Director/Founder

Patricia Feltin Dr. Patricia Feltin, founder and director of Eton School, holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and a Masters of Arts in Education (Curriculum / Montessori) from Seattle University. She has taught elementary in private, public and military schools. Active membership is held in the American Montessori Society (AMS), Phi Delta Kappa (national education honorary), Washington Federation of Independent Schools (WFIS), Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools (PNAIS) and Pacific Northwest Montessori Association (PNMA). She is on the PNAIS accreditation committee and just completed 6 years as chair of the AMS accreditation commission. Dr. Feltin serves on many accreditation teams and was a repeat site visitor for the U. S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School program. She is a certified consultant for AMS.

Pre-elementary Teaching Faculty:

Susan Baccellieri

Ms. Susan Baccellieri is in her 20th year of teaching at Eton School. She holds both an undergraduate degree from SCU San Francisco and a Master's in Education from Chaminade University, as well as Montessori certification for the 3-6 program. Susan has been involved in Montessori education for many years, as a teacher and a parent as she has three adult children who were all students in Montessori schools. Her varied interests are evident in the many experiences she brings to the classroom, enriching the children's lives through her own love of music, dance, sports, gardening, art, and literature. From her first encounter with Montessori children, Susan was impressed by the confidence with which they spoke to their peers and adults, and she encourages all of her students to develop that strength and self-assuredness.

Holly Fleming

Mrs. Holly Fleming is beginning her 4th year as a teacher in Eton's pre-elementary classrooms. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts from Evergreen State College in 2005 and completed the Montessori certification for 3-6 year olds in 1997. She has several years experience teaching as a lead teacher in a preschool and kindergarten class prior to coming to Eton. Holly is also an experienced equestrian, as she has been riding horses since she was four years old. She loves trail riding, hiking in the woods, animals, libraries, and chocolate, and she feels privileged to be working at Eton School, where she continues to be amazed at what the children are able to learn and the positive difference that they can make in the world.

Sharon Gonzalez

Mrs. Sharon Gonzalez is in her third at Eton School. She came as an intern, stayed as an assistant and has taught in our summer program. She holds both a BA in Economics degree from University of Santo Tomas and a Juris Doctor (JD) from the Ateneo De Manila University, College of Law, as well as Montessori certification for the 3-6 program. Sharon practiced law in the Philippines prior to working in a Montessori school for young children coming from the low income group. Mrs. Gonzalez has four children ages ranging from 6 to 10 years of age. She loves what the State of Washington offers in terms of outdoor and indoor activities for her children. Recently, because of personal experience, her family has been advocating awareness for cancer in children, specifically leukemia. Other Interests include music, theater arts, movies and reading books.

Michelle Lee

Ms. Michelle Lee has been at Eton School for three years and has a B.A. degree from the University of Washington, as well as Montessori certification for 3-6 year olds since 2004. Michelle is an incredibly creative person and enjoys many kinds of art, including drawing, painting, crafts, balloon art, and jewelry making. She was attracted to teaching because working with children energizes her and she feels connected to them through her true love of children and their innocence and openness to experiencing their world. She is grateful for every day that she has to learn from and enrich the lives of her students.

Madeline Lee

Mrs. Madeline Lee is in her first year at Eton School, but she brings with her 15 years of experience in the Montessori community. She holds a Master's in Education from Indiana University and is AMS certified for the Montessori 3-6 program. Madeline has been privileged to work at various schools in Hawaii and Virginia, and is now enjoying being in Washington State where she lives with her retired Army attorney and IT consultant husband. Madeline enjoys surfing the Web, reading, making crafts, visiting national parks, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She is attracted to the Montessori way of teaching because children are so open, honest, and receptive to all ideas, and she strives to help them cultivate that spirit.

Tomoko Onuma

Ms. Tomoko Onuma is beginning her 9th year at Eton School, and brings a great deal of teaching experience to our school. She was educated
at Dohkanyama College, and received her Montessori certification in 2003 for the 3-6 program. Tomoko previously taught kindergarten in Japan for 4 years, and well as several years as a teacher at Universitas College Australia, Amsterdam Japanese Kindergarten, Yokohama International School, and Seattle Japanese School. When not busy at Eton School in the pre elementary classrooms or teaching Japanese to our students, Tomoko enjoys being at home with her husband and 2 parakeets, practicing yoga, and traveling. But she always enjoys her time at school because she feels most related to children.

