When did you join St. Alphonsus?
2016
Who is your favorite saint?
St. Alphonsus
Fun Facts
In my free time, I enjoy walking and spending time in nature, attending church, and relaxing with a good cup of tea. All three of my children graduated from St. Alphonsus before continuing their education at local Catholic high schools.
When did you join St. Alphonsus?
2017
Who is your favorite saint?
St. Joseph
Fun Facts
I work at St. Al’s to make a positive impact on the children. I love helping students overcome any challenges. My oldest daughter graduated from St. Al’s and is now attending a Catholic high school. My youngest daughter is a middle schooler at St. Al’s.
When did you join St. Alphonsus?
2021
What is your educational background?
I hold a degree in Computer Science from Florida International University.
What inspires you as an educator?
I am passionate about making connections between mathematics and video games, and I love sharing this passion with my students. I believe math can be both fun and practical, and I strive to make lessons interactive and engaging by demonstrating how math is used in technology and gaming.
What courses do you teach?
I teach several middle school math classes, including Geometry, and I also lead a Coding enrichment class each trimester.
Who is your favorite saint?
Saint Michael the Archangel
Mr. Padrnos began his career in Catholic education teaching 5th grade on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. After moving to Seattle, he taught high school world history, economics, and theology. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Gonzaga University, Master of Education from the University of Notre Dame, and Principal Certificate from Seattle University. As an educator, he views the world through the lens of faith and reason and is passionate about helping students find God in all things. Outside of school, Mr. Padrnos enjoys fly fishing, rollerblading, podcasting, reading Lord of the Rings, and hiking 14ers in his native Colorado.
When did you join St. Alphonsus?
I joined St. Alphonsus in 2023.
What is your educational background?
I earned a BEd in Community, Culture, and Language from Gonzaga University, with an ELL endorsement and an Elementary Reading Endorsement.
What inspires you as an educator?
I am an educator because of my love for working with students and seeing their growth, both socially and academically, throughout the school year. My own love of learning also fuels my passion for teaching.
What do you love about St. Alphonsus?
I love the welcoming sense of community at St. Alphonsus, where everyone is committed to the same goals and values. It truly feels like a family.
What are your hobbies and interests?
Some of my hobbies include hiking, watching soccer, and reading fantasy books.
What is your favorite saint?
St. Thomas Aquinas
When did you join St. Alphonsus?
I joined St. Alphonsus in 2013 as a parent and was hired as the Librarian in 2018.
What is your educational background?
I earned a BA in English from the University of Texas and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from the University of Washington.
What inspires you as an educator?
I have loved Catholic education ever since I was a student at St. Patrick Catholic School in Corpus Christi, TX. I’ve seen how the foundation of faith and community helps shape lifelong connections, and I believe in the mission of St. Al’s. I love interacting with current students and meeting new families who are seeking a place where their children can thrive.
What are your hobbies and interests?
I love road trips and traveling to new places, as well as feeding people and teaching others basic cooking skills to help them feel more confident in the kitchen.
What is your favorite saint?
Mary, Mother of Jesus
What award have you received?
In 2023, I was honored with the Seton Award from St. Alphonsus Parish School
When did you join St. Alphonsus?
I joined St. Alphonsus in 2023.
What is your educational background?
I hold a BA in Business Administration from Washington State University.
What inspires you as an educator?
Being an educator allows me to share my love of learning while also encouraging students to grow in knowledge and faith.
What do you love about St. Alphonsus?
St. Alphonsus is a welcoming community that fosters learning and instills Catholic virtues in its students. I am proud to be part of such a nurturing environment.
What are your hobbies and interests?
In addition to being an educator, I enjoy coaching basketball and spending time with my family.
What is your favorite saint?
St. Martin de Porres
When did you join St. Alphonsus?
2023
What is your educational background?
AA in Early Childhood Education from Seattle College
BA in Education from Pacific Oaks College
MA in Non-profit Business Leadership from Seattle University
What inspires you as an educator?
I started my career as a coach and teacher, and I have always loved finding ways to connect with students and help them build skills through approaches tailored to their unique learning needs. I’ve also had the opportunity to take on school leadership roles, where I led schools, taught educators at the college level, and contributed to long-range planning and fiscal management. No matter the role, I’ve always remained deeply connected to teaching and learning.
What do you love about St. Alphonsus?
I’m thrilled to be at St. Alphonsus because it connects my faith with my career. This school is a hub of educational energy and collaboration, and I’m fortunate to work with such a dedicated community of students, teachers, and families.
Who is your favorite saint?
St. Christopher
What award have you received?
Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, 2024
When did you join St. Alphonsus?
I joined St. Alphonsus in 2018.
What is your educational background?
I hold a BS in Computer Science and a Master of Computer Application.
What inspires you as an educator?
I love being a Montessori school educator because it allows me to nurture each child’s natural curiosity and foster their independence in a meaningful way. The Montessori method’s emphasis on hands-on learning and individualized pacing resonates with my belief in the unique potential of every student.
What do you love about St. Alphonsus?
Being at St. Alphonsus enriches my experience as an educator by grounding our educational journey in faith, values, and a sense of community, where spiritual growth is just as important as academic and personal development.
What is your favorite saint?
