Park Highland Staff
Sarah Allard
Assistant Director
Sarah has been working with children in various capacities for over 12 years. Prior to joining Cedar Crest, Sarah worked in a childcare program as a Toddler Teacher, and during college nannied for a family of four children (all under the age of five) while pursuing her undergraduate studies. Sarah joined Cedar Crest as an Early Learners Lead Teacher in 2005 and was promoted to the position of Assistant Director in early 2008.
Sarah holds a Bachelors of Arts in Educational Ministries focusing in children, youth and adults, from Seattle Pacific University. She also took classes in Elementary Education while attending SPU and was very involved in working with children. She volunteered in a Kindergarten classroom and tutored elementary school children in after-school programs. Sarah has also worked with children at her church since 2003 and currently teaches Sunday school to preschoolers. She is also helping to revise the church’s preschool curriculum.
While not at Cedar Crest, Sarah enjoys hosting dinner parties with her husband, Angelo, organizing her home, and stamping cards. Sarah was born and raised in Kent, Washington, where her immediate family still resides.
Megan Ames
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Megan attended Eastern Washington University where she earned a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Education in Reading. Once she realized her passion for teaching young children, she decided to pursue a second degree and received an additional B.A. in Education in Children’s Studies. She is now state endorsed in Elementary Education, Reading, and Early Childhood Education. She has worked in elementary schools in both Kindergarten and 1st grade classes. She enjoys the inquisitive minds of young learners and being a part of their early learning experiences
Megan has been working with children in varying capacities for 9 years. She was a volunteer in the nursery at her church where she cared for infants and toddlers. She was also a nanny for multiple families with young children, and a volunteer at a crisis nursery where she worked with children from birth to age six.
Megan has taken five years of Spanish classes throughout her schooling and was able to travel to Mexico as a short-term exchange student. This experience also enabled her to be an English tutor for Spanish speaking children in the 1st grade.
In addition to teaching, Megan enjoys cooking, traveling, reading, and has a passion for coffee.
Allison Birdsall
Preschool Lead Teacher
Allison has been working with children of all different ages for 15 years. Alli has worked in many different capacities, including a nanny, daycare teacher, and elementary teacher assistant. Alli has enjoyed being a nanny for the past 15 years for various families. One family Alli has been with for all 15 years has a boy who suffers from epilepsy. Alli has a particular passion and commitment for working with those with special needs.
Most recently Allison worked for 3 years at a local private pre-k through elementary school. The first 2 years as an Instructional Assistant in a pre-kindergarten classroom. The 3rd year she was an Instructional Assistant in a 1st grade classroom.
Allison holds a Bachelors Degree in Family Studies and Consumer Science with a minor in Early Childhood Education. She enjoys all aspects of education and child development. For the last two years Allison has attended City University of Bellevue to obtain her Masters Degree in Elementary Education. She maintains a 3.7 gpa and was on the dean’s list.
Allison grew up in the Bellevue area and attended the local elementary, middle and high schools. After high school she attended college at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA. During her college career she worked in a campus daycare as an assistant in a learning room for 3 and 4 year olds.
In her spare time Allison enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and enjoying all the warm weather Washington receives.
Pamela Burke
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Pamela's 28 years of experience as an educator began at a privately owned preschool, and has since spanned three states and grades preschool through 12th. Her experience includes developing an on-site childcare program for a healthcare clinic as the Director of Educational Services for a worldwide hospital chain, developing an alternative school program for a public school district, and teaching Kindergarten and Preschool classes. She has most recently worked as a Special Education Teacher with Seattle Public Schools in their inclusion program, helping to integrate children with special needs with the rest of the school population. Pamela also developed Individual Education Plans for children under her care to ensure programs were tailored to each child’s specific needs.
Pamela earned a Bachelor's of Science in Human Services, a Master of Science in Counseling, and multiple subjects teaching credentials for preschool, K-8, and Special Education, all from California State University, Fullerton. Since relocating to Washington she has also added Washington State teaching credentials in Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education.
Pamela practices yoga several days a week and is working toward becoming a certified yoga instructor. She also enjoys gourmet cooking and reading in her spare time.
