Meet the Faculty
Administration
Suzanne Messinger - Head of School
As our Head of School since 2017, Suzanne works closely with teachers, staff, and trustees to fulfill Hyla's mission every day by creating a school where students are respected, valued, and challenged through the transformative adolescdent years. In 2018, she and the board launched a major renovation of our middle school campus, enlarging classrooms, adding flexible space, and building a new Community Hall with a teaching kitchen and theater (completed in 2021). In 2018, Suzanne and the board also created a new strategic plan. Suzanne expanded Hyla's Global Education by creating a new teaching position dedicated to that program, initiated a school-wide DEIJ practice and study, and launched Hyla Parent University to ensure that parents at Hyla and in the surrounding community have access to expertise and support from nationally recognized guest speakers each year. Suzanne also leads the expansion of Hyla's program into grades 9-12 and the opening of Hyla's upper school program in the fall of 2021.
Suzanne’s leadership is rooted in the belief that a connected and supportive community creates opportunities for students to experience collaboration, service, and leadership that prepares them for the interconnected future they will inherit. With a background in teaching and program development, she believes that hands-on, interdisciplinary learning is essential for adolescence (especially at this moment in time) and that Hyla’s signature Human Relations program (social-emotional learning) provides students with a critical foundation to navigate not only their own emotional landscape, but the complexities all social environments, from group projects to future employment. Suzanne is a graduate of Pathways to Leadership, a 2-year NWAIS program that provides professional development in school governance, leadership, and finance. Suzanne previously worked as Assistant Head of School at the Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle (JDS).
Jay Franklin - Assistant Head of School
Jay has over 20 years of experience as an educator, administrator, and coach, with leadership experience in both middle and upper school programs. Before joining Hyla in July of 2023, Jay served as Middle School Head at Catlin Gabel and from 2012-2020 was the Director of Middle School at the Bush School. Jay shares our deep commitment to student-centered learning, relationships, and school culture. He also brings expertise in Human Relations and a unique connection to Hyla’s roots. Many years ago, when Jay was a student at The Bush School, he was taught by educators who eventually left Bush to found Hyla - Chris Johnson, George Gerdts, and Paul Carroll, among others - and who brought Human Relations across the water to Bainbridge. Jay has personally experienced the value of a Human Relations program, has taught Human Relations at Bush, and also strengthened their Human Relations program when he moved into a leadership role.
Jay is passionate about the importance of community for adolescents, the personal and interpersonal growth of these years, and the power of self-directed problem solving when paired with community connection and collaboration. He believes that “a student-centered approach to education encourages exploration and self-discovery, and succeeds in nourishing all types of learners.” Jay's background includes pedagogy, curriculum development, teacher collaboration, and school culture development. He earned a Master’s degree in Teaching form Seattle University in 2008, and a Bachelor's degree in History in 1996 from the University of San Diego.
Kris Rogers – Dean of Students & School Counselor
Kris Rogers has worked at Hyla for almost 20 years. She is the Dean of Students and school counselor for both the middle and upper school, creating an important continuity for students and families alike. Kris brings years of professional experience working with teenagers and will support Hyla high schoolers with her calm wisdom and caring approachability, just as she does middle schoolers. In her role at Hyla, she supports students, parents, teachers, and administrators.
Kris has built an extensive career advocating for youth, working with teens, and supporting families for over 35 years. In a wide range of settings, including private practice, independent schools, community organizations, and nonprofits, Kris is a leader in youth counseling and program administration, and a voice of wisdom, teaching and implementing the practices and systems that best build and create a healthy adolescence. Kris served as counselor at The Island School for 20 years and has worked at independent schools throughout Seattle, such as Seattle Country Day School where she formed the counseling program, served as interim dean of students, worked in admissions, served as counseling consultant, and served on the board of trustees. Kris continues to consult with independent schools in Seattle.
At the local community level, Kris worked as a counselor for Bainbridge Youth Services where she founded and facilitated the BYS Youth Board, a peer education program where high school students worked with middle school students to promote drug/alcohol education and prevention. She served on the steering committee for The Holt Webster Fund serving "at risk" youth on Bainbridge Island, and was a board member for the Bainbridge Island Chapter of "Make Some Noise, Cure Pediatric Cancer Research".
Kris has a BA in Social Work, and an MA in Psychology.
