< Meet Our Team >

Our passionate educators bring creativity, expertise, and heart to everything they do. Get to know the amazing team that makes GAK a special place to learn and grow.

Administration

Gabriel Miles

Founder

Gabriel founded GAK in 2012 with a vision to make high-quality arts education accessible to all children. WA State certified K-12 with Visual Arts endorsement. Read More

Gabriel Miles grew up in Westchester County, NY, and received a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in NYC and an MS in Art Education from Syracuse University. She is WA State certified, K-12 with an endorsement in Visual Arts. Gabriel has taught students ranging from preschool through adults in both public and private school settings, as well as at community centers, nonprofit organizations, and museums. She has also provided art education to children aged 7–18 with Down Syndrome and other special needs. Her teaching repertoire includes a diverse range of techniques such as 2-D mixed media, watercolor, acrylics, pastels, colored pencils, charcoal, and printmaking, as well as 3-D techniques like bookbinding, clay, plaster, and mixed media sculptures using recycled materials. Gabriel moved to Bellingham in 2003 with her husband, Joe, and their two dogs. They welcomed their first child in March 2008, who is now in middle school. In 2010, she created a toddler art program offered at the Family Interactive Gallery (FIG), part of the Whatcom Museum at the Lightcatcher building. In 2012, Gabriel opened Gabriel's Art Kids and has been passionately dedicated to it ever since. She loves her school, her students and their families, and most of all her teachers, all of whom help to make Gabriel's Art Kids what it is. Read Less

Arts Integration • Educational Leadership • Community Building • Visual Arts • Mixed Media • Special Needs Education

Kira Sleveland

Assistant to Gabriel & Enrollment Coordinator

Born and raised in Whatcom County, Kira brings 7+ years of dedication to GAK. She loves working with families and cherishing classroom moments with the kids. Read More

Born and raised in Whatcom County, Kira enjoys spending time with her family. She has previously worked as a community activist, promoting safety in her local area, and has also served as a dedicated dog foster mom. With a passion for helping others and a strong sense of community, Kira is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of those around her. Celebrating five years in June, Kira loves working with families and cherishes the opportunity to assist in the classroom with the kids. Reading stories to the preschool children is her favorite activity, even if she doesn't get to do it very often. Read Less

Family Relations • Community Outreach • Administrative Support • Preschool Assistance • Enrollment Services

Manon Coutarel

Marketing & Digital Systems Director

Manon (Mimi) Coutarel has been working with Gabriel's Art Kids for almost 10 years, starting as a teacher before moving into her current role. Passionate about illustration, animation, and storytelling, Mimi is the one behind all the octopuses you see around the school and the digital tools that families and staff use daily. Read More

Manon (Mimi) Coutarel has been working with Gabriel's Art Kids for almost 10 years, starting as a teacher before moving into her current role as Marketing & Digital Director. Passionate about illustration, graphic design, animation, and storytelling, Mimi is the one behind all the octopuses you see around the school and the digital tools that families and staff use daily.

Mimi loves creating visuals and systems that make everyone's life a little easier and more fun—always with a creative touch. Whether it's designing enrollment forms, creating promotional materials, or bringing Otto the Octopus to life, she focuses on making things work smoothly while keeping things playful and cute.

When Mimi's not working at GAK, she's active as an animator and illustrator, focusing on mental health and advocacy work. She creates animated films and visual stories for organizations working on social impact projects, translating complex topics into accessible and engaging content. Read Less

Marketing Strategy • Graphic Design • Animation • Illustration • Digital Systems • Brand Development • Mental Health Advocacy • Storytelling

Stella Brown

Offsite Coordinator

Stella is GAK's Offsite Coordinator, bringing a B.S. in Computer Science and Chemistry from WWU and years of leadership experience at YMCA Camp Reed — where she built a strong foundation in community-building and teamwork. Read More

Stella is an Offsite Coordinator with a background in computer science, having recently graduated from Western Washington University with a B.S. in Computer Science and Chemistry. Before stepping into this role, she grew up working at YMCA Camp Reed, where she developed a strong foundation in leadership, teamwork, and building meaningful community experiences. She is currently taking time to gain experience before pursuing graduate school.

