Gabriel Miles
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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 in Syracuse, NY. 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. The family enjoys the great outdoors, particularly the beaches, hiking, and camping, always bringing along a sketchbook or camera. 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. |
Trinn Murray
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Legacy Leading for Excellence
Trinn’s educational adventures began in Brooklyn, New York, at the knees of her grandmothers, Anna Murray and Naomi Gottlieb. Their early influence inspired her to pursue specializations in elementary education and K-12 special education, leading to significant roles in school and district leadership before her arrival at GAK/RWSAS to serve as our new assistant director. Trinn obtained her B.Ed from the University of Hawaii, focusing on early literacy with a minor in dance. She taught 5th grade and led an arts-integrated preK-6 program on Oahu before pursuing graduate-level studies. Trinn holds an M.Ed from Chaminade University of Honolulu and both resident teaching and principal certificates from Washington State. A lifelong passion for cultivating creative thinking and excellence in arts and education remains her guiding light. Trinn eagerly anticipates the learning journeys ahead with the staff, students and families of GAK/RWSAS and the ASAP; she is excited to meet everyone and co-create a legacy of possibilities together. |
Kira Sleveland
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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. |
Casey Alexander
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Casey graduated from Western Washington University in March 2024 with a degree in art history and creative writing.
A majority of her childhood was spent in Ferndale, and now she lives in Bellingham with her roommate Sofia, and her beloved cat, Moose. She loves to collect books, studied ballet for 12 years, and her favorite art medium is film photography; specifically working in a dark room mixing chemicals. She also enjoys working with ceramics. This is Casey’s second year teaching preschool at Gabriel's, and running our ECE extended day program. Some of her favorite ways to create and interact with children are imaginative play scenarios, and large scale collaborative painting projects. Casey loves the creativity and positivity that preschoolers bring to the table, as well as exploring their new insights and ideas. |
ECE
Amanda Do
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Amanda has been involved in the preschool and pre-k environment since 2018.
Amanda holds a degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Woodring College of Education and takes great joy in being in the classroom. Amanda values the freedom of expression and relishes the opportunity to explore art, all while nurturing the educational growth of the children. |
Suzanne Demarco (Suzannie/Zannie)
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Suzanne Demarco (Suzannie/Zannie) Is a visual art-based educator with 26 years’ experience in the classroom. Suzanne grew up in Hollywood, California, and worked as a professional photographer,followed by a series of positions in the film and television industry. After starting a family, she found her true calling and love of teaching. She was the elementary art teacher in Malibu, for ten years, where she worked weekly with 350 students, grades K-5th. Her passion for teaching led to an opportunity to teach overseas inHaiti, where she brought arts education to several schools and two orphanages.
For the past decade she and her husband lived in Brooklyn, New York, where she aligned visual art, art history and taught at different schools throughout the five NYC boroughs. Suzanne also created professional development curriculum for teachers focused on how to teach art at the elementary level at Fordham University as well as teachers in the NYC and New Jersey area. Recently Suzanne, her husband and their pup Betty-Boop moved to Birch Bay, and she is excited to be joining Gabriel’s Art Kids program. |
Ryleigh Stover
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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. |
Yin Dwyer
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Yin, a songbird and lover of all things bright and colorful, sings all day long and loves to help children of all ages connect with their voice.
They are here to bring magical support to their friends through creativity and deep listening. With years of experience working with children to create art, make music, and explore the natural world, Yin's imagination station is always turned up and ready to play. They are so grateful to be part of this team. |
Lala Robinsong
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Lalalalala is a song singer, sparkle slinger, magic bringer, instrument lover, coffee chugger, and in love with colors.
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