Miss Elizabeth Warren
Sixth Grade Teacher
Miss Liz Warren grew up in West Seattle, where she was active on the YMCA Swim Team. After graduating from West Seattle High school, Miss Warren followed her dream which was to teach school. She completed her education at Western Washington University, earning degrees in Interdisciplinary Child Development and in Education.
Liz Warren has always enjoyed working with children. In the past, she has worked with school-aged children with the YMCA as a summer camp counselor and as an outdoor living skills instructor. Miss Warren was a member of a theater group called Pandemonium Players for ten years, and although she says she cannot sing, she enjoyed trying! Story telling gives Miss Warren great joy, and her expertise in this area makes her an asset to Stella Schola because of our emphasis on history (history is a story).
Miss Warren loves to read and is learning how to salsa! She has a rather plump white cat named Stinky. Her favorite colors are yellow, orange and pink, mostly because they are bright and sunny and life should be like that!
Miss Warren's Eboard
Mr. Jake Cunnington
Seventh Grade Teacher
Mr. Jake Cunnington, a native Washingtonian and Eastsider, completed his education at Western Washington University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in English Literature as well as his master’s degree in education. He enjoyed teaching the challenging integrated curriculum at Mercer Island High School and also teaching in the Bellevue School District at Robinswood High.
Mr. Cunnington brings a lot of enthusiasm and positive energy into the classroom, in conjunction with maintaining the high standard of learning that Stella Schola provides.
Jake loves to play soccer, paint, and go for hikes. Spending time with his family is very important to him, and he has plenty of family members around this area! He also has two dogs, Lily and Cino, which he enjoys playing with. Jake believes that real-life stories of history are robust, which enables him to create dynamic learning opportunities for the students!
Mrs. Brigitte Tennis
Headmistress & Eighth Grade Teacher
Mrs. Brigitte Tennis is the founder and head teacher of Stella Schola. A product of the Lake Washington School District, Brigitte attended the University of Washington on an academic scholarship, completing her bachelor’s degrees in Violin Performance and in Education (K – 12). Her master’s equivalency is in Education.
Brigitte Tennis has been teaching in the Lake Washington School District for 27 years, three of which were in the full time gifted program. Mrs. Tennis has served as a FOSS science trainer in the district, as an official mentor for new teachers, and has been acknowledged as a distinguished educator in Who’s Who For American Teachers in 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006. In 2004, Mrs. Tennis was selected as a DisneyHand American Teacher 2004 Honoree, and in 2006 she accomplished her National Board (NBCT) certification as a nationally recognized professional teacher of excellence in English. Recently, Mrs. Tennis contributed a chapter to a collaborative book Today I Made a Difference.
Mrs. Tennis is married and has two boys, ages 19 and 20. She enjoys snow skiing, hiking, horseback riding, reading, music, dancing and spending time at the beach, as well as volunteering in the greater Seattle area. Her personal motto is “CARPE DIEM” because she says that we should live life to its fullest because we get out of life what we put into it! Don't waste any precious minutes!
Mrs. Margee Grein
Secretary
Mrs. Margee Grein is the registrar and secretary for Stella Schola Middle School. She grew up in Kirkland, attending schools in the LWSD. After high school she attended Western Washington State University in Bellingham, Washington.
Margee has worked in the banking and electronics fields before coming to Stella Schola. She has also been a very active PTSA volunteer, is active at Children's Hospital, and served three years on the Stella Schola Parent Advisory Board.
Mrs. Grein lives in Kirkland with her husband, teenage daughter, and their golden retriever named Khaki.