Outside of coordinating offsite programs, Stella loves staying active — running, biking, ice skating, and playing volleyball whenever she can. At home, she keeps busy with her two dogs, a German Shepherd and a Husky. She also enjoys creative projects, especially crocheting and other hands-on crafts. When she's not planning events or outdoors with her pups, you can usually find her working on a new crochet piece or mapping out her next adventure. Read Less

Offsite Programming • Event Coordination • Computer Science • Leadership • Camp Education • Crocheting • Outdoor Activities

Shea Miles

ASAP Front Desk

Shea is the friendly face at the GAK front desk! A senior at Bellingham High School, she's basically grown up at Gabriel's Art Kids and is excited to be part of the team. Read More

Hi! My name is Shea, I'm the front desk girl at GAK a few days a week. I'm a senior at Bellingham High School, I love music, cats, reading, and Slushy Noobz. :3 I've basically grown up in Gabriel's Art Kids, so I'm excited to be part of the team! Read Less

Front Desk Support • Music • Cats • Reading • GAK Legacy Student

Early Childhood Education

Sophia Camaya

EC Program Lead

Sophia is thrilled to join Gabriel’s Art Kids as a preschool lead teacher. She has always had a love for art, from water coloring at home to visiting art museums, and she can’t wait to share that passion with her students. Read More

Sophia brings her enthusiasm for creativity and play to the preschool classroom. A lifelong art lover, she enjoys exploring watercolors, visiting museums, and encouraging children to express themselves through hands-on projects. At home, Sophia cares for what she affectionately calls her “personal zoo,” which includes three dogs, one cat, a leopard gecko, and a horse. She looks forward to making each day at Gabriel’s Art Kids fun, inspiring, and full of imagination. Read Less

Preschool Education • Early Childhood Development • Watercolor • Creative Play • Animal Care • Museum Arts

Lisa Melia

Montessori Children's House Guide (AMI)

Lisa Melia has been an AMI-trained Montessori Children's House guide since 2009. She enjoys watching preschoolers develop and gain confidence and appreciates their honesty and curiosity. Read More

Lisa has been an AMI-trained Montessori Children's House guide since 2009. She enjoys watching preschoolers develop and gain confidence and appreciates their honesty and curiosity. Lisa is a parent of two teen boys and enjoys hiking, cooking, and reading.

Favorite medium: Clay. Read Less

Montessori (AMI) • Early Childhood Education • Confidence Building • Clay • Child Development

Brandon Valnes

Preschool Teacher

As a teacher, Brandon brings a calm, compassionate, and patient presence to the classroom each and every day. Working to help the kiddos learn, laugh, and grow is the most fulfilling job on the planet. Read More

Brandon takes pride in bringing a calm, compassionate, and patient presence to the classroom each day. Helping children learn, laugh, and grow is the most fulfilling job on the planet. Outside the classroom, Brandon enjoys being outdoors, drawing, writing, spending time with younger siblings, and relaxing with a cat named Murphy.

Favorite medium: 3D/Sculpture. Read Less

Preschool Education • Creative Expression • 3D/Sculpture • Drawing • Writing • Outdoor Learning

Yanira Cardona

Assistant Preschool Teacher

Yanira, known as Teacher Yani, is excited to be working with everyone at GAK for the first time this year. With four years of experience working professionally with children, this is the first time Yani is able to bring art into the mix. Read More

Yanira, known as Teacher Yani, is thrilled to be working with everyone at GAK for the first time this year. Yani has a strong love for animals, spooky things, and of course, art. This is Yani’s fourth year working professionally with children and the first time bringing art into the mix.

Favorite medium: Ink. Read Less

Early Childhood Education • Creative Arts • Classroom Engagement • Animal Appreciation • Ink

Madelyn Hodges

Assistant Preschool Teacher

Madelyn (Mady) Hodges was born and raised in Whatcom County. She took her first art class at 18 months old at the FIG and has loved creating ever since. Read More

Madelyn (Mady) Hodges was born and raised in Whatcom County. She took her first art class at 18 months old at the Family Interactive Gallery (FIG). In the early stages of her artistic exploration, she perfected the recipe for slime and has since enjoyed pour painting, jewelry making, and multimedia projects. Mady loves animals and is a caretaker for a parakeet, cat, dog, leopard gecko, and a ball python.

Favorite medium: Paint pens. Read Less

Early Childhood Art • Pour Painting • Jewelry Making • Multimedia • Animal Care • Paint Pens

Ava Mott

Assistant Preschool Teacher

Ava brings fresh energy and a love of learning to early childhood education. With a background in elementary education and a passion for art, she believes in nurturing creativity through hands-on exploration. Read More

Ava is a dedicated educator who combines her love of teaching with artistic exploration. She holds a degree in elementary education and enjoys working with young learners in creative environments. Ava has a particular passion for natural materials and mixed media art, finding joy in helping children discover their own creative voices. She believes in a process-focused approach that celebrates experimentation and builds confidence. Read Less

Early Childhood Education • Natural Materials • Mixed Media • Creative Exploration • Process-Focused Learning

After School Program (ASAP)

Susan Buck

ASAP Assistant Director

Susan brings a wealth of experience as an elementary classroom teacher, K–6 technology educator, and manager of a children's museum. She leads with calm, compassion, and a deep belief that creativity and organization go hand in hand. Read More

Susan brings a wealth of experience as an elementary classroom teacher, K–6 technology educator, and manager of a children's museum.

