Our Staff

Staff

Alma Rangel Salinas

Dual Language Assistant Teacher

My name is Alma Rangel Salinas. I am an assistant teacher in the dual language classroom at Heritage Head Start, Seola Gardens site.  I was born in León Guanajuato, Mexico, where I had my first years of education.  I came to Seattle,  Washington with my family when I was 10 years old and I continued my education here in Seattle. Growing up during my high school years, I decided that I wanted to enter the field of pedagogy where I am still practicing my profession while preparing for much more. My two children and my husband are my greatest support. I am a  past parent, my youngest son attended  Heritage Head Start, Seola Garden site.  I started as a bilingual instructional assistant for PSESD and I was in that position for 6 years, followed by a  bilingual instructional mentor position for 3 years.  I have been in my current position as a Dual Language assistant teacher since 2018 to present

Anisur Khandaker

Food Services Assistant

Anisur has worked at Heritage Heard Start since 2010.

Barbara Harris-Boajang

Teacher

“You will face many defeats in your life, but never let yourself be defeated.” -Maya Angelou
As an educator, wife, and mother of three young men 30, 20, and 18 years of age, I mentored several students from the University of Washington for several years. I love and enjoy teaching, I gained my first knowledge at the age of fourteen working as a summer youth worker. I owned and operated Barbara’s First Choice Childcare. I have worked in Early Childhood Education for 35 years. I received a certificate in 2008 for Early Childhood Education and later received my AAS Degree in Early Childhood Education in March 2011 and my BAS in June 2019 in Teaching and Early Learning. I enjoy and love working in the community with children, families, and teachers. I look forward to spending this year with all the staff, children, families here at Eli Creekmore. Thank you so much for the opportunity to learn, grow, and explore together.

Bethlehem Kumalo

Food Services Assistant

Bethlehem has worked for Heritage Head Start since 2019.

Miss Claudia

Dual Language Teacher

I have been part of the Head Start family since 2000, when I enrolled my daughter in the program. Staff encouraged me to volunteer , and I was happy to volunteer in my youngest son's classrooms and learn from their teachers the skills I needed to work with children.

I've worked with Head Start in different roles and love each one of them. In 2015 I completed my AAS in Early Childhood Education and became one of the dual language Teachers in 2006. Working in my community is a great reward.

Faisa Mohamed

Teacher

Faisa has worked at Heritage Head start since 2017.

Libia Suarez

Dual Language Teacher

I grew up in Mexico. I am a passionate preschool teacher assistant at Heritage Head Start School. Previously I worked with infants and toddlers for six years. My passion for teaching young children grew when I  earned a Child  Development Credential and later a State Early Childhood Education Certificate. I believe that investing my time in preparing young children for the future is the best investment I could have done.

Magaly Ortiz

Dual Language Family Support Specialist

Magaly has worked at Heritage Head Start since 2018.

Maritza Pineda

Teacher Assistant

My name is Maritza Pineda, and I was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and have been living in Seattle for sixteen years. I’m the fifth child of six children. I married my husband Bernardo Pineda when I was thirty-nine years old; I have one son he is 13 years old. I’m so proud to be a wife and a mother. When I was a child, I liked to participate in cultural programs such as dance and theater; when I was a teen, I was a basketball player. I studied in high school with priests and nuns, and my technical studies were in clerical accounting and International trade with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. In Seattle I have studied English as a second language, the CDA, ECE, and various trainings related to child development. Currently I’m studying the short-Term Certificate. I’m happy to be working for Puget Sound Educational Service District’s Heritage Head Start.

Mehret Mehanzel

Family Support Specialist

Mehret has worked at Heritage Head Start since 2012.

Muna Shamdeen

Assistant Teacher

Muna has worked at Heritage Head Start since 2002.

Quinn Evans

Mentor Teacher

My name is Quinn Evans and I am the Mentor Teacher at Heritage Head Start.  I have been working with children and families for over 30 years in the same community that I grew up in: White Center.

I began my work for Head Start in 1994, working for the Highline Head Start Parent Organization.  I worked there for fifteen years and then started teaching infants and toddlers, then preschoolers before moving back to my roots at Heritage Head Start.  In 2012 I became the Mentor Teacher at Heritage.  I love the White Center Community; it is a pleasure to work closely with teachers, families and staff. The community is very diverse and our families are truly our family.

Rosa Bonifacio

Dual Language Teacher

My name is Rosa Bonifacio and I'm a dual language Teacher. I have been teaching Early Childhood Education for approximately 10 years. As I continue to teach, I continue to grow alongside my students, embracing cultures and languages.

Sarath Kong

Assistant Teacher

Sarath is a proud past Heritage Head Start parent, and has worked at Heritage Head Start since 2001.

Shariffa Sabrie

Site Manager

I began working with Puget Sound  ESD in 1999 first as a Family Support Specialist, and in 2010 I assumed the role of Site manager for both sites. Prior to moving to Seattle, I lived in Toronto for 10 years and worked for an organization funded by Health Canada supporting families and children in their homes.  I am passionate about my work,  advocating for children, refugees and immigrants while  promoting and preserving their rich heritage and home language.  I enjoy reading, gardening, and  traveling to expand my understanding and love for cultures different than mine.

Tara Juedeman

Teacher

My name is Tara Juedeman and I have been a Preschool Teacher for the past 15 years. I am a Seattle Native, have been married for 20 years and have 2 daughters. I have a lot of interests to keep me and my family busy and engaged in our world. Some of my favorite activities include gardening, swimming, camping and exploring nature, and just spending lots of time with my family and friends! Teaching Preschool for the past several years has been such a rewarding experience and I am so excited to see what the next 15 years in early childhood education will bring to me, my families and my Students.

Theresa Benson

Family Support Specialist

My name is Theresa Benson and I have been a Family Support Specialist at Heritage Head Start since 2001, and a Social Worker elsewhere prior to that. I grew up in Eastern Washington and moved to Seattle to attend college. My husband and I live close by in the neighborhood, have five adult children, and enjoy spending time with them, our eight grandkids, and numerous friendly pets. Favorite activities include exploring nature and cozying up with a food book. I love the community that we have here at Heritage Head Start and am so very grateful to have been able to learn and grow alongside families and our littlest learners for so many years.