QACP employs professional teachers who develop lesson plans and lead the classes. Teachers and parents alike share responsibilities within each class to ensure that children are engaged in learning and having fun.
A Parent Educator is also assigned to each class. These childhood experts observe the children and parents during the classes and offer guidance and support. In addition, Parent Educators lead discussions on a variety of related topics during the monthly member meetings.
Main Classroom Teachers
Tamara Convertino
Teaches: Infants and Threes
Tamara grew up on the central coast of California where she spent lots of time outdoors collecting acorns, making forts under coyote brush and playing pretend while climbing trees. Tamara’s background is in Biology and Ecology. She has worked as a Restoration Ecologist, a Park Ranger and a researcher in a Genetics laboratory. However, her love of the natural sciences and children, led her to teach at several outdoor schools and finally to graduate school to get her teaching credential and Masters in Education. She taught middle school Life Science until she became a mother.
With her daughter, Tamara was involved in two Seattle area co-op preschools where she fell in love with the co-op model of community and education, as well as early childhood development and play. She has spent the last 6 years, working in her daughter’s classes, coaching, volunteering, substitute teaching and as the owner/head teacher at Wild Child Seattle, an outdoor education program. Her favorite things about teaching preschool are dance parties, tea and story time, being outside and playing!
When she is not playing at preschool, she is a hiker, a trail runner, a family biker, a bird watcher and an ultimate frisbee player.
Kristine Gilmore
Teaches: Twos and Tots
Kris began teaching in California in 1999, as an elementary school teacher. Through her career she taught most of the grade levels 1-5th, a few combo classes, served as a resource specialist, and even taught at a private school in a one-room schoolhouse! In 2010 Kris moved from California to Seattle with her husband, and after her daughter, Harper, was born in 2011, spent a few years at home. In looking at different preschool options for Harper, Kris became interested in Montessori schools and began to work as a preschool assistant at Woodinville Montessori. After a few years as a preschool assistant Kris became certified in infant and toddler education. From there she was the co-lead teacher in a toddler classroom and loved every minute.
Once Harper turned 5 and was ready to start Kindergarten, Kris chose to stay home with her for a few years. Kris joined QACP in 2018 and is beloved by children and caregivers alike!
Jon Pontrello
Teaches: Music Enrichment
Thursdays 12:45–1:30
Get ready to sing, move, and make music together! Each week we’ll clap, stomp, dance, and play with rhythm while learning songs we all love. We’ll explore melody with do-re-mi (solfège), find the beat that makes music come alive, and discover how fun it is to make sound as a group.
Music is like a language, and the more kids are around it, the more it becomes part of them. This class is all about joy, play, and imagination—helping children grow their love for music while building confidence and connection along the way.
This is Jon’s 17th year as a music instructor. Since 2008, he has been teaching kids music lessons, with a primary focus on working one-on-one with elementary students as they learn instruments. Through that experience, Jon has developed a clear sense of the prerequisites for learning music—skills that are valuable at every age. Preschool is an ideal time to introduce these building blocks in a low-pressure, playful way, much like how young children naturally absorb language. Enroll now on Jovial to secure a spot or feel free to drop in any Thursday afternoon!
Multi-Age Classroom Teachers
Hina Shaikh
Hina has been a part of the Seattle community for the past 10 years. She is a dedicated MAC teacher, and started working at QACP in 2023, where she enjoys working with young children in a nurturing and engaging environment. Hina has a Bachelor’s degree in Homeopathy and previously worked as an assistant obstetrician in India, which gave her extensive hands-on experience caring for babies and supporting families. As a parent of two children who has been part of the QACP community, she brings both professional and personal experience to her teaching. She is passionate about music, dance, adventure, and creating joyful learning experiences. Outside of the classroom, Hina enjoys spending time with friends and family and cheering on her kids at their baseball games. She is excited for the year ahead and looks forward to supporting each child’s growth and development.
Sujitha Rajaram
Sujitha was born and raised in India where she graduated with a degree in Computer Science. She worked in a preschool in India for 2 years and moved to Seattle in 2017. Previously, Sujitha has volunteered at the Pacific Science Center and worked at Bright Horizons.
Sujitha has been a part of QACP as a parent from 2022-2024 and a MAC teacher since 2024. She believes it is very important that each and every child feels welcomed, comfortable and included in our classrooms and implementing that in our MAC room has been fulfilling.
Sujitha’s daughter previously attended QACP and graduated in 2024. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, singing, playing with her daughter, and spending time with her family.
Parent Educators
Kristina Weidert
Kristina is originally from Buffalo, NY but has lived in Seattle now for 14 years. She moved here to pursue her masters in Social Work from UW and and found that rain beats snow any day so she never left! Since graduating she has worked in public child welfare and as an elementary school social worker for almost 8 years. Serving a diverse community she saw first-hand the benefits of developing strong school-family partnerships as well as the value of early learning. Her passions include promoting equity and encouraging social-emotional learning. Working as a parent educator in preschools as well as a local homeless shelter has allowed her to continue this work and to partner with amazing parenting communities like QACP!
Kristina believes at its core the goal of parent education is to build skills around positive discipline and a network of support along the way. She is here to serve as a resource to help facilitate that. Kristina has enjoyed participating in the co-op system with her own three year old son and five year old daughter and is looking forward to collaborating with your family this year!
Audrey Schultz
Audrey has called Seattle home for 25 years. She graduated from Furman University in Greenville, SC with a history and teaching degree and then went on to earn a degree in special education. Audrey has been teaching in some form for 30 years now. She is excited to be working in Queen Anne where her Seattle teaching career began at what is now Queen Anne Elementary and where her older children attended COE Elementary. Audrey has 3 boys and lives in Magnolia. She attended Magnolia Cooperative Preschool with all three of her boys where she has also been a teacher and parent educator for 8 years. Audrey believes in the value of early developmentally appropriate learning and the power of strong school-family partnerships.
Audrey is a curious life-long learner. She believes that education, compassion and connection are the keys to parenting with clarity, calm and joy. She is excited to join our community and share her experience both as a professional and a parent with Queen Anne families.
Please note: QACP Teachers and Parent Education Instructors must follow the mandated abuse reporting laws of the State of Washington regarding the reporting of child abuse and neglect. QACP members are encouraged to inform the teacher or parent education instructors of their concerns or observations.