Sara Butler
Preschool Lead Teacher
Sara graduated from Washington State University with a degree in Communication with an emphasis in public relations. She has been working with children for over 10 years and loves teaching them and watching them grow. She began babysitting for family and friends, and worked with children during cheerleading mini camps while in high school. She also worked at Sylvan Learning Center as an assistant, tutoring children ages six to eighteen in the subjects of English, Math and Language Arts. Her love of children is what attracted her to Cedar Crest Academy. She looks forward to seeing her current students grow and advance both socially and academically, and being a part of shaping their lives and futures.
Sara was born and raised in Olympia, and has a big, loving family. Her mom moved to Illinois with Sara’s twin brother and sister who just turned 2 years old. Recently Sara spent 8 months living with them in Illinois and cared for the children. This again sparked her love of children and desire to work with them on a daily basis.
When not at Cedar Crest Sara enjoys spending time with her cousin and roommate, going to sushi restaurants and having girl movie nights. She also enjoys reading, finding great music, and traveling and visiting friends for Cougar football Saturdays!
Shauna Cogan
Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Shauna has been working with children for more than 4 years. Shauna recently received her teaching credential through California Lutheran University where she did her student teaching in a kindergarten classroom. Shauna enjoyed her time teaching kindergarten and is passionate about providing a structured, nurturing environment where all her students are able to meet their fullest learning potential.
Shauna has also been a substitute teacher for the Moorpark School District in California as well as a Response to Intervention supervisor for Flory Academy of Science and Technology in Moorpark, California. During that time Shauna worked with kindergarten through fifth grade students.
While getting her BA in Liberal Studies at California Lutheran University, she worked as a part time nanny and tutor. She has also worked with children at a variety of summer camps; coordinating activities and teaching sports. Her professional mission at Cedar Crest academy is to excite, motivate, and educate students by creating a learning environment that is both fun and conducive to learning.
When Shauna is not at Cedar Crest she loves shopping, cooking, scrapbooking going to the gym and spending time with her family and friends.
Dee Dawson
Art Teacher and Event Coordinator
Dee has been working with children for 31 years and has taught children from toddler age to junior high in both public and private schools. In addition to teaching school, Dee also taught Equestrian riding to children of all ages.
Before joining Cedar Crest Academy, Dee taught at a Montessori school where she realized her passion for working with younger children. At Cedar Crest, Dee has been able to integrate some of her knowledge of the Montessori Method with Cedar Crest’s curriculum. Dee helped launch our second Preschool class during the summer of 2003.
Dee has raised two grown daughters and is now enjoying her six grandchildren. While not at Cedar Crest, Dee enjoys spending time boating, fishing, and training new Equestrian instructors.
Robyn Hanrahan
Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Robyn has been working with children for more than 20 years, and has taught ages toddler through 12 years old. She has tutored in private homes, worked as a nanny, and taught in church for both Sunday and midweek programs. For 13 years prior to coming to Cedar Crest, Robyn was a Preschool Lead Teacher at a non-profit preschool/childcare center, and for the last 11 years of that she was also the Program Supervisor.
Robyn has a certificate in Early Childhood Education from Renton Technical College, and one year of music from Edmonds Community College. She takes at least ten hours of continuing education in Early Childhood Education each year. Robyn is looking forward to completing her Associate’s Degree after her youngest child graduates from high school.
Spending time with her family, specifically her two children, is Robyn’s favorite way to use her free time. Robyn also enjoys being outdoors (especially in the mountains), reading, and singing, as well as several different arts and crafts.
Kelley Irish
Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Kelley has been working with children for over 9 years. She comes to CCA from a private school in Sammamish, where she worked as an Assistant Teacher and Lead Science Teacher to the Kindergarten class as well as co-teacher to the four-year-old preschool class. Outside of teaching in the classroom, Kelley also dedicates many hours to tutoring Elementary School students. She has a firm belief in the potential of every child and works hard to incorporate different learning styles into her teaching. This enables Kelley’s students to thrive and be challenged in many different ways.
Kelley graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Individual and Family Development and a minor in Physical Education. While attending Seattle Pacific University the majority of her classes focused on the development of Early Childhood Education as well as Elementary Education. Kelley truly has a passion for teaching and considers herself lucky to be able to spend her days inside the imaginations of her students.