Lee Harper - Director of Finance & Operations
Lee joined Hyla in May of 2023 with over 25 years of leadership in the nonprofit sector. Most recently she served as Executive Director at the Kitsap Humane Society in Kitsap County, and prior to that was the Executive Director at the Phinney Neighborhood Association for eleven years. At both organizations, she provided strategic leadership and worked closely with the board to ensure ongoing growth and economic sustainability. In addition to her financial management and fundraising skills, she is recognized for building collaborative cultures of partnership to translate ideas into advocacy and action.
She loves being surrounded by students laughing and learning and the beautiful middle school campus, all right outside her window. She lives in Poulsbo with her partner and their two dogs, Columbo and Mouse. When she’s not crunching numbers, she’s training dogs and taking photographs.
Lee has been adjunct faculty at both Seattle University and the University of Washington, teaching a variety of topics including finance, fundraising, and nonprofit leadership. She holds a Master of Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Colorado.
Katherine Johns - Director of Advancement
Katherine works with school leadership on Hyla's strategic efforts in the areas of enrollment, development, communications, and community. Inspired by the lasting and meaningful work that happens between students and teachers every day, she joyfully shares stories about what happens at Hyla to connect families to our school, build community, and grow partnerships with a network of organizations and nonprofits that enrich our program with off-campus learning opportunities. She enjoys getting to work with everyone at Hyla - teachers, parents, students, alumni, trustees, and community partners - each year to support Hyla's mission and program through fundraising, volunteering, community events, enrollment activities, and community outreach.
Prior to joining Hyla in 2012, she worked with school districts around the country to provide professional development to school leaders through think-tank style retreats. Within the Bainbridge community, she served on the KiDiMu board and has volunteered extensively at Bainbridge Dance Center. She is also a Hyla parent and lives on Bainbridge with her family.
Bridget Pearl- Upper School Academic Dean & Learning Specialist
With a personalized and informed approach, Bridget's work relies on research, relationships with schools, and in-depth discussions with students and families about their educational goals, values, needs, and learning styles. Prior to joining Hyla's faculty, she was an educational consultant for Bennett International Educational Consultancy where she connected families with schools where their children will thrive, placing students in their “best fit” schools for success, well-being, and happiness. Bridget is also an experienced educator who has worked closely with high school students as a tutor for Island Educational Services. Bridget earned her BA and teaching certification from Linfield College in Oregon.
“I love the process of partnering with students to help them achieve their goals and celebrate their accomplishments. They build life skills and pride along the way and what emerges is a real sense of trust in themselves and their own abilities. They also learn to see all the ways in which they can influence their life path and work with others. All of that stays with them for life.”
Tara Powers-Hausmann - College Counselor
Tara is the part-time College Counselor for our upper school. She works closely with students and families as they prepare for college, playing a supportive and calming role to alleviate stress during the college application process. Tara has been helping students find their best fit colleges since 2013 and calls herself a “voracious consumer of information about colleges and the admissions process.” She is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA; associate member), the Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling (PNACAC), and Seattle Area College Consultants (SACC). Her approach is personalized to each unique student.
Tara shares that she is “looking forward to working in a collaborative environment with students and colleagues who share a growth mindset. I am looking forward to really getting to know the students and helping them get to know themselves. I wake up every day feeling fortunate that I absolutely love my work as a college counselor and consultant. I am a cheerleader at heart and am fiercely proud of every one of my students. I love to learn every single day and am addicted to continued education in my field. I love working with students as a college counselor because I truly enjoy learning from my students and being a part of their journeys.” She lives on Bainbridge with her husband and has two grown children.
Maeve Haley - Office Manager
When you call Hyla or come to the main office, Maeve will be there to greet you. She is our control center at Hyla, working with students, teachers, parents and visitors to keep our day-to-day activities running smoothly. She helps with school forms, attendance, events, band aids, and everything in between. She brings a creative touch and positive energy to her work at Hyla and is here to help!
Maeve supports Hyla's administrative team and advancement work, including communications, development and community building. She has 20+ years of experience in events, design, graphics, community communications and fundraising, having worn many hats at BISD and school districts in California, and also having owned her own businesses.
