an infant and toddler teacher at another Seattle preschool. I have been privileged to partner with a dedicated and talented group of teachers while working in the toddler room at UTCS. I genuinely love working with toddlers! They are amazing and teach me just as much as I teach them. Witnessing and participating in their development is exciting and inspirational. Every day brings new challenges and wonders and an opportunity for professional growth and self-reflection. I draw on the RIE philosophy in my work with toddlers. It is a philosophy which cultivates a relationship of respect and trust. I enjoy gardening, cooking, and outdoor adventures, and strive to integrate these interests into our classroom curriculum. I also like to read, ride my bike, dance, and take long walks with my grand dog Maya. But most of all I love playing with my totally delightful family, including my eight-month old granddaughter

Meg is an Australian born global citizen, having lived in Australia, Italy, Ecuador, Kenya, Great Britain and the United States. She and her family are happy to have called Seattle home since 2011. Meg started her early childhood teaching career in 1993, working with toddlers and preschoolers at the Harvard Law School Child Care Center. She has an MEd from Lesley University (Collaborative Internship Program with the Shady Hill School in Cambridge, MA), a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education from the Queensland University of Technology and a BA from the University of Queensland.Her teaching experience ranges from toddlers to second grade, with preschool being her "sweet spot.” Meg believes that young children learn best in an environment that promotes connection and relationship, with hands on exploration, collaboration, problem solving and play taking center stage.

Eleanor is the Outreach Coordinator VISTA. She is working on anti-bias curriculum at UTCS, outreach in the community, and funding for the school. Eleanor is from Portland, Oregon, went to college in Massachusetts, and taught English in western France for a year. Since moving back to the Northwest, she has enjoyed hiking, yoga, running, as well as being closer to her family.