INSTRUCTIONAL TEAM
Elementary Team
Ms. Andalon is thrilled to be a part of the Catalyst team this fall. She was born and raised in Southern California and has relocated to Bremerton with her family. She graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies and a concentration in Spanish. Prior to Catalyst, she's worked as a program director for an after school tutoring program and as a STEAM teacher to grades TK-8th. Ms. Andalon has always had a passion to teach and she loves seeing every student reach their fullest potential. What she loves about Catalyst is that there is a place for every student. Every student will have the opportunity to find what their passion is and will be given the tools to achieve success. In her free time, she loves spending time with her husband and daughter; hiking, baking, watching football, and being crafty. She am so excited to meet all the wonderful families and students soon!
Viviana Andalon, Lead Teacher
Ms. Amodei is delighted to join the Catalyst Public Schools team as a 4th grade Lead Teacher. Ms. Amodei grew up in the Pacific Northwest, dreaming of traveling and living abroad. She obtained her Bachelors of Visual and Communication Arts from Franklin College Switzerland and spent four years traveling and exploring.
In the last 14 years, Ms. Amodei has pursued certification in copy editing at University of Washington and received her Masters in Teaching from Northwest University. She is grateful for the many opportunities she has had to volunteer and work with children from daycares to marginalized students abroad and families of domestic violence. Most recently, Miss Amodei has worked as a substitute teacher for Bremerton School District and Special Education paraeducator for 4th and 5th graders.
Ms. Amodei spends her time plotting new adventures and embarking on those adventures whenever she has the time. Also along for the ride are her two boys, Nino (6) and Alyosha (3) and one crazy pup, Callie.
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Sierra Amodei, Lead Teacher
Lindsay Brady, Lead Teacher
Lindsay Brady, originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, relocated to Florida after completing her education. It was there that she met her husband, a Corpsman in the Navy. Lindsay feels fortunate to now be stationed in Washington with her husband. With six years of teaching experience under her belt, Lindsay is passionate about trauma-responsive teaching and implementing positive behavior management systems in her classroom.
She is certified in the Science of Teaching Reading, has her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership.
Outside of her professional life, Lindsay enjoys immersing herself in various activities. She finds joy in spending time with her husband and daughter, indulges in the world of literature through reading, expresses her creativity through art, and maintains a healthy lifestyle through CrossFit and other exercise.
Excited about continuing her role as a member of the Catalyst community, Lindsay looks forward to contributing her skills and expertise to the school's mission and vision.
Ms. Buxton is so happy to be joining the team at Catalyst!
Born and raised for almost all of her teen years, in Anchorage, Alaska, she is not stranger to the beauty of the Pacific Northwest! She moved to the mid-west as a teen, it is here where she finished high school and began her college career. During her college career, she took a break and focused on a service mission for a year and half where she had the pleasure of providing assistance and love to others in a new community, which rooted her love of serving others.
Her favorite past time is spending time with family and watching a good movie.
With a college degree n Public Relations, she found her joy in teaching when her youngest was struggling in reading in Kindergarten. After doing some research and finding a curriculum that would help her daughter, she began learning about various teaching approaches that would allow her help teach her daughter to read. By the end of Kindergarten, her daughter was reading at a first grade level. This sparked an interest and love for teaching, where she would then begin the journey of getting a Masters in Elementary Education.
Since then, her journey and love of teaching has grown! She has enjoyed 12 plus years of teaching in a classroom and with multiple grade levels! She is excited to continue her joy in teaching with the scholars at Catalyst.
Her family includes a wonderful husband of 22 years and two children, Harrison and Kennedy who both attend college. And-do not forget about their fur child- Kylo Ren- the cat!
She looks forward to working at Catalyst and meeting all of the wonderful teachers, scholars and families that make Catalyst great!
Carrie Buxton, Small Group Instructor
Ms. Cotto is happy to join Catalyst Public Schools as a small-group instructor! She obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in elementary education and am finishing up her MIT degree. Ms. Cotto has worked ten years as a paraeducator and K-12 Substitute Teacher for Kent and Tacoma school districts. She has also worked at daycares, preschools, STEM science camps, and summer camps and has dedicated over twenty years of her life to child care and education. Ms. Collot's philosophy of education is that all children are unique and must have a stimulating educational environment where they can grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. She desires to create this type of atmosphere where students can meet their full potential. Ms. Cotto will provide a safe environment where students are invited to share their ideas and take risks.
