SCHOLAR SUPPORT TEAM
Megan Burdeshaw, Education Specialist
Ms. Burdeshaw grew up all over the country including CO, FL, AL, RI, and DE. This is her second time through Washington but first on the Kitsap. She is so happy to be back in the PNW and to call it home. She currently lives in Port Orchard with her Husband, Matt and Son, Asher. Catalyst has truly become a new home for her family as her husband joined the Middle School team in 2023 and her son will be a member of the first Catalyst Highschool class. Ms. Burdeshaw holds a Bachelor's degree in Child Development and a Master's in Elementary Education. Prior to coming to Catalyst, she worked as a Early Childhood educator, an Early childhood administrator, and a 3rd Grade Teacher. Outside of school, she enjoys baking and curling up on the couch with a book and a cup of tea. She also loves to travel with her family and has been to 6 countries and 44/ 50 of the states in the US.
Ashley Lewis, Education Specialist
I am originally from the Bay Area, California. I graduated high school early and stayed very active with sports, including diving, swimming, and water polo. I also sang in our school’s incredibly competitive choir. I moved to Phoenix, AZ after high school. There, I raised my children and attended Grand Canyon University where I earned a Bachelors of Science, graduating summa cum laude, and a Master’s of Education, graduating magna cum laude.
This is my 12th year in education. I have worked in preschool and Structure Teaching classrooms, I taught 1st grade, 3rd grade, Social Emotional Learning, and coached middle school soccer and supported the softball coach.
I have 5 children, who are all adults now!! I also have 2 dogs, and 3 cats. I love camping, hiking, gardening, water sports, and I really love reading and learning new things!
Darnetia Miller, 1:1 Support Specialist
Darnetia Miller, originally from Norfolk, Virginia, has been residing in Washington for the past two years. Having tied the knot with her best friend, Vernon, on July 15, 2022, she finds joy in her marriage. While children are not a part of her family just yet, Darnetia has a beloved Shih Tzu named Bailey, who holds a special place in her heart.
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With an impressive career spanning over 25 years in the field of education, Darnetia's passion for nurturing young minds led her to a middle school in Port Orchard upon her move to Washington state. There, she gained a profound understanding of the community through the perspective of scholars. Darnetia has a genuine appreciation for students with diverse abilities and recognizes the significance of fostering an inclusive educational environment.
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In her continuous quest for personal and professional growth, Darnetia has recently embarked on a journey to learn Braille. This newfound skill reflects her commitment to understanding and catering to the diverse needs of her students. Currently positioned at Catalyst, Darnetia is enthusiastic about her role and is determined to be intentional in providing unwavering support to the scholars under her care.
Alison Michaels-Dyckman, Nutrition Specialist and Operations Coordinator
Alison Michaels-Dyckman (she/her) is one of the newest additions to Catalyst Public School. After working in the nursing field for over two decades, Ms Michaels-Dyckman transitioned into dietary and nutrition management three years ago. She seems to have fallen into the perfect spot at Catalyst, working full time in nutrition services and part time as an assistant in the health
room. Alison believes in keeping a strong sense of community and is proud to be able to contribute to the Catalyst Team, focusing on some of our scholar’s most basic needs: nourishment, comfort, and empathetic care.
Ms Michaels-Dyckman was born and raised in New Jersey and moved to Kitsap County in 1999. Over the last 25+ years, she has traveled the country and experienced all manner of living, but the Pacific Northwest has always been the one place that feels like home. Alison lives in Port Orchard with her wife, daughter, and two sons. They have a lively home, regularly full of friends,
family, four cats, a dog, and lots of extra kids. In her spare time, you can find Alison travel planning, bird-watching, reading, and doing her best to follow a simple life guideline, “Treat people with kindness.”
Randi Newman, 1:1 Support Specialist
Randi Newman was raised in a small desert town in California. She moved to Washington state almost 11 years ago and has considered it home ever since. Randi has learned to love the outdoors, rain and all, and loves finding fun new adventures to do with her children. She is also a huge animal lover, having grown up on a hobby farm, and loves the therapeutic quality animals can provide. Randi has provided services in her field for over a decade; being driven by her passion for youth success and social emotional wellness. Both in working within the field and having her own children utilize services, Randi has seen, first hand, the impact and weight working with children can hold. Being propelled by her desire to learn and elation with seeing children be successful in a variety of ways, she is so excited to work with Catalyst, where the social emotional health of scholars is held as high as their academic success.
Laura Parker, Education Specialist
Laura is a West Virginia native. As a submariner spouse she has also called CT, CA, CO, and VA home. She recently relocated to Kitsap county with her husband and three children from Norfolk, VA where she taught third grade.
She is excited to contribute to the Catalyst/ Bremerton community. Laura earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in child and adolescent development and her Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Education. When she is not educating and learning she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family.
Laura lives by her favorite Rita Pierson quote “Every child deserves a champion- an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can be”.
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Analisa Reyes, Social-Emotional Teaching Fellow
Ms. Reyes was born and raised in the Bay Area of California. She moved to Bremerton to join Catalyst Public Schools as a founding 7th Grade Teaching Fellow, and is delighted to now be working as a Social-Emotional Teaching Fellow. She appreciates that she has been able to support scholars of all needs in different settings.
Ms. Reyes has experience as a substitute teacher for infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms, has worked as an ABA technician, and has provided 1:1 reading, writing, and math interventions.
When she is not at school, you can find Ms. Reyes at home playing the guitar, singing too loudly, or picking up her roommates’ cat so they can nap together! She also enjoys exploring the beautiful PNW, going to concerts, and reading scary stories before bed.
Ms. Reyes is so thankful for her new family at Catalyst, where every scholar is known, loved, and challenged. She is excited to serve each of our scholars and looks forward to supporting them as they achieve their dreams!
Brad Thuring is excited to be a member of the Catalyst team and thrilled to watch Catalyst grow within the Kitsap community.
Brad was born and raised in Eastern Washington. After Graduating from high school, Brad enlisted and served 8 years in the United States Marine Corps. Brad has served at Camp Pendleton CA, Okinawa Japan, Desert Storm and Shield. During his Marine Corps career, he married his wife and began a family of 3 daughters.
Upon discharge from the Marine Corps, Brad moved to NY to Attend the Culinary Institute of America. After graduation from the CIA, Brad worked for a Long Island bakery before moving to Port Orchard, Washington. Brad and his wife raised their 3 daughters in Port Orchard, graduating from South Kitsap High School.
Brad and his family including 5 grandchildren have been residents of Kitsap County for 20 plus years. He has worked in multiple restaurants and businesses in Kitsap, Peirce, and King county with various titles such as Executive Chef, Sous Chef, Kitchen Manager, and Lead Line Cook. When Brad isn't working in the community he enjoys his aquariums, outdoors, camping, cycling, spending time with his family.
Brad Thuring, Nutrition Specialist and Operations Coordinator
Moneica Thuring, Operations Coordinator
Moneica Thuring is excited for her first year at Catalyst! She was born in San Diego, California, but has lived in Washington for most of her life. Moneica has a background in nursing, more specifically taking care of people living with Dementia and Alzheimers, along with a background in Social Media and Marketing!
When she is not working you can find her hanging out with her dogs ( a lab and husky)! She enjoys taking them on spontaneous adventures! She also loves to traveling and trying new kinds foods, she dreams of living aboard one day. Moneica is huge on family and loves spending time with her nieces and nephew! She is very grateful to be apart of the Catalyst family and excited to be working around so many great people! This is just the beginning and its only going to get better from here!