Heather Mueller, Head Teacher

After receiving her Master’s in Education from Antioch University in Seattle, Heather moved to San Juan Island in 2007, teaching kindergarten and then second grade for ten years. She then taught adults meditation and art therapy, as well as becoming an affiliated counselor before joining St. David’s Day School in 2021. Heather approaches teaching with an open heart to the uniqueness of every child, and building that relationship of trust and support for their learning – socially, emotionally, and academically.

Jenna Downing, Lead Teacher

Jenna is originally from Tacoma, Washington, but moved up to Friday Harbor in 2020.  She graduated from Central Washington University with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Special Education. Jenna lives with her fiancé and our two dