The Bush School
Our Community

Faculty Spotlight

Meet Our Faculty

At The Bush School, our dynamic, inclusive, and creative community makes us strong. We value the identities, backgrounds, and experiences that our 700 students and over 100 faculty and staff bring to The Bush School and we know that the connections within our community are not just what make learning possible but also what makes learning dynamic, energizing, and engaging. Relationships are at the core of all we do which makes a difference for student growth both socially and academically.

Get to know some of the extraordinary faculty and staff that make up the Bush community. 

Matt Swanson, Middle School Music Teacher 

Teaching for me is a process of mutual discovery and growth. Some of my best teaching experiences have occurred when I take risks, try new things, and iterate my approach to improve my practice.

Five Questions - Videos

Five Questions - Faculty Profiles

  • Cris Hernandez Garcia Cris Hernandez Garcia

    Cris Hernandez Garcia - Middle School French and Spanish Teacher

    1. How long have you taught at Bush and what drew you to working here?

      This is my third year at The Bush School. What drew me to work here at The Bush School is the experiential and wilderness programs our school offers.
    1. What makes you most proud as a teacher?

      I am beyond proud of being an educator of color!
    1. What do you like most about teaching Middle School students?

      One of the things I like about being a Middle School teacher is being a bridge, a mentor, a listener to all my students of color and guiding them where they want and/or need to go.
    1. What is something you never leave home without?

       I never leave home without reminding myself of my roots and where I come from.
    1. What surprised you about Bush?

       One of the things that surprised me about Bush is the strong, warm, and welcoming community the school is. They are like a Familia.
  • Cecily Metzger Cecily Metzger

    Cecily Metzger - Second Grade Teacher

    1. How long have you taught at Bush and what drew you to working here?

      This is my 21st year teaching at Bush! Growing up, I attended Punahou School, in Hawaii, which is an independent K-12 school like Bush. I loved the idea of working at a K-12 school where I can see my students grow up over the years!
    1. Describe Bush Lower School in three words.

      Community, laughter, enthusiasm.
    1. What is something you have learned from your students?

      To find the fun in everything.
    1. What is something you never leave home without?

      My phone. It’s the one thing I always carry with me.
    1. What makes you most proud as a teacher?

      Oh, there are so many things! When my students understand that making mistakes is a part of learning. When I hear students helping each other. When my former students say hi or I hear them walking past my classroom reminiscing of what they did in Second Grade.
  • Katherine Francisco Katherine Francisco

    Katherine Francisco - Middle School History and French Teacher

    1. How long have you taught at Bush and what drew you to working here?

      This is my second year at Bush, and my eleventh year in education. I love that Bush promotes experiential learning. It allows me to bring my full self to my work. Here at Bush, I don't just teach History and French. I also get to teach and explore other passions such as Photography and Watercolor Painting.
    1. Describe Bush Middle School in three words.

      Vibrant, Balanced, and Experiential.
    1. What is your favorite thing to do on the weekends?

      One of the things I love about Seattle is all of the greenery and water, so I enjoy spending time hiking new trails and also walking around the lake with my dog, Sequoia. I also enjoy making time for creativity, which currently includes watercolor painting and making pottery on my wheel in my garage-studio.
    1. What part of teaching most inspires you?

      I feel most inspired by my students' genuine curiosity and excitement about learning. Both of my subjects - History and French - involve learning about cultures, peoples, and ways of life, and I love getting to see how my students approach these subjects with deep curiosity for the world around them.
    1. What is the best part of your job?

      I enjoy getting to know my students on a human level, beyond who they are in the classroom. Our students are so many things - kind, creative, curious, athletic, artistically talented, and so much more. Working in a close community gives me this opportunity.
  • Randi Gordner Randi Gordner

    Randi Gordner - Fifth Grade Teacher

    1. How long have you taught at Bush and what drew you to working here?

      It’s hard to believe that this is already my fifth year at Bush! Time really flies. I was really impressed by Bush’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) work and—since it was an area that I wanted to grow in professionally— I thought this might be a great fit. Five years later, I can still say that I feel incredibly supported in this work by our Lower School Division Director, Aliya.
    1. What is the best part of your job?

       I’ll give you two best parts! I think working with my teaching partner, Neil, has been a gift. Not only are we good friends, but we’re very aligned in our teaching pedagogy which allows us to be a true team as we support our Fifth Grade learners. Additionally, one of the best parts of my job is seeing when any Fifth Grade student perseveres through a challenge and sees all that they’re capable of doing. It’s pretty amazing.
    1. If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be?

