Message from the Academic Director of Teacher Training Programs
Thank you for your interest in the Washington Academy of Languages (WAL) at City University of Seattle TESOL Certificate Programs. Our knowledgeable faculty have extensive experience teaching English to learners in the United States and abroad, and they are excited to share their passion for language instruction with you!
Please get to know our instructors by reading their biographies below, and by meeting them in class online or on-campus!
Christine KNORR, MA TESOL
Academic Director, Washington Academy of Languages
Amy Ephrem, MATESOL, Seattle Pacific University
Amy has been involved in the TESOL field for nearly 15 years. She’s taught English in a rural Ethiopian village, done corporate English language training for some of Microsoft’s international employees, and provided beginning literacy classes for East African refugees in Seattle. She earned her MA TESOL degree from Seattle Pacific University in 2009. In addition to teaching for CityU, Amy also teaches ESL at Bellevue College.
Susan Hussey, M.Ed. TESOL, Seattle University
I have been teaching ESL for several years and have worked in the private sector, as well as in public and private university settings. I have also taught overseas, in Japan, where I lived and worked as a university student and English instructor. I earned my M.Ed. in TESOL from Seattle University, joining the City University faculty in Spring 2012. I enjoy photography, cooking, and outdoor activities, and speak some Spanish and Japanese.
Jill Lenhard, MATESOL, Seattle Pacific University
Many years teacher training experience in Washington State and Alaska. Formerly Academic Director at Washington Academy of Languages, ELL Department. Currently teaching high school English in Alaska.
Sarah Spitzer, MATESOL, School for International Training
Sarah Spitzer has an MAT in English as a Second Language from the School for International Training. She has taught ELLs for the past 11 years in U.S. K-12 public schools, a U.S. private language school, 2 Washington State community colleges, an international school in Asia, and for the Department of Defense schools overseas. She has National Board Certification in teaching English as a New Language to secondary students.
Staci Tuck, M.A. in Education, Curriculum & Instruction
Many years teaching Spanish at the secondary and university levels. ELL Literacy instructor for the Marysville School District and currently the Marysville School District ELL TOSA and CONEVyT District Coordinator with responsibilities for teacher training, student assessment and community relations. Professional ELL affiliations include: WABE, NABE, TESOL, and WAESOL.