Cherie Levan - Events Manager
After many years working as a consultant with Hyla to support our auction, capital campaign, and other Hyla community events, Cherie joined our staff in 2023 to manage all school events. She has a vast background in events management, from intimate dinners to hundreds of guests, and has worked with many local nonprofits to support their important work and fundraising, including BIMA, KiDiMu, and the Land Trust to name just a few. Alongside event work, she ran her own catering business for many years here on Bainbridge. Before focusing on events, she worked in corporate communications, marketing, and Human Resources in Washington DC and in Seattle. She delights in connecting good people to good causes through gatherings, and she is thrilled to manage Hyla's many community and fundraising events. She is also a proud Hyla alumni mom! (Pictured here at a Hyla Capital Campaign event in the barn with Hyla grad Anna Cinamon and Katherine Johns).
Cherie lives on Bainbridge and raised her daughter here. She is actively engaged in the community and has volunteered for many local education, arts, and athletic organizations over the years.
Jessica Crook - Community Engagement & Admissions Manager
Jessica fosters connections between families, students, and the broader community through collaboration and volunteerism. Her work also supports enrollment through marketing efforts to prospective families and area schools. She represents Hyla as a member of “Puget Sound Independent Schools” at school fairs in Seattle throughout the year. She works with the Head of School on admissions and supports families throughout the application process, scheduling student visit days, tours, and answering questions. Her work also supports Hyla’s vibrant volunteering tradition that welcomes parents volunteers throughout the year who support the school program, and that invites the entire Hyla community (including students) to join together to support important efforts beyond our campus boundaries with outward-focused community service projects. Jessica is thrilled to work in an educational setting and be part of a school that embodies its core values in daily life.
Jessica has two kids and lives with her family in Poulsbo. She coaches soccer and is an outdoor enthusiast who loves trail running, skiing, fishing and camping, and biking. Jessica has degrees in experiential education and is thrilled to be at Hyla.
Middle School Teachers
Roger Johnson – Art 6-8
Though an artist himself, Roger’s true life passion is teaching art. In pursuit of that goal, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Magna cum Laude) from Arizona State University and has been an art educator since 2006. He has created and taught art curricula at the Arizona Conservatory for Arts and Academics, Paragon Science Academy and the Ahwatukee Foothills Prep K-6 Charter School, where he also developed and ran enrichment programs including after-school programs and clubs in drawing, painting, and 3D. Throughout his career he has been recognized for his leadership and innovation in creating and implementing new programs in new settings. He is also recognized for creating ways to showcase student art, from fashion shows, to exhibits, to community murals. He brings art history into his classrooms to contextualize the fundamental elements of art and principals of design, from the masters to contemporary artists, while inspiring students to find their own voice, interpretations, and expressions.
After moving to Bainbridge and while seeking an art teaching position, he worked at Blakely as a tech specialist and para educator, serving on the leadership team that represented the Para staff, running after school math programs, and supporting teachers, all while maintaining school technology. He loves graffiti art, mid-century design, and macro photography and will teach in both the middle and upper programs. We are thrilled to welcome him to Hyla.
Shelby Mann - Science 6-8; HyLab 6-8
Shelby joins the Hyla faculty from the Wasatch Academy in Utah and brings over eight years in experiential and classroom-based teaching in Biology, Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, Ecology and Natural History. She attributes her love for hands-on and experiential learning to her own formative experience as an oceanography student on a 134-ft sailing vessel where she learned to navigate by the stars and operate the ship. She believes strongly in providing students with a range of learning experiences and environments that help connect science knowledge to the world around them. She finds both joy and purpose in helping students discover the natural world and work together to solve problems, whether with design thinking, coding, engineering, etc. Shelby is committed to inclusive instruction that engages different learning styles and projects that connect science learning to real-world solutions, such as composting systems or sustainable fishing methods. She strives for her classrooms to be “an environment where my students can feel safe to ask questions, explore their own innovative ideas, and learn how to develop systems that could make the world a better place.”
Shelby has also taught Biology, Advanced Biology, Environmental Engineering, and Ecology at the Tilton School in New Hampshire, and she also taught Chemistry, Biology, and California Natural History at the Bay School of San Francisco. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science at the University of Redlands, completed the "Design Thinking for Educators" program at the Henry Ford Learning Institute, and studied Oceanography, Nautical Science and Maritime Studies with the Sea Education Association.
David Maron - History 6-8
David Maron was raised on Bainbridge Island, and it was this upbringing and place that instilled in him a strong sense of community. David attended The Evergreen State College, where he focused his energies on comparative religion and historical studies. Throughout his years as an undergraduate, David led outdoor trips and worked with disadvantaged youth in the Olympia area.