      Probably an actor or director!
    1. What is your favorite book to teach?

      I love teaching any book written in verse (Inside Out and Back Again, The Crossover series, etc.). I feel like books written in verse allow students to engage with complex ideas and language in a way that feels accessible.
    1. Describe the Lower School in three words.

      Accepting, Courageous, Joyful.
  • Grace Hayek Grace Hayek

    Grace Hayek - Upper School Science Teacher

    1. How long have you taught at Bush and what drew you to working here?

      I joined Bush in the fall of 2016. What drew me to working here was the students. During my interview day I had the opportunity to have a pizza lunch with a group of students. I was blown away by their maturity, confidence, and self-advocacy. It was an aha moment for me—I wanted to work here, surrounded by this inspiring group of kids. The genuine focus on supporting both academic and personal growth at Bush made it the perfect fit for me.
    1. What do you like most about teaching Upper School students?

      Teaching Upper School students is a constant source of inspiration for me. Their innate sense of curiosity is infectious, reminding me daily of the excitement of learning. Interacting with them keeps me young!
    1. What is something you have learned from your students?

      One thing I've learned from my students is that there's a lesson in every moment. They've taught me to stay open and curious myself. It's amazing how their fresh perspectives, unique approaches to problem solving, and creative thinking have inspired me. Students are a constant reminder that you can learn something from everyone if you're willing to see every moment as a chance to grow.
    1. If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be?

      I would be a professional organizer.
    1. What is your go-to Commons lunch?

      Whatever the hot lunch being offered is!
  • Juli Kilman Juli Kilman

    Juli Kilman - Fourth Grade Teacher

    1. How long have you taught at Bush and what drew you to working here?

      I have taught at Bush for almost three months! When I was a first year teacher in Orlando, Florida, it was at a Multilingual Magnet School. I saw these fifth graders graduating to middle school fully fluent in either Spanish, French, or Vietnamese. I knew that this was the environment I wanted to teach in forever: a place where diversity thrives. I researched for schools whose values revolved the same ideas of culture and diversity and The Bush School popped up as the first. I remember thinking, “Right, like I will ever move to Washington!” Then…fifteen years later we moved to Washington! As soon as I moved to Washington, I checked for an open spot, but they only were hiring an assistant at the time (I still applied but didn’t get it). I tried again and here I am!
    1. What is your favorite part of teaching?

      Being in a school community that values learning by doing. I teach Fourth Grade science and we do a lot of hands on work whenever we can. It’s a lot of work and mess but it’s a wonderful opportunity to learn and have fun. We all learn differently, and it is so satisfying to see a student who must sit through quiet and still activities get to move around!
    1. What surprised you about Bush?

      It’s like a maze. I still haven’t seen everything. Oh…and the AMAZING food. I take pictures of it and send it to my family and friends.
    1. What is your favorite thing to do on the weekends?

      Sleep in. But on longer breaks, I like to hike and explore Washington. Try out different restaurants and read a good book.
    1. What era would you time travel to and why?

      This one is always tricky as a person of color. I always thought questions like this should also mention the country along with time of place. If I had to choose, I would want to travel to the future to see how our actions today impact my children, my students, and their families.
  • Jasmine Smith Jasmine Smith

    Jasmine Smith - Upper School English Teacher

    1. How long have you taught at Bush and what drew you to working here?

       I am entering my third year of teaching at the Bush School. What drew me to Bush was the school’s outward commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and its emphasis on community engagement and immersive education. As a hiker and ecological poet, I loved the school’s rich outdoor recreation programming.
    1. What is your favorite book to teach?

      As an English teacher, this question is difficult for me to answer, but if I had to choose, it would be Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass. Potawatomi Botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer plaits Indigenous knowledge, her narrative as a mother, scientist, and educator, with scientific wisdom. This lyric essay collection interrogates how we build more just and reciprocal relationships with the more human world. Amid climate despair and eco-anxiety, this text has become a staple in my Ecological Literature classes to cultivate hope, renewal of awe, and tenable solutions in the ongoing fight against climate change.
    1. What are your favorite things about being a part of the K-12 community?

      I’m in awe of the innovation my colleagues and their students foster in their classrooms across Bush’s campus. I grew up in a multigenerational household with my grandmother, sisters, and niece. Our house ricocheted with lively conversations about all kinds of things. Bush feels akin to this, where each chance encounter in the hallway could lead to an unexpected collaboration or new idea. One of these passing conversations led to a future collaboration between my Ecological Literature class and lower school students, who will create picture books about protecting vulnerable and endangered species across the West Coast.
    1. What is your favorite part of teaching?