Susan approaches leadership as the "calm in the storm" — staying regulated and present so that both staff and students feel grounded and secure. She is equally comfortable designing curriculum, managing operations, and getting hands-on in the studio. Her favorite mediums include tile and mosaic work, fiber arts, and wet felting, and she loves working on creative projects with students.

At the heart of Susan's practice is a simple belief: art is the key to tactile learning, and children are often our most profound teachers. Read Less

Program Leadership • Elementary Education • Museum Education • Mosaic & Tile • Fiber Arts • Curriculum Design • Team Support

Jeana Esser

ASAP Teacher

Jeana migrated from Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 2022 with nearly 16 years of art teaching experience and a BFA from LSU. She brings her passion for art mixed with her brand of silliness to young minds. Read More

Jeana migrated from the Deep South (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) in 2022 along with her husband and 2 fur babies. Her daughter and her family joined them not too long after, and she feels blessed to call Bellingham home! She shares her passion of art and teaching mixed with her brand of silliness with the young fresh minds at GAK. Jeana graduated from LSU (go Tigers!) with a BFA degree and brings close to 16 years of art teaching experience plus many more years as a working artist. Besides making art, she spends the rest of her time hanging with her dogs, enjoying nature, spoiling her granddaughter and loving her new paddle board! Le Bon Temps Roule! Read Less

Art Education • BFA Fine Arts • Louisiana Culture • Working Artist • Nature Enthusiast • Paddleboarding • Grandparent Mentorship

Grace Seesemann

ASAP Teacher

Grace is going into her 4th year as an Art Education major at Western Washington University. She aspires to be a high school art teacher and has loved art since she was a kid. Read More

Grace is going into her 4th year as an Art Education major at Western Washington University! She aspires to be a high school art teacher and is so excited to be working at GAK. She has loved art since she was a kid, mainly focusing on painting. Grace has grown to love more mediums such as charcoal drawing, printmaking, and mixed media work. She loves nature and the outdoors, and is always down to lay in the sun. Grace is a big plant girl as well, her house is filled with them! She's looking forward to a great year here at GAK! Read Less

Art Education • Painting • Charcoal Drawing • Printmaking • Mixed Media • Nature & Outdoors • Plants

Isabella Sleveland

ASAP Teacher

Isabella was born and raised in Whatcom County. She started her artistic journey at a very young age when she began creating culinary magic with "spice soups." Read More

Isabella was born and raised here in Whatcom County. She started her artistic journey at a very young age when she began creating culinary magic with "spice soups." She has continued to explore all mediums but has a special connection to painting and clay work. Isabella loves pesto noodles, reading, crocheting, game nights with friends and spending time with her dog Toby Blue at the Nooksack River. Read Less

Painting • Clay Work • Culinary Arts • Reading • Crocheting • Local Connection • Pet Care

Toriana Slette

ASAP Teacher

Tori is a Bellingham native and Mount Baker High School graduate (2024) currently studying at Whatcom Community College. She'll be transferring to Western next year to pursue Elementary Education. Read More

Tori is a Bellingham native who graduated from Mount Baker High School in 2024. She's currently attending Whatcom Community College and will be transferring to Western Washington University next year to pursue a degree in Elementary Education.

A dedicated athlete, Tori played two seasons of college soccer. When she's not studying or on the field, you can find her camping, spending time with her two dogs, or working on collage art—her favorite creative medium. Fun fact: green is the color of most of her belongings, and pasta is her go-to comfort food! Read Less

Elementary Education • College Soccer • Collage Art • Camping • Animal Care • Local Connection

Cory Dixon

ASAP Teacher

Cory is an art teacher at GAK's ASAP, with expertise in painting with acrylics and oils and drawing with graphite and charcoal. The subjects he loves to draw and paint from are landscapes, scenes with friends, and a bit of surrealism. Read More