After graduation David moved to DC and earned a master's degree in International Conflict Resolution from American University, with a focus on Middle East studies. For several years thereafter, he worked on internationally oriented programs for DC schools, exposing students to a more global education experience. Since earning his teaching credentials in 2008, David taught both Big History and A.P. World History within the history department at Skyline High School in Oakland, California. David loves helping students figure out the puzzle of historical studies, by making learning a ton of fun and by considering the profound connections between the past and their reality today. Back on the island after many years away, David is pleased to cultivate his own family (a wife and two girls) here in a place that provided him such a solid sense of community.
Mercedes Morales - Spanish 6-8
Mercedes is a native Spanish speaker from Venezuela who brings a contagious energy to her dynamic classroom where students build language skills while singing, dancing, playing games, and creating projects. Mercedes is a caring teacher dedicated to meeting student needs in differentiated and creative ways, and she infuses her teaching with humor and energy to create opportunities for student participation and engagement. Most recently she taught at St. Cecilia’s, Madrona, and the Sunfield Waldorf School. In addition to teaching Spanish, she is a jewelry designer (you might recognize her from classes at BARN) and a Zumba instructor. She has traveled extensively to explore cultures, languages, and customs and is thrilled to share her enthusiasm for the Spanish-speaking world with Hyla students. Merceded grew up in Puerto La Cruz, a coastal town in Venezuela, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from the Instituto Universitario de Relaciones Públicas (IUDERP) in Caracas, and completed advanced studies work in Social Sciences at the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. She worked in public relations for 16 years and then entered education to become a teacher, her true calling.
On weekends, you can find Mercedes spending time with her daughters, playing ping pong, playing her cuatro (Venezuelan 4 string instrument), paddle boarding, cooking arepas, singing karaoke, dancing Zumba, hiking a trail with her dog Mika, or making jewelry at her home in Poulsbo.
In her own words: "I am delighted to be in the Hyla community and create a Spanish program that immerses students in the language and culture of the people of Latin America. I love to share my native language and traditions and I believe that learning another language is the gateway into another culture, bridging societal gaps and bringing diversity to the classroom. When you learn a new language, you start to live in a parallel world. It is magical. I want my students to enjoy learning Spanish as much as I enjoyed learning English when I was their age."
Cooper Rooks - Human Relations 6-8, PE 6-8
Cooper joined Hyla in 2016 with a diverse background teaching adolescents. His motivation to work with students and athletes of this age is partly fueled by the influential teachers and coaches that helped him thrive in this often-challenging time. He believes deeply that respect between students and teachers is a powerful catalyst for growth and his work with students is centered on respect, trust, and cooperation. Inspired by his educator mother, Cooper sees teaching as an important way to share creativity and respect. Cooper earned his B.A. in Education from the Evergreen State College. As a teacher at Camp Orkila he taught ceramics, kayaking, and skateboarding. He also has extensive experience as a coach for masters rowing, high school Water Polo, and Disc Golf (all ages). Throughout his work with adolescent athletes, he has seen programs grow with an inclusive and positive atmosphere. He infuses this spirit of inclusion and sportspersonship in all his work with student athletes – whether or not a student identifies as one.
Cooper was raised on Bainbridge Island, where his love of boats led to a deep appreciation for the outdoor activities of the Pacific Northwest. He has kayaked from Fay Bainbridge up the inside passage to northern British Columbia and sailed from Eagle Harbor to Auckland, New Zealand. Cooper and his brother competed in the Race to Alaska, a non-motorized, unsupported boat race from Port Townsend to Ketchikan. When not sailing or coaching, Cooper is also an accomplished ceramic, metal, and glass artist. In 2020, Cooper began a project that is now an 18-hole student-designed Disc Golf course that stretches around the middle school campus.
Cindy Schacht - Math 6-8
Cindy grew up in New York and Pennsylvania, went to school in Boston (with a short stint in Australia), and lived in Los Angeles, Seattle, and San Francisco before settling on Bainbridge with her family. Together they enjoy the outdoors, gardening, and biking.
Her husband David and two sons Ryan and Luke keep her very busy. As a family they enjoy the outdoors, gardening, biking, and exploring the island. Cindy completed her BA in math and education at Boston College, then later her MA in Multicultural Education at UW. Before her arrival at Hyla, Cindy taught at The Overlake School, The Hamlin School, and Lakeside School. She has experience with a variety of ages, but her true passion is teaching middle school students. She loves this age group for their sense of fun, humor, and budding intellectual maturity.
