Guided by highly experienced and innovative staff, DCS meets district curriculum requirements with programs that build on individual strengths and abilities.

Erin Bowser 

ebowser@lwsd.org

I am committed to partnering with families and staff to meet students where they are and to help them grow academically, socially and emotionally.

 I grew up in Tacoma, Washington and went to the University of Washington where I earned my BA degree in mathematics.  I then attended Seattle University to receive my Masters In Teaching. I taught middle school math in the Northshore School District for 7 years before pursuing a leadership path. I returned to the University of Washington as part of the Danforth Educational Leadership Program to get my principal certification.

I joined the Lake Washington School District during the 2007-2008 school year as the Assistant Principal of Rose Hill Junior Middle School and Stella Schola Middle School where I then became the principal from 2012-2020. I am excited to join the Discovery Community School and Sandburg Elementary community!

On a personal note, I live in Kirkland with my husband and two children. My son is in 7th grade and my daughter is in 5th grade at their neighborhood schools.  We enjoy being outside, listening to music and playing all kinds of games. I love to run, cook and see my kids doing something they love.

I’ve spent close to twenty years as a middle school educator and I know what skills will help students be successful as they transition from elementary school to middle school.  As a parent, I’ve spent the last six years partnering with teachers and supporting my own children through elementary school.  These two experiences have sparked my passion for moving to an elementary school to work with the amazing educators who lay the foundation for everything ahead and collaborate with families to meet the needs of the whole child.

I want for your children what I want for my own.  I want them to be challenged, connected, valued and prepared for the next step.   

Respectfully,
Erin Bowser

In Memoriam ♥️

Diane Jewell - Our Beloved Youngers (Kindergarten & 1st grade) and Head Teacher - 1/1/60-8/16/23
 

DCS will not be the same without Ms. Jewell.  She was an amazing teacher and advocate for her students.  Her love for all students was contagtious.  She leaves a lasting legacy.   Her bio, in her own words: 

Discovery Community School holds a very special place in my heart. My daughters, Kelsey and MacKenzie, both graduated from this fantastic school! I loved being part of a community of supportive parents who value their children’s education and seek opportunities to become involved.

Originally from Wisconsin, I earned my Bachelor of Science degree from the UW of EauClaire. I worked many summers as a camp counselor and these experiences led me to an Easter Seals Camp in California. I settled in San Francisco where I taught for 10 years and earned my Master of Arts degree. I relocated to Kirkland in 1995 to be closer to my sister and to raise my girls in a suburban community. Working as a substitute teacher in all grade levels of Lake Washington and Northshore School districts was the perfect opportunity to experience the incredible dedication educators have in this area. This was also the delightful opportunity to raise my daughters and be involved with their elementary education.

In 2006 I completed my Professional Certification for the state of Washington and was offered a teaching position at DCS. I was thrilled to accept and become a member of this dedicated & energetic staff!  We love our life here in the Pacific Northwest. My daughters both attended Western Washington University and are pursuing careers in math and science. We feel very fortunate to live in such a beautiful location to hike, ski, and celebrate the solstice.

Nicole Payette  - Middles (2nd & 3rd grade) Teacher
npayette@lwsd.org 

I am thrilled to be joining DCS as the Middles teacher in the 2023-2024 school year! I am so excited to work with parents and a community that is so involved, dedicated, and supportive of students and education.

I grew up nearby in Bothell where I attended Inglemoor HS. My experiences coaching and refereeing youth soccer and as a YMCA summer camp counselor solidified my desire to work with children. I moved to Missoula, Montana where I studied elementary education and received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Montana (Go Griz!). Upon graduation, I moved back home and began teaching 2^nd grade at Sandburg in 2012. I have been fortunate to teach 1^st and 2^nd grades at Sandburg ever since, alongside many incredible educators. With a desire to learn more about literacy and help students become better readers and writers, I pursued my Master of Education in Literacy at Seattle Pacific University, graduating in 2016. One of my favorite aspects of teaching is that I am continually learning, growing, challenging myself, reflecting, and working toward improving my craft to better meet the needs of my students, which led me to pursue and achieve my initial National Board Certification as a Middle Childhood Generalist during the 2018-2019 school year.

I appreciate the curiosity, enthusiasm, and uniqueness that my students bring to school. My favorite subjects to teach are math, writing, and art. I look for ways to make math engaging with hands on lessons and love when students discover how the math concepts we are learning about are applicable to their lives. I believe all students have incredible, personal stories and I enjoy helping students learn to brainstorm, sketch, and write their stories and share with others. While teaching 2^nd grade, Erin Subcleff was one of my teammates and her passion for art was contagious. I love integrating art with our other curriculum goals and seeing students’ creativity shine.

Outside of school I enjoy going to swim lessons with my toddler, walking with my mom, running, watching baseball with my husband, soaking up the sun beach or poolside with my sister, and spending time with my friends and family.

Erin Subcleff - Olders (4th & 5th grade) Teacher and Head Teacher

esubcleff@lwsd.org

I love spending my days bringing the love of learning to elementary students. My favorite things are developing in children a love of books, a passion for discovery, the rewards of creativity, and the thrill of challenging themselves.

After attending Juanita High School, I graduated from the University of Washington. I have always been a strong advocate for the arts and while teaching, I earned my Master's Degree in Creative Arts from Lesley College. Integrating the arts (poetry, dance, music, visual arts, and drama) into the curriculum allows me to create enriching and challenging lessons.

I have been teaching in the Lake Washington School District since 1991 – teaching grades 1-6.   Since moving to DCS in 2015, I have been a Middles and now Olders teacher.  The strong community of students, parents, and staff, make DCS a very special place to be.

My husband and I live in Woodinville. We have three children – Eliza, who attends school in the Northshore School District, Isaac who is studying engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Jackson, a recent computer science and math gradute from Cornell University who is now working and living in Seattle.   When I'm not teaching, I enjoy reading, playing board games with my family, and creating art

Alissa Osborne-Office Professional, Paraeducator, Instructional Assistant

Aliosborne@lwsd.org

I’m grateful every day I get the opportunity to work with Discovery families and connecting with students.

I have an Associates Arts Degree from Skagit Valley Community College and I am an LMP, licensed massage therapist. I worked for Costco for 10 years after having kids I decided to stay home to raise them.
 I was raised and surrounded by educators all my life and feel this is my passion, supporting students intuitively for success.   

On a personal note, I am married to a wonderful husband and together we have a son, who graduated from JHS and a daughter who is currently at JHS. Both of my children have graduated from Sandburg. We enjoy sailing on our sailboat in the San Juans, crabbing, fishing, paddle boarding, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking at St. Edwards, water sports on Lake Washington, alpine skiing and playing games. I enjoy working out, meditating, yoga.

 I also enjoy working and connecting with our incredible students, staff, families, and community! Please feel free to introduce yourself to me when you are on campus.

Library, PE and Music

Music

Bryan Melerski

Mr. Melerski hails from Erie, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Mercyhurst University in 2010 (with a degree in Music Education) he took a job with the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). He moved to Montgomery, Alabama where he taught at Maxwell Air Force Base.

In the summer of 2015 Mr. Melerski moved to Seattle. In 2016 he took a job with the Lake Washington School District as the music teacher at A. G. Bell Elementary.

Outside of school Mr. Melerski likes to cook, entertain, explore Seattle and other parts of the PNW, find new restaurants, and travel.

You'll probably hear him say "y'all", call a shopping cart a "buggy", and see him sporting University of Alabama gear.

DCS Alumni

Jillian Stroup