Hello Hillsiders!
You may have noticed that we have a few new teachers this year. We’ve asked each of them to introduce themselves with a paragraph or two about their lives. Read up – there may be a test later.
Here you go – in alphabetical order:
Merideth Block – Grades 5/6 Supervising Teacher, Humanities
Merideth Block has been teaching forever. She began her work interning in the
Merideth and Erik in Japan
classroom at a YWCA domestic violence shelter during her undergraduate program at Earlham College. After a few years as a psychiatric social worker, she moved to Japan with her husband Erik to teach English. She then moved to Monterey, California where she began teaching in her first 7th grade classroom and received her Masters in Education from Chapman University. After another stint in Japan she worked at Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School in Palo Alto, CA, Spring Street International School in Friday Harbor, WA before being welcomed to Hillside. These were in middle school Humanities programs.
As well as teacher, Merideth is also a student. She studies the fiddle, theater (acting, directing, and scenic design and painting), draws, reads tons, and practices Vipassana meditation.
Merideth as the Deaf Mute in “Madwoman of Chaillot”
For fun outside the classroom, Merideth swing dances “East Coast” with her husband. She is an avid knitter, doing mostly stranded colorwork and fair isle. She travels as much as possible and loves hiking in both urban and rural environments. She has two cats, one beta fish, a parakeet named Bob, and shares a dog with her mother in Spokane. She bakes a lot but hates cooking. Her dearest desires are to drive a reasonably priced car on Top Gear (UK, thank-you) and to be a companion to Doctor Who.
Monique Catino – French II
Monique and her two Charlies
Jain Young-Pak – Intermediate Math, Algebra I & II, PE
Hi, my name is Jain Pak. I am a graduate student at the University of Washington obtaining my master’s degree in secondary math education. I am very excited to start my teaching career at Hillside.
Jain with her family
I lived in South Korea for about 11 years and moved to Washington State during high school. My favorite food is korean food, especially kimchi. I must have it with everything I eat! I don’t think I can live without it 
I absolutely love the outdoors. I like to play basketball, go out for hikes, bike rides, and just be outside. I love to be with my family and friends. I love love traveling around all different countries and eating food from many countries. I have traveled all around Asia and Europe. My next trips are South America and Africa.
Jain picnicking and playing volley ball in Denver
I am pretty outgoing once I get used to my surroundings and I love meeting new kinds of people.
And one of my favorite quotations is:
“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.”
– Michael Jordan
Ashley Thirkill-Mackelprang – Spanish
I am a great example of how much speaking Spanish can open up the world to great
Ashley in San Cristobal
interaction and learning opportunities. Most of my travel has involved research, teaching or study around peace and conflict. I backpacked through Central America with my husband and lived with local families as I researched war and recovery in Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador. This is where most of the pictures I sent you come from — the one with the kids is in a market in the Guatemalan highlands called Solola’. Another is at ancient Mayan Tikal ruins that were uncovered in the northeastern Guatemalan jungle.