SCHOOL WITHIN SCHOOL - Key Persons
Ms. Wertheimer comes to SWS as the school's first 5th grade teacher. She was previously at Watkins Elementary, where she received the Watkins Elementary School Teacher of the Year award numerous times. She was also awarded the prestigious Rubenstein Teaching Award from DCPS for Excellence in Teaching. Ms. Wertheimer has an M.A. from Trinity University in Urban Education, Diversity and Social Justice, and is pursuing a Master's degree in Inclusion Education from the University of New England.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administration & Support Staff
- Social Worker
"The thing I love most about teaching at SWS is the feeling of welcome that is in the smiles, hugs, and kindness of all the students and adults. I have never worked in such a wonderful community and I feel very grateful to have this opportunity!
The thing I am most proud of is my beautiful nephew, Darwin. He just turned one year old and he lives with his parents (my brother and sister-in-law) in Sweden. I talk to them and video chat as much as I can but he has certainly stole my heart and I'm so proud to be his aunt.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administration & Support Staff
- Psychologist & 504 Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Recruitment Committee
Daniel comes to SWS from DC Bilingual Public Charter School where he was a 4th grade teacher. He holds an Master's in Elementary Education from George Washington University and a Bachelor's of Arts from Dartmouth College.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administration & Support Staff
- Custodian
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administration & Support Staff
- Custodial Foreman
"The thing I love most about teaching/working at SWS is being inspired by my brilliant colleagues every day.
The thing I am most proud of is raising my two kind, thoughtful and empathetic daughters.
Ms. Hannah has been a teacher at SWS since 2012 and an educational aide at SWS for four years before that. She attended the Reggio Emilia Conference in Italy in 2013 and is a parent of an SWS alumni.
Before coming to SWS, Ms. Hannah was an English teacher at the Italian Army Foreign Language School, Perugia, Italy and an English coach at The War School in Civitavecchia, Italy. Her education includes:
Goddard College, Plainfield Vermont, MA in Education
Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, Bachelor of Arts in English
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administration & Support Staff
- Custodian
Before coming to SWS, Ms. Bartlett taught at Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn, NY, and at Capitol Hill Day School. She graduated with a B.A. in Sociology from Wittenberg University in Ohio, and received a Master's degree in elementary education from Bank Street College of Education in New York. Ms. Bartlett grew up in Capitol Hill and is glad to be back home, fulfilling a yearning to teach in a public school setting.
"The thing I love most about teaching/working at SWS is the awesome kids! I teach because I love to play and learn alongside wonderful little people … and SWS is bursting at the seams with thoughtful, joyful children!
The thing I am most proud of is meeting each child where they are at and helping them grow, whether they are bold or bashful or somewhere in between. I love building relationships of care and trust with each of my students.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband and daughter, reading fantasy books, sewing in my craft room, and tinkering in the garden.
I would describe my teaching style as joyful, nurturing, and love-filled … and loud! I love to sing and laugh and be silly. I love to listen to kids' stories. I love to play outside and get dirty in the garden. I love to jump into investigations about my students' interests.
Mr. Jere began his teaching career at SWS as a student teacher while earning his B.A. in Early Childhood Education from The Catholic University of America. He's been teaching at SWS since 2010. He has also:
Participated in North American Study Group in Reggio Emilia, Italy
Attended North American Reggio Emilia Alliance Summer Conference, Pacific Grove, California
Attended Responsive Classroom Training, Alexandria, Virginia
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administration & Support Staff
- Principal
"The thing I love most about teaching/working at SWS is… the relationships!! Being a part of SWS means being a part of a huge community where not only your colleagues care about you and vice versa but so do the students, families, neighbors and alums.
The thing I am most proud of is… making the switch from private to public school teaching and really committing myself to being a Reggio-inspired early childhood educator.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my great group of friends from UNC, traveling with friends or family or just spending some time alone relaxing.
A visitor to my class could expect to see lots of social interaction between children and between children and teachers. Documentation of learning throughout the room. Laughing and experiencing the joy of discovery and connection with others. Thinking made visible through the use of art. Children exercising their right to explore and discover.
Ms. Krista has participated in:
Harvard Project Zero, Children Are Citizens Pilot
Washington International School Institute for Teachers
North American Study Group to Reggio Emilia, Italy, 2014, Participant
Before coming to SWS in 2013, Ms. Krista was a Co-Lead Teaching Fellow at School Takoma Education Campus and a Co-Lead Teacher at the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center. Her education includes:
DC Teaching Fellow/TNTP Academy, DCPS Regular I and II Certification in Early Childhood Education
Northern Virginia Community College, Early Childhood Education and Teaching Coursework
Oxford Seminars, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Certificate
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Bachelor of Arts in Romance Languages, Minors: Women's Studies and Social and Economic Justice
Job Titles:
- 1st Grade Partner Teacher
Ms. McLean is a member of NAREA (North American Reggio Emilia Alliance) and NAEA (National Art Educators Association). She received the Chancellors Award for Outstanding DC Arts Teacher (2009) and an Expert Teacher designation from DC Public Schools (2014).
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Communications Committee
- Member of Communications Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administration & Support Staff
- Social Worker
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administration & Support Staff
- Nurse
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administration & Support Staff
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administration & Support Staff
- Manager of Strategy & Logistics
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administration & Support Staff
- Instructional Coach - Math