St. Jeanne Jugan
Father Parrish was born and raised in Seattle. He grew up in Ballard until the end of high school when his family moved to Stanwood/Camano Island. Though not Catholic, he attended St. Catherine’s for K-8 and went on to attend O’Dea High School. After high school, he joined the Navy and served three deployments. During that time, he converted to Catholicism having encountered Jesus through the Navy chaplain who was a Catholic priest. He is excited to come home and serve as Pastor for St. Alphonsus, St. Benedict, and St. John the Evangelist.
St. Alphonsus Students
Extracurricular Involvement
Why did you choose St. Alphonsus for your children?
We chose St. Al’s because we desired a school that not only had a strong academic curriculum but also one which focused on values such as Compassion, Generosity, Respect, etc. Educating the full child was important to us and we felt St. Al’s reinforced what we were morally and spiritually working to teach her within our home. We were also attracted to how diverse the student body was and the incredible community the school fosters both on campus and off.
What do you love most about St. Alphonsus?
I love how happy my daughter is when I pick her up and drop her off. She loves the academic and social environment and loves being a member of the St Al’s student body. As a parent I also love seeing how much she has grown intellectually over the past 4+ years at the school. The teachers really care for each individual student and she has flourished each year through the care her teachers take in understanding what she needs in-order to continue to succeed.
Contact this Parent Ambassador
terrapurpura.hakam@gmail.com
St. Alphonsus Students
Extracurricular Involvement
Why did you choose St. Alphonsus for your children?
Our family choose to make a switch from SPS to St. Alphonsus in 2021 and it has become a huge blessing. In midst of Covid and with concerns about the academics for our daughters, we were prompted to explore school options and discovered the St. Als community. We were attracted to the school based on the academics, the small class sizes, and the values, including upholding behavior expectations. All of these benefits have been realized with so much more.
What do you love most about St. Alphonsus?
Our girls love St. Al’s, the commitment from their teachers and the new friendships with classmates. The academics have challenged them and when needed, they have received extra support from St. Al’s teachers/staff. Our girls, surprisingly, appreciate wearing uniforms to school as it makes the mornings so easy with one less decision/choice. They have had opportunities to try new clubs (chess), CYO sports and to pair up with younger class buddies as the school extends from Preschool through 8th grade. We all appreciate the community activities including the auction, Bingo nights, Halloween at school and more. We are relishing in our final year all 3 of our daughters will be together at St. Al’s.
Contact this Parent Ambassador
beth@petenoble.com
St. Alphonsus Students
Extracurricular Involvement
Why did you choose St. Alphonsus for your children?
When looking for a preschool for our oldest son, we hoped to find a school where our Catholic faith would be reinforced and enriched in the classroom. Finding a school that could also help him excel academically beyond preschool was a secondary goal. St. Alphonsus was both, and so much more. Within the first month at St. Al’s, it was evident that we had found a school that not only embraces the richness of the Catholic faith, but also encourages students and their families to reach their full potential in a welcoming community.
What do you love most about St. Alphonsus?
There is so much to love about St. Alphonsus! I love how our students know each other and are friends across all grades. I love how unmistakably our teachers and staff care for the students and their families. I love how our parents support each other and work together to make the school the best place it can be. And I love that St. Alphonsus is a place where our faith is celebrated and strengthened. Lots of schools have good academic programs and good faculty and staff. But not every school has a great culture and community. We feel very blessed to be a part of a school that has all those things and a rich legacy of faith and academic excellence for over 100 years. We feel loved by the St. Alphonsus community, and we love them!
Contact this Parent Ambassador
mhanzeli@gmail.com
St. Alphonsus Students
Extracurricular Involvement
Room Parent
Why did you choose St. Alphonsus for your children?
We initially chose St. Al’s because we had friends who spoke highly of the school, and the preschool had a part-time option that fit our care needs. We stay at St. Al’s because our kids are thriving emotionally and academically, the teachers are patient and knowledgeable, the staff is kind and helpful, and we are impressed by the dedication and vision of the school’s leadership.
What do you love most about St. Alphonsus?
The school community. Our family has felt seen and valued from the very beginning of our St. Al’s experience. Now, a few years and a second kid later, we’ve learned how important it is for a school to enable and encourage meaningful connections. That includes volunteering at one of the school’s many events (our family favorites are Jog-a-thon and Trunk or Treat), talking with a teacher about our kids’ achievements and development, attending a school theater production with our kids, or having a conversation with other parents after family mass.
Contact this Parent Ambassador
jerinfalkner@gmail.com
St. Alphonsus Students
Extracurricular Involvement
Why did you choose St. Alphonsus for your children?
While looking for a faith-based institution for our child and being a parishioner at St. Alphonsus, it was an easy decision to make. St. Al’s has a great community which was apparent in the first few tours/visits. And we found a curriculum that met the needs of our child well.
What do you love most about St. Alphonsus?
Warm community of families, supportive teachers, and faith centric education that enhances the spiritual side of the child along with great academics.
Contact this Parent Ambassador
kavita961@gmail.com
St. Alphonsus Students
Extracurricular Involvement
Why did you choose St. Alphonsus for your children?
I chose St. Alphonsus because of the small class sizes and excellent education, especially the split-gender middle school.
What do you love most about St. Alphonsus?
I love the community of St. Alphonsus and it continues to be a wonderful experience. Parents and teachers cooperate to give a wonderful nurturing environment to all children. I’m very grateful for the many lifelong relationships that have been created through the school involvement.
Contact this Parent Ambassador
maureen@chris-endres.com