I believe that each child should be celebrated for their uniqueness, and that early childhood education provides the foundation for the lifelong process of learning. Most of my adult life, I have been working with children as a preschool teacher in addition to running a program that provides early intervention. I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I completed a dual master’s program in education. I was born and raised in a small town in Arizona and moved to Washington several years ago. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, participating in community events, and spending time with my husband, daughter, dogs, family, and friends. I am also looking forward to building quality relationships with the children, families, and staff here at Birch Tree.

My name is Katya, and I am excited to meet you all! Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted to become a teacher. Working with young children brings me tremendous joy. I believe teaching is my life’s calling. I am creative and passionate about helping children learn and achieve their best. I believe that outside of the parents or caregivers in the home, as their teachers, we have deep impact on building up a child’s future. My teaching philosophy is to model and maintain compassion, patience, discipline, encouragement, high standards, and respect. My goal is to inspire and empower my students to become lifelong learners.

Born and raised in Ukraine, I graduated from the Odessa Basic Medical College and gained experience in the sanitary and epidemiological station for about 12 years. In that role, I сarried out control over the implementation of hygiene and anti-epidemic measures in children's and medical institutions. I was also as an assistant to a pediatric dentist.

I am happy to be a part of Birch Tree Academy and have the opportunity to contribute to the active development of children and fill their time here with vivid impressions, fun and the joy of learning new things.

Hello, my name is Anastasiia. I am from Ukraine and moved to Washington State about 8 months ago. I worked as a manager of gyms and as a recruiter for an IT- company. At the same time, I was babysitting. I love children very much and my main task is to see their smiles every day. I am so happy to be a part of the Birch Tree Academy family!

Born and raised in Ukraine, I have an academic and professional background which reflects a mission-driven passion for early childhood education.

I earned a Master's degree in early childhood education in 2020, and a bachelor's degree in education with a concentration in speech therapy in 2019 from Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine.

After completing my studies, I worked as an early education teacher, with 4-5 year olds. My work focused on preparing them academically and socially for elementary school. I viewed the teacher-student relationship as an opportunity to develop each child's potential by strengthening his/her unique talents. I am motivated by my belief that early childhood education lays the foundation for lifelong learning and personal growth.

I am from Ukraine, where I received a Specialist's Diploma in Psychology. For almost 6 years I have worked with children with special needs in elementary school. I’ve always enjoyed working with children and am happy to bring my experience to my new position at Birch Tree Academy.

I am Rosamaria and I was born in Mexico. I moved a few years ago to the state of Arizona and then later to Redmond, Washington area. This is where I have been happily living for the last ten+ years with my two wonderful children. I am a graduate of the International Christian University in Theology and Family Counseling, which has allowed me to help many people throughout my years of interacting with them (one of the experiences which I am very grateful for). As for my hobbies, I do enjoy a good book, the gym, hiking, and biking through new trails.

Hi, my name is Ivanna. I'm from Ukraine and I came to Seattle a month ago with my husband. I trained as an accountant and completed my master's degree in this area after which I worked at a bank. In my free time I am engaged in baking cakes and various sweets. I like to spend time with children and teach them new things.

My name is Viktoriia. I was born in Ukraine in small town Dubno. I received my bachelor’s degree in Rivne National University of Law. I have been living in Poland for 2 years and it was a great experience. I enjoy hiking, swimming and singing. I have a true passion for working with our youngest learners! Helping each child progress in all areas of their development—academic, social, language, and motor—is a challenge that I am honored to accept daily.

Hi my name is Marilaura! I have a degree in Human Resources Administration and I am currently studying Early Childhood Community Resource at North Seattle College. I consider myself an organized person and I can adapt to any circumstances and give my best in any project. I strive to work as a team and foster values of camaraderie with a performance of discipline, creativity, honesty, communication and a great attitude. In my free time I love to go on walks, read and spend time with my family.