Kena Cotto, 2nd Grade Small Group Instructor
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Dawnell Durbin, Teaching Fellow
Ms. Durbin has been in education since 2018. In the past she has worked with the Central Kitsap School District. She loves helping scholars meet their fullest potential.
Prior to working in education Ms. Durbin worked at Verizon as a corporate account manager for 18 years. Her duties included training, developing and mentoring sales associates in the indirect channel.
Ms. Durbin is a Washingtonian born and raised. She has lived in Kitsap County all of her life. She has two fur kids Sherman (dog) and Maple (dog). Ms. Durbin loves Washington for its mountains, lakes, oceans, and trees. She believes Washington is the most beautiful state. She enjoys attending concerts, random adventures and sporting events. She loves old eclectic things and believes the best gifts are the ones that are made.
Brandee Haynes, Lead Teacher
Brandee is a Bremerton High School graduate who has worked in the education field for more than 15 years, working first in early education before receiving a Bachelor's Degree in elementary education. She continues to build deep roots in this community as she plans to work towards her Master’s Degree.
Brandee is excited to continue to work with a team that is as dedicated to the education and advancement of all children. Inspiring the next generation and being a witness to their endless capabilities is her goal.
Marva Jones, Small Group Instructor
Ms. Jones was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio but has lived in the Pacific Northwest for many years. Ms. Jones began her career teaching students in grades 3-6 in Cleveland. Since then Ms. Jones has worked as an educator with Kitsap Community Resources, the Suquamish Tribe and the Embassy Education Center. She holds both an Associate's degree and her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Jones is happily married is the mother of 4 children.
Rebecca Lancaster, Small Group Instructor
Rebecca Lancaster is a dedicated educator with a dual BA in Elementary and Special Education and a strong background in social and emotional development. She fell in love with teaching while working with the Head Start program at Olympic College in 2001 and has taught pre-kindergarten in Seattle for over 15 years. After moving to Texas to complete their studies in elementary education, Ms. Lancaster returned to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to her sister.
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Ms.Lancaster is passionate about creating a positive impact in the classroom by incorporating music and laughter into lessons, believing that a joyful approach to learning helps students stay engaged and thrive. They are committed to making learning fun, interactive, and memorable for every student and emphasizes building relationships with all scholars.
Outside of the classroom, Ms. Lancaster enjoys cooking, cold plunges in the Sound, and hunting for treasures at the thrift store. She also loves taking road trips to visit friends and family and takes great joy in caring for their loved ones.
Andrea Nix, Lead Teacher
Mrs. Nix is originally from Chicago, Illinois and moved to DFW, Texas when she was 10. She attended the University of North Texas where she received her bachelors degree in Interdisciplinary Studies Early Childhood - 6th grade with an emphasis in English as a Second Language.
She enjoyed teaching 1st grade in Charleston, SC. before marrying her best friend and moved to Guam for three years. She and her husband are excited to settle down in Bremerton and explore the PNW. Mrs. Nix is beyond excited to join the Catalyst family!
Maddison Paulus, Small Group Instructor
Ms. Paulus is a dedicated educator who grew up in Seattle, WA. Because of her passions for human rights, equity, and writing, Ms. Paulus studied international affairs, journalism, and Arabic at George Washington University in Washington D.C. During her time in college Ms. Paulus discovered that applying her passions to education is her true calling. After graduating, she moved back home to Seattle to be close to her family and pursue a career in education. She is currently a student in the U-ACT program at the University of Washington.
Ms. Paulus began working with scholars when she was 15 years old at a child development center in Seattle. Since then, Ms. Paulus has grown in her teaching through roles at elementary schools in Washington, D.C., and Federal Way, WA. Ms. Paulus’ favorite part of teaching is learning from her scholars. She enjoys art, writing, camping, and swimming in her free time.
