Our Teachers
Annika ZumBrunnen , Classroom Teacher
Annika grew up in the Bellevue-Redmond area and has been involved with the Bellevue College Parent Education Program since 2017. She has participated in toddler classes as a student and an assistant children's teacher. Annika has been a parent at Sunrise Co-Op Preschool in Renton for the past four years where she served on the board as Chair and Class Chair. She also served as Chair on the Parents Advisory Committee for the past year, raising funds for scholarships for families in the Bellevue College Parent Education Program.
Annika enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys, Odin (7) and Hudson (5). She loves reading, cooking, travel, music, photography, volunteering in the community, nature and all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
My Philosophy:
I love working alongside children and their families. I fully believe in the play-based model of instruction. My goal is to provide a well-rounded and diverse curriculum while fostering a safe and nurturing learning environment that also challenges each child to stretch, grow and learn. I seek to discover what sparks each child's interests and find what they love and enjoy.
My teaching philosophy and mission is to develop a welcoming and accepting community with positive discipline and a well rounded, diverse curriculum. I strive to ensure that each child, parent and caregiver feels safe and accepted in the classroom by focusing on equity and inclusion.
Every child is unique and beautiful. They learn at their own pace, needing love, support and encouragement throughout their journey.
Harpreet Kaur, Assistant Teacher
Meet Harpreet, a vibrant educator with a Bachelor's in Arts from Delhi University and a Teaching Degree from Penn Foster College.
"With a solid foundation of over 3 years in classroom management and curriculum delivery, I bring expertise and innovation to every lesson. Committed to ongoing professional growth, I actively participate in trainings at Bellevue College, staying abreast of the latest educational methodologies and practices.
Have worked closely with fellow educators to craft engaging lesson plans and instructional materials, fostering an enriching learning environment. Skillfully overseeing classroom resources, and ensured they were readily accessible when needed. Furthermore, I have prioritized open communication with parents, providing valuable insights into their child's development and milestones, nurturing a collaborative partnership in their educational journey."
Harpreet also passionately volunteered at Hazelwood Elementary, fostering mathematical prowess. Outside of academia, she indulges in her creative side, dabbling in fashion design, whipping up culinary delights, and exploring the world through travel.
Janelle Durham, MSW. Parent Educator
Janelle has been teaching childbirth and parenting classes and leading support groups for over 25 years. She has taught for Bellevue College Parent Education since 2013, working with parents of children aged birth to 9. To get a preview of the range of topics she covers in parent education, check out her blog, www.GoodDaysWithKids.com. Here's how Janelle summarizes her approach:
We are all trying hard to be the very best parents to our children. Some days we triumph. Other days... not so much. We forgive ourselves, we learn how to do better, and we keep moving forward, learning and growing alongside our children.
Janelle is delighted to teach in a program where she gets to interact with both parents and children. She loves to engage in child-led play, read stories, sing songs, and make playdough snakes. As the instructor for Family Inventors' Lab and Discovery Science Lab, she especially loves connecting on STEM topics.
Janelle has three children, ages 30, 27, and 13. (When her older kids were teenagers, she and her partner decided they loved parenting young kids too much to be almost done, so they decided to start over!) She participated in Bellevue College's infant and toddler classes, co-op preschool, and art & science labs with all three children and credits the Parent Education Program with helping her become both the parent she is, and the parent educator that she is.
