At the PlayGarden our diverse and experienced staff and board work together to lead our inclusive programs, design our beautiful and fully-accessible gardens, care for our animals, and provide children of all abilities a safe, accessible, and adventurous place to play.
Sophie Barnett-Dyer, Lead Preschool Teacher
Sophie received a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education with Special Education certification in 2005 from Mills College, in Oakland Ca. Her childhood spent playing in her family’s garden in Seattle, and later as an adult visiting school gardens in the Bay Area, has inspired a life-long love of teaching and learning with young children in the garden. She is also an avid gardener herself, as well as cook, camper, crafts person, and the mother of two fantastic children.
Contact: Sophie@seattleplaygarden.org
Margot Bell, Supported Employment Job Coach
Margot Bell’s journey with disability advocacy and community started in sixth grade after meeting her best friend, role model, and North Star in P.E class, who happened to have an intellectual disability. After surviving middle school, joining their high school’s Special Olympics basketball team, and starting Seattle’s first high school Best Buddies chapter together, Margot went to college at Vanderbilt University to study special education, disability studies, and how to be the best advocate for inclusion she possibly could be. Margot has come back every summer to spend time with the beloved Seattle disability community and is thrilled to be back for the foreseeable future post-grad. She’s had the pleasure of working as a job coach for Vanderbilt’s inclusive higher education program, Next Steps, teaching at Our Beginning preschool, and working for the fabulous Seattle disability services nonprofit PROVAIL. Margot is incredibly passionate about identifying the best individualized supports and accommodations possible for folks to thrive in school, employment, social settings, and beyond! The world is a better place when everyone has what they need to succeed and live their lives the way they want. Access is love!
Mike Bernatovicz, Lead Preschool Teacher
Mike started teaching preschool in 2014. In his time as an early childhood educator, he has worked as a lead teacher for a handful of different schools and organizations, his favorite being a fully outdoor program based out of public parks in South Seattle. Mike is a big proponent of emergent curriculum, risky play, and supporting children for the people they are today. Mike graduated from The Evergreen State College in 2011, with a focus on history, writing and political science. Mike is also a musician and avid bicyclist.
Asher Brown, Program Assistant
Asher started working as a Preschool Helper in the fall of 2017. He supports the teaching staff by setting up for the morning program, greeting preschoolers and families, and engaging with kids during morning play. When he’s not working, Asher stays busy as a volunteer at Swedish Hospital and participates in Special Olympics, including swimming, soccer, and his long time favorite, downhill skiing. He has been a member of the Skihawks Racing Team for the past 8 seasons. Asher graduated from Garfield HS and Nathan Hale’s transition program.
Elizabeth Bullard, Executive Director
Elizabeth is also the visionary behind and founder of the PlayGarden. She has an MA in Speech-Language Pathology from Indiana University at Bloomington, and a BA in Speech and Hearing Sciences/Spanish from Indiana University. She has worked with children and families in the Seattle area since 1985, and enjoys working and playing alongside PlayGardeners of all ages.
Contact: Liz@seattleplaygarden.org
Kate Chen, Office Manager
Hannah Gallagher, Inclusive Programs Director and Camp Director
Hannah is an inclusive, community-focused environmental educator, speaker, disability-rights advocate from Seattle, WA. Hannah holds a graduate certificate in Education for Environment & Community from IslandWood, a Master’s in Education and a graduate certificate and non-profit management from the University of Washington.
Hannah works as the Inclusive Programs Director at the Seattle Children’s PlayGarden. Hannah has 20 years of experience working with children and youth with and without disabilities.
When Hannah is not working, you can find her at anywhere outside- local farmers markets, hiking, biking, or sharing a home-cooked meal time with friends and family.
Contact: Hannah@seattleplaygarden.org
Ella Mae George, Preschool Teacher’s Assistant
Ariel Horton, Preschool Teacher’s AssistantAriel is an arts-focused educator who has been working with children in classrooms, camps, and family homes for eight years. Whatever the environment, Ariel is passionate about creating safe, inclusive, joyful spaces for children to learn and grow. In addition to assisting at PlayGarden, she teaches drama with Seattle Children’s Theatre. She is also a professional actor, and prior to PlayGarden, she spent two years touring educational theatre programs to TK-12 schools across Washington.
Ariel especially loves connecting with children through creative & dramatic play, storytelling, and environmental exploration. She loves animals of all kinds, making & enjoying art, reading books, and taking long naps with her sweet senior dog, Louie.
Ingrid Ibambasi, Preschool Teacher’s Assistant
After immersing herself into the study of capoeira at the Seattle Capoeira Center for two years, her Mestre (Master of Capoeira) began insisting that she apply for an open assistant teaching position at his daughter’s preschool school, Seattle PlayGarden. He had been observing her diligence, patience, and wonderful ability to work effectively with children of all abilities as a capoeira teacher at an after school program at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School. She still holds her teaching position at the after school program, where she teaches once a week, but is most excited to be Seattle PlayGarden’s newest Assistant Teacher.
