Our Teachers
King Street is more than a job for our teachers. It's an opportunity for them to share their passion for life while they inspire, engage, and awaken the wonder inside each child
Ami Huja | Lead Teacher/Curriculum |
Maggie Darlow | Lead Teacher/Director |
Ami Huja - Lead Teacher/Curriculum
King Street provides a rich environment to provoke curiosity and wonder in children as well as to help them work on collaboration, self expression, autonomy and compassion. As teachers here, we believe being in tune with children's questions and interests is essential to our emergent curriculum. Meaningful education starts with natural curiosity and personal connection.
Over the years since my now teen daughter started preschool at King Street, I have served in a variety of rolls with many talented artists and educators. I have worked on the board as a co-chair and parent coordinator, as summer art-camp coordinator and educator, and since 2017, I have been a lead teacher. I am honored to be serving as Co-Director 2020-2021. The importance and meaningfulness of this work continues to astound me year after year.
Hand in hand with my work at King Street has been my work as a teacher at the Parent Child Center at Seattle College (2013-18) and as an elementary enrichment art teacher with Kids Create (2014-2019)
My fine arts background (BFA, University of Washington) and my work as photographer for Seattle's "ColorsNW" magazine for seven years has refined my skills of using art as a tool for communication and education. These experiences, along with my mixed Indian background and childhood in Hawaii, have informed my perspectives on community, culture and society. I bring my passion for social justice, fostering community and creativity to my work and am I fiercely committed to the anti-bias, play based, child centered and family friendly pillars of our program.
I am honored to continue working with our strong team, navigating the many changes in our world and school. As teachers we are laying the groundwork for learners to question, observe, share ideas, and solve problems. Our work nurtures families and the community through devotion to curiosity, compassion and wonder, on our journey to change the world for the better.
Maggie Darlow - Lead Teacher/Director
I have been working with young children for over 20 years. My first experience with co-op preschool was as a parent when my oldest child was two years old. I loved it so much, I decided to center my career around co-op! I appreciates the connections and opportunities that co-op gives to kids and adults.
Prior to my work in preschool, I had a career in biological sciences. I use my love of science to foster inquisitive and creative problem solving in children. I believe in letting children explore their world and know children learn best when they construct their own experiences.
I believe children have a inherent sense of fairness and empathy, which can be guided toward a lifelong love of promoting social justice. I see my main role as teacher as helping children develop their ability to name and manage their emotions and create meaningful connections with their peers and community.