I grew up in California and moved to Seattle in 2020. I enjoy crocheting, cooking/baking, and going on walks with my baby girl. I got my BS in Child Development from Appalachian State University in 2020 and love being a teacher in early childhood. I love teaching because it is so amazing to watch my class grow. At this age, we are focusing so much on communication, self-regulation, and independence in daily tasks. I love to see them progress in these skills and see how much growth they have from the time they come into my class to when they are ready to leave.

Hi, my name is Laurel. I was born in Issaquah, Washington and I have lived in this area for most of my life. In 2023 I graduated with a BA in psychology from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, where I feel I received a well-rounded education, learning a lot about subjects I love like music theory, english, and anthropology in addition to psychology. I have only worked with children for a short time, but I have already learned how much I enjoy making connections with students and watching them learn and grow. My favorite activities outside of teaching are art and music, especially music composition. My favorite instrument to play is piano, but I also like to play guitar and violin.

I was born in Spokane but grew up in the Bellevue area for most of my life. I always knew I loved working with young kids and loved teaching! I love finding ways to make the “boring” things fun and find a way that works for every child. I’m currently getting my bachelor’s degree in early childhood education at Bellevue College. It’s important to me that every child feels included and confident while in the classroom. I love seeing a child’s personality bloom from their first day to their last. In my free time you’ll probably find me with my dog hiking or paddle boarding. I also love writing books and reading! I love working here at Birch Tree Academy and am so happy to be a part of this team!

I was grew up in India where later I obtained a bachelor’s degree in science from S.V. University. I moved to the United States over eighteen years ago and have spent the last ten years working with children. I am married with two adult children. In my spare time I enjoy hiking, doing various types of art projects, and watching Indian television shows. I am happy to have joined the Birch Tree Family because of the bilingual environment and I value the relationships here with the staff, children, and parents.

My name is Sarah Semeg Carlson. I was born in Ethiopia, a country in Africa. However; I grew up here in Washington state for most of my life. I’m a mother of two kids who are similar ages to the kids here. I love working with children so much, it’s truly an honor and privilege to serve the children here. I hope in the near future to get my bachelor in teaching, but for now I will continue to grow and expand my knowledge here.

My name is Wenyi. I’m from China, and later moved to Seattle. Before Birch Tree, I worked at Denise Louie Education Center for 3 years as a TA. I enjoy my early childcare job because I love children and can use the skills that I’ve gained from being a mother of three to help guide the children at Birch Tree. I am excited to be a part of the Birch Tree Academy family to witness the growth of the children and hope to be able to strengthen my skills as a teacher!

I was born and raised in California, but moved to Seattle not long ago. I am a wife, mother, and stepmother. My nationality is Hmong and I come from a big family of eleven siblings! I attended the University of Sacramento State and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. While attending college, I had the opportunity to work at the children’s center on campus for about three years as a teacher’s assistant. One of my passion is working with children. I enjoy seeing their young faces light up with excitement when they learn something new or when they master a difficult task. Just watching them grow and know that I am a part of their growth is very rewarding!

Hello everyone! My name is Emily, and I am a Washington native, born and raised! I have been working in childcare for 7 years now and have loved every bit of it. It’s always such a blast and I look forward to spending part of my days with them. I am currently a student at Bellevue College where I am finishing up my class to receive my Associates degree in Arts & Sciences. In my free time, I am always surrounded by music. Whether it’s listening to my favorite bands, playing my bass and guitar or traveling across the country for a concert! I am also a huge reader and love spending my days getting lost in a good book. Some other hobbies include traveling, writing, or doing anything outdoors that could lead to an adventure!

I was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, where I graduated from the State Pedagogical University with masters in Elementary School Education. After graduation, my husband and I moved to Moscow, where I continued with my education in the field of Russian language and literature. After starting a family, I worked as an elementary and high school teacher, and later as a chief editor at a newspaper. After 20 years of living in Moscow, my husband, two children and I immigrated to United States, where we found our permanent home in Bellevue, WA. Working with kiddos brings a lot of satisfaction and joy especially when I see smiles on children’s faces.

