Diane Eileen

I am so pleased to be working, along with Ms Mertel, as part of the new McDonald start up school staff.  We have been colleagues for about 15 years.  We have shared values and regard structure similarly.  We have challenging discourse regarding teaching and have shed a few tears and loads of laughter during our discussions.

I entered the teaching profession as a second career in the late 1980s.  Previously, I worked as a postal carrier, criminal investigator, tenants’ rights advocate, and, of course, as a waitress working my way through college. I am passionate about teaching and participating in my students’ learning. 

I am committed to inquiry-based science investigation, which I view as the key to our students’ ability to face and solve the 21st century global problems they have inherited from the previous generations.  While students primarily perform their investigations in the classroom, we make field trips to applicable sites to engage and stretch these young scientists beyond the laboratory models.

I come from a small California family that has traveled and lived in different parts of the world.  I settled in Puget Sound thirty years ago, but  continue to travel.  When I’m not teaching, I enjoy gardening, bird watching and hiking east of the Cascades. After an effective savings binge, I love to take off to the tropics and scuba dive in the Coral Triangle.

Joelle Mertel

My name is Joey Mertel, and I have been teaching in Seattle Public Schools for 12 years.  I have taught grades 1st-5th in various capacities, ranging from classroom teacher to math/science specialist.  Teaching is one of my passions in life, and I am thrilled to be sharing a class with Diane Eileen and Katherine Berg teaching 3rdd-5th grade literacy in the afternoons at McDonald Elementary.  

Being involved in my school is very important to me.  I am excited to be a part of this growing community at McDonald and building a school culture that supports all kids and instills a love for learning and collaboration.  I look forward to getting to know the families and faculty at McDonald and making plans for building a solid foundation that fosters community and a rich academic experience.

Outside of teaching, I have many interests including running, skiing, reading, going to the gym, throwing my dog her ball, listening to all kinds of music, playing all sorts of games with my 2 kids, Reece and Shea, driving my kids around on the weekends chasing soccer balls, and buying shoes, to name a few. (Ms Eileen loves to tell the story of me taking 12 pairs of shoes on a 12 day trip to Hawaii.)  I also love a good road trip.  I adore my children, and I am a proud aunt of 7 nieces (soon to be 8) and 1 nephew.