Our Team
Lisa Henderson, Head of School
While teaching in the Early Childhood degree program at the University of Washington, I had the opportunity to bring my class of aspiring teachers to Cloud 9 Academy to use the classrooms for experiential learning. I found the staff here to be welcoming, the surroundings homelike, and felt pulled to be involved in this education adventure!
My undergraduate degree at UW is in Early Childhood and Family Studies and my M.A. in Educational Psychology, with a focus on Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. I am currently finishing a Ph.D. in Human Development and Learning Sciences and working on a dissertation on the benefits of Arts-based Curriculum Integration and Pedagogy. I have multiple decades of experience in the classroom with both children and adults, and have specialized in children’s social skills development, safety curriculum for children, professional development of teachers, and school-wide positive behavior support. I enjoy having the opportunity to partner with parents and families of students and deeply value developing equitable environments that foster caring, belonging, and community building.
On a personal note, I am an animal lover, enjoy growing unusual plants, creating art projects, and hosting family game nights. I am so glad to be here and look forward to partnering with parents and staff as we all learn together.
Jblynn Magpantay, Preschool Teacher
I grew up on a small island in Alaska called Dutch Harbor (best known for the Deadliest Catch) and moved to Seattle in 2010. I've worked with children almost my entire life as an aunt, nanny, outdoor education teacher, and more. I'm currently getting my Master's in Education for School Counseling at Seattle University. I especially love working with preschoolers and watching them learn, grow, and explore the world with curiosity. Can't wait to meet all of you!
Bryn Turner, Preschool Teacher
My name is Bryn Turner and I am so excited to begin my journey with your kids at Cloud 9 Academy. I grew up in Woodinville, WA, and started working with preschoolers at age 14 when I got my first babysitting job for five young boys! Over the years, I have consistently worked with children in a variety of ways from teaching swimming lessons to coop preschool with my own children. I graduated with a degree in Spanish from the UW and taught Spanish for six years before having two daughters of my own. I believe the preschool years are such an important time of discovery and learning. I feel passionate about bringing art, music, literacy, outdoor learning, social/emotional learning, and a lot of creative play and fun to the school.
Andrea Hjaltadottir, Preschool Teacher
I was born in Iceland and moved to the United States in 2007. I have worked with children for as long as I can remember, as an older sister, aunt, nanny, and lead preschool teacher. I have an Associates degree in general studies and certifications in Early Childhood Education. Currently, I am working toward my bachelors degree in Political Science Pre-Law. In 2022, I had the opportunity to carry my experience in early childhood education into my very own classroom, where I cultivated a child-lead, inclusive environment. The focus of the classroom was on social emotional learning and exploring children's curiosity about the world around them. I am excited to meet and work with all the families in the Cloud 9 Academy community!