About Our Bloggers

Gretchen Cruden

Gretchen teaches an entire middle school in a high-poverty, rural school in northeast Washington state. Having her students for multiple years and all subjects has allowed her insights into the growth of her students over time and led her to earning a certificate in neuroeducation from Johns Hopkins University. She has made it her mission to share the connection between research on the early adolescent mind and learning with middle level teachers.

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Jan Kragen

I’m a National Board Certified Teacher. I am also on the Executive Board of the Washington Association of Educators of Talented and Gifted (WAETAG).

I’ve been a teacher since 1977, in public and private schools, in third through eighth grades, in California, Colorado, New York, and Washington. Since 1983 I have taught in gifted classrooms, starting in pull-out models. In North Kitsap I began with a 5/6 self-contained class, then moved to 6/7 English/social studies block classes, and now I’m back to elementary school, teaching a self-contained 4/5 grade class.

I also teach teachers:

    • – through writing science and social studies curriculum units for our district, resource books for teachers, and educational articles
    • – through presenting at national and state science, social studies, and gifted conferences
    • – through in-service training, both within my district and as a consultant through other districts and my ESD

Many of the things I have written, and many of the materials I have developed for my own classroom use, are available for free off my website, kragen.net.

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Lynne Olmos

I am a National Board Certified Teacher in my 20th year of teaching secondary ELA and drama in a small rural district in Lewis County, WA. My work outside the classroom has included committees at the state and national level, often involving standards creation or assessment writing and review. I am an alumni of the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms, and I am dedicated to opening a world of opportunity to my small-town students. My current focus for my own professional growth is trauma-informed teaching strategies and alternative grading practices.

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Denisha Saucedo

In 2002, I began, and still teach 6th grade five miles from my high school. I believe that teaching and learning are the root of our existence. As a kid, I was labeled the stereotypical black child, living in a single-parent home, daughter of a Jamaican immigrant. I was inspired to teach by my worst educational experiences. No one could imagine this child would one day be named 2018 PSESD regional teacher of the year.

I stay busy, but at the root are my two beautiful HS daughters, both gifted, multiple-sport student athletes, and my husband, best friend, and HS sweetheart; they are the light that guides me. I also coach girls’ basketball, track, soccer, and our school’s STOMP and Dance Team. I serve on several school and district committees. Some include equity, leadership, and BEST mentoring. At the state level, I sit on the Ethnic Studies Advisory team with OSPI and previously worked to help develop SEL indicators. In addition, I am proud core-team member of the Kent Educators of Color Network. We work alongside our superintendent to lead our district towards an equitable education for all students.

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Emma-Kate Schaake

Emma-Kate Schaake is in her fifth year of teaching English at Tumwater High School. She is passionate about educational equity in curriculum design, classroom practices, teacher leadership, professional development, and student voice. She writes about her ongoing journey to unlearn myopic history, self reflect, and think critically about her role as an educator. In her free time, she devours books and hikes the beautiful PNW with her partner and puppies. She can be found on Instagram @msschaake.

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Leann Schumacher

Leann is a 1st grade teacher in the Issaquah School District. She is an active member of the education community on Twitter (@leannmarie84) and serves on the advisory and foundation boards for the Renton School District Teacher Academy. Leann also regularly mentors future teacher candidates for her alma mater, Central Washington University – Des Moines. She is passionate about supporting teacher candidates on their journey from college to career and hopes to continue and grow this mission through CSTP and the Stories From School blog.

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