Cory is an art teacher at GAK's ASAP, with expertise in painting with acrylics and oils and drawing with graphite and charcoal. The subjects he loves to draw and paint from are landscapes, scenes with friends, and a bit of surrealism. He is very excited to teach kids how to elevate their drawing skills and expand their creative thinking through different types of mediums. Outside the classroom, his favorite things to do are gardening, whittling, and playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends. He's so happy to be part of the GAK family and can't wait to meet everyone! Read Less

Acrylic & Oil Painting • Graphite & Charcoal Drawing • Landscapes • Surrealism • Gardening • Whittling • Dungeons & Dragons

Quinn Murley

ASAP Teacher

Quinn is a Bellingham native who has been part of the GAK community for over 2 years. He specializes in circus and flow arts and likes to dabble in makeup, theatre, and other performing arts. Read More

Quinn is a Bellingham native who has been part of the GAK community for over 2 years. He specializes in circus and flow arts and likes to dabble in makeup, theatre, and other performing arts. Quinn has been working in his discipline for nearly 10 years and teaching kids for 8. You may catch him fire dancing at the Bellingham Circus Guild or other events around Whatcom County. Read Less

Circus Arts • Flow Arts • Fire Dancing • Makeup • Theatre • Performing Arts • Bellingham Circus Guild

Navia

ASAP Assistant & Social Media Coordinator

A 2023 Luther College graduate in Visual Communication, Navia happily traded the midwest for Bellingham and joined GAK as Social Media Coordinator and ASAP assistant. They specialize in graphic design and photography, with a love for helping students grow in their craft. Read More

A 2023 Luther College graduate in Visual Communication, Navia comes with a background in marketing and — happily leaving the midwest behind — joined the GAK family as Social Media Coordinator and ASAP assistant teacher. They specialize in graphic design and photography, but have also been known to dabble in painting and videography.

Navia brings real classroom experience to their role, with a background working at summer camps and teaching private music lessons to kids. They've always loved watching students find their footing and grow in their craft. Outside of GAK, you can find Navia ballroom and fusion dancing, photographing live music, or just wandering around downtown Bellingham. Read Less

Graphic Design • Photography • Social Media • Visual Communication • Painting • Videography • Music Education • Ballroom & Fusion Dance

Specialty Programs

Julie Lewis

Performing Arts Specialist

Julie Lewis has been a Bellingham resident for several years with 20+ years teaching music, voice, piano, guitar, theater, art and dance. AEA member and AOSA Orff Level 3 certified. Read More

Julie Lewis has been a Bellingham resident for several years. She has previously been teaching at independent studios, afterschool programs, and private locations for music, voice, piano, guitar, theater, art and dance in the LA area. She is a well rounded performer and educator and a proud member of AEA - the theater actor's union, AOSA – Orff Level 3 and CMN – the children's music network. She has been a teacher for over 20 years, in a variety of settings. Her experience with children spans years of full-time pre-school and pre-kindergarten programs, after school programs for ages 6-12, full time integrated classroom for grades K-2, youth outreach visiting artist in schools and theater programs, party clowning and special needs education with children on the spectrums. Julie traveled the world at a young age, as a military offspring. She began singing and performing in stage productions at the age of 11. After attending high school in North Pole, Alaska, she moved to Seattle, where she continued to reside on and off for more than a decade. She traveled gradually down the California coast in search of warmer weather, finally landing in LA. She has also lived in NYC and Japan following her performing work. Performing, she has been in numerous regional plays and musicals, was a member of improv group - Playback Theater Northwest for three years, has sung in many bands, choirs and an acapella group (featured on NPR in November 2008) and for various recordings of up and coming musicals. Most recently she has finished her first children's album, "Shhh" a lullaby collection and looks forward to making more. With so many adventures possible, it's always hard to choose, but Julie is grateful for the many opportunities that her work and travels in the arts has brought her and highly values each community and every family she encounters. Read Less

Music Education • Voice • Piano • Guitar • Theater • Dance • Orff Method • Special Needs • Children's Albums

Zannie DeMarco

Arts Curriculum Coordinator/Art Teacher

Zannie has been inspiring students through arts education for over 20 years, from Malibu, CA to all five boroughs in New York — even embarking on a teaching adventure in Haiti. Read More

Zannie has been inspiring students through arts education for over 20 years, from Malibu, CA to all five boroughs in New York — even embarking on a teaching adventure in Haiti. Now based in Bellingham, she brings her vibrant style to several programs at GAK. Her experience spans toddlers to adults with a passion for special education. She loves all mediums, incorporating negative space, 3D explorations, to achieve a student's "Ah-Ha moment."

