2019-2020 Board of Directors
Current Term: 2019-2021
Jeremy Syme, President/Treasurer
I grew up on a fruit farm in Fruitland, Idaho (it’s okay to laugh) and eventually found myself getting a Music Education degree from the University of Puget Sound and then a Masters in Communication from WSU--GO COUGS! While working on my masters in 1996, I stumbled into web development and never looked back. I am currently a Senior Technical Program Manager at Bluetooth. I love running, yoga, house projects, and making games for my kids that defy expectations. My wife, Darcie, and I have two children Gavin 11 and Fiona 8. We have been an MCH family since 2010 and based on current calculations will be here until 2025. ! I have been on the board or been a volunteer since 2012. I am excited to continue growing the Parent Association.
I grew up on a fruit farm in Fruitland, Idaho (it’s okay to laugh) and eventually found myself getting a Music Education degree from the University of Puget Sound and then a Masters in Communication from WSU--GO COUGS! While working on my masters in 1996, I stumbled into web development and never looked back. I am currently a Senior Technical Program Manager at Bluetooth. I love running, yoga, house projects, and making games for my kids that defy expectations. My wife, Darcie, and I have two children Gavin 11 and Fiona 8. We have been an MCH family since 2010 and based on current calculations will be here until 2025. ! I have been on the board or been a volunteer since 2012. I am excited to continue growing the Parent Association.
Current Term: 2019-2021
Susan Smith, Vice President
I grew up in Downers Grove, IL, a suburb of Chicago, and graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale with a degree in Media, Marketing and Management in the radio and television department with a minor in creative writing. My daughter is Addison (5) and she is currently in Azul where she loves her teachers and especially the nature trail. I have been married almost 10 years and met my husband Phil shortly before I graduated from college and followed him to Washington where he works at Microsoft. We have lived in Sammamish for the last 6 years and I love our neighborhood. I am a licensed massage therapist in Washington and have run my own private practice, The Massage Smith, from my home for the last 8 years. I am also lucky enough to be able to manage this practice during the hours my daughter is attending school. I love coffee and in my spare time camp, hike, sing some awesome karaoke and just started paddle boarding. Our family enjoys movies, reading and sometimes the occasional family game night. We love MCH and enjoy watching our daughter l thrive here and look forward to connecting with other families while helping to further serve our school community.
I grew up in Downers Grove, IL, a suburb of Chicago, and graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale with a degree in Media, Marketing and Management in the radio and television department with a minor in creative writing. My daughter is Addison (5) and she is currently in Azul where she loves her teachers and especially the nature trail. I have been married almost 10 years and met my husband Phil shortly before I graduated from college and followed him to Washington where he works at Microsoft. We have lived in Sammamish for the last 6 years and I love our neighborhood. I am a licensed massage therapist in Washington and have run my own private practice, The Massage Smith, from my home for the last 8 years. I am also lucky enough to be able to manage this practice during the hours my daughter is attending school. I love coffee and in my spare time camp, hike, sing some awesome karaoke and just started paddle boarding. Our family enjoys movies, reading and sometimes the occasional family game night. We love MCH and enjoy watching our daughter l thrive here and look forward to connecting with other families while helping to further serve our school community.
Current Term: 2019-2021
Jackie Reeve, Secretary
I'm a NJ native (my husband Adam is from England), and we just moved to Washington last summer. I have a Masters in Library and Information Science from Pratt Institute, and I was a children's librarian for about 8 years (briefly in public libraries, but mainly in elementary schools). I made a career change a few years ago, and now I work from home full time as a journalist; I'm a sleep writer for Wirecutter, the product review site at The New York Times. I'm a quilt designer as well, and we're starting to raise our first (small) animals at our farmhouse in Fall City. We moved from the Jersey Shore, so this is quite a change for us! My daughter Hannah (7) is finishing her first year in Morado, but this is her 6th year in a Montessori classroom. She went through the toddler and EC programs at an AMI Montessori in NJ, and we have really loved the change, and feel that MCH has been incredible for her confidence and development. I can't wait to get more involved, and hopefully bring my literacy and communications experience to school.
I'm a NJ native (my husband Adam is from England), and we just moved to Washington last summer. I have a Masters in Library and Information Science from Pratt Institute, and I was a children's librarian for about 8 years (briefly in public libraries, but mainly in elementary schools). I made a career change a few years ago, and now I work from home full time as a journalist; I'm a sleep writer for Wirecutter, the product review site at The New York Times. I'm a quilt designer as well, and we're starting to raise our first (small) animals at our farmhouse in Fall City. We moved from the Jersey Shore, so this is quite a change for us! My daughter Hannah (7) is finishing her first year in Morado, but this is her 6th year in a Montessori classroom. She went through the toddler and EC programs at an AMI Montessori in NJ, and we have really loved the change, and feel that MCH has been incredible for her confidence and development. I can't wait to get more involved, and hopefully bring my literacy and communications experience to school.
Current Term: 2019-2021
Paula Stohrer Benari
I’m originally from Argentina, in my early teens I moved to Israel and spend there most of my life. By 2008 life brought me to Sammamish, and I can’t imagine a better place to call home. I love the contrast of city views and nature, the life work balance, the rain, and the diversity we have in our region.
I found my professional calling very early in my life thanks to my 8th grade art teacher. Who spotted me in her class, and brought me as an apprentice to her studio, giving me my first job ever at the age of 14, as an illustrator for children’s books. Now days, after a long successful carrier in the design field… I’m still full of wonder, and very thankful for my art teacher and her impact on my life.
My son Sol join MCH in 2016 for first grade. Every morning when he wakes up for school I see the spark in his eyes, full of anticipation for the day to come. MCH is more than a school for us, in many ways is our second home. I’m excited to have a chance to be part of this community, and to keep the spark alive in any way I can.
I’m originally from Argentina, in my early teens I moved to Israel and spend there most of my life. By 2008 life brought me to Sammamish, and I can’t imagine a better place to call home. I love the contrast of city views and nature, the life work balance, the rain, and the diversity we have in our region.
I found my professional calling very early in my life thanks to my 8th grade art teacher. Who spotted me in her class, and brought me as an apprentice to her studio, giving me my first job ever at the age of 14, as an illustrator for children’s books. Now days, after a long successful carrier in the design field… I’m still full of wonder, and very thankful for my art teacher and her impact on my life.
My son Sol join MCH in 2016 for first grade. Every morning when he wakes up for school I see the spark in his eyes, full of anticipation for the day to come. MCH is more than a school for us, in many ways is our second home. I’m excited to have a chance to be part of this community, and to keep the spark alive in any way I can.
Current Term: 2019-2021
Mandy Fajardo
I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I joined the Army after high school where I met my husband Chris. We have two children Chris (20), and River (7). I homeschooled our oldest child who’s on the autism spectrum from second grade through high school. We moved to Washington in the summer of 2017, so this is River’s second year at MCH. I love being creative, which means I usually have about three projects that I’m working on at home. I’ve enjoyed my many volunteer activities this past year at MCH, and I look forward to being more involved by joining the Parents Association.
I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I joined the Army after high school where I met my husband Chris. We have two children Chris (20), and River (7). I homeschooled our oldest child who’s on the autism spectrum from second grade through high school. We moved to Washington in the summer of 2017, so this is River’s second year at MCH. I love being creative, which means I usually have about three projects that I’m working on at home. I’ve enjoyed my many volunteer activities this past year at MCH, and I look forward to being more involved by joining the Parents Association.