University of Washington College of Education Teachers Oral History Project records, 1998-2010

Sharon Setsuko Tanagi Aburano was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1925 to Japanese immigrants. She was incarcerated at Minidoka Internment Camp in Idaho during World War II. She received an RN from St. Mary's School of Nursing in 1947, a B.S. in Education from the University of Washington in 1960, and a Master of Library Science from the University of Washington in 1968. She worked as a librarian with Seattle Public Schools.

Thomas Barbour was born in Sebeka, Minnesota in 1939 and grew up in Spokane, Washington. He received a B.A. from Eastern Washington University and an M.A. from Reed College and Santa Clara University. He served in the Artic with the U.S. Army and then taught social studies in junior high and high school in Walla Walla, Washington.

Roy Barnes was born in Tacoma, Washington in 1932. He received both his bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Seattle University. He served with the U.S. Army in Manheim, Germany. He taught history in high school and junior high with Seattle Public Schools.

Greer Bevel was born in 1975 in Huntsville, Alabama. He earned a bachelor's degree in history from Whitman College and taught English in Ciechaanow, Poland. He then taught at Walla Walla High School before starting graduate school in education at the University of Washington (where he was studying at the time of this interview).

Jo Perella Caldwell was born in Seattle, Washington in 1940. She received her B.A. from the University of Washington and an M.Ed. From Seattle Pacific University. She taught English and social studies in primary, upper elementary, and high schools in Los Angeles, California, and Edmonds, Washington.

Patricia Sterling Chandler was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1937 and raised in Spokane, Washington. She received her B.A. in History and Elementary Education from the University of Washington, an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Seattle University, and an EdD. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Washington. She worked as an elementary and junior high school teacher for private Catholic schools and the Shoreline School District before becoming an administrator with the Edmonds School District.

Minnie Anderson Collins was born in 1940 in Virginia to an African American family. She received her B.A. from Virginia Union University, her M.Ed. From George Washington University, and her Principal's Certification from Seattle University. She taught high school in Virginia and Washington, D.C. and worked as an administrator and instructor at Seattle University and Seattle Central Community College.

Irma Martin Couden was born in 1915 in Irondale, Missouri, and died in Seattle, Washington, in 2018. She received her B.A from Lindenwood College and a degree in Library Science from Seattle University. She taught high school English and third grade, and worked as a librarian and resource teacher with Seattle Public Schools.

Walter Dawson was born in Pocatello, Idaho, in 1924 and raised in Chelan, Washington. He received a B.A. and a B.E. from Whitworth College. He taught high school business classes in Pomeroy, Washington, and Edmonds, Washington.

Idilice Dickinson was born in Seattle Washington, in 1928. She attended the University of Washington and the Bush School. She taught at the Bush School and worked as a teacher, administrator, and CEO of New Horizons for Learning, an educational nonprofit network.

Helene Dowd was born in 1943 in Miami Beach, Florida, and raised in Brazil, Peru, Argentina, New York City, Los Angeles, California, and Seattle, Washington. She received her B.A. in art education from the University of Washington. She taught art and Spanish in middle and high schools with Seattle Public Schools. She was also an instructor at City University and worked as a supervisor with the University of Washington master's program in education.

Cynthia Etter was born in 1952 in Seattle, Washington, and was raised in Anacortes, Washington. She received her B.A. in special education at Central Washington University and a master's degree from the University of Washington. She taught in Spain and Japan, in several ESL programs in the United States, and in the ELL program for international students at the University of Washington.

James Falco was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1942. He received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and his M.S. and PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Florida. He worked as the Director of Research and Development at the Environmental Protection Agency, the Manager of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the President of Columbia Environmental Sciences, Inc. He was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Heritage University in Toppenish, Washington.

Phyllis Fiege was born in Bucyrus, Ohio, in 1924. She received her undergraduate degree in sociology at Miami University, Ohio, and her advanced degree in Special Education Administration from the University of Washington. She was one of the first Special Education teachers with Seattle Public Schools and later worked for the Edmonds School District.