Ashlee Redfern, Small Group Instructor
Ms. Redfern shares her life with her husband, their energetic first-grader, and beloved pets, Jack the dog and Miki the cat, calling Poulsbo home. With a background in Culinary Arts and a love for exploring global flavors at farmers markets around the world, her zest for life knows no bounds. Her adventures took her to Florence, Italy, where she earned a Bachelor's in Intercultural and Interlinguistic Studies, igniting her passion for cross-cultural communication. Now, as she works towards her Masters in Elementary Education, Ashlee is dedicated to fostering justice through education.
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Ms. Redfern is a spirited advocate for positive change. With unwavering conviction, she believes in the transformative power of expanding non-violent communication and cultivating edible permaculture in communities worldwide. These twin passions serve as pillars in her mission to foster a brighter, more beautiful future for all. Whether she's engaging students in the classroom, sharing a book recommendation, studying a foreign language, swimming in the sea, wild foraging for edibles, or tending to the earth, she is dedicated to nurturing connections that transcend borders and promoting practices that nourish both body and soul. She is excited to join the Catalyst family in the journey towards a world where peace, understanding, and sustainability flourish!
Angela Reyes, Lead Teacher
Ms. Reyes is originally from the Bay Area of California. Before coming to Catalyst, Ms. Reyes worked as a children's show performer, where she realized she wanted a career working with children.
In fall 2017, Ms. Reyes moved to Bremerton to attend Seattle University. She graduated in the spring of 2019 with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies (Elementary Education emphasis), and is grateful for the opportunities at Seattle U to demonstrate responsible civic and community engagement.
Ms. Reyes is elated to work for a school where scholars can find their purpose and passion so that they can cultivate hope, optimism and leadership essential to be catalysts in their community.
In her free time, Ms. Reyes loves singing karaoke, spending time with her friends and family, and spoiling her cat, Nala.
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Alana Santos, Small Group Instructor
Ms. Santos is excited to be joining the Catalyst ‘ohana (family). She hopes to inspire, empower, and celebrate each scholar’s growth.
Ms. Santos was born and raised in Hawaii and she received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, majoring in Family Resources. Teaching isn’t just her job, it’s her passion and calling. Ms. Santos has spent her entire career working in the early childhood education field in both public and private school settings.
In 2019 Ms. Santos moved to Washington state with her husband, their 2 daughters, and their chihuahua terrier pup. With her family by her side, they enjoy camping and going to T-Mobile stadium to watch Mariners baseball.
Traci Siasat, Small Group Instructor
Ms. Siasat received her elementary certification from Central Washington University in 2007. Previously, Ms. Siasat worked with autistic children and adults, as well as substituting in schools all around Kitsap.
Ms. Siasat has lived in Washington all her life and couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. In her free time, she likes to travel with her husband, son, and their chocolate lab, Apollo. They love to visit places full of science and history. Yellowstone has been the family's favorite vacation so far. Ms. Siasat also loves all things geology, especially rocks. On the weekends, you will find her rockhounding on the beach!
Ms. Siasat is passionate about inclusivity and making sure all scholars have found their place amongst their peers. She is looking forward to being part of the Catalyst Family.
Katherine Viridian, Lead Teacher
Ms. Size is from a small surfing community in Southern California called Hermosa Beach where she spent most of my childhood. After graduating high school she went to Santa Monica Community College before transferring to California State University at Long Beach. It was there where she was exposed to what it really meant to be an authentic educator.
Ms. Size graduated with her BA in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Human and Child Development in 2019 and subsequently earned her Masters in Teaching from Pepperdine University.
After graduating from Pepperdine, she moved to Phoenix where she has been teaching for the last two years. Leaving that group of students was one of the hardest things she has done, but she cannot wait for new experiences in Washington.
When she is not at work she loves reading, creating, spending time with family, going on adventures, cooking and persistently and unsuccessfully trying to annoy her fiancé.
Taiylor Walters, Lead Teacher
Ms. Walters graduated from the University of Washington Tacoma in 2021 with her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology as well as two minors focused in education.
She plans to continue through her Master’s degree and receive her teaching certification starting in August 2021. During her free time she likes to sit down with a good book, typically in the Young Adult genre, or watch one of the many Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. She is excited to be working with all of the Catalyst scholars and getting to know each and every one of them!
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