More About Programs:

Meet the Teachers

Ms. Peg Hope (co-founder) Latin, Mathematics, World Religions, College Counselor BA, World Religions, Lawrence University (magna cum laude) Peg is the founder of Spring Street School and served as Director for its first nine years. Peg’s teaching has covered many areas of the middle and high school curriculum and she plays a major role in Spring Street’s international travel study program. She served as Department Head for Language Arts and Math at the Stanford High School in Redmond, Washington, where she also had primary responsibilities for the college preparatory program, staff training, curriculum development, and diagnostic and vocational testing. Peg resumed responsibility for College Counseling at Spring Street last year, and is enjoying sharing the adventure that is college admissions with her juniors and seniors.
Mr. Ted Hope (co-founder) Social Studies, Overseas Travel Coordinator, Director/Institute for Village Studies MA, International Politics/History, University of Wisconsin BA, Asian Studies/Political Science (cum laude), Lawrence University Ted began teaching at Spring Street School in 1995 as a founding faculty member. He has taught a wide variety of social studies, college preparatory and language arts classes over the past 30 years. The College Board has recognized his Human Geography and Psychology classes for their excellence. He was the Executive Director of the Stanford Middle and High Schools in Redmond, Washington, for 10 years prior to coming to Friday Harbor. Ted organizes and leads our high school annual travel study trips to South and Southeast Asia.
Ms. Heather June High School English BA Philosophy - University of Colorado at Boulder MA English - Western Washington University MA Education - Seattle Pacific University People and their stories fascinate Heather. By the third grade, she was voraciously collecting detail and writing it down. A great fan of the creative power of the word, she believes that story is a key to our survival and ability to thrive in this era of accelerated change. Heather writes both fiction and non-fiction, and holds master’s degrees in English (from Western Washington University) and in Education (from Seattle Pacific University). She got her BA in Philosophy from University of Colorado at Boulder. She loves gardening in the islands, hiking, camping, and snowboarding in the mountains, and singing around a campfire. Nature fuels her spirit. A former gymnast, she enjoys the kinesthetic learning of acrobatics and dance. When teaching, Heather asks questions that generate awareness not only of what we are thinking, but also of how we are thinking. She looks forward with great pleasure to teaching high school students and Spring Street International School. Her son, Jed Lewis, will enter the 7th grade at SSIS.
Mr. Louis O’Prussack Head of School, Mathematics MA, Educational Leadership, Teacher’s College, Columbia University BA, Classics, Oberlin College Louis began teaching mathematics in 1990, and has since also taught physics and environmental science, coached soccer, lacrosse, and track as well as been both a Director of Studies and an Assistant Head of School at various schools. Louis is humbled to be chosen and entrusted by the Board of Trustees and the SSIS community to be the new Head.
Jerome Riley Director of Operations / Development BA, Communication Arts, Fordham University Teaching Certification, Secondary, State University of New York Management Development Certification – Babson College Jerry joined SSIS after a successful career in marketing and sales in the publishing and graphic arts industry. He served in a variety of management positions, including Director of Marketing for Atex Publishing Systems, an Eastman Kodak Co. and as Sales Director and National Accounts Director for various companies. Jerry taught English briefly in New York public schools and combines an educational background with a varied business career. Jerry is responsible for recruiting, fund raising, administrative management and financial oversight and served as acting Director from November 2007 through June 2008. For 2009, Jerry also co-teaches our Speech/ Debate course with Meri Block.
Mr. Grisha Krivchenia Music BA, Composition, Oberlin College Grisha Krivchenia, is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who has recently settled down on San Juan Island. Grisha performs regularly on the island and teaches piano lessons. He is delighted to help start the Community Recording Studio at SSIS, which will be available to all of San Juan Island's young musicians.
Ms. Merideth Block Middle School Humanities, Art BA Human Development and Social Relations - Earlham College MA Education - Chapman University Merideth “Meri” Block has been teaching in some form or another since 1994. After working several years as a psychiatric social worker, she moved with her husband, Erik, to Japan to teach English. They moved to Monterey, California in 2000, when she began teaching 7th grade English at Brownell Academy in Gilroy, CA. After another two year sojourn in Tokyo learning Japanese, she came back to California where she taught Humanities to sixth and seventh graders at Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School from 2005 through 2008.
Mr. Del Guenther Middle School Science, Mathematics BS, Biology, State University of New York MA, Zoology, University of South Florida This will be Del’s second year at SSIS. He has been the Science Coordinator at Summit Expeditionary Learning School in Spokane for the past four years. Del has a broad background in teaching mathematics and science. He has worked with the Peruvian Ministry of Education in a teacher training program and served on the Science Assessment Leadership Team in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in Olympia.