Margaret Gotchy was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1949 to second-generation Japanese immigrants. She attended the University of Washington and majored in German. She taught English in Germany and high school German classes for Seattle Public Schools.

Karen Hagen was born in Pennsylvania and grew up in rural Ohio. She attended Ohio State University. She worked as an elementary and special education and started Contract High School (now Crest Learning Center), an alternative school on Mercer Island. She also taught at the Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Michael Hagen was born in Spokane, Washington, in 1944 and grew up in Marysville, Washington. He attended Pacific Lutheran University before graduating from the University of Washington and later received a M.Ed. from Lesley University. He worked as a teacher, counselor, and technology director at Contract High School (now Crest Learning Center), an alternative high school on Mercer Island which he helped found.

Dale Hanberg was born in Ballard, Washington, in 1928. He served in the Army in Korea during the Korean War, and afterwards he attended Central Washington University. He later received a master's degree in Counseling from the University of Washington. He taught high school social studies in the Edmonds School District and the Shoreline School District.

Marjory Handy was born in 1918 in Walla Walla, Washington, and raised in Seattle, Washington. She graduated from the University of Washington with a B.A. in Drama, Literature, and Education and an M.A. in Blind Studies. After working as an actress, puppeteer, and restauranteur, she became a special education teacher for blind children in the Seattle Public School System.

Norris Harring was born in 1923 in Kearney, Nebraska. He served in the Army during World War II and was a part of D-Day. He attended Kearney State Teacher's College for undergraduate and received a graduate degree in educational psychology from the University of Nebraska. He worked as a school psychologist in Omaha, Nebraska, before receiving his EdD from Syracuse University. He worked as an administrator and educator in special education college programs in Virginia, Maryland, and Kansas before becoming a Professor of Education at the University of Washington.

Mary Heiny was born in Austin, Minnesota, in 1945 and moved to Seattle in high school. She received a bachelor's degree in Japanese Language from the University of Washington and studied aikido as an exchange student in Japan. She continued her studies and became a 6th dan. She founded the Seattle School of Aikido and worked as the Chief Instructor at the Ottawa Aikikai.

May Higa was born in 1916 in Seattle, Washington, to Japanese immigrants and raised in Seattle and Ellensburg, Washington. She attended Central Washington Teacher's College (now Central Washington University) and the University of Washington. She taught in Japan prior to the start of World War II. She returned to Seattle in 1941 and worked as a school clerk. She was one of 27 Japanese American woman who were forced to resign from Seattle Public Schools in 1942. She was incarcerated at Puyallup, Washington, and Minidoka Concentration Camp in Idaho, where she worked as Educational Director. She worked as a private school teacher in New York City, and taught elementary school in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Pasadena, California.

Bette Inui was born in 1925 in Seattle, Washington, to Japanese immigrants. She was incarcerated at Minidoka Internment Camp in Idaho during World War II and graduated from Hunt High School at the camp. She attended the University of Washington and later became an elementary school teacher with the Head Start program in Seattle Public Schools.

Alexandra Edwards Jones was born in 1958 in Berkeley, California, and raised in Berkeley, New Jersey, and Maryland. She received a bachelor's degree in Dramatic Literature from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a master's degree in Literature at the University of Washington. She taught at North Seattle Community College before becoming an ESL instructor and program coordinator at the University of Washington.

Miyoko Kaneta was born in 1926 in El Centro, California, to second-generation Japanese immigrants. She was sent to an internment camp at Poston, Arizona during World War II. She received a B.A. in English and Japanese Language and Literature from the University of Washington and worked as a secondary teacher with Seattle Public Schools.

Chris Kato was born in 1926 in Seattle, Washington, to Japanese immigrants. He attended the University of Washington for undergraduate and received an M.S. from Oregon State University. Kato was incarcerated at Minidoka Internment Camp in Idaho during World War II. After the war he served as an interpreter for the Army and won the 1956 United States National Championship in Judo. He worked as a chemical engineer before becoming a high school chemistry teacher with Seattle Public Schools.

