Our amazing Club staff are role models and trusted adults for Club members. We’re so grateful for their hard work in offering thoughtful and consistent support for our young people. Please join us in celebrating some exceptional staff members from this past quarter.

Tim Batten-King

• Teen Director at North Seattle / Robert Eagle Staff
• Years at the Club: 7.5
• “My favorite programs are the middle school and high school leadership groups Torch Club and Keystone. It is great seeing kids plan and carryout volunteer projects and Boys & Girls Club events. These Teen programs are really what the Club is all about. They bring out the best in kids, and help build great character.” 

Tre Beauchamp

• Teen Director at Wallingford
• Years at the Club: 11 as Club kid, 5 as staff
• “I don’t always treat them like kids. I set high expectations, and they know that. They don’t want to let me down. It’s important to see them as people – especially for the teens. I give them responsibilities and trust them with things — even the ones who I think maybe I shouldn’t — it’s important to give them a chance. I try to make them feel like they belong, and this is their home.”

Tanya Bergman

• Program Director at Olympic Hills
• Years at Club: 11
• “My favorite program we do is Junior Youth of the Month. It’s a great opportunity to recognize kids who exhibit responsibility and help create a positive, caring atmosphere at the Club. It’s awesome to see the kids congratulate each other for accomplishments, and also to see parents proud of their children for being role models.”

Tomeka Brooks

• Southeast Network SafetyNet Administrative Assistant
• Years at the Club: 4
• “My favorite program is the SE Network SafetyNet because of who we are and what we stand for and represent. I feel the youth we serve need us the most and we are their voice and a safetynet to catch them before falling in the cracks.”

Tyler Burnett

• Athletic Director at Sammamish
• Years at the Club: 2.5
• “My favorite program is 3rd-6th grade boys and girls basketball because it is our largest league. Saturday basketball games at Evergreen Middle School is a good way to connect with our families and members.”

Ben Dewhurst

• Youth Development Professional at Wallingford
• Years at the Club: 5
• “I enjoy hanging out with and talking to teens. With more freedom, they express themselves, listen, and follow directions.”

Shannon Ferns

• Senior Program Director at Wallingford
• Years at the Club: 4.5
• “My favorite programs at Boys & Girls Clubs are Keystone, Torch Club, Counselor-In-Training (CIT), and Pre-CIT. The thing that all these programs have in common is that they all allow our members to take charge and develop their own passions and world view. In addition, these programs give our members guidance in how to contribute their strengths to their communities in positive ways. These two attributes of our programs are what make our Clubs such powerful tools in shaping the future of our communities around King County.” 

Aiden Grayson

• Youth Development Professional at Bainbridge Island
• Years at the Club: 2
• “I enjoy working at the Club because I admire the kids’ ability to follow their own ambitions, especially during Power Hour.”

Katie Hanford

• Teen Director at Ballard
• Years at the Club: 3.5
• “My secret to connecting with kids is to treat them with mutual respect and understanding. It is crucial, especially with teens, to make them feel like they are heard and treated as your equal. I try to build my relationships with kids on structure, shared hobbies, and laughter. That way you can be a mentor and a friend, too!”

Haylee Harper

• Assistant Licensed Program Director at Coe
• Years at the Club: 10 as member, 4 as staff
• “Ever since I started out as a young Club member, one of my dream jobs was to be a Club staff.  As an alum of the Boys & Girls Club, it has always been my passion to uphold the mission statement to its entirety, and to teach the children I serve the value of leadership, hard work, and perseverance.  I know that when I go to work every day, I am making a difference in the lives of the children that need us the most.”

Andre Horton

• Teen Director at Rotary
• Years at the Club: 5
• “Helping lead the Wise Guys program gives me a chance to get to know the members in a deeper, more meaningful way”

Ruby Hummel

• Administrative Assistant at Kirkland
• Years at the Club: 1
• “I greatly enjoy our After School Program. Seeing the kid’s excitement and joy when they enter the Club and tell me about their school day is the most rewarding part of my day. I’ve enjoyed getting to know the kids and seeing them learn and develop new skills.”

Sonia Johnigan

• Program Director at Northgate
• Years at the Club: 3.5
• “My favorite program is Power Hour.  It is great to be able to provide personal homework support to children, and watch as they develop a love for learning.”

Sarah Perreault

• Youth Development Professional at Bagley
• Years at the Club: 2.5
• “My favorite program would be Smart Girls because it teaches girls real skills they can utilize in their day to day lives.”

Mae Reily

• Youth Development Professional at Kirkland
• Years at the Club: 2
• “I really like running Eco Adventures, it’s really great to see the kids enthusiasm and interest in the outdoors and being eco-friendly.

Eileen Schuetz

• Education Director at Southwest
• Years at the Club: 7
• “I have loved working at the Club over the years because watching the kids grow up into tiny adults has been amazing.”

Abu Sop

• Lead Youth Development Professional at Smilow Rainier Vista
• Years at the Club: 4
• “I was a Club member and wanted to give back to my community. I want to offer a place for youth to have fun and be safe.”

Ben Stromseth

• Youth Development Professional at Mark Twain
• Years at the Club: 1.5
• “My secret with connecting with the kids is to find common ground and become friends with them.”

Na’Jae Townsend

• Youth Development Professional at Ron Sandwith Teen Center
• Years at the Club: 3
• “Learning to speak another’s language means taking one’s place in the human community. It means reaching out to others across cultural and linguistic boundaries. Language is far more than a system to be explained. It is our most important link to the world around us. Language is culture in motion. It is people interacting with people.”

Andie Walton

• Program Director at Redmond
• Years at the Club: 1
• “My favorite program is Power Hour. This has been the best way for me to build relationships with the kids because I can be a part of their games and help them learn and grow!”

Porter Wells

• Program Director at Hamilton
• Years at the Club: 5
• “I do my best to listen to [the kids] with enthusiasm, respect them as actual people, and, of course, stay up to date on memes.”

Heather Wilson

• Youth Development Professional at View Ridge
• Years at the Club: 2
• “I love anything artistic, so the art program would probably be my favorite aspect of the Boys & Girls Club. Children have a fresh perspective on everything, and don’t mind getting messy in the name of fun. Seeing their faces light up as they proudly show off their latest creation to their family is definitely a highlight of my day.” 

Esme Zenteno

• Assistant Director at B. F. Day
• Years at the Club: 3
• “I enjoy working at the Boys & Girls Club because I love knowing that we create a safe space for everyone to express who they are. My secret to connecting with our children is to always play board games with them. “

Congratulations to all the All-Stars and a big THANK YOU for all that you do!