Languages Department Chair: Lisa Blodgett
Lisa Blodgett. Spanish.
B.A. (Romance Languages), University of Washington; Washington State Teaching Certificate; University of Seville, Spain. Lisa has visited and lived in Spain yearly since 1977. She has led over 20 NWS International trips to Spain, Cuba and El Salvador. Her husband is from Spain and they have raised two bilingual children. Joined NWS in 1980.
Francoise Canter. French, Comparative Literature.
B.A, M.A., Ph.D., (French Literature), University of California, San Diego; D.E.U.G. Diploma 
Program in Psychology, National Social Work Diploma, University of Paris VII, France; Advanced Preparatory Program in Literature, Language and the Humanities, Lycee Camille Jullian, Bordeaux, France; Secondary Education Baccalaureate Diploma in Philosophy, Literature and Foreign Languages, University of Poitier, France. Franoise completed her graduate teaching in Literature and Linguistics at the University of California, San Diego, and was a French instructor at the Davis Language School. At NWS since 1998.
Tina Chang. Chinese.
National Defense Nursing School, Taipei, Taiwan/Republic of China; Washington State Conditional Teaching Certificate; Chinese Language Teacher Association, Washington branch Board Member. Tina worked as a Registered Nurse in Taiwan before moving to the U.S. with her husband. After many years of volunteer work in the Seattle Chinese community and in local schools, she was instrumental in developing the Chinese language program at West Seattle High School, where she continues to teach classes. Tina helped build and develop the Chinese program at NWS and she led the student trip to China in 2008. At NWS since 2005.
Melody Haff. ESL 9 Grammar and Writing, ESL 10 Grammar and Writing, Advanced Grammar and English Composition 11.
B.A. (Urban Planning), University of Washington; M.Ed. (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), Seattle University. Melody taught English in Japan at Hyogo University of Teacher Education and at Fuzoku Junior High School; ELS Language Center at Seattle University; International Language Institute, Seattle; and Ken & Associates- College Place English School, Seattle. At NWS since 1999.
Michelle Kowals. Spanish.
B.A. (English as a Second Language and Italian Literature, K-12 Teacher Certificate), University of Washington. After teaching English in Madrid, Spain for two years, Michelle returned to Seattle and began teaching Spanish at NWS. She has traveled to Guatemala where she participated in a Teacher-to-Teacher program learning about the education system in both cities and pueblos in and around Antigua. Michelle enjoys continuing professional development, annually attending the Teachers as Scholars program through the Simpson Center at the University of Washington. She is a native of Seattle and enjoys the music, theatre and recreational activities that our city offers. At NWS since 1991.
David Montero. Spanish.
Maîtrise (British and American Studies), Université Paul Valéry (France); M.A. (Romance Linguistics), University of Washington. David was born in France to Spanish parents, and did part of his undergraduate work at the University of Birmingham (UK), The College of William and Mary, and the University of Washington. He taught French at the University of Washington for several years, and was until recently the webmaster for the Center for Spanish Studies at the University of Washington. At NWS since 2007.
Marina Patino de McVittie. Spanish, French.
B.A. (French), University of Illinois at Chicago; M.A. (French Language and Literature), University of Washington; Ph.D. (Romance Languages and Literature), University of Washington. Marina has over twenty years of teaching experience, including as an Extension Lecturer at the University of Washington, Translator at Seattle Language Academy, and Visiting Assistant Professor at Reed College. Her work has been published in Antologa traducida (University of Washington Press), and Amory limites (Seattle Parenting Press). Marina also owned and taught at Conservatorio de Danzas in Panama and was a principal dancer for CONDA in Panama and Departamento de Expresiones Artsticas, DEXA, Universidad Nacional in Panama. She translated Los Duendes, a card game for children. At NWS since 2000.
Benji Perin. 10th grade Spanish and Humanities.
See Biography under Humanities.
Daniel Sparler. 11th and 12th grade Humanities, Spanish.
See biography under Humanities.