Trainers & Coaches

Debbie Barnes

Debbie has an extensive background in youth program development and implementation, and has conducted trainings in diversity curriculums, community workshops, and conferences.

Tracy Flynn

Tracy Flynn is the principal of Tracy Flynn Consulting. She has over 20 years of experience in local and national health, welfare and education institutions. Her mission is to advocate for healthy individuals, organizations and communities by providing dynamic, interactive and meaningful staff development and enrichment opportunities.  Her expertise includes curriculum development, leadership and management training and coaching, sexual health, HIV/AIDS, anti-harassment/anti bullying, cultural competency, child abuse and neglect, effective advocacy as well as community and staff engagement.

Frank Fuentes

Frank has worked with school-age children for over 9 years. His experience includes working as an after-school coordinator and youth program director. He enjoys sharing his experience and best practices with other programs. Some of his favorite areas to teach include relationship building, after-school program design, curriculum development, academic intervention strategies, supporting ELL youth, diversity and racial equity.

Amy Hale

Amy Hale brings her experience as an afterschool provider, teacher, parent and informal science education Program Manager to her perspective as a School’s Out Washington Trainer and Coach.  She began working in 1998 with the Family and Community Science program as the Family Science resource teacher, and continued as Director and Program Manager. Her skill sets include strategic planning, science program development and implementation, environmental education, curriculum development, family engagement strategies, academic integration in OST programming, Art integration, and assistance with grant writing.

Shawna Hawk

Shawna has been an early childhood and family educator for the past 20 years. She has been a pre-school and school-age teacher with the Military for 13 years and during that time, she also earned an AA degree in Early Childhood Education and Arts and Sciences. She went on to teach as a pre-school and family educator for Head Start.  She's also earned a Masters degree in Leadership and Educaiton with a focus on Human and Bi-Cultural Development.  Some of Shawna's interest areas are culturally relevant anti-bias education and bringing music and movement into the classroom to enhance learning and expression for children.

Maryann Johnston

Dr. Maryann Johnston brings more than 30 years experience in education. She has been a teacher, director, past president of WAEYC and PSAEYC. Maryann is currently coaching and was a Mentor for the NAEYC Accreditation project. Her undergraduate work was in education including a Montessori Teaching Certificate and her doctorate is in Education Leadership. Maryann areas of expertise are in curriculum, communication, leadership and the learning environment.

Meka Hill

Meka Hill is the principal of Team West Solutions. She developed her leadership and business skills beginning with her own initiative at age 12 while working for her high school faculty in her home state of Illinois. She brings a blend of over 20 years of experience working with government, state and nonprofit agencies. She has a knack for observing systems within organizations and creating streamlined processes that enable them to go from good to great! Meka's area of expertise is life coaching & financial education for youth and adults, curriculum development, leadership, business and organizational training and coaching.

Lynda Llavore

Lynda Llavore brings a rich background as a trainer in multicultural educational settings, and as educator teaching English and developmental reading and writing skills. Lynda is also certified to endorse out-of-school time programs for program accreditation for the National School-Age Care Alliance.

Sheely Mauck

April Miller

April Miller has brought a love for learning and a commitment to quality to SOWA since 1998.  April has a BA in Psychology with concentrations in Human and Social Development, Mental Health and Industrial and Organizational Psychology. As a former School-Age Program Director, April enjoys sharing her expertise with programs serving children, youth and families.  Her favorite topics include engaging environments, planning with purpose, learning through play and successful guidance strategies.

Bobbi Morrison

Educated in the US and abroad, Bobbi has worn many hats as an educator, curriculum designer, counselor and drama facilitator in her 33-year career as an alternative high school teacher. In that role, she used world languages and drama as vehicles to explore social and historical issues and seed cross-cultural experiences.  During the past two years, she has tutored at a K-12 afterschool program with a strong immigrant and refugee population.

Melodie Rogers

Melodie has a strong background in Early Childhood Education, as well as school-age care and the Spanish language. She taught preschool and elementary Spanish for twelve years before beginning a new career in before and after school child care. She is currently the Director of First B.A.S.E. at Orca Elementary School. Her favorite things to share with children are her love for new languages and storytelling.  Melodie is a resource for how to deal with angry or behavior challenged children, team building, setting up enrichment classes within the after school framework and developmental asset work.

Darlene Sellers

Darlene Sellers loves working with youth and teens and currently does so as a Recreation Coordinator for King County Parks and Recreation.  Whenever possible, she also teaches dance and drama classes at local schools and community centers.  Her favorite training topics include leading games and crafts, curriculum development, drama and theater activities, and incorporating school day learning into out of school time

Karen Summers

Karen brings over 25 years experience in education and recreation with children. Her focus is on the social-emotional connection between adults and children in the childcare community. With her degree in special education and physical education, Karen has skills in adapting activities and adding movement to programs. Areas of expertise also include active supervision, literacy, bullying prevention, preventive behavior management, multiple learning styles and goal setting and action plans.

Lynn B. Wirta

After teaching third grade in public school for 5 years, Lynn dedicated the next 30 years to working with children, staff and families in a pre-school/school age child care setting. As the past director of Small Faces Child Development Center, Lynn has experience in all phases of child care management including unionization of staff. She continues to be an active member of the Child Care Directors Association of Greater Seattle and sits on the Board of Directors at Small Faces. Lynn’s strengths are in mentoring Directors around organizational management, creating successful work environments as well as teaching music and games in the classroom.