Lynette Oshiro

Ms. Lynette Oshiro has been a teacher at Eton School for 12 years and has been Montessori certified for the 3-6 program since 1992. She also holds a B.A. degree in Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and a Master's in Education from Chaminade University of Honolulu. Prior to joining Eton School, Lynette was a teacher at L. Robert Allen Montessori Lab School associated with Chaminade University, and the Montessori School of Tacoma. She enjoys visiting the Island of Oahu in Hawaii, where her family still lives, as well as her favorite hobbies of reading, golf, hiking, and tennis. Lynette is attracted to teaching because of the daily opportunity to work with children, which brings her great joy, as well as the Montessori philosophy and the hands on learning that is abundant in the classrooms.

Nasreen Shamsuddin

Mrs. Nasreen Shamsuddin has been teaching at Eton School for 23 years, and holds a B.S. degree in Biochemistry from Dhaka University, a degree in Early Childhood Education from Diablo Valley College in California, and Montessori certification for 3-6 year olds. Before coming to Eton School, Nasreen taught at Les Ecoles Montessori Inc., Montreal Western Montessori Learning Center in Vancouver, BC, and Alice's Montessori School in San Francisco. She enjoys reading, cooking, traveling the world, and spending time with her husband, two children, and daughter-in-law. As a Montessorian, Nasreen appreciates the great joy of being with such peaceful children, and the beautiful materials and Montessori philosophy.

Sudha Vaghul

Mrs. Sudha Vaghul has been a teacher at Eton School for 7 years in the pre-elementary level. She was educated at the University of Madras,
from which she received a B.A. degree in Economics and a Master's in Social Work, as well as completing her Montessori certification for the 3-6 program. Sudha's family include her husband and two children, both of have been or are a student at Eton School. Her love of reading and traveling the world are evident through the many valuable cultural lessons that she brings to the classroom. Sudha is fascinated by the way that children grow and learn through the Montessori cosmic curriculum, as it resounds with her personal beliefs and the way of life that she was raised by.

Kalsom Wali

Ms. Kalsom Wali has been a teacher at Eton School for 9 years, having joined the Eton family after teaching for 5 years at the International Pre-School in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She received her bachelors degree from the ITM in Malaysia, as well as her Montessori certification for the 3-6 program. Kalsom is very experienced with working with the many different personalities that can occupy a Montessori classroom, as she is the 11th child in a family of 12 children. Her favorite hobbies include watching football, dancing, and enjoying movies, and as she is an independent person coming from a large family, she appreciates the Montessori multi-age groups and the philosophy of following the child.

Lower Elementary Teaching Faculty:

Regan Becker

Ms. Regan Becker is in her 5th year of teaching at Eton School, after previously having taught at a bilingual school in Romania, and assisted in a Montessori 9-12 classroom. She received her B.A. in Sociology of Film from Linfield College in 1997, and became Montessori certified in 2005. Ms. Becker enjoys photography, writing short fiction, cooking, and reading, among other interests. As a Montessorian, Regan appreciates the opportunity to incorporate her personal practice of life as a daily walking meditation into the classroom.

Sadie Dethloff

Mrs. Sadie Dethloff graduated from Western Washington University in 2001 with a degree in Environmental Education, received her WA State Teacher Certification in 2005 from U W and Montessori Elementary 1 Certification in 2009 from Montessori Institute of the Pacific Northwest. Sadie has taught Outdoor Education at Moran Outdoor School on Orcas Island, Summer Nature Camp for Seattle Audubon Society and the Woodland Park Zoo, and was an Environmental Interpreter for San Juan County Park. Sadie was a Wildlife Naturalist and directed marine tours for San Juan Excursions based from San Juan Island. She also worked for People For Puget Sound. She subbed in public schools in grades K-8 and taught private preschool in Seattle.
Mrs. Dethloff loves spending time with her family (especially her newly-wed husband!) and friends. She likes kayaking, camping, hiking, going to movies, concerts, and going on road trips.

