BFPP '20-'21 Staff

Hello, I am Kate Baehr, the proud principal of BFPP! We didn’t get to travel very much this summer but here is a shot of my family (husband Steve, stepdaughter Emma and son Ben) and our dog Ilo (E-Low, Finnish for Joy) at the beach. I enjoy reading, rowing crew on Lake Whatcom, watching cheesy movies and playing games with my family. One of my hobbies is collecting heart rocks and making rainbows with rocks at the beach. This year I am especially excited about all of the new families that we are getting to know and our continued relationships with the returning families. I love my job!!

Email Kate

What I get the most joy from these days is through watching and helping my children figure out what gives them joy. So you could say I’m a joy seeker in others. I have two delightful (most of the time) middle school aged kids, two high energy dogs, and a husband whose thoughtfulness spills over in all he does. I like to dive deep into projects, learn as much as I can, and move onto new things kind of like a tornado. Lately I have fallen in love again with sourdough and trying to make everything as healthy as possible and from scratch. My daughter shares my love of water and we have found a body of water to dive into almost every day this summer. I find the outdoors sooth my mind from the busy world around me and gives me space to think. Email Marci

Hello! I'm Hanna, and I'm a new teacher at BFPP this year! I taught third grade at Sunnyland and first grade at Birchwood before this. My favorite things to do include reading, hiking, paddleboarding, playing board games, doing puzzles, and learning new things! I have two kids- Caleb is almost seven and a first grader this year, and Maggie is 4. My husband Andrew is a carpenter and we like to work on projects together and have adventures as often as we can! I am really excited to be here this year and get to know all of you! Email Hanna

Hi, my name is Jackie Brown. I am overjoyed to become a part of BFPP. Over my 30 year career I have had the opportunity of working in the Bellingham School District, Ireland, Northern India, and Tribal Schools. However, no matter where on the map, I have discovered that students of all ages learn best when they feel agency over their own learning. The thrill of watching a child ignite when they make new discoveries and uncover their passions never grows old.

Like many, being in the natural world fills my soul. I love any activity that involves getting sweaty and being outside! Most recently my partner Robbie and I have discovered bikepacking which is a fantastic way of combining backpacking and biking. When not on my bike I can be seen gardening, kayaking, volunteering in the community, and (before covid at least) cooking huge feasts for my friends. My adult son, now 28, lives in LA and works in the film industry. I look forward to meeting all of you! Email Jackie

Hello! I’m Caroll, administrative assistant at BFPP. I am the mom of Justin, Annie, Dane and Kevin. I am also the grandmother of 10 amazing humans. This year my daughter purchased a home in Oak Harbor and we spent a lot of time there helping with the inside painting. I have enjoyed reading, building puzzles and gardening this summer. I am trying to find joy in the way school is now and hope for amazing things this year.

Email Caroll

Hi my name is Teacher Jim. I’m starting my 6th year with BFPP 😊 and this will be my 26th year of teaching. I live in downtown Lynden with my family. I have a few kids and only one lives at home. I enjoy a good walk early in the morning (like at 5:30a.m.!), baking, and just relaxing on the back patio. Email Jim

Wow, I am so excited to be able to teach at BFPP! I spent fourteen years teaching elementary in Lynden Public Schools before teaching ten years at Lowell Elementary in Bellingham. I love to teach science and look forward to working on cool hands-on activities and experiments. I enjoy spending time kayaking in Bellingham Bay, playing pickleball, and scuba diving in the PNW. I am also the proud parent of two sons, ages 17 and 21. I look forward to meeting you soon! Email Jeff

Hi, I’m Stephanie Korn and I am very excited to be able to support the Family Partnership Program as the program has expanded under the unusual circumstances of the '20-'21 school year. In the short time I have begun working with families and staff here at FPP, I have quickly learned what a unique program this is and am thrilled to be a part of the magic. I have been an elementary art and 6th grade teacher, assistant principal, and here in Bellingham, I was the principal of Alderwood Elementary from 2007-2014. Since then, I have had the privilege of supporting our district as a Director of Teaching and Learning. I am also a proud mom, and my 14 year old son is in 9th grade and is working at Mt. Baker this year. I spend my free time running and hiking with my dog, skiing with my son, and in nicer weather, getting out on the water in my kayak or paddleboard. Email Stephanie

Hello and Welcome to BFPP! This is my 5th year with the program and I love it. My inner child shines teaching experiential place-based classes from my passions with energetic play, curious possibilities, and reflection targeting social emotional learning. Over the years these ‘learning by doing’ classes have incorporated nature, science, math, literacy, mountain bikes, hiking, tinkering, technology and more generating various forms of student-centered expression. When I’m not out camping, you’ll find me at home quiet with a crossword puzzle, searching for the next dog I want to adopt, wildly cooking without a recipe, or scheming a weekend adventure in the mountains. I look forward to meeting and sharing stories with you all! Email Randy

Hi! I’m Annie. I have the distinction of being the first parent to sign up for the Family Partnership Program 6 years ago. My 18 year old daughter, 15 year old son and our miniature schnauzer and I enjoy backpacking, boating and exploring. I love hearing people’s stories as well as reading them. My favorite summer reads were The Universe of Two and Washington Black. My Dad was a pilot in the Navy so I moved a lot while growing up. I received my teaching credential and Master’s degree from UC Santa Barbara in the 1990s. I’ve taught in California, at Happy Valley and in Kuwait, where I taught preschool in my basement with western and Saudi families. I’m thrilled to see BFPP grow, and I’m excited to meet all of our new families! Email Annie