      I’ve stated many things I adore about this work, but my students are the most inspiring part of my job. On days when I am depleted or haven’t had enough coffee, Bush’s students invigorate me with their humor, passion, curiosity, tenacity, and creativity.
    1. What era would you time travel to and why?

      Recently, I’ve found myself inspired by the futurist and speculative traditions of Octavia Butler, Eve Ewing, Alexis Paula Gumbs Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, and adrienne mareee brown. Instead of traveling back in time, I’d like to visit a distant future, even for a few days, to bring back solutions, warnings, and intelligent words to live by.
  • Nicole Price Nicole Price

    Nicole Price - Kindergarten Teacher

    1. How long have you taught at Bush and what drew you to working here?

      This is my fourth year teaching Kindergarten at Bush! Much of my prior experience in education was in early childhood education. Teaching Kindergarten has been such an exciting place to get to use my knowledge and apply it in this next phase of child development. I was drawn to Bush’s hands-on learning approach, strong sense of community and social emotional education focus. I love learning alongside students as we make sense of the world around us.
    1. What is your favorite thing about being a part of the K-12 community?

      Bush has such a strong sense of community. Being in my fourth year at the school, it is so wonderful to now know and have taught so many of the students in the Lower School. It is incredible getting to watch students continue to grow as they move through the grades! I love having conversations at recess, connections during buddy times and moments passing by in the hallway to continue to connect with past students. The Kindergarteners are paired up with 3rd grade buddies each year. This year, the 3rd graders were my first group of Kindergarteners at Bush. I look forward to spending time with the Buddies as they feel so eager to take on a leadership role and share memories and wisdom from their time in Kindergarten.
    1. What is your favorite memory from Bush?

      One of my favorite memories from Bush is the first time we built a pretend play area in the classroom based on all of the students' ideas. We had been reading a book, Zoey and Sassafras, about a girl who helps take care of magical creatures. As we were thinking about what would be a fun play area to make in the classroom, we asked the students what they thought? As soon as someone shared the idea of “Zoey and Sassafras”, the room erupted in excitement! Each child was involved in thinking of an idea and creating items to bring the area to life. It was so fun to watch them walk in each day as the area was “under construction” with a huge smile on their face to see what new things were there. Once we collected all of the things the students had thought of and created the pretend barn to play in, there was constant joy in play! Every student took turns immersed in the pretend world they had created and had such ownership over it, since it was their idea! Even the students who didn’t usually choose pretend play were deeply involved in the imaginative scenarios created each day.
    1. What part of teaching most inspires you?

      I am constantly inspired by the awe, joy and curiosity of learners. The look on a student's face when they learn something new and accomplish something that felt challenging are some of the best moments of my day. I am deeply inspired by students' sense of wonder and love investigating the questions that they ask as they make sense of the world around them. I really enjoy growing alongside students each day and learning with them as we go. I am also so inspired by my colleagues who have such amazing ways of engaging with students and building such an incredible community at the Bush School.
    1. What is your go-to Commons lunch?

      Any of the yummy vegan dishes they make!
  • Tom Bergeron Tom Bergeron

    Tom Bergeron - Upper School Mathematics Teacher and Ninth Grade Dean

    1. How long have you taught at Bush and what drew you to working here?

      I have taught at Bush for twelve years. A friend of a friend who worked at Bush introduced me to the school back in 2012. I had previously taught in New England for four years and had recently moved to Seattle. She told me about a job opening and told me how much she loved working at Bush. I researched the school and loved the small class sizes, passion for experiential education, and hands-on learning. I immediately applied and got the job!
    1. What do you like most about teaching US students?

      I love the broad interests of students in the Upper School. They are passionate about becoming more well-rounded learners and deepening their knowledge in the areas they love.
    1. If you weren't a teacher, what would you be?

      I would love to guide outdoor trips and/or photograph nature as these are two of my favorite hobbies.
    1. What is something you never leave home without?

      My bike! I love having the freedom to get anywhere around the city and beyond without having to worry about gas, parking, or traffic.
    1. What part of teaching most inspires you?

      Watching students solve intriguing problems together is inspiring. I love the sound “Ohhhhhhhh!” in my classroom as a student makes a big conceptual connection. That sound is wonderful.

Faculty Features

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The Bush School
The Bush School is an independent, coeducational day school located in Seattle, WA enrolling 735 students in grades K–12. The mission of The Bush School is to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities

3400 East Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98112 (206) 322-7978
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