Seeing some new faces around the hallways at
Sequim schools? Here are some of the district’s newest staff members:
Scott Harker
• Sequim Middle School assistant principal
Most recently, Harker was assistant principal at Stevens Middle School. Prior to that, he served as assistant principal at Port Angles High School for four years, then principal for five years. He made a decision to give up the principal’s position a short time ago in order to spend more time with his children. Educated at University of California at Irvine and Cal State at Long Beach, he is married to Colleen Harker, counselor at Sequim High School. They have four children; the oldest is in college and the others are enrolled in Sequim schools. In his spare time, Harker enjoys coaching baseball and helping with his son’s Boy Scout troop.
Richard Napora
• Sequim High School counselor
Born and raised in Western New York, Napora has lived in Florida, Texas, Arizona and California. Prior to coming to Sequim, he served as a high school counselor in San Diego, Calif. Educated at Arizona State University, as well as Glendale Community College and Pima Community College in Arizona, Napora said he is looking forward most to being a part of the Sequim community and having the opportunity to work not only with the students, but also new colleagues. His wife, Jane, also was a high school counselor in California, and they have a cat and three dogs. His hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, skiing, mountain biking, movies, 4X4ing and music.
Jon Eekhoff
• Sequim High School language arts teacher
Born in Lemoore, Calif., Eekhoff has lived in Washington for 25 years. He earned his degrees at Whitworth College/University. Eek-hoff taught at Port Angeles High School for the past three years. He said that working in the same district as his family is what he is most looking forward to (his wife, Cheryl, teaches English classes at
Sequim High School), and said he is excited to work with all of the high school staff. Other areas of interest include writing and travel.
Jorn (Joe) Van de Weghe
• Sequim High School math teacher
Born in the Netherlands, Van de Weghe, also a residential electrician by trade, earned his teaching degree through Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah. Van de Weghe just completed his student teaching last spring at Port Townsend High School. His wife, Stacie, is also a certified math teacher, and their first child, son Caleb, was born this August.
M. Patsene Dashiell
• District community liaison, Web master and resource coordinator
Dashiell has an extensive background in business and community involvement. She most recently served as events coordinator for First Teacher. She also serves as secretary on the Sequim Education Foundation board. Dashiell is the proud mother of two daughters who are attending college. Educated at the University of Texas at El Paso and Peninsula College, she and her husband, Michael, enjoy hiking, running, volleyball and cribbage.
Kelly Bell
• Sequim High School math teacher
Bringing more than 20 years of teaching experience with her, Bell last taught grades 8-12 science at Colton School District near Pullman. Educated at Washington State University and Eastern Washington University, Bell originally is from Spokane. She enjoys time with grandchildren in Tacoma, as well as hobbies that include sewing, knitting, driving and spending time at Lake Chelan.
Dennis McCarthy
• Helen Haller Elementary and Sequim Middle School psychologist
McCarthy hails originally from Detroit, Mich. He last served as a school psychologist with the Denver Public Schools in Colorado. Educated at the University of Michigan, he looks forward most to building positive relationships by working with students, staff and parents, and establishing strong credibility as a school psychologist. McCarthy and his wife are in awe of the natural beauty all around this area as well as the friendliness of the people.
Dena Riccobene
• Olympic Peninsula Academy literacy teacher
Formerly a literacy specialist in the Port Angeles School District, Riccobene was educated at Central Washington University. Originally from Summit Lake near Olympia, she is married to Vince Riccobene and they have three children. In her spare time, she loves spending time with friends, going to garage sales, reading, blogging and taking pictures.
Kim Schneider
• Sequim Middle School building assessment and technology support
Originally from the Olympic Peninsula and happy to be back working in the Sequim School District, Schneider’s most recent assignment was in the Hilltop area of Tacoma as a Title 1 reading paraeducator. Daughter Fallon is the reigning Sequim Irrigation Festival queen, and Schneider said she is very proud of her daughter’s accomplishments.
Megan Thompson
• Helen Haller Elementary PE teacher, Sequim High School junior varsity volleyball coach
A 2002 graduate of Sequim High School, Thompson most recently served as a special education teacher in Federal Way. She said she is looking forward to working with a diverse group of youths in an area she has a great passion for. She was educated at Gonzaga University in Spokane. Hobbies include volleyball, cooking, knitting and spending time with family.
Trayce Norman
• Office coordinator for assessment, curriculum and professional development
Norman moves over from Sequim Community School where she was the secretary for special programs (Medicaid billing). Originally from Federal Way, Norman has been a Sequim resident for 17 years. Previously a business owner, she finds the field of education a nice change from the competitiveness of the business world. She has two daughters, and her hobbies include being involved with her elder daughter’s church high school youth group, hiking, playing board games, watching movies and cooking.
Donna Olson
• Olympic Peninsula Academy math and science teacher
Marcia Lindgreen
• Sequim Middle School Indian Education teacher’s aide.
