Louise Lipnick has 30 plus years of public and private teaching experience and has been with the school since from 1976. Drawing from experience of what works for kids who are learning to read, she has assembled a well-balanced reading and writing program. Teaching children is a source of joy, energy, and inspiration to Louise. This is especially apparent in the playfulness and energy she brings to group drama, improvisation, and movement. Louise's creativity shines in developing and integrating curriculum. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education and an M.S. in Reading from the University of Bridgeport.

Alina Ostrer began her career at UCoop as a Kindergartener. She graduated from Western Washington University with a B.S. in Environmental Studies and her Elementary Education Certificate. Alina taught previously at UCoop for five years and is mother of three children; one of her sons currently attends UCoop.

Jim Riley 's high energy and entertaining enthusiasm captivates children and motivates them, not only to strive for their best, but to have fun while they are doing it. Jim conveys his passion for science, poetry and adventure to his students, while also drawing upon the uniqueness of each child. Jim taught for 10 years at Shoreline Public Schools before he started our 3-5 program in September 2000. Before pursuing teaching as a career, Jim started and developed a group home for emotionally disturbed children in Fairbanks, Alaska; worked with run away teens; ran an after-school program for inner-city kids; and worked as a camp counselor. Jim received his B.A. in Communications from Gonzaga University and his M.S. in Elementary Education from the College of St. Rose in Albany, N.Y.

Kyra Canfield’s main aspiration is to affect the world in a positive way. In order to do this, she earned a B.A. in physical anthropology, with a focus in primatology. She then enjoyed a career working with non-human primates and educating the public about the dire need for global awareness and conservation.  Later, she changed directions and became a teacher.  She received her teaching credentials from East Bay State University in California and began teaching fifth grade in a public school in Oakland.  After one year in Oakland, she was asked to start the science program in a private elementary school in Pleasanton, California.  She began teaching at UCoop in 2005, heading up the science and math programs, which are her
passion.

Specialists

Merrill Becker has served UCoop as an assistant teacher since 1996. Merrill grew up in Costa Rica, is fluent in Spanish, and teaches Spanish to the K-2 children three times a week. Merrill received her B.A form Hanover College in Indiana, and holds an M.A. in English as well as an M.L.S from the University of Washington. Merrill loves working with children in both English and Spanish and utilizes games, drama and music whenever possible in her teaching.

Christian Swenson leads the K-2 children in a unique and boisterous blend of dance, voice, mime and theater arts once each week. Internationally acknowledged for his pioneering solo performance, Human Jazz, he has appeared with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and at Lincoln Center in New York.