Chris Soldevilla - Drama 6-8, Performing Arts 9-12
Chris spent over a decade in Los Angeles as a professional actor as well as an on set coach for television and film. He stays in tune performing locally in productions with the BPA and local improv troupe The Edge as well as coaching working actors. Chris’ favorite thing about teaching drama in middle school is its inclusion in the regular curriculum. This allows Chris to help more students find their voice during an important transitional age. For Chris, the work is not about making actors but about opening pathways of communication. Chris believes that "when a person is allowed to feel safe to expand their comfort zone, they can amaze themselves with their true potential." Through the use of stage, film, and improv, he helps students develop a confidence and presence that they can use as a tool of strength for the rest of their lives.
Malauri Uhl- English 6-8
Malauri was named North Kitsap Teacher of the Year in 2019 and joins Hyla from Kingston High School. Her teaching philosophy is centered on personalized learning that unfolds in a nurturing and supportive learning environment where each student’s interests and gifts are known, appreciated and cultivated. In her classrooms students develop life skills and a love for reading and writing through project-based learning, mini-lessons, and targeted feedback. She encourages a love for reading and writing through a thoughtful and creative curation of writing projects and learning formats designed to engage students - including choice in research topics, group discussion, acting, escape rooms, and collaborative projects with real-world application. Her courses offer students access to diverse voices and differentiated instruction to meet them where they are.
She shares that “reading and writing offer opportunities to come home to ourselves and connect with others in ever-evolving ways. I intentionally guide students just outside their comfort zones, to their ‘zones of proximal development,’ where they find the support and encouragement they need to take risks as learners.” She also shares that she is “thrilled to join Hyla” and that in the next year, “students will sense their increased self-confidence and academic capacity as readers, writers, and English speakers. We have a fantastic road ahead, and I can’t wait to start!”
Prior to joining Hyla, Malauri taught English Language Arts at Kingston High School for six years. During her time at Kingston High School, she served on the school Leadership Team and also launched a number of new initiatives as their Student Activities & Events Coordinator, including an annual Multicultural Celebration, Activity Fridays (clubs), and a restructuring of their student body election process to blind campaigning. During her two year service as an English Language Arts teacher with AmeriCorps Teach for America, she dramatically increased student reading growth and encouraged student voice through diverse learning methods including spoken word poetry, Socratic seminars, and creative writing workshops. She earned a Master of Education from Lipscomb University and a BS in sociology from Utah State University.
Upper School Teachers
"KNA" - Karen Natorp Anderson - History/Social Studies 9-12
Karen believes that there are many pathways to deep, transformative learning: reading a thought-provoking text, traveling and experiencing a different culture first-hand, having meaningful conversations around different lived experiences, and being a part of hands-on, collaborative projects. She is excited to design a social studies program at Hyla High that draws on all of these opportunities and more. As a high school educator for the past twenty years, Karen has developed innovative classes that challenge students to think deeply and develop rigorous academic skills; she has co-led learning trips to places such as Samoa, Columbia, South Africa, and the American Deep South; and she has been involved in Outdoor Education experiences. She loves it all and is thrilled to be at Hyla High where student growth and self-discovery is centered, close partnerships between students and faculty are nurtured, and the power of interdisciplinary and experiential learning is realized.
Karen shares, “I am passionate about helping young people develop the skills and habits to connect what we study in classes to the world around them. Now, more than ever, the world needs people who can engage with the complexity of the present and creatively craft a better future. I believe high school has the potential to be the most transformative and indelible time in a young person’s development - especially when learning is engaging, challenging, dynamic, and personalized.”
For the past fourteen years, Karen has taught history at University Prep in Seattle where she chaired the history department for 7 years and taught some of the school’s first intensives (3-week long immersive courses), and prior to that taught at the Fountain Valley School in Colorado. Karen has a M.A. in Education: Curriculum & Instruction and a M.A. in International Studies from the Jackson School at UW where she studied education policies around cultural diversity and inclusion in European countries. Karen holds a B.A. from Dartmouth College in History and Geography.
For fun outside of the classroom, Karen loves open water swimming, hiking, pressing cider, and traveling with her partner and their two kids.
