Our Teachers

​I was drawn to WPCS because I love the co-op philosophy of the school that includes parents and teachers working together. Most of my time teaching over the last twenty years was in co-op schools like this. I bring whatever knowledge and experience I may have to help nurture this community now and in the future.

I am a Liberian immigrant. I lived in West Philadelphia during my childhood, but now I reside in Mount Airy. I have one daughter who is turning ten. I love animals. We have one dog and two cats. I also love music and dancing. Over my career, I have played percussion professionally and currently I play music for children in a band called “Music with Gina.” My favorite food is rice. My favorite color is earthy red.

​I was born and raised in Philadelphia and have lived and worked all over the city. Trained as a clinical social worker, I have worked as a trauma therapist for over a decade helping children and families heal from trauma, tragedy, and hardship. It was through this work that I discovered my passion for working alongside children and families. While being in the classroom is a newer role for me, teaching, learning alongside, and advocating for children and families is not. My experience has been centered around families with youth ages 2-18 and in working with such a diverse age range, I have learned that each child’s experience of the world varies vastly. One of the most rewarding parts of being a teacher is seeing the world through the eyes of a child. Sidewalks quickly turn into raceways, trees are for climbing, and nothing seems yummier than an old fashioned mud pie. I live for these moments with children and I am so excited to be a part of a teaching team that values the same things I do.

I currently reside in West Philadelphia with my dog Hilda and several cats. I love daydreaming, being in the sun and making ice cream from scratch. ​

I have lived in Philadelphia for 9 years but was born and raised on the Native American Reservation in Michigan. I have been working in education for 10 years and have a passion for walking alongside kids as they learn about the world that surrounds them. My experience spans from toddler care all the way to 5th grade studies. I believe that education should be specific to the child. It is a passion of mine to encourage and nurture students as they learn by helping them develop and discover new ways to problem solve as well as expanding their minds by exploring science and history and really getting to know about the planet we live on.

I incorporate my culture into a lot of my teaching methods, as well as the content I lean into. Such as learning to cook traditional indigenous foods, or learning different words in indigenous languages. One of my favorite quotes that has shaped my ideas on learning and teaching is by Sitting Bull, a famous Chief from the Lakota Nation. "Let us put our minds together, and see what kind of life we could create for our children." As I've moved through my teaching career I've referenced that quote many times and is also a reason why I was drawn to the co-op style of school.

I enjoy long walks through the city, being by water, watching scary movies, and going to arcades. I'm so excited to start my journey here at WPCS!

Hello all, my name is Sarah Seymour and I’ve lived in West Philly since 2012. I worked for Parks and Rec as an afterschool teacher at Lee Cultural Center until I graduated from CCP with my associates in Behavioral Health and Human Services in 2019. Upon graduating, I was employed as a therapeutic support staff for students with behavioral differences until Covid hit and schools closed. That led me to spend a year working with incarcerated youth.

I’m also currently employed as a community support one to one aide to an elder living with disabilities. If you’re a long time Cedar Park resident, you may have seen us cleaning up in the neighborhood. I’ve worked closely with Epic Adventurez, who run foam sword games in Clark Park on Saturdays. I’m passionate about advocating for young people as well as folx living with disabilities. I also love nature, thrifting, performing and fashion design.

Hello! I'm Elis. I recently moved to Philadelphia from Boston where my family has its roots. I am a writer and teaching artist. I've taught in many settings over 15 years, from teaching sewing and fiber arts to K1, to 1:1 dedicated classroom support to first and fourth graders in Quaker schools, and creating safe, healing spaces for neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ middle schoolers. Most recently I led a classroom team which supported K-8 students' writing skills through creative writing initiatives and teacher-tailored curriculum.

I feel my skills and surest sense of self come to the forefront when with kids, in meeting my own inner child with compassion and curiosity in the same moments I encourage children toward the same. I have so much gratitude toward kids for their patience with me as we work together to meet their needs, and the ways they've taught me to love better. I am a firm advocate for children's rights.

I live only a few blocks away with my rambunctious cat and dear friends. I write auto-ethnographic poetry, read a lot, and can be heard laughing very loudly. I enjoy puzzles, grapefruit, and the color green. A book that represents me well is Ada Twist, Scientist, by Andrea Beatty.