When she is not teaching, you will find Kelley working out, hiking, going to movies, working on crafts, and spending time with her family and friends.
Lori Misenol
Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Lori graduated from Evergreen State College with a B. A. in English Literature with a minor in French. Before coming to Cedar Crest Lori was a Lead Teacher in a bilingual Pre-K class, implementing her French skills while learning some Chinese. She found this cross-cultural experience to be extremely enriching. Before that, Lori worked as a substitute teacher for the Bellevue School District while earning her degree. Lori’s future plans include earning a Master’s degree. In the meantime, she desires to inspire and be inspired. She is passionate about the power of a good book, which has provided a drive and desire in Lori to teach children the value of books and the necessity of appreciating all they have to offer.
While not at Cedar Crest, Lori likes skiing, playing with her dog Callie, and learning how to cook and garden. She can also often be found curled up with a good book!
Yasmina Reyes
Cook
Yasmina was born and raised in El Salvador, and has lived in Washington for over six years. She has three children, the youngest of which attends Cedar Crest. Yasmina first worked for CCA as a substitute for eight months when our full-time Cook, Violeta, went on maternity leave. When Violeta transferred to our Kirkland Campus, it was an easy decision to hire Yasmina full-time. What Yasmina enjoys most about her job is interacting with the children, something the children treasure about Yasmina as well. In her free time, Yasmina enjoys reading, music, and playing with her children.
Lynn Ross
Preschool Lead Teacher
Lynn loves the energy, spontaneity, and joy of learning that children have during the early preschool years. Lynn has been a Montessori school teacher in Seattle for the past 12 years and has also taught at traditional preschools for several years.
Lynn earned a B.A. from Albion College in Albion, Michigan with a double major in English and Psychology and a teaching degree. She has spent many years involved with PTSA boards at the elementary, and junior high levels and was president of a high school PTSA. Lynn and her family moved to the beautiful Northwest 22 years ago from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Lynn is the mother for three grown children. Two of her children are married and one is expecting her first child. Her husband, Phil, and Lynn both have active leadership roles in their church. Lynn has taught Sunday school classes many years. Lynn loves to be outdoors, hiking, gardening, playing tennis, and golf. Cold and rainy days you will find Lynn cooking, baking, reading, and spending time with friends and family.Lauren Tomlinson
Administrative Assistant
Lauren has been working with children for over five years. She began as a nanny for two families, one with eleven-month-old triplets and another family with a six-year-old. Being a nanny lead Lauren to discover her love for children. She continued to work with children by tutoring an eight and a thirteen-year-old for two years. She also volunteered with youth groups through her church and other organizations. Lauren began her teaching career with preschoolers while pursuing her education in Early Childhood.
Lauren is currently attending the University of Washington (Bothell Campus). She is working toward a Master’s Degree in Psychology and a Business degree, as well as her teaching certificate, which will give her the ability to teach many different age groups.
While not at Cedar Crest, Lauren spends her time with her family and nephews. She enjoys scrapbooking, skiing, snowboarding, watching football, and painting. Lauren also takes a big part in the Three Day Walk for Breast Cancer and Walk America each year.
Rose Wongsarnpigoon
Preschool Lead Teacher
Inspired by her own teachers, Rose decided as a young child that school was a place she wanted to be her whole life. She strives to inspire her own students to love learning as much as she does. Rose grew up in a suburb of Chicago, IL, and got her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Indiana University. In 2009, she received her Master of Education degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she was part of the Language & Literacy program.
For two years, Rose taught Nursery 1 (ages 2-3 years) at an international school in Bangkok, Thailand, where her parents are from and where her relatives still reside. During that time, she fell in love with teaching pre-school and is amazed by how much very young children can learn and grow in a school year! She has also assisted in a preschool summer camp, student taught in American and British public elementary schools, and volunteered with children of various ages. One of her favorite parts about teaching is reading wonderful children’s literature. She is excited to be part of the diverse and enthusiastic community at Cedar Crest Academy.
Outside of school, Rose enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, eating out, and watching movies. She has also caught the travel bug and loves to explore new cities, countries, and cultures