Kris Meyer Gaskins

Ms. Kris Meyer Gaskins is in her 15th year of teaching at Eton School. She received her B.A. from Willamette University in 1979 followed
by her AMS Montessori certification for 3-6 and 6-9 in 1982 and 2002, and a Master's in Education from Chaminade University in 2006. Besides keeping busy with her hobbies of gardening and reading, Kris also enjoys spending time with her two daughters, both of whom are part of the Eton family of students and alumni. Kris's love of children and education has been apparent throughout her career in all levels and aspects of Montessori, and it continues in her classroom today.

Cindy LaMonica

Ms. Cindy LaMonica is newly arrived at Eton School, after having taught in Montessori classrooms for many years. She attended Argosy University and received her AMS Montessori certification for the 3-6 program in 1989, then in 2005 completed her Elementary 6-12 Montessori training. Originally from Illinois, but having lived in several states throughout her life, Cindy recently spent 3 years teaching at Crystal Lake Montessori School in the Chicago area, but is enjoying being back in Washington. Cindy has a great love of teaching children, and especially enjoys the Montessori method because of how it allows children to grow not only academically but as citizens of the global community.

Cindy Merritt

Michelle Riske

Nathan Thomas

Eton Veladare Academy Principal:

Gwen Williams
Background: 6 years teaching public school in Arizona grades 2 -6; 13 years teaching 4-8th grades Eton School; co-founder Veladare School; 9 years teaching and co-directing Veladare School grades 7 and 8

Education: BA art and English San Diego State University; MEd U of Arizona; additional hours UW and Seattle Pacific University in learning styles, writing and brain studies.

Professional Affiliations: member Washington Federation of Independent Schools; National Middle School Association, Washington State Teaching Certificate

EVA Teaching Faculty:

Clay Blankenship

Marjie Butler

Background: 25 years teaching K-9; 7 years Middle School Dean of Students, 3 years Student Coordinator, Missouri; 4 years at Eton School

Education: BA in Recreation and Outdoor Education and Psychology

Candace Davidson

Background: 16 years experience teaching, Physical Science pre-elementary through 6th Grade, Math Teacher Eton Prep 4th-6th; 16 years at Eton School

Education: BA in Education; 5th Year UW, Pre and Elementary Montessori Teacher Training, post graduate work in mathematics
Professional Affiliation: Washington State Teaching Certificate

Sonja Everson

Background: 1 year Highline School District 4th grade teacher, 5 years Extended Day Assistant Director, Seattle Country Day School, peer coach, volunteer tutor and educational assistant at Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center

Education: BA in Psychology and Masters in Teaching from Seattle University

Professional Affiliations: National Council for the Social Studies, Washington Organization for Reading Development

Ellen Gatton

Background: 9 years founding teacher Veladare School, active volunteer in the Bellevue Public Schools, 11 years at Eton School.

Education: BA from Georgian Court University, post graduate work at Trenton State University and University of Washington.

Professional Affiliations: American Classical League

Debbie Gessert

Background: 30 years teacher in public and private schools, Michigan, Texas and Florida; 12 years at Eton School

Education: BA in Elementary Education (Michigan State U), MEd in Special Education;gifted (U of Florida), EdD in Child and Youth Studies, (Nova Southeastern University)

Professional Affiliations: formerly Florida Council of Reading, National Association of Gifted Children, Chair of PNAIS All-Schools Conference Planning Committee; Washington State Teaching Certificate

Kevin Gilfillan

Laura Holmes

Background: 3 years field engineer, 15 years Study Skills Coordinator and private tutor Learning Enrichment Center, 9 years science & math teacher at Veladare School.

Education: Bachelor of Engineering from Vanderbilt U; Master of Science and PhD candidate in civil and environmental engineering, UW; Teacher Certifcation program, Western Washington U.

Professional Affiliations: member National Council for Teachers of Mathematics, Washington Science Teachers Association, Nature Conservancy

Margery Lamden

Concepcion Miranda-Perez

Mary Springer

Sue Walker

Background: 1 year 5-6th teacher in Yakima School District, substitute teacher Renton School District, 17 years private practice Licensed Psychologist

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from Oakland University, Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from University of Detroit Mercy, Teacher Certification from Heritage University

Tricia Wray

Experience: 3 years teaching math in public middle school, Texas and 1 year teaching math at Eton Veladare Academy.

Education: BS in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A & M University with teacher certifications in math, sociology, and psychology.

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