New Staff at TOPS
2007-2008
Eva Masumoto
Eva Masumoto joins the staff at TOPS this fall as the ESL teacher, replacing Nicole Titus who is on leave. Eva and her family are just returning to Seattle after spending a year living in Hawaii. Her most recent job before TOPS was at Bailey Gatzert Elementary, where she was the ESL teacher working with 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. She taught there for eight years.
Eva is very excited about her new job at TOPS. She’s looking forward to the collaborative environment, the supportive and involved parents, and most of all she’s looking forward to meeting the students. Eva said the best part of teaching is the kids. She loves the energy of the children, and the impact they have on her life. “I’ve never had a bad day teaching!” She finds working with kids a happy and positive experience and she thoroughly enjoys her career.
Eva loves to read and spend time with her own kids when she’s not working. Her husband works from home and “he’s a great dad.” Eva has two children, Jack, age 6, and Anna, age 4. Jack will be attending TOPS as a first grader in the fall.
Eva received her B.A. in International Affairs and her Masters in Secondary Social Studies Education, both from Florida State. She spent two years teaching in Japan through an exchange program for teachers, and that was a wonderful experience for her. After she returned from Japan, she received her ESL endorsement here in Seattle. She taught in the ESL program at Edmonds Community College, working with Japanese students, and spent 6 months teaching in the migrant education program for the Seattle Public Schools. Welcome to TOPS, Eva!
Yea-Jae Wang (Pollyanna)
The TOPS Chinese program is gearing up for its 3rd year, and we are pleased to welcome a brand new teacher. Yea-Jae Wang is joining us to teach Chinese to students in Grades 1-5. Yea-Jae, who also goes by the name Pollyanna, is a native of Taiwan. She holds a Masters in Education from Ohio State, and is currently pursuing her Masters in Teaching at City University.
Yea-Jae also teaches Chinese at John Muir Elementary School. The school is one of three public elementary schools in Seattle that now offer Chinese during the regular school day. The program is funded by a US Department of Education grant. It uses a novel, math-centered approach to teaching the language. Yea-Jae has taught Chinese for close to a decade. She has also worked as a computer programmer for Safeco Insurance.
We are also pleased to welcome back our Kindergarten Chinese teacher, Xiao Yu Jackson. This year, the two teachers will again be offering three sections of Chinese: for Kindergarten, Grades 1-2, and Grades 3-5. Classes for Grades 1-5 begin in late October, so be on the look out for applications. Kindergarten classes start in January. We hope you can join us!
Jenny Gamache
Jenny Gamache joins TOPS this fall, as elementary special education resource teacher. Jenny has big shoes to fill, taking over for Patty Maffit who retired after many years of teaching at TOPS.
Jenny is so excited about working at TOPS. She visited several times in the spring, to get a better feel of the school. She was extremely impressed with the teaching staff, and with the level of parent involvement at the school. States Jenny, “I’m so excited to be in a school where parents are involved.” Jenny’s goals at TOPS are to develop strong relationships with her students and their families, to meet each child’s individual needs, and to help each child build self-esteem and feel good about what he/she can do.
Jenny is married with two children, both girls, ages five and two. The family also has a vicious cat named Dora. Her five year old will be starting kindergarten this year, and hopefully next year will be able to move to TOPS.
Jenny is doing her 1st triathlon this summer, the Danskin. She loves outdoor activities such as camping, biking, skiing, and swimming. She also loves to read and spend time with her children.
Another important part of Jenny’s life is that she is Lead Teacher at the Seattle Children’s Playgarden Summer Camp (www.childrensplaygarden.org). It is a park that is being renovated and turned into a truly accessible garden and park for children with all kinds of abilities and disabilities.
Jenny graduated from the University of Washington with a teaching degree, and then in 1995 received her Masters in Special Education from Teachers College at Columbia University in New York City. After teaching for a year in New York, she and her husband, Geoff, moved back to Seattle, where Jenny taught in the Shoreline School District for three years. They then moved back to New York for Geoff to attend law school. In 2003 they came back to Seattle, and Jenny taught at Seahawks Academy and Emerson Elementary School. She’s been on leave since the birth of her youngest daughter in 2005, and is now looking forward to returning to work at TOPS.
Welcome Jenny! We know that you will love working at TOPS.