Paul Kurose was born in 1928 in Tacoma, Washington, to Japanese immigrants. His family moved to Spokane, Washington, to avoid internment, and he attended Gonzaga University before receiving a B.S. from the University of Washington. He served with the Army in Japan during the Korean War. He taught high school science with Seattle Public Schools.

Rachel Lake was born in 1932 in St. Maries, Idaho, and raised in various mining communities across the Pacific Northwest. She received bachelor's degrees from Whitworth College and Eastern Washington College and a master's from the University of Washington. She taught elementary and high school in the Spokane and Shoreline School Districts. She was also president of the Shoreline Educational Association and a lobbyist for educational issues and teachers' rights in Washington State.

Marianne LeSueur was born in 1939 in Tacoma, Washington. She attended Tacoma Community College and the University of Puget Sound. She taught at McCarver Elementary School in Tacoma and worked as a literature and curriculum specialist for the Tacoma School District.

James Lockerbie was born in 1942 in Portland, Oregon. He received a B.A. and an M.A. from the University of Washington. He taught history at Newport High School in Bellevue, Washington, and taught adult education classes after his retirement.

Sally Luttrell-Montes was born in Great Lakes, Illinois, in 1952 and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and Seattle, Washington. She attended the University of Washington. She taught elementary school in the Central Kitsap School District and worked as the Director of Education at the Pacific Science Center.

Roberto Maestas was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico, in 1938 and moved to Seattle, Washington, in high school. He attended the University of Washington and worked at Boeing before becoming a Spanish teacher at Franklin High School. He was a leader of the civil rights movement in Seattle and a cofounder and director of El Centro de la Raza, a nonprofit community center for Seattle's Latino community.

Marion Makin was born in New York, New York, in 1947. She received her B.A. from Harpur State University of New York, her M.A.T. from the University of Chicago, and her M.Ed. in Special Education from the University of Washington. She taught high school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and in British Columbia before moving to Seattle, Washington. She taught special education and English at Issaquah High School and Skyline High School.

Janice Mah was born in 1943 in Stockton, California, to Chinese immigrants. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of California, Berkeley and taught in public elementary schools in Bellevue, Washington, and Renton, Washington. After retirement, she worked with the Anti-Defamation League's World of Difference program, dedicated to combatting racism in schools.

Marcia McElvain was born in 1939 in Spokane, Washington. She received her B.A. from Mills College and her M.A. from the University of Washington. She taught high school English and orchestra in Edmonds, Bellevue, Shoreline, Lake Washington, and Seattle Public Schools.

Edward Merlino was born in 1937 in Seattle, Washington, and his mother was an Italian immigrant. He received a bachelor's degree in Business from the University of Washington and received his teaching certification from Seattle University. He taught science in junior high and high school in the Shoreline School District before becoming an administrator. After retirement he became a supervisor for student teachers at the University of Washington.

Jane Merlino was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1937. She attended the University of Washington for undergraduate and also received her teaching certificate from the university. She taught middle school English in Pomona, California, and the Shoreline School District. After retirement she became a student teacher supervisor at the University of Washington.

Karen Mikolasy was born in Englewood, New Jersey, in 1949 and raised in Shoreline, Washington, She attended Pacific University. She taught English in at Shorecrest High School and taught with the Rainier Scholars College Preparation Program of the Seattle School District. She also taught in the University of Washington Teacher Education Program.

Adah Miner was born in 1911 in Kenmare, North Dakota. She attended Minot State Teacher's College and taught elementary school in North Dakota. She returned to school and received a B.A. and an M.A. in Speech Therapy from the University of Washington and a PhD in Speech Therapy from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She started a program in speech therapy in the Shoreline School District and worked as an administrator. She later became a professor at the University of Washington.

Mary Morford was born in 1934 in Lakewood, Wisconsin, and raised in Seattle, Washington. She received a B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Washington and a B.A. in Education from Western Washington University. She worked for the University of Washington and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before becoming an elementary school teacher in the Federal Way School District.

