Meet our team of dedicated teachers, parent educators, and childcare professionals
Our Teachers
Diana Wagner-Boyd, Infants, Twos, and Split Age
Diana has been with the Magnolia Co-op since 2014, but has been teaching in the Co-op community since 1997, and attended Co-op classes with her own two children. Diana taught the 3-5s and Pre-K at Ingraham Cooperative Preschool, as well as the Pre-3s and Toddlers. She also taught the Tots, 2 and the Infant Baby Sign Class at Queen Anne Co-op, and the Northwest Toddler Class at the NSCC campus. She is a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts with a degree in Theater and prides herself on bringing creativity to the classroom.
Diana enjoys playing her guitar, gardening, hiking, rock climbing, surfing, and roller-skating. She lives in north Seattle with her Husband Ed, her cockatiel bird “Frisbee”, and “Missy” the cat.
Jillian Bentley, Toddlers
Jillian is an award-winning teacher with decades of experience starting as a babysitter in middle and high school, teaching swimming lessons and tutoring in college, teaching French and English for K-12, then as a stay at home parent to three children during which time she has been involved in the Magnolia Cooperative Preschool as a teachers’assistant, Enrichment instructor, and member of the board of directors. Passionate about parent education and parent connections, she enjoys volunteering as a PEPS group facilitator, and she spent a year as a parent mentor through Nurture Seattle.
Jillian likes crossword puzzling, biking, swimming, cooking, baking, politics, and spending time with friends and family. She also works part time coordinating medical and mental health evaluations for those seeking asylum through Seattle Asylum Forensic Evaluation Network. She loves all animals, particularly dogs, and has a pet terrier named Moose. Originally from Atlanta, Jillian has lived in Tennessee, Illinois, Florida, Virginia, and Maryland, and has called Seattle home since 2005.
Nicole Appell, Threes
Since 2021, Nicole has taught 3-5 year olds. Nicole is passionate about Early Childhood Education because she loves helping children discover new things in the world around them. She finds their inherent sense of wonder and joy inspiring, and believes that teaching young children is important and impactful work.
Nicole has taught children for over 20 years as a K-8 Art Specialist. She was a member of the Washington State Arts Commission Roster of Teaching Artists, Creative Advantage Arts Partner Roster for Seattle Public Schools, and has led large-scale public art projects with Seattle and Lake Washington Public Schools. Nicole graduated from the University of Washington. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys making art, hiking in the mountains, and exploring beaches with her family. She currently lives in Magnolia.
Elise Cranston, Pre-Kindergarten
Elise is thrilled to join the community at Magnolia Co-op as the Pre-K teacher! Elise attended Greenville University and graduated in 2015 with a degree in Theology, Spanish, and Teaching English as a Second Language. And so, like most millennials, she decided to work in a totally different field! Post graduation with work as a nanny Elise discovered the joy of young children and a passion for Early Childhood Education. Upon moving back to Seattle in 2017 she found work at a local preschool where she taught for 7 years.
Elise is dedicated to creating a classroom full of joy, laughter, learning, respect, wonder, autonomy, and empathy. She recently traveled to New Zealand on a Early Childhood study tour and was inspired by the deep and loving connections between teachers and children as well as the rich and complex learning opportunities. Elise plans to incorporate her recent travels and previous years in the classroom to create a beautiful space for children at Magnolia Co-op.
While not at work Elise is passionate about connecting with friends and family, exercising outdoors (especially in the rare Seattle sun!!), cooking delicious and healthy food, enjoying live music, and social justice. Elise and her husband Tyler currently live in Queen Anne in her childhood home—it is the one with the newly built yurt in the backyard!
Mike Pandorf, Enrichment and MAC
Mike is a teacher at the Magnolia Cooperative Preschool. He currently teaches the Music Enrichment class in addition to leading the Multi-Age Classroom (MAC) program. Mike is passionate about teaching early childhood because of his own parenting experiences and the impacts early childhood educators have had on his children. He believes that music and the arts are integral at all stages of education and that music is truly the first "universal" language many of us learn.
Mike has been recognized as a musician for his leadership skills and graduated from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. In his spare time, Mike enjoys playing the French horn and various brass instruments, cooking, and amateur home improvement. He currently lives in Magnolia.
Mary Murray, Teaching Assistant and MAC
Mary Murray has been a member of the MCP community for many years as a caregiver for some of our families. This school year, she joins the co-op team as a teaching assistant. She loves the great outdoors and nature and enjoys adventurous activities in her free time.
Our Parent Educators
Louise Sneath, Toddlers
Originally from the UK, Louise and her family moved here 20 years ago and has found a home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Louise has worked with families for all of her professional career, beginning as a Children’s Nurse in Nottingham (England) and then becoming a Health Visitor before starting her family. After moving here, Louise created and taught a successful New Parents’ Class in Seattle for over a decade and then completed her graduate program from Seattle University in 2020.
Becky Cooke, Infants, Twos, and Pre-K
Teacher Becky started her career as an occupational therapist working on a traumatic brain injury unit in NYC. After having her own three kids and going through PEPS and co-op preschool, she discovered her true passion for building community and supporting other families. Becky brings her OT lens to the classroom to help families understand how children’s neurodiversity and sensory needs influence behavior.
When Teacher Becky is not at school you will probably find her volunteering at her school garden, drinking chai, cuddling her dogs, walking through Discovery Park or buying too many books. Teacher Becky is a volunteer for the Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist and Cedar River Salmon Journey Programs and is a member of the 2e parent community. If you talk to Teacher Becky long enough, she will try to convince you to play outside. Please send her cool mushroom pictures and ask her about salmon 😊
Lea Evans, Threes
Lea Evans (she/her) has been on the Parent Education faculty at North Seattle College since 2018 and has taught and advised adult students in various subjects, states, and countries since 2001. Since her child was born in 2013, she has focused more on supporting families. Lea currently works with three co-op preschools, two childcare centers, and facilitates an online course for Seattle Public Schools families. She has training in Positive Discipline, Gottman Bringing Baby Home, parent coaching, and as a postpartum doula. Her child attended a co-op here in Seattle and is currently enjoying dual-immersion elementary school. Outside of work, Lea enjoys bike riding, hiking, and spending time with family and friends. Lea is passionate about her work with families and looks forward to meeting you and your little ones!
Jen Mullen, Threes/Fours
Jen Mullen (she/her) earned her master’s degree in social work from UW in 2003. Jen has worked with and as an advocate for children and families in a variety of settings, including community development with diverse immigrant communities, housing counseling, refugee resettlement, labor organizing, and time spent in central America volunteering with children and families. Since having her own two kids, Jen has worked in her children’s cooperative preschools, and volunteers in their local public elementary school, event planning, fundraising and working directly with children in the classrooms. In addition to working with children and families, Jen enjoys gardening, hiking, camping, sailing and traveling with her family.
MAC Teachers
Melanie and Jamie
More information coming soon!