James Rufo Hill - Science 9-12
Hailing originally from New England, James holds degrees in science education, meteorology, and urban planning. Before beginning his teaching career, he served with the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic as an Agroforestry Extensionist, and additionally provided expertise for 13 years as a science advisor to the city of Seattle. James comes to Hyla from Holy Names Academy where he taught Physics and AP Physics. James is passionate about sharing his training in sustainability, climate change and environmental resources with his community through volunteer service.
He shares that he is "thrilled to share my enthusiasm for learning and science with the Hyla community. I cannot wait to look around, ask questions, and encourage students to contribute to positive global change. Some of my favorite past projects as a teacher include weather analysis and forecasting, making tide charts, and celebrating hidden figures in scientific history (non-white-male biography project). What else should you know about me? My hobbies include playing and curating music, photography, birding, gardening, and paddle boarding. I moved to Bainbridge with my wife and kids in 2014. I have extremely sensitive hearing (I am listening to the "hum of the earth" as I type this) and yeah, I play Wordle, but I'm really into Geoguesser and play it nightly with my kids.”
Brenda Hodges-Howell - English 9-12
Brenda joins Hyla with 17 years of teaching experience in a variety of school settings, including Seattle Pacific University, BISD, Seattle Girls’ School, and IslandWood. She brings extensive experience designing student-focused and cross-disciplinary curriculum that “ignites curiosity, empowers student voice, and challenges critical thinking for diverse learners.” She also shares that “Writing is a process through which we speak our vulnerable and powerful voices, trust each other, and imagine worlds yet unseen. Writing is a revolutionary act, a creative act, an act that brings into being new ideas, new connections, and new possibilities. To work together as writers and readers requires vulnerability and strength, and enlivens a community into a trusting, creative force. Reading allows us to look through diverse perspectives and step into worlds beyond our own. Teaching writing and deep reading is nourishing work for me, for students, and for the world. We find new solutions that can bring healing to ourselves and our world when we consider the boldness of our own ideas as we connect and explore texts. To inch closer to this kind of authentic exploration of identity, community, and action is why I teach, and why I'm delighted to begin this adventure with students at Hyla.”
Here are a few other things that help you get to know Brenda:
I've summited a handful of peaks in Washington state, and the moments that give me the most pride are when we turned around, summit in sight, to stay together with sick team members. Adventuring outside with others is one of my core values.
I love poetry: reading, writing, performing, and teaching poetry. Every poetry workshop I've taught, students have become published poets. Shared creativity is one of my core values.
I am a parent of two elementary-age kids, who teach me every day how to be silly, honest, wonderstruck, dedicated, and imaginative. Building authentic relationships with my family, friends, and community is central to my identity.
This year I've begun learning how to play the piano and read music. It's hard and humbling. I believe in the magic of learning, of trying new things, failing, and trying again. Perseverance is one of my core values.
Roger Johnson – Visual Arts 9-12
Though an artist himself, Roger’s true life passion is teaching art. In pursuit of that goal, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Magna cum Laude) from Arizona State University and has been an art educator since 2006. He has created and taught art curricula at the Arizona Conservatory for Arts and Academics, Paragon Science Academy and the Ahwatukee Foothills Prep K-6 Charter School, where he also developed and ran enrichment programs including after-school programs and clubs in drawing, painting, and 3D. Throughout his career he has been recognized for his leadership and innovation in creating and implementing new programs in new settings. He is also recognized for creating ways to showcase student art, from fashion shows, to exhibits, to community murals. He brings art history into his classrooms to contextualize the fundamental elements of art and principals of design, from the masters to contemporary artists, while inspiring students to find their own voice, interpretations, and expressions.
After moving to Bainbridge and while seeking an art teaching position, he worked at Blakely as a tech specialist and para educator, serving on the leadership team that represented the Para staff, running after school math programs, and supporting teachers, all while maintaining school technology. He loves graffiti art, mid-century design, and macro photography and will teach in both the middle and upper programs. We are thrilled to welcome him to Hyla.
Tom Neal - Spanish
Tom Neal knows that high school students are at a point in their social and cognitive growth where there is a fresh spark of curiosity about other languages and cultures. As a language educator, he meets students at that spark to create experiences that launch deeper learning. Tom himself discovered Spanish at this age and knows how influential the mastery of another language can be in creating future opportunities and life-long pursuits. Over the course of his 15+ year career as a Spanish teacher and advisor, Tom has helped students go on to pursue bilingual careers in health care, education, social work, business, and law. In addition to his academic expertise in Hispanic literature and film, Tom uses food as a point of departure for class discussions on cultural and historical topics.
