Our Teachers
Our team is comprised of dedicated Early Childhood Educators who bring a vast amount of formal education, years of experience, and an over all loving, caring demeanor. We work to stay current with our curriculum, training and new developments in our field. We believe in collaboration between educators and strive to do and be better every day.
Kechelle
Center Director
Kechelle Jackson has been part of the SPCDC community since 2013 and has served as Director since 2021. Born and raised in Seattle, she has always loved being active in her community through dance, sports, and the arts. That passion for movement and creativity grew into a career dedicated to education and working with children.
She holds a degree in Early Childhood Education and spent over five years as a preschool teacher, while also mentoring and leading enrichment programs. Kechelle also taught at a local dance studio for more than 10 years, sharing her love of dance with students of all ages.
In 2012, she founded Emerald City Creative Arts, which offers art and dance enrichment programs across the greater Seattle area, including with Seattle Public Schools and SPCDC. She has also served as Treasurer and now President of the Dance Educators Association of Washington.
As Director, Kechelle is passionate about partnering with families and staff to foster a joyful, creative, and supportive learning environment for every child.
Alysha
Program Coordinator
& Pre-K Teacher
4 – 5 year olds
Alysha Rooney graduated from the University of Washington in 2021 with a degree in Early Childhood and Family Studies. She first joined SPCDC as a UW volunteer in 2019 and became the Lead Teacher in the YPK room in 2021.
With a strong background in kindergarten readiness and behavior management, Alysha brings both knowledge and joy to the classroom. She loves that SPCDC fosters children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth through play, and she is excited to continue building strong relationships with children and families in the PK program
Paul
Young Pre-K Teacher
3 – 4 year olds
Paul Yoon is the Lead Teacher for YPK and has been part of SPCDC since first volunteering with the community. He is completing a Bachelor of Arts in Education Studies – Foundations of Teaching at the University of Washington, with minors in Law, Societies, and Justice, as well as Disability Studies.
Paul is passionate about making education accessible and fostering a strong sense of community in the classroom. He values building meaningful relationships with children, families, and staff, and looks forward to continuing his journey in education with plans to pursue a master’s degree and future work in both classrooms and educational policy
Alex
Toddler Teacher
18 months – 3 year olds
Alex Soriano joined SPCDC as a volunteer in 2022 and has been part of the community for three years. Originally from Olympia, Washington, Alex is completing a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Family Studies at the University of Washington and plans to pursue a master’s in Elementary Education.
Alex is passionate about working with young children and is dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming environment where every child feels seen, valued, and supported. With a deep commitment to fostering growth and development, Alex looks forward to continuing a journey in education and making a positive impact in the lives of children and families at SPCDC.
Careers
Want to join our team? Check out our current openings or email your resume and cover letter to spcdckids@gmail.com.