Rollin Morford was born in 1929 in Kennewick, Washington. He received a Bachelor of Education from the University of Puget Sound and taught elementary school in the Federal Way School District.

Matsuko Takagashi Nakagawa was born in 1937 in Seattle, Washington, to Japanese immigrants. She was incarcerated in Puyallup, Washington, Minidoka Internment Camp in Idaho, and Cruise City, Texas, during World War II. She attended the University of Washington and was a teacher and principal with Seattle Public Schools. She helped promote multicultural education in the district.

Kristin Nasman was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1964. She received her B.A. and her M.A. from the University of Washington. She taught elementary school in the Bellevue School District.

Kathleen Newell was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1949. She received her bachelor's in Education from Western Washington University. She taught elementary and middle school Special Education in Seattle Public Schools.

Patricia North was born in 1947 in Glencove, New York, and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Mercer Island, Washington. She received a B.A. in Economics from Whitman College. She taught Social Studies in an alternative high school in Chicago, Illinois, and at a Department of Defense school in Germany before teaching at Mercer Island's Contract High School (Crest Learning Center).

Charlotte Olson-Alkire was born in 1953 in Seattle, Washington. She attended Evergreen State College for undergraduate and received a graduate degree in Education from the University of Washington. She taught middle school in the Highline and Tukwila School Districts and worked as a University Supervisor at the University of Washington.

Melba Peterson was born in 1919 in Trenton, Illinois. She attended Bradley University and received a two bachelor's degrees in Music and Religious Education and a master's degree in Christian Education. She taught elementary school in Peoria, Illinois, before becoming an elementary school teacher at Lake Washington Special Education Center (Gordon Hawk Center).

Temma Pistrang was born in 1931 in New Haven, Connecticut. She attended teacher's college in New Haven. She taught third grade in Long Beach, California, before joining the Peace Corps and teaching high school math in Nakuru, Kenya. After her return, she worked as a substitute teacher in Shoreline, Washington.

Dorothea Roberts was born in 1930 in Brooklyn, New York. She attended the State University of New York in Oswego and received a master's degree in Education from Seattle University. She taught elementary school in Coronado, California, and Bellevue, Washington. In 1971 she helped found Contract High School (now Crest Learning Center) in Mercer Island, Washington. She later worked as a school counselor in the Mercer Island School District.

Dr. Millie Russell was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1926 to an African-American family. She attended Seattle University and studied medical technology, graduating with a B.S. in Biology. She worked in healthcare in the Seattle region before receiving an M.S. in Kinesiology and a PhD in Education from the University of Washington. She was the Director of the Preprofessional Program for Minority Students in Health Sciences and Assistant to the Vice President of the Office of Minority Affairs at the University of Washington. She also founded the Seattle-Mombasa (Kenya) Sister City Association and the Early Scholars Outreach Program. The City of Seattle honored her in 2001 by naming October 29 Dr. Millie Russell Day, and the University of Washington awarded her the Outstanding Public Service Award in 2004.

Ann Schuh was born in 1937 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She studied English and French at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and received an M.A. in English from the University of Washington. She taught high school English in Seattle Public Schools.

Eleanor Serra was born in 1948 in San Nicolas, Pangasinan in the Philippines and moved to Seattle, Washington, in fifth grade. She studied education and Spanish at the University of Washington and the University of Valencia in Spain and received an M.A. in Education from the University of Washington. She taught Spanish and French in the Highline School District.

Jill Shea was born in 1945 in Berwyn, Illinois, and raised in Montana. She received her B.S. from Eastern Montana College (now Montana State University). She taught high school English in the Tacoma Public School District.

Edward Shipman was born in 1941 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raised in Kent, Washington. He received a B.A. in Philosophy from Denison University, a degree in English from the University of Puget Sound, and a master's in School Administration from the University of Puget Sound. He worked as a school bus driver and taught in Kenya with the Peace Corps. He taught high school English and Social Studies in the Auburn and Shoreline School Districts. He became a school administrator and taught at City University and the University of Washington.