"Language learning is, by nature, experiential, and students should have every opportunity to practice their skills both inside and outside the classroom in both simulated and real-life contexts. Creative curriculum, small classroom sizes, and a school mission that supports both the moral and practical virtues of bilingualism are vital to maximizing student potential. The Hyla environment couldn't be more ideal."
Prior to joining Hyla High School Tom was Associate Professor of Spanish at the University of Akron in Ohio. Tom has taught students of all ages and has published peer-reviewed academic research on Hispanic literature and culture. He earned is B.A. from the University of Washington, and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Indiana University (Bloomington).
Outside the classroom, you'll find Tom reading, singing a Beatles song on his guitar, and cooking. If you're lucky, he might even make you his signature salsa that earned him a three-year championship in a city-wide competition back in his graduate school days.
Erik Saksa - Science
Erik is an experienced science teacher who is especially enthusiastic about experiential learning at the high school level. “I'm thrilled to teach an experiential Science curriculum focused on interdisciplinary learning to Hyla High School students! As a lover of biochemistry, I still vividly remember the excitement I felt when making connections between separate subjects and the subsequent passion for sciences it inspired in me. I hope to pass that same passion along to my students! Through interdisciplinary applications of knowledge, students gain a more thorough understanding of that knowledge and develop a deep appreciation for the intricate working parts of complex physical systems. This learned framework empowers students to become critical thinkers, capable of discerning both the complicated natural and social worlds in which we live.”
Erik holds a BA in Biochemistry from Wheaton College and an MS in Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering from University of Hawaii, Manoa. Erik has worked as a beloved tutor for many local families, and he also taught middle school math at Hyla during the 2020-2021 school year (when we were outside in tents!).
Chris Soldevilla - Drama 6-8, Performing Arts 9-12
Chris has spent over three decades working in the professional acting world. He stays in tune performing locally in productions with the BPA and local improv troupe The Edge as well as coaching working actors. In his teaching at the the upper school, Chris gives students access to the realities of filmmaking, stage work, and performing, while also providing an environment where students can take creative risks and expand their comfort zones. Whether strengthening performance skills for stage or screen or developing stronger tools of communication for school and professional presentations, Chris assists students in finding power to their own voice and potential in any field.
Brad Waugh - Science and Math
An experienced international educator, Brad has been inspired by his students, from middle school through college level, in seven countries: Bolivia, Canada, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Nepal, Sudan and the USA. He values the warmth and supportive learning environments of small community schools, and is on a mission for education that provides young people the tools to make a better world for themselves and others, throughout the global community. Brad is a dedicated tinkerer and explorer of ideas. His courses and classroom environment draw upon students’ imaginations, helping students find and build upon their strengths and interests to become empowered learners and fearless intellectual risk-takers. Alongside math and physical science, Brad has designed and taught a wide range of innovative and cross-disciplinary electives in documentary film-making, primitive technology (technology “from scratch”), astronomy and the search for extraterrestrial life, theory of knowledge, and teen brain and metacognition. His students engage in authentic and relevant research, which has occasionally resulted in publication; Brad’s students formed one of fifty teams selected by NASA to participate in the Mars Exploration Student Data Team program (and the only team outside of the USA).
Outside the classroom, Brad has worked with students to develop and implement community engagement and change projects with local schools, refugee communities and NGOs on four continents. Brad’s students were instrumental in bringing Boniface Mwangi’s Picha Mtaani project to Kinshasa in the fight against election violence; the Merowe Project engaged high school students as translators and teacher-trainers in student-centered pedagogy in the north of Sudan. Brad and his wife Renée are currently spending a sabbatical year as graduate school residents at High Tech High, in San Diego.
Brad studied mathematical physics at the University of British Columbia and Queen’s University in Canada, where he was also a lecturer; thanks to his research in black hole physics (and his relentless nerdiness) he claims an Erdős number of 5. A trained carpenter and former builder, Brad is often to be found with his students deep in a construction project. He enjoys the outdoors and has traveled and trekked extensively, and would always rather bike than drive. He appreciates a good guitar riff, but his real Zen state happens in the kitchen.
Support Staff
Josh Porter – Math Teacher 6-8
Josh learned his love of math through his love of game programming, which he has been pursuing in various forms since high school. He has experience with C, Java, Android, and various scripting languages, and is always eager to share his enthusiasm for computing and the mathematics that make it possible.