GIG HARBOR ACADEMY - Key Persons
Aubrey MacGregor is a life-long educator both in and out of the classroom. Earning her BA in Teaching from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI and her M.Ed. from University of Washington Tacoma, she began her career within the Detroit Public School District and for the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. In addition to traditional school settings, she has worked as a piano teacher, ballroom dance instructor, and as Director of an early childhood music program. With experiences working with preschool through seventh grade learners, she is delighted to be at Gig Harbor Academy where she has the opportunity to engage in organic and authentic learning experiences with her students. She lives in Gig Harbor with her husband, daughter (a GHA elementary student), two dogs, five chickens, two cat and lots and lots of bees.
Brittney Shirey assumed the role of Preschool Teacher after five years of assisting Teacher Diana's classes at Gig Harbor Academy. Having been immersed in our distinctive school environment and philosophy of learning under Diana's mentorship, she brings a deep awareness of GHA's core values and is a well-loved member of our community. Receiving her Child Development Associate degree, Brittney is passionate about inviting our young learners into a nurturing, student-centered classroom that promotes creativity, individuality, and joy.
Carrie Cherek received her MA in Education and BA in English from Austin College and has been a passionate educator for over 20 years in public, international, and private schools. With experience as a Learning Specialist, her homeroom teaching positions have been in second, third, and fourth grade. She seeks to build strong relationships with her students and collaborate with families and colleagues to create an engaging learning environment where every child feels valued, inspired, and confident. Moving from Texas to the Pacific Northwest, she is still in awe of the trees and beauty of Washington and is excited about using our campus for outdoor learning.
A graduate of Capilano University in British Columbia, BC, Diana Nold joined Gig Harbor Academy in 2009 as the preschool lead teacher. Throughout her over 20-year career as an early childhood educator, Diana has demonstrated a strong passion for encouraging creative thinking by building on the children's ideas and interests. Diana's vast experience in the field of early childhood education and development is evident in the preschool classes she leads. Her participation in the prestigious Reggio Emilia International Center in Italy is one example of her ongoing commitment to growth in the profession.
Dominic Kehoe joined Gig Harbor Academy in the summer of 2020 as Head of School, bringing several years of experience leading Independent Schools. He has his state teaching and administrative certifications, an MA in Teaching, and is completing his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. As a former science teacher, Dominic loves Gig Harbor Academy's hands-on, inquiry-based approach and the outdoor focus our campus promotes. Dominic is originally from Scotland but has called the Northwest his home for the last 16 years. Dominic and his wife Katie have two daughters who attend GHA. When he is not at school, Dominic loves traveling and exploring the outdoors with his family. He is also an avid rock climber, scuba diver, and loves soccer.
Ellie Jefferson grew up in a small town in Nottinghamshire, England. She graduated from Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln, England with a BA in Education Studies and Applied Drama and an MA in Primary Education, a program that has a heavy emphasis on teaching Phonics and Early Reading. In England, she worked as a live-in Teaching Assistant in a boarding school, then went on to teach Kindergarten in a classroom of her own. This is where she discovered both her love for teaching Early Reading and learning outdoors. In 2018, she immigrated to the US and began teaching 1st Grade in Texas, which included facilitating an inclusive Special Education program. A relocation to Gig Harbor with her husband led Ellie to discovering Gig Harbor Academy and the unique opportunity to draw upon her previous experiences and teaching values to develop a blended K/1st Grade classroom.
Job Titles:
- Science
- Science Specialist
Janie Routh graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder with her BS in Integrative Physiology and MA in Math and Science Curriculum and Instruction. She taught math for seven years and science for two before joining the Gig Harbor Academy Faculty as Science Specialist in 2022. An outdoor enthusiast, Janie is inspired by our campus' sprawling natural surroundings and the place-based learning opportunities that abound at GHA.
