I work with students in grades 3-5 and love exploring lesser known math ideas:  Ethiopian Multiplication, Native American Trigonometry and anything with a fun name, like Zeckendorf's Theorem or The Schubfachprinzip.  I learn as much from students as they do from me.  Math is everywhere: on the playground, at home, and especially in the grocery store.

In general my philosophy is that if you think you can or think you can't, in either case you're right!  (spoiler alert: you CAN).

Greetings! My name is Hema Thomas and I am the school psychologist at Coe Elementary and McDonald International School. I have been working as a psychologist in Seattle Public Schools since 2006. My services include psychoeducational consultation and evaluations for school-based teams.

I am a native Washingtonian, born and raised in Olympia, WA. I completed both my undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Washington (Go Dawgs!). I live in Seattle with my husband, two children, and our dog. In my free time you will likely find me at a soccer pitch cheering on my kids and their soccer teams, savoring a meal at one of the many fantastic restaurants throughout the city, or enjoying some quiet time with a good book.

Hi Coe Community! My name is Jonathan Via and I am so excited to join the third-grade team! I grew up in Spokane, Washington, and went to Washington State University. I have spent the last 4 years at Lawton Elementary in Magnolia. Outside of school, you can usually find me hanging out with my dog Gretzky, watching/attending sports, or being active! I can’t wait to get to know all of you!

My name is Maria Volk, and I love teaching PE at Coe! I grew up on Queen Anne as the oldest of four kids, and attended Coe as a student from kindergarten through 5th grade. Additionally, I worked as a tutor at Coe in 2015, and completed my student teaching in second grade with Julie Bedell. In my spare time I enjoy trying new restaurants and exercise classes, running Green Lake, shopping, coaching high school gymnastics, and hanging with friends and family.

Hello Coe community! My name is Jen Waterman and I am thrilled to be a member of the fabulous Coe staff. My first year at Coe was the 2020-2021 school year. Prior to working at Coe, I taught for 11 years in the Issaquah School District and 4 years in my home state of California. I earned my BA in Communication from the University of California at Santa Barbara and M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Concordia University Irvine. I love teaching elementary age students for so many reasons, but most importantly I love their humor, positive energy, and zest for life! My husband and I live in Queen Anne with our daughter and dog, a husky/lab mix. I love living and working in this special neighborhood!

I’m originally from Illinois and came to the Pacific Northwest in 2018 to complete my undergraduate studies at the University of Washington. I loved Seattle so much I decided to stay and have since completed my master's in teaching, also from the University of Washington. Go Dawgs! I have two cats, Bertram and Augustus, that I love to talk about and share pictures of with students. I enjoy spending time reading, crocheting, going on walks, and drinking lots of coffee.

I am thrilled to be a kindergarten teacher at Coe. I was a high school language arts and journalism teacher before I stayed home when my daughter and son were born. I got back into teaching when my family moved to Seattle in 2016 and returned to work as a substitute teacher at a middle school. I became a Coe parent when my son started the 2nd grade and I volunteered in his classrooms and the library. The time I spent at Coe was like a master class for me and I added library, elementary education, and reading endorsements to my teaching certificate. I wouldn’t want to be at any other school!

Hi, Coe family! My name is Jamie Wong, and I’m excited to join Coe Elementary as a bilingual instructional assistant this year! I’m originally from Hong Kong and speak both Cantonese and Mandarin. Before coming to Coe, I worked at Ballard High School and am also currently part-time at Garfield High School this year. Living in the Queen Anne area, you might see me walking my dog around the neighborhood. I can’t wait to connect with all of you and make this a fantastic year together!