SCHOLAR SUPPORT TEAM
Karen Brehmer, Espesyalista sa Edukasyon
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”.
Si Brad Thuring ay nasasabik na maging miyembro ng Catalyst team at tuwang-tuwa na panoorin ang paglaki ng Catalyst sa loob ng komunidad ng Kitsap.
Ipinanganak at lumaki si Brad sa Eastern Washington. Pagkatapos Graduating mula sa high school, si Brad ay nagpalista at nagsilbi ng 8 taon sa United States Marine Corps. Naglingkod si Brad sa Camp Pendleton CA, Okinawa Japan, Desert Storm at Shield. Sa kanyang karera sa Marine Corps, pinakasalan niya ang kanyang asawa at nagsimula ng isang pamilya ng 3 anak na babae.
Sa paglabas mula sa Marine Corps, lumipat si Brad sa NY upang Dumalo sa Culinary Institute of America. Pagkatapos ng graduation mula sa CIA, nagtrabaho si Brad sa isang panaderya sa Long Island bago lumipat sa Port Orchard, Washington. Pinalaki ni Brad at ng kanyang asawa ang kanilang 3 anak na babae sa Port Orchard, nagtapos sa South Kitsap High School.
Si Brad at ang kanyang pamilya kasama ang 5 apo ay mga residente ng Kitsap County sa loob ng 20 dagdag na taon. Nagtrabaho siya sa maraming restaurant at negosyo sa Kitsap, Peirce, at King county na may iba't ibang titulo tulad ng Executive Chef, Sous Chef, Kitchen Manager, at Lead Line Cook. Kapag hindi nagtatrabaho si Brad sa komunidad, nasisiyahan siya sa kanyang mga aquarium, sa labas, sa kamping, pagbibisikleta, paggugol ng oras kasama ang kanyang pamilya.
Brad Thuring, Nutrition Specialist at Operations Coordinator
Moneica Thuring, Operations Coordinator
Si Moneica Thuring ay nasasabik para sa kanyang unang taon sa Catalyst! Siya ay ipinanganak sa San Diego, California, ngunit nanirahan sa Washington sa halos buong buhay niya. May background si Moneica sa nursing, mas partikular na pag-aalaga sa mga taong may Dementia at Alzheimers, kasama ang background sa Social Media at Marketing!
Kapag hindi siya nagtatrabaho ay makikita mo siyang nakikipag-hang out kasama ang kanyang mga aso (isang lab at husky)! Nasisiyahan siyang dalhin sila sa mga kusang pakikipagsapalaran! Mahilig din siyang maglakbay at sumubok ng mga bagong uri ng pagkain, pangarap niyang mabuhay sakay ng isang araw. Malaki ang pamilya ni Moneica at mahilig siyang gumugol ng oras kasama ang kanyang mga pamangkin! Siya ay lubos na nagpapasalamat na maging bukod sa pamilyang Catalyst at nasasabik na makatrabaho ang napakaraming mahuhusay na tao! Ito ay simula pa lamang at ito ay magiging mas mahusay mula dito!