New Faces in Familiar Places
As we start off the school year, we'd like to introduce our newest faculty and staff!
Last week they went through our orientation process and are quickly finding out that their arrival at Overlake is at a time that is full of change and opportunity.
Please welcome our newest members to our Overlake community.
Clare's arrival to Overlake comes with a temporary classroom but ample opportunities! Joining us from Connecticut, Clare holds a PhD in Biology from Tufts University and has been teaching high school biology, chemistry, and ecology electives. She loves sparking the curiosity of students and helping them learn by exploring.
Building the body and an education program are two goals that Omar Jimenez has just completed. As a founder of Rainier Prep's Physical Education program, Jimenez developed health and wellness programs for the school's students.
Overlake gains its bang for its buck with Mindy McGrath. Spending the past sixteen years as a coach and teacher at Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma, McGrath will lead our middle school students in physical education. We will also benefit with her experience as Head Volleyball Coach of our state tournament varsity team.
Although new to Overlake teaching, Jamie McVicar is very familiar with our campus as he joins his wife Nidhi McVicar, Overlake's Director of Teaching and Learning. Jamie will be filling the role of Middle and Upper School Social Studies faculty. He holds a degree in History from Georgetown University and was previously the Social Studies Department Chair as well as a substitute teacher at Overlake. Outside the classroom, Jamie has coached lacrosse, golf, and soccer.
Aime joins Overlake as our newest French teacher. Coming from Indiana, but originally from The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Aime brings nine years of French teaching to Overlake. He studied at the University of Nantes in France and has most recently taught French at the French International School in Harare Zimbabwe.
Becky got a jump start at Overlake when she joined our staff at the beginning of the summer. As Overlake's Middle and Upper School Coordinator, she makes sure that our campus is running at tip top shape and every event get's the attention that it needs. She brings a wealth of experience in management and customer service in a variety of fields including software, finance, and retail. She also managed a Bar method studio for 9 years.
Learning Specialist Crissy Stenkowski makes the short move east to Overlake after working as a counselor at the International School in Bellevue. She holds a Masters in Counseling from Indiana University and received the Bonner Scholarship and Segal AmeriCorps Education Award for her community service involvement. Other relevant experience includes work as a Learning Specialist and Director of Student Services at Forest Ridge School.
Overlake's Library bustles from sunrise to sunset, and Kelly Vikstrom-Hoyt says that the way she likes it. Kelly has been a librarian and Director of Instructional Technology at The Bush School, Eastside Catholic and Giddens School. She loves working with teenagers and taking on new challenges. Most recently she has become a Makerspace expert and learned to play the accordion!