I was born and raised in Seattle and love calling the PNW my home. I attended Gonzaga University for undergrad and Seattle Pacific University for my Masters in Teaching. I am an avid history learner and am excited to introduce a Greek Mythology lesson at some point this school year. I am proud of my Greek heritage and invite any family to share with me any customs or traditions you may have that we can celebrate in class! In my free time I enjoy cooking, playing soccer, and spending time on the water.

Hello, I'm Oksana and I was born in Russia. I graduated from a sports school for Basketball, and also went to art school, studied folk, jazz, and other modern dances. I loved learning so much I also got my masters degree in fashion design, and my bachelors in modeling of clothes. I now have many years of experience in working with children. I have fallen in love with seeing the progress kids make & watching them build confidence in themselves as well as utilizing all the skills we teach them. I am passionate about teaching kindness, accountability, and creativeness to every learner. I am very excited to be a part of the Birch Tree family and look forward to meeting you and your little ones!

Hi Birch Tree Family! My name is Alexis. Born and raised in Bellevue, I grew up with my dad and younger brother. I have grown to love nature and I’ve recently taken an interest into rock climbing! I have a dog, her name is Leyla Ray and she enjoys walks, learning new tricks and chasing after the ball. While I am new to the realm of early childhood education, I am eager to explore and understand the responsibilities and joys associated with being a preschool teacher. I am excited to be teaching your kiddos and offer unwavering emotional support and am dedicated to cultivating a positive and nurturing environment!

Hi, my name is Emma. I am from Ukraine. I have lived in the USA for 9 months. I have my master's degree as a basketball coach. I worked as a coach for a long time in Ukraine, Italy and Poland. I worked with children of all ages, and I really enjoy time with kids and love teaching them something new.

I was born in South Africa and moved to Washington State when I was 16 years old. I have known since middle school that I want to work with children, and I have been blessed doing just that at Birch Tree Academy for the past 3 years - a job I love. In my spare time, I enjoy listening to music, dancing, going out for lunch, and traveling.

Hi! I’m from Ukraine. I moved to America in 2022. When I lived in Ukraine, I also worked with children. I was an entertainer. I organized children’s parties, birthdays, and simply entertained kids. Working with children, I enjoy watching them grow, helping them develop, teaching them something new every day, and celebrating their achievements with them.

I was born in Russia in the city of Perm, located on the border of Europe and Asia. In 2019, I came to America and started working at Birch Tree as a cook. I have two grown-up sons. The older one is in the U.S. Army, the younger one is a student. All my working experience is related to nutrition. I graduated from college majoring in food engineering technology and food service management. I love cooking and am very happy when my food is enjoyed by children.

Hello, I’m Elina! I was born in Baku, and in 2022, I came to Seattle and live in Bellevue. In 2024, I got a job at BTA and I am glad to be a part of this team, I enjoy cooking healthy and nutritious meals for the children.

Hello! My name is Irina. I was born and raised in Russia, Ufa. I have one daughter and two granddaughters. Before they were born, I worked as a tax inspector. But, as soon as my granddaughters were born I realized that there is no greater happiness than seeing them grow up, how their characters change. And I also love to cook and spoil my granddaughters with different delicacies. And I am so happy to combine my favorite business at home and at work.

Born and raised in Turkmenistan, I graduated from the Mary College. My first teacher was my mom, she taught me how to behave in the kitchen. I have been in this role since I was 12 years old, and I have professional experience as a kitchen assistant for 3 years in my hometown. In that role, I emphasized the implementation of hygiene and anti-epidemic measures in the kitchen. I am happy to be a part of Birch Tree Academy and being a part of this academy has not only enhanced my technical skills, but also taught me the importance of teamwork, attention to detail, and the joy of creating something extraordinary from simple ingredients. I am proud to be a part of Birch Tree Academy and look forward to continuing my journey here.