Favorite Art Medium: Getting Messy Read Less

Arts Curriculum • Visual Arts • Special Education • 3D Exploration • Negative Space • Mixed Media • Multi-Age Teaching

Melina Scott

Private Music Lessons

Melina is a music educator and performer with over 12 years of choir and ensemble experience, holding a degree in Education with a minor in Music Performance from the University of Montana. Read More

Graduating from the University of Montana in 2019, Melina earned a degree in Education with a minor in Music Performance. Well-versed in many genres of music, she has been part of choirs and ensembles for over 12 years. While completing her undergraduate degree, she studied music theory, aural perception, piano, and a wide range of vocal styles including opera, contemporary, classical, musical theater, and choral.

During her time with UM’s Chamber Chorale, Melina participated in an international tour for Vox Anima London’s performance of *Tuvayhun: Beatitudes for a Wounded World* by Kim André Arnesen, and competed in Saarbrücken, Germany’s International Chamber Choir Competition Martoberdorf. Currently, she sings with the Bellingham Chamber Chorale and the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra Chorus, both led by Dr. Frederick Mabalot.

Outside of music, Melina is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing and enjoys reading, writing, travelling, exploring local music, and spending time with loved ones. She is excited to guide students of all ages on their musical journey. Read Less

Vocal Performance • Music Theory • Piano • Choir & Ensemble • Opera • Musical Theater • Creative Writing

Ryleigh Stover

Private Lesson & Toddler Music Teacher

Ryleigh is a Snohomish County native who moved to Bellingham in 2020 to pursue a Bachelor's in Psychology at Western, with a career goal in elementary school counseling. Read More

Ryleigh is a Snohomish County gal who moved north in 2020 to pursue a Bachelor's in Psychology at Western with a career in elementary school counseling as her goal. Since moving, she has taken many opportunities to work with youth through nannying, mentoring in multiple classrooms at Mary Purcell Elementary, and teaching at summer camps. During these golden chances to work with youth both in the home and the classroom, a strong appreciation for creative teaching that prioritizes expressing delight in the individual child solidified! It's a joy to have that framework continued at Gabriel's with the additional opportunities to integrate her love of art. When away from the classroom, Ryleigh loves to cook, read, and indulge in films from Hollywood's golden era with rotating craft in hand. Read Less

Psychology • Elementary Counseling • Toddler Music • Private Lessons • Creative Teaching • Mentorship • Classic Cinema • Culinary Arts

Brianna Rogers

Private Music Teacher

Bri is an independent music teacher who teaches classes through Gabriel's Art Kids as well as private piano, ukulele, and guitar lessons. She loves creating music spaces where kids feel comfortable exploring their creativity and building confidence at their own pace. Read More

Bri is an independent music teacher who teaches classes through Gabriel's Art Kids as well as private piano, ukulele, and guitar lessons. She loves creating music spaces where kids feel comfortable exploring their creativity, trying new things, and building confidence at their own pace.

Bri is finishing her AAST in Early Childhood Education at Whatcom Community College, and most of her teaching style has grown from real experiences with children and the amazing mentors who have guided her. They've taught her so much about patience, creativity, adaptability, and meeting each learner exactly where they are.

Through her experiences as a teacher, Bri has had the joy of watching students grow their skills, express themselves, and discover what music means to them. Her goal is always to help each child feel supported, capable, and excited to make music and learn. Read Less

Guitar • Ukulele • Piano • Toddler Music & Art • Music in Nature (K–2) • Early Childhood Education • Fiber Arts

Mark Nichols

Private Music Teacher

Mark is a piano instructor with over 50 years of experience — whose work includes operas, music theater, film scores, orchestral writing, and hundreds of original songs. He now accepts a limited number of dedicated students for advanced and creative music lessons. Read More

Mark is a piano instructor with over 50 years of experience — whose work includes operas, music theater, film scores, orchestral writing, and hundreds of original songs. Drawing from decades of composing, performing, and teaching across multiple styles, his approach connects piano playing to the broader world of storytelling, songwriting, and musical expression.

Mark's lessons are designed for advanced and highly motivated young musicians who want to move beyond traditional piano study and into a deeper understanding of music as a creative language. Students explore interpreting and shaping written music with intention, chord analysis and harmonic movement, accompanying voice and collaborative playing, writing original songs and instrumental pieces, setting lyrics to music, notation, and insight into recording and producing original work.

His lessons are individualized, exploratory, and grounded in real-world musical experience — ideal for students ready to think, create, and develop their own artistic voice. Lessons are in person. Read Less

Piano • Composition • Songwriting • Music Theory • Orchestral Writing • Film Scoring • Opera & Music Theater • Advanced & Late-Intermediate Students