Ms. Gray brings decades of educational experience to her role as an Early Learning Teacher at BASIS Independent Bothell, having previously earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from The Evergreen State College and her Master’s in Educational Administration from Seattle University. “My goal as a BASIS Independent educator is to foster a love of learning by creating a nurturing and engaging environment for students where foundational skills are developed and social-emotional growth supported.”​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌​‍‌‌​​​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‍​‍‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍​​‌‍‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍‌‌

Ms. Gray’s teaching philosophy centers on meeting each child’s individual needs in a supportive space that encourages exploration and self-expression. “All students are unique and need a teacher that caters to their individual needs in a safe and stimulating environment.” She believes that young children thrive when learning is hands-on, collaborative, and joyful: “I believe in the early years children learn best through developmentally appropriate activities that encourage social interactions, exploration, creativity, and problem solving.”

One of her favorite classroom activities is a “Getting to Know You” project where students design their own superheroes. “Students were invited to give themselves a Superhero name, choose an adjective to describe themselves, and identify their superpower, as well as a positive change they wanted to make in our classroom community.” She especially loves how the project helps students take pride in who they are and imagine themselves making a difference.

A lifelong Washingtonian, Ms. Gray is a devoted Seattle sports fan who enjoys attending games whenever she can. Outside of school, she spends time with her large extended family reading, playing board games, and cooking. She has recently caught the travel bug and is looking forward to her next cruise!