Hi, I’m Nico, and I’m happy to join Licton Springs this year! This will be my fourth year working in a preschool setting. I’m currently finishing my Early Childhood Education AAS degree at North Seattle College and plan to continue expanding my knowledge by pursuing a BAS in Early Childhood Education through Seattle Colleges. Outside of work, I keep busy puttering around the city and, whenever I can, I enjoy spending time with family in Poulsbo.

Hello! I grew up in Seattle, and moved back early this year.  In my free time I enjoy activities including reading fantasy and mystery novels, drawing, and rollerskating.

Education: BA Western Washington University

This is Xena’s 3rd year at Licton Springs.  She has been working for Seattle Public schools for more than 10 years!  She earned her bachelor’s degree at Naropa University where she studied creative process and performance. Her educational journey includes working as a SPED IA, Preschool Teacher, Reading Specialist and Camp Director.  She loves project based learning and Social Studies.  She lives in West Seattle with her youngest child, who is in high school, her partner, and too many pets.

I am excited to be at Licton Springs this year-reducing my commute from 35 miles to 12 blocks each way.  I have 5 years of experience with preschoolers and another year working with K-6th graders in Kent.  Being silly is a big part of my life and I have found teaching is able to marry that and a career.

I spend my time as a SpEd teacher, showing houses, and seasonally working at Spirit Halloween.  My family are huge Halloween fans and love to decorate.

My weekdays are spent working with Developmental Pre-L Program through 8th grade students at Licton Springs K-8. This is my 4th year at the school. It's a great community of staff and students. I really enjoy working with children of all ages. My path as an educator started with teaching music at the pre-school level which eventually led to tutoring K-6 ELL students and now focuses on Special Education.

Outside of school, my time is often spent baking/cooking, reading, outdoor activities (walking our dog to riding my bike), musical performances playing international folk music and best of all, spending time with my family.

Education: MFA California College of the Arts

Hi! My name is Jarreau Gardner (she/her), pronounced “Jah-roh.” I am new to Licton Springs K-8 this year, but previously worked as an Instructional Assistant and Special Education teacher at Broadview Thomson K-8. In addition to my study in the field of Education, I have a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the UW and a Master of Science in Nutrition from Bastyr University.

I am a native of Seattle and have lived here all but 4 years of my life. I have two kids that are now in middle and high school. In my spare time I like to play board games, listen to music, and spend time outdoors.

My name is Kelly Holton (Teacher Kelly) and this is my second year at Licton Springs as a Developmental Preschool Teacher.  I have taught students with a variety of needs in special education settings including students in a Resource and Focus setting, and I was previously the teacher in the Developmental Preschool classroom at North Beach Elementary.  This will be my fifth-year teaching Developmental Preschool, and I taught PCIS for the four years before. I love music, yoga, barre, tennis, hiking with my old English Bulldog and trying new restaurants. I look forward to getting to know you and your students.

Hello, I am Taylor. I am a transplant from Wisconsin, and this is my third year at Licton Springs! I have had the pleasure of working in Education for the past seven years, and love working with kids from pre-K to 8th grade. I enjoy reading/listening to books and hanging out with my two dogs Peach and Pearl . I am excited and can’t wait to see what learning happens this year! 

I have been working in the office at Licton Springs for 10+ years, and was a parent here for several years before that. Before I began working in the school office, I worked as a medical receptionist for 10 years. I am the mother of 3 and grandmother of 2. In my free time I like to be crafty, I always have a crochet project (or 2) in process, I am a non-skating referee for a local roller derby league, and I like playing games; from classic board games to D&D to video games like Animal Crossing and Tetris.

Hello 24-25 LSPK8 Families! I'm Teacher Kirsten, our K-1 Teacher.
Se habla español

I've been deeply invested in public education for over a decade in Oklahoma and Washington. This is my seventh year teaching elementary and my fourth year at Licton Springs. I have a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Oklahoma (2016) and an M.Ed. in Language, Literacy, and Culture from the University of Washington (2024). My endorsements include teaching all subjects in elementary, multilingual learners K-12, and reading K-12.

I am passionate about supporting students authentically in early learning, both in their academic and social development. My teaching philosophy strongly centers a community of care. Our expectations, practices, and learning experiences model how we care for ourselves, each other, and the world around us.

I am a voracious learner, whether it be the dance moves in a new K-pop video, strategies for my next 4-hour board game session, or identifying key characteristics of PNW waterfowl during different seasons. Curiosity, criticality, and a passion for life-long learning are the qualities that permeate my personal and professional life. I aspire to model how learning takes place in all aspects of our lives!

Hello! I’m Abby Levin, your school librarian. Grateful to be here! I was inspired to enter the field of education after living in Toyama, Japan where I spent a year teaching English to elementary & middle schoolers. Since then, I’ve held a number of teaching roles including classroom teacher, multilingual teacher, and literacy interventionist before becoming a school librarian. I’m National Board certified in Literacy (renewed 2019) and hold an MA in Human Development, focusing on education as a catalyst for social change. I also hold teaching endorsements in Literacy, ML education, and School Library Media (UW).

I LOVE being a librarian and had the good fortune of opening two new libraries in Seattle Public Schools: Cedar Park Elementary (in Lake City) and Magnolia Elementary (where I still serve as half-time librarian). I’m an active member of the Washington Library Association, recently joining the Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award committee. Other interests include creative dabbling, writing, music festivals, farmer’s markets, and travel adventures both near & far. I’m a proud mother of two kids: Kavya & Ilan, middle & high school students in Seattle Public Schools. We live in Ballard with our dog Clementine (& my son’s corn snake “Norman Noodles, the 9th.”)

An impassioned advocate for books & libraries, I founded a zine called Library Love Letters (issue 2 out soon!). I look forward to teaching and learning with the Licton Springs community.

Hi, I'm Ms. Katherine. This will be my fifth year teaching at Licton Springs! I love our school because we have such a supportive and welcoming community.

Everyone belongs here!

My favorite things to teach are reading and science. I love to read stories out loud! Outside of school I love to read, be outside, and spend time with my friends and family. I am excited to learn with the 2nd and 3rd grade scholars this year!

Education: MIT University of Washington / BA University of Michigan