Michael Balise Technology Ph.D. Geophysics - University of Washington BS Science - University of Washington B.Fr. Forest Science - University of Washington Michael began teaching at Spring Street School in 2001. He has traveled and done field work in many locations, including extensive work in Antarctica. Michael has also been teaching science and mathematics at Skagit Valley College in Friday Harbor for over 10 years. He has been active in many outdoor programs at SSIS, including skiing and climbing.
Chuck Schietinger High School Physics and Chemistry BS Physics - Stockton State Chuck is an experimental physicist with over 25 years’ experience in research and design. This research has spanned a wide range of applications, including advanced materials, crystal growth, fiber optics, numerous NASA projects, and improved methods of controlling semiconductor processing. Chuck holds more than a dozen patents in optical and temperature measurement techniques. He has been an invited lecturer and thesis adviser at a number of universities including MIT, NJIT, OGI, Stanford and the University of Stuttgart. His numerous publications include invited research papers, journal and magazine articles, and book chapters. In 1995, NATO recognized him as a world expert in temperature measurement and emissivity. Other interests include woodcarving, kayaking and sharing his love of science. Chuck commutes from Lopez and is excited about his first year at SSIS.
Magda Balise Art BS Fine Art – Sacramento State University This is Magda’s second year at Spring Street School where she teaches ceramics, drawing, painting, yearbook, and both digital and print photography. She brings many years of experience in graphic arts and network television with her.
Blake Hough Biology, Geometry BS, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering – Johns Hopkins University Blake has five years experience helping students to explore their world in new ways through experiential education programs including rock climbing, backpacking, whitewater and sea kayaking, and caving. After earning his degree, Blake worked as the Sustainability Coordinator for the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where he enjoyed working with students to design energy systems and implement monitoring projects. He delights in approaching lessons from far “outside the box” to encourage creative and lasting understanding of concepts. Blake has lived and worked on the island as a sea kayaking naturalist and guide for three years, and is excited to start his first year as part of the Spring Street community.
Catherine Barnhart Academic Support Tutor PhD and MA, Chinese literature, Stanford University BA, Chinese language, University of Washington Catherine has spent most of her career in the field of international education. She is fascinated by the interactions among people from different countries and cultures, and has lived in Taiwan, Korea, Japan and China. She has also traveled in Europe and Southeast Asia and has led several educational tours. She has taught at Middlebury College, Western Washington University and Yale University and has administered international programs at both the college and K-12 levels. She spent two years at SSIS teaching English and is delighted to be back this year. She also teaches ESL and World Literature at Skagit Valley College’s San Juan Center and works at Griffin Bay Bookstore. She and her husband have lived on the island for seven years. She speaks fluent Mandarin.
Chantelle Volmer Co-Director of Residential Life BA Anthropology - Washington State University Chantelle has spent several years exploring different cultures, organizing and leading overseas trips, and conducting ethnographic and community development research. Her experiences and studies abroad have helped equip her with empathy and compassion for people of all backgrounds, insight into her own culture, as well as tried and true hints for getting the most out of living and learning abroad. She strives to see people as individuals, appreciate their differences, and create community. She looks forward to applying her skills, insights, creativity and passion for chocolate chip cookies to Spring Street's boarding student residence.
Colin Megill Co-Director of Residential Life BA International Relations/Political Science University of Connecticut Honors Program Colin is new to Spring Street School this year after spending four seasons on Synergy Farm learning to grow organic food. Before traveling to the Pacific Northwest, Colin was a high school history teacher. He has a high passion for the social sciences, and spends much of his time reading and writing. Colin is also a yoga teacher and a musician, and has been actively engaged in the school's music program.
Ms. Olga Donoro Rodriguez Spanish BA Geography and History - University of Cadiz MA History - Univeristy of Cadiz Olga comes to us directly from Spain, where she is a Ph.D. Candidate (Medicine) at the University of Cadiz (Spain). Olga began teaching Spanish as a foreign language in 1998 in Gadir, an International School for learning Spanish in Cadiz (Spain). Between 1999-2001 Olga was instructor at the University of Cadiz of History of European Population (XIX-XX) and Social and Political History (XIX-XX). From 2006 to 2008, May, she worked as instructor of Spanish as a foreign language in K2 Internacional in Cadiz (Spain), accredited center of the Instituto Cervantes. In addition, during this time she was head of studies, coordinator of activities, designer of programs and materials for teaching, instructor of teachers of Spanish, and examiner in DELE exams (Official Diploma in Spanish as a Foreign Language) of the Instituto Cervantes.
Ms. Julie Carlson, Office Manager Julie serves as part of our Administrative Management Team and is responsible for all the functions of the school office.
Ms. Shelley Shelton-Wilson, Bookkeeper, Financial Assistant BS, Science Education, University of Oklahoma Shelley is our financial assistant and handles all our bookkeeping responsibilities. She is the mother of alumnae Gaia, class of 2006 as well as Kai who is a senior this year. Shelley enjoys nature, sailing, and gardening and especially gardening.