Lily Shitama was born in 1926 in Seattle, Washington, to Japanese immigrants. She was incarcerated at Minidoka Internment Camp in Idaho. She attended Blackburn College. She taught middle and high school in Barrington, Illinois and elementary school with Seattle Public Schools. She then taught in U.S. Department of Defense schools in Japan and Germany before returning to Seattle Public Schools.

Geralyn Shreve was born in 1932 in Bartlett, Nebraska, and raised in Seattle, Washington. She attended Central Washington University, Western Washington University, and Seattle University. She taught junior high in Yakima, Washington, and worked as a data processor for NASA in Huntsville, Alabama, before starting the elementary school gifted program for Shoreline School District. She also taught high school and coached softball and soccer in Shoreline.

Robert Shulman was born in 1930 in Syracuse, New York. He received his B.A. in English and American Studies from Syracuse University and his M.A. and PhD in English from the Ohio State University. He taught in France as a Fulbright Scholar. He taught at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and the University of Washington, and specialized in American literature, Marxism, and twentieth-century literature.

Winnifred Smith was born in 1911 in Napavine, Washington. She attended Ellensburg Normal School (now Central Washington University). She taught elementary school in the Napavine, Woodland, Snohomish, and Edmonds School Districts.

Wilburn Sooter was born in 1926 in Lynden, Washington. He served in the Army in the Philippines and New Guinea. He then attended Seattle Pacific College and earned a bachelor's degree in Education and a master's degree in Teaching of Science. He taught middle school in Seattle Public Schools. After retiring from education he became a pastor.

Claire Suguro was born in Seattle, Washington, to Japanese immigrants and was educated in Japan during World War II. She received a degree in education from Seattle University. She was the first Japanese-American teacher hired by the Seattle Public School District, where she taught elementary school and was a high school counselor.

Eileen Rako Yamaguchi Taguchi was born in Maui, Hawaii, in 1944 to second-generation Japanese immigrants. She attended Manaolu Junior College, Eastern Washington University, and the University of Washington. She taught elementary school in the Edmonds, Shoreline, and Mukilteo School Districts as well as in Maryland.

Lily Yuriko Mukai Takatsuka was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1923 to Japanese immigrants. Her family evacuated to Moses Lake, Washington, and New York during World War II to avoid internment. She attended the University of Washington. She was the second Japanese-American teacher hired by Seattle Public Schools, where she taught elementary school and ESL.

Beifke Vos-Saulino was born in the Netherlands in 1943 and raised in Canada. She received her B.A. from Calvin College, completed post-graduate work at Michigan State University and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and received her M.A. from the University of California, Riverside. She taught middle and high school English, Latin, and History in school districts in California, Iowa, Wisconsin ,and Michigan. She later became a principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent in several California school systems.

Mary Louise Walker was born in 1938 in Oberlin, Louisiana, to an African-American family. She attended Seattle Central Community College and Seattle University. She taught church preschool and worked as a paraprofessional with Seattle Public Schools. She taught special education in elementary, middle, and high schools in the Seattle Public School System.

Gail White was born in 1950 in Middletown, Pennsylvania, and raised in Bremerhaven, Germany, and Spokane, Washington, where her father was stationed with the U.S. Air Force. She attended Eastern Washington State College. She taught elementary school in the Chewelah School District.

Ruth Ann Wilson was born in Stanley, Wisconsin, in 1939 and moved to Marysville, Washington, in seventh grade. She received her bachelor's degree and her master's degree in Education from Western Washington University. She was the owner and director of Peppermint Park Preschool in Mount Vernon, Washington, lectured in early childhood development at Grays Harbor College, and taught elementary school in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She also taught elementary school in the North River and Marysville School Districts in Washington. She taught at the American School in the Congo and taught ESL through missionary outreach programs in Mexico, Bolivia, Poland, Tanzania, Israel, Japan, Norway, and China.