I feel honored to be working with the phenomenal staff and parent community at McDonald Elementary this coming year.  The staff has set up the intricate framework of an immersion program and the PTA raised an incredible amount to fund said program - all in just a few months.   I feel fortunate to be a part of this special team so dedicated to the welfare of this school's children.

Teaching is my second career; I had worked in corporate America (IBM) as well as social and human services.  When I saw my son walk into Kindergarten not knowing how to read and socially dependant, and walking out reading and socially independent, I knew my next move was to become a teacher.  I want to create the same magic.  It is meaningful that I ended up full circle working as a Kindergarten teacher in 2011 and now first grade.

I spent most of 2010 substituting, mostly in Kindergarten, at John Stanford International School.  As a result, I became familiar with the practical process of an immersion program from a teacher's perspective K-5th grade.  I am bilingual in Cantonese Chinese and English so I bring yet another cultural perspective to McDonald.  I also taught two years in Seattle and Shoreline K-8 grades.  I enjoyed curriculum development so whenever possible, I would guest teach units I wrote, including ones in environmental science and Chinese Brush painting.  I hope to bring all these experiences to bear in the creation of another immersion program at McDonald.

Kathleen Wong
Kindergarten Teacher, McDonald International
206-252-2900