Ken Johnson grew up in Key Peninsula and began his first business at the age of ten selling bonsai trees at local farmers markets. After graduating high school, Ken started working at Costco Wholesale and soon became the youngest member of the outside marketing team, and within a year was featured in the corporate magazine Costco Today for his customer service. In 2012 Ken was given the opportunity to combine his love of technology with his passion for working with the public when he signed his first contract and began working on a Special Collects Team with Google Maps. This project allowed Ken to travel and collaborate with a team to develop high quality virtual tours of well know public interest points, such as the Hollywood Bowl, the Seattle Space Needle, and the Aquarium of the Pacific. Ken has been able to continue expanding his abilities by branching into film production as production assistant for Jumpshot Films. Relevant previous work experiences include precision machining and manufacturing.
Job Titles:
- Office Administrator and School Nurse
Job Titles:
- Director of Development and Auxiliary Programming
Matt was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. He graduated from Humboldt State University, with a BA in Elementary Education. He returned to his PNW roots and completed his MA in Teaching from the University of Washington and was a lead teacher for over a decade in public and independent schools with a focus towards progressive education. With experience teaching first to fifth grades, he is passionate about instilling a strong sense of inquiry, building a connection between students and nature, and facilitating hands-on learning. A participant in the NWAIS Emerging Leaders Institute, Matt transitioned from teaching to his administrative role at GHA which encompasses overseeing the school's fundraising initiatives and before/after school childcare, enrichment, and summer programs. Matt lives in Tacoma with his wife, their young daughter, and a "tennis ball focused" border collie.
Job Titles:
- Librarian and Learning Support
- Library / Learning Support
A Gig Harbor native, Megan Ngo joined the Gig Harbor Academy Faculty in 2022 as a long-term second grade sub. Megan's organization, creativity, and ability to bring learning to life shone in her interim role, so it was a natural fit for her to assume this position. With over a decade of experience in K-8 settings, Megan is passionate about literacy. Preschool through fifth grade students at GHA enjoy weekly visits to the library, which include an animated and interactive read-aloud and book check-out time. As Learning Support Specialist, she partners with our elementary teachers to provide individualized and small group intervention/acceleration to students. Her motto (aka the "Ngolden Rule") is: It is neither easy nor difficult; you either have or have not the skill to do it yet.
A Pacific Northwest native, Megan Snow graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors from Western Washington University with a BA in English and earned her MA in Teaching from the University of Washington. Her life has been colored by vast and varied experiences teaching children and youth, spanning early education to high school. Megan's leadership roles have included being an Academic Intervention Specialist for Seattle Public Schools and founding and directing a small business in West Seattle. Megan joined the Gig Harbor Academy Faculty as first grade teacher in 2018 where she demonstrated a deep understanding and appreciation for the distinctives a GHA education offers. Her administrative role encompasses admissions, marketing, and K-5 curriculum and instruction oversight. She lives on Fox Island with her husband, their son (a GHA elementary student), and their playful corgi.
Simon Petersson earned his MA of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and his BA of Fine Arts from Gothenburg University, Sweden. He brings fifteen years of professional experience in the music industry with a background as an opera singer. In addition to teaching music classes at Gig Harbor Academy, Mr. Simon has enjoyed offering camps and after-school enrichment in acting, musical theater and magic. When he is not sharing his passion for music at GHA, Mr. Simon can be found teaching private lessons in voice, piano, guitar, ukulele and saxophone at Cappella Music Academy.
Stephanie Redden joined Gig Harbor Academy in the summer of 2021, bringing many years of Business Management experience, including working at an independent school in Olympia. She earned a BA in both Accounting and Chemistry and MA in Higher Education Administration. Stephanie grew up in Port Orchard but now lives with her husband and their two daughters in Centralia, WA, where she primarily works remotely. Stephanie enjoys travel, spending time with her family, sewing, and raising chickens.
Born in Limon, Costa Rica, Xinia Agee is passionate about sharing her first language and the beautiful diversity of Hispanic culture with young learners. Xinia brings many years of classroom experience with preschool through elementary students in a variety of settings. She taught in the capital city of San Jose, Costa Rica and was also employed through the Department of Defense at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base in Hawaii. Xinia joined the Gig Harbor Academy faculty in 2008 and loves being able to witness her students grow from preschool through fifth grade and beyond.