As we embark on a new academic year, Lakeside is thrilled to welcome an exceptional eight new faculty and staff who bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to our campus. Some are familiar faces, while others are newly arrived from cities around the nation. We hope you take some time to get to know them!
Ms. KV
Joining Lakeside’s history department from the East Coast is Meredith Knight-Vezina, better known as Ms. KV, who is from Connecticut and previously worked as a public school teacher in Boston. While interviewing at Lakeside, she was “impressed with how engaged, curious, and kind everyone was” and enjoyed being able to hear from seniors as they talked about their plans for the future. Recalling her own experiences in high school, Ms. KV says she remembers “how exhausted and overwhelmed I would sometimes feel.” As a teacher, she hopes to make her classroom a space where students can find joy and humor. When not teaching history, you can find her staying active through biking, hiking, running, and playing soccer, checking out Seattle’s best food spots (recommendations Ms. KV are welcome!), and cheering on women’s soccer teams!
Coach Cam
New to the weight room is Cameron Williams (or Coach Cam), who will be the new head of strength & conditioning at Lakeside. For the past two-and-a-half years, he’s been working as a private coach, following 4 years coaching Strength at Seattle University, but chose to return to working in a school’s athletic department because he missed the sense of community (and lunch, saying that “the food I had on the day of my interview was great!”). With a background in powerlifting, Olympic weight lifting, and amateur Strongman, Coach Cam hopes to bring elements of these training styles, as well as energy and positivity, into his coaching in the weight room. A lover of science, Coach Cam used to teach earth science, physics, and chemistry, and even worked as an environmental educator where he’d present a wide range of animals, from non-venomous snakes and tarantulas to giant millipedes and a chinchilla. In his free time, he enjoys Marvel comics, manga, and anime as well as continuing to learn about science and the natural world by watching documentaries.
Brianna Sloane
The new band director for grades 5-12 is Brianna Sloane, a self-taught flute player of 17 years, coming from the Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Georgia. She was drawn to Seattle because of the community, as well as the support the arts program receives. As band director, Ms. Sloane hopes to keep “joy at the center of all musical experiences” with a classroom environment full of laughter and friendship. Growing up, Ms. Sloane didn’t have access to private flute lessons until undergrad, an experience she doesn’t recommend but is grateful for, “because it helps me anticipate and empathize with students’ needs.” When not playing instruments, you can find her reading at Seattle’s public libraries, with her dog, or spending time outdoors.
Abby Cacho
New to the English department but not new to working with Lakeside is Abby Cacho, a New York native coming from The Dalton School. After joining the GSL Ecuador trip last summer, Abby was inspired to leave the East Coast for Lake City because of Lakeside’s culture and her experience with the trip’s students who were “thoughtful and engaged not only with the community but also with each other.” A frequent traveler and concert attendee, attending Coachella and Beyonce’s Renaissance tour in Barcelona, Abby hopes to bring her adventurousness, love of music, curiosity, and authenticity to the classroom. While not on campus, you can find her cheering on the Seattle Storm, working out at the gym, or browsing at the bookstore with her coffee order (an Iced Caramel Latte with almond milk).
Jon Russell
In the sciences, we are joined by two new teachers, Jon Russell and Joe Milliano. Originally from Maine, Jon was inspired to become a scientist with the mission “to help humans live more harmoniously with the natural environment.” Following a move to Seattle to work on mathematical modeling for malaria eradication, Jon began teaching at The Downtown School where he taught his first year of high school chemistry and had occasionally subbed at Lakeside in the past few years. Jon is fascinated by two biological systems, lichens and human communities, which he believes are “beautiful expressions of symbiosis and natural variation.” In the classroom, playfulness is a core value to Jon, one he is excited to bring into his teaching, including introducing his vast collection of games to students (according to Jon, “Blanket Battle” is best played in large groups). In his spare time, Jon enjoys traveling and open swimming; among his international travels, which have brought him from the Amazon to Kumano Kodo of Japan, Jon spent this summer road-tripping with his Great Dane, Lyra, from Seattle to his hometown for a swim.
Mr. Milliano
For this year’s physics students, you may have the chance to be taught by Mr. Milliano, who comes from Clayton High School in St. Louis, Missouri. Prior to his teaching career, Mr. Milliano spent two summers working at Caltech’s Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, a Nobelprize-winning laboratory using “2.5-mile long lasers to measure gravitational radiation from the collision of black holes.” Mr. Milliano says that the practices of professional physicists is something he reflects back upon when it comes to designing his class’s lab programs. He hopes to bring joy into grappling with the challenges of scientific inquiry, helping students in the difficulty of confronting their biases about how the world operates. Mr. Milliano became a teacher because he is “a community-centered person, [and] I can’t wait to share in that with Lakeside.” Outside the classroom, Mr. Milliano explores new restaurants, reads sci-fi, and tap dances, which he has been doing since the first grade. We look forward to seeing what cool new projects he introduces to Lakeside Physics!
Dr. Batres
In the languages department, we are joined by two new Spanish teachers, both former educators in the Puget Sound region. Dr. Edward Batres joins Lakeside from the Annie Wright School in Tacoma where he taught IB Spanish. Previous to teaching in Washington, Dr. Batres taught French, Spanish, and English Composition in Orange County, California. Dr. Batres’ multilingual background informs his teaching philosophy, where he emphasizes the importance of “noticing common patterns between distinct Indo-European languages and exercising creativity in translation.” He is passionate about fostering a classroom environment where students feel encouraged to embrace challenges and learn from their mistakes, even if success isn’t immediate. In his free time, Dr. Batres enjoys cooking, diving into a good book, and pursuing his interest in weightlifting — a discipline he has considered taking to a competitive level.
Señor Gamez
Another incoming languages teacher is Señor Luis Gamez, arriving from Bishop Blanchet where he taught Spanish for the last 14 years. Born in The Dalles, Oregon, Señor Gamez grew up in a Spanish-speaking household and spent his childhood in Mexico. He says that living in two cultures and languages left a profound influence, ultimately leading him toward a career as a Spanish teacher. Señor Gamez values team collaboration, whether in his collegiate soccer team or in team-building with his friends and family and hopes to create a collaborative and inclusive class environment. His fun facts include an obsession with Mini Coopers and starting a sports edit social media account during the pandemic, which grew to almost 50,000 followers! Outside of the classroom, Señor Gamez can be found biking, mowing his lawn, and spending time with his wife and three kids. He looks forward to “working alongside my colleagues in the Spanish Department, being part of the Lakeside community, and getting to know my students!” In addition to these eight featured staff, Lakeside has the privilege of welcoming Betsy Pingree, Upper School history teacher, and Rachel Norman, Upper School Resources Coordinator.
