The Roaring Mouse Teaching Team
Lassie Webster, founder and director of Roaring Mouse, has devoted her life to working with people of all ages in the creative arts. In addition to developing and implementing several programs in the arts in Seattle and California, Lassie has acted as a consultant to parents, teachers, counselors, and school districts for her expertise in the creative arts and social emotional development. Lassie received her training at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, where she studied with Anna Deveare Smith. She went on to study the visual arts, music, dance, and childhood development and has her B.A. in Arts and Literature from Antioch University. Lassie has been nominated for several awards, including the Washington State Golden Apple Awards. In addition to her role as Director at Roaring Mouse and teaching the Awakening Artemis class, Lassie is once again offering her services as a consultant to parents, counselors and teachers.
Teachers
Cheryl Carder has spent her years at Roaring Mouse developing and refining the early childhood classes, (Creative Arts & Preschool) creating a comprehensive program that is both supportive and exciting to her young students. She is one of those rare teachers who magically creates a learning environment that fosters a sense of adventure, cooperation, love and creativity. In recent years, Cheryl has turned her attention to developing new classes for older students, all with the same thoughtful approach. Like her early childhood art classes, these classes give her students an opportunity to continue to explore and develop their creative interests. This year, Cheryl is adding a new class to her repertoire, Open Studio. In addition to her work at Roaring Mouse, Cheryl has spent several years studying the Montessori philosophy, as well as emergent curriculum at North Seattle Community College. She has focused her studies on building communication skills and teaching art and drama to young children. Cheryl is the mother of one inspiring daughter, Ellie. Being at Roaring Mouse has opened up another form of facilitating children’s needs and skill building for Cheryl and she looks forward to continuing to provide a valuable, growing experience for all.
Kristy Carlile has a lifelong love for children, art, learning and creative expression. When her own children were young, she eagerly embraced parenthood and enrolled in Early Childhood Education classes at North Seattle Community College so she could learn more about childhood development. Her natural abilities led her to teach Cooperative Preschool classes through NSCC, where she worked for eight years. There she developed emergent, playful, experiences for the children and participated in the parent education component designed to strengthen parent child relationships. Kristy is passionate about developmentally appropriate and individualized education. As the mother of a child with special needs she instinctively creates an inclusive, developmentally sensitive learning environment. As a teacher, Kristy creates nurturing, warm and positive relationships in a playful, consistent and secure environment. She firmly believes that these experiences will foster a love of learning and a foundation for compassion, cooperation and kindness. She has found these to be powerful tools for reaching a young child’s mind and heart. Art also holds an intimate place in Kristy’s life and continues to inspire her. In addition to running her own art business specializing in mosaics, she has taught art classes in elementary schools and volunteered in the arts throughout her community. In 2003, Kristy came to Roaring Mouse, where she has been able to integrate all of her skills and experience. Since arriving, Kristy has co-created our Preschool and Artist of the Heart programs, and collaborated on a new design for our Creative Arts classes. Bringing her humor and wise, intuitive skills as a teacher, artist and parent educator, Kristy has provided Roaring Mouse families with the profound experience of feeling understood, valued and supported as they journey through the magical and sometimes challenging years of childhood together.
Flint Crumpacker brings a wealth of experience to Roaring Mouse in both the visual arts and teaching. He received his B.F.A. in painting from Carnegie Mellon and an M.F.A. in painting from the University of Washington. Flint has made Seattle his home and his studio since 1994, where he has found inspiration from the city’s natural world filtered through an urban setting. Seattle’s many hills and dense vegetation offer dynamic and dramatic views from which to draw upon, and his paintings often reflect the conflict and harmony between humans, their constructions, and nature found in an urban setting. Flint especially enjoys painting outside, onsite, using acrylic on canvas or linen. He has shown and sold his work at the Henry Art gallery M.F.A. graduate show, at the Fountain Head Gallery and various Cafés and restaurants in Seattle. See some of Flint’s previous work here. Flint’s teaching experience includes working as a preschool and art teacher at Hilltop Children’s Center in Seattle, and most recently, designing and teaching his own art curriculum to elementary school students in public schools in Bellevue, Renton and Issaquah. Flint is a sensitive and supportive teacher, who easily establishes a positive, respectful rapport with children. He finds working with kids a way to reconnect with joy, and to remain open minded, creative and connected with art. He believes every child deserves a chance to thrive, and works towards empowering children to find their own capabilities. In addition to co-teaching Creative Arts, Artists of the Heart and the afternoon preschool program, Flint will be offering his widely popular classes, Anyone Can Be an Artist, for elementary aged children this fall. We are thrilled to have Flint join us at Roaring Mouse!
Roaring Mouse Staff
Karen Knutson – I’ve been the Business Manager/Registrar for Roaring Mouse since 1999. Connecting children and families with our teachers and programs has been a wonderful, enriching part of my life, and since I live just a few blocks from the studio, Roaring Mouse is also part of my community. I’ve worked part time for many years at Sacajawea Elementary School (also down the street from me in the other direction!), where my current position is Office Assistant. I grew up in Tacoma and studied English Literature at the University of Washington. I am married to Mike and we have two beautiful daughters who are in graduate school. Being part of the Roaring Mouse community has encouraged me to remain creative: I make semi-precious stone jewelry and sell it to friends and at local craft fairs.
Erika Mathewson first joined Roaring Mouse as a camp counselor for the RMCAS Anti-Boredom Summer Day Camp in 2000. She continues to contribute to RMCAS by updating and maintaining the website. She holds degrees in Music & Horn Performance, plays horn in a number of groups in the Seattle area, and teaches private lessons. She also enjoys knitting, spinning, weaving, gardening, drawing, painting, rock climbing, kayaking, and hiking.
Olivia Webster has been a part of Roaring Mouses since its creation. As a daughter of Lassie, she has been involved on many levels of RMCAS programming as a camp counselor, art teacher, preschool teacher and now a web designer. She has a passion for the arts, and is a painter, which is an integral part of her professional life. She also loves being active in the outdoors, running, biking, kayaking, gardening, hiking, playing and loves helping kids to establish their own connection with the earth and with the arts. Check out her painting website here.
Roaring Mouse Youth Art Apprentices
Ellie Carder (coming soon!)
Joy Davies I first came to the Roaring Mouse when I was 2 ½ years old, and I am now a junior at Nathan Hale High School. I went to Sacajawea Elementary and have done almost every camp Lassie has put on. My favorites included: the summer Anti-Boredom Camp and the winter gift making workshop. I have been helping with Kids Night Out for a couple years now, and so far I’ve had a lot of fun. I absolutely love working with kids and being able to use my imagination with art.