I'm Carol, aka Maestra. I've been super fortunate to have been a part of BFPP since 2nd semester of the very first year, when I came on as a guest Spanish teacher. Since then I've added theater, dance, and other humanities classes to my offerings. I absolutely love my job and the opportunity to work with families. I have two older kids (18 and 20 now, wow!) who still live with me and share food, laughter and love. This year I am beginning a Master's Program in Humanities and Creativity, and I can't wait to share what I'm learning with our community. Email Carol

Hiya! I’m Erin, a longtime teacher and parent with BFPP. I have two boys ages 13 and 11 and one dog named Baxi Rootbeer. This summer I spent 5 days walking the Vermont countryside with my dad and aunt, two days working with my sons on a lobster boat in Maine, and countless hours attending to our garden here in Bellingham. My current passions are big forests, wild foraging, refinishing furniture, and canning tomato sauces and salsas. Two great books I read over the summer are: Overstory and The Boy Kings of Texas. I also love the author Brian Doyle. And after 20 years of teaching experience, this year I look forward to learning all new things about online teaching and feeling the vigor and exhaustion of a new teacher. And I SO look forward to connecting with our giant community! Email Erin

Bonjour! I'm Teacher Piper. I enjoy hanging out with my golden retriever Luke, drinking a nice morning cup of coffee, and playing my mandolin and singing with friends. I I have a passion for all kinds of cultures and have lived in places as diverse as a remote fishing Village in Southeast Alaska, the Russian Far East, and Paris, France, with many points in between. I look forward to learning about you and your cultures and passions! Email Piper

Hi. My name is Chad Nuckles-Flinn, Teacher Chad. I love teaching music and my hope is that every student learns something about being Artistic in my class that will stay with them for the rest of their life. I believe that being able to interact musically/artistically in our lives is one of the keys that makes one human. Other things I like to do are Karate, cooking, Science Fiction and hanging out with good friends, like my wife (Teacher Karen) and sons (Simon-25 and Dylan-21). It's going to be a different and Great year!

Email Chad

Hi! I’m Karen Nuckles-Flinn (aka Teacher Karen) and this is my 5th year teaching at the BFPP. This summer, I spent hours outside in my garden humming to myself and to the lettuce, onions, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, squash, kale, chard, and PURPLE carrots growing there! And I spent hours watching all the wildlife like bunnies and deer and so many birds and slugs and snails and dragonflies and bees. I love to teach anything to do with singing, music and other forms of self-expression... I’m looking forward to talking, listening and creating music together on Zoom, as we come together from the comfort of our homes! Email Karen

Hi! I'm Tara, a new BFPP teacher coming from Happy Valley. I am so happy to be here at the partnership! I have 2 kiddos- Owen (4th grade) and Emery (2nd grade). I love boating in the San Juan Islands with my family and look forward to someday making our way up to the Canadian Gulf Islands. My family loves to mountain bike, paddleboard, hike, play games, and bake. I'm excited to begin this journey with the BFPP. What a wonderful place to be! Email Tara

Maybe interesting facts about me…I wake up with a song in my head, usually just knowing the chorus which I sing all day.

I really love good food. I recently took up jump roping. I don’t believe in killing any living creature but I do despise flies. My dog loves to lick my feet and I don’t mind. I love to second-hand shop and half the fun is in the hunt. I wish I was a rockstar, or on Saturday Night Live, or an actor. Tight clothes are not for me. When I get nervous I make up lots of jokes in my head. My husband says I ask a lot of random questions. I wish I knew a lot about birds and nature but I can’t remember those things. Teaching is my passion. This summer I just hung out in our new home that we just built. Oh, and I love dogs. Email Sam

Hi, I'm Kristy! I have been a teacher at Silver Beach Elementary for the last 26 years, teaching kindergarten and then second grade. I have lived in Bellingham since the fourth grade, and I wouldn’t rather live anywhere else! I am the mom of four kids; Blake (25), Matia (22), Emma (20) and Sophie (16). I love to spend time with my husband Gary, our kids and our houseful of dogs and cats! We love to hike with our two golden retrievers named Captain and Maverick. I also love gardening, reading, feeding the birds and cooking. I am so excited to join BFPP this year! Email Kristy

Hi! My name is Ranae Van Diest. I’m new to the Bellingham Family Partnership this year, coming most recently from teaching 3rd grade at Sunnyland. We’ve got teenagers and toddlers at home…Jerimiah (7th Grade), Alexia (almost 3), and Anneke (just turned 1)! We love to spend time outdoors, specifically hiking and biking. I’ve been so blessed already getting to know the staff and families at BFPP, and I’m looking forward to a great year! Email Ranae

Hi there! I'm very excited to join the BFPP Team. I come from a background where I studied Alternative Education at Antioch University, but life took me in a different direction and I have spent over 20 years as an educator mostly working in high poverty schools. For the last 12 years have been a K-5th Reading Specialist in Bellingham Schools.

I am blessed with a fantastic family. I have a 15 year old son and an 11 year old daughter. My husband Matt works as an electrician for the City of Bellingham. We all love to explore the world, play games, watch movies, camp, and keep our cats entertained. I personally love to read fiction whenever I have the chance. I have an extreme fear of heights and an irrational fear of dams. Now you know almost all about me!

It’s interesting how life comes full circle and I am now getting this amazing opportunity to use my knowledge about alternative education. I can’t wait to meet you and walk with your family on this journey. Off we go into the wild together!

Email Carrie

Here are the things I know and love:

Everyone is smart in their own unique way.

All humans are worthy of love and joy.

Questions are more helpful than answers.

My strong and soulful daughters, Ellie and Savanna.

My life partner and world travel companion, James.

Dancing, laughing, singing, and playing are necessary every day.

Hugs (and oh, how I miss them deeply.)

The pure and vulnerable curiosity of a child learning.

Listening to, writing about and sharing in people’s stories.

Chocolate is a food group.

We can do hard things.

Partnering with you is a gift and an honor.

Email Erica