Hailing from Kigali, Rwanda, Ingrid was raised in Boise, ID and became an American citizen as a young child before her family relocated to Atlanta, GA. She is very proud of her roots and loves her countries. Active in the worlds of debate and journalism, Ingrid is always interested in learning more about legislature, world events, politics, civil rights, and inclusion. She moved to Seattle looking for her next adventure and she has found it! Seattle PlayGarden has become one of her favorite places in the city. She is elated to watch the kids’ growth and assist in the learning of every single one of our preschoolers. She believes our environmentally based curriculum gives children a freedom and confidence she has never before encountered in education.
In her free time, Ingrid loves to FaceTime her family, hike, study fashion, spend time with friends, camping, and generally enjoying all that the PNW has to offer.
Nicole Ijeoma, Preschool Program Assistant
Nicole is joining our preschool team on Tuesdays and Thursdays and will be in the classroom assisting with snack, storytime, and playtimes, as well as helping us prep projects for preschool. Nicole loves reading and writing poetry, and she’s looking forward to playing with the preschoolers.
Annie Jones, Preschool Teachers Assistant, Camp Counselor and PlayGarden Youth Representative on King County Public Health Youth Moving in Solidarity Coalition
Annie is a born and raised Seattleite. She went to Nathan Hale High School and is hoping to continue her education while working at the PlayGarden. Annie started coming to the PlayGarden when she was 3 years old and graduated from camper to counselor. The transition has been a lot of fun! She said “I like using all my knowledge of the PlayGarden to help other kids have fun. I like working with kids because they always find a way to have fun and I love watching them grow and get smarter every day!” On the weekend you can find Annie hanging out with her friends and family, painting and walking her dog.
Dave Langton, Garden and Animal Caretaker
Dave is the caretaker for the PlayGarden, providing facility and grounds maintenance. He has home remodel construction and maintenance experience and is currently enrolled in the Landscape Horticulture program at South Seattle College. His previous work experience includes working with children and adults with disabilities and their use of assistive technology in education, work, and play. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems. He discovered his love of the outdoors after walking on the Appalachian Trail for a few months. Dave enjoys the beautiful mountains and scenic waterways of the Pacific Northwest.
Michaela McCarthy, Program Assistant
“I am excited to be working at the PlayGarden because I like being around kids. I had a lot of fun going to the PlayGarden when I was little and I want other kids to have fun at the PlayGarden, too. During my free time, I like listening to music, writing on my iPad, and taking care of my companion dog, Mellie.”
Ali Smith, Preschool Teacher’s Assistant
Carter Sturms, Assistant Caretaker
Carter is excited to be the new gardener at Seattle Children’s PlayGarden! He has been attending camps and programs at the PlayGarden from a young age, and is devoted to maintaining its magic for future generations. He has a dog named Nuggets and he loves movies! His favorite movie? The Spiderman series!
Say hello when you see Carter raking leaves or spreading mulch – you will probably hear his joyous laughter and want to join right in!
Becca Bull, LAc, Board Chiar
Licensed Acupuncturist and East Asian Health Practitioner | PlayGarden Parent Advocate
Patrick Henry, Treasurer
Medical Associate and Office for the Seattle Indian Health Board | PlayGarden Parent Advocate
Emily Morishita
Designer | Accessibility Advocate
Emily is a senior designer and project manager at Mayer/Reed, an interdisciplinary Portland, Oregon based design studio providing urban design, landscape architecture, visual communications and experiential graphic design. Her focus is on creating public spaces that are lively, enriching, and accessible.
Liz Bullard, MA
Executive Director | PlayGarden Founder
Gillian Kindel
Consulting Principal, Strategy & Business Development at Seattle Children’s Hospital
Eli Sitchin
Aerospace Engineer | Advocate
Eli started attending the PlayGarden in 2002, two years after his autism diagnosis. After many years as a camper – during which time he came up with the idea for the PlayGarden volcano – he returned as a summer camp counselor in 2016 and 2017 before joining the board in 2022.
Jen Anderson
Marketing | PlayGarden Parent Advocate
Jorge Bernal
Financial Services Executive | PlayGarden Parent Advocate
Deanne Odell
Data and Technology Specialist | PlayGarden Parent Advocate
Emily
Teacher | PlayGarden Parent Advocate
Alysha Cooper
UX Designer for McGraw Hill | Photographer | PlayGarden Parent Disabilities Advocate and lover all of things furry.
The importance of representation
At the PlayGarden we know how important representation is. The impact of seeing yourself represented, whether that’s in media or in the classroom, is powerful. Our team is made up of individuals across different ages, genders, experience levels, educational backgrounds and across a variety of racial, cultural and linguistic backgrounds. The PlayGarden hires people with and without disabilities to ensure that all of our campers and preschoolers can see themselves reflected in our staff.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Seattle Children’s PlayGarden is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes a diversity of applicants to apply. Having a staff that authentically reflects the communities we serve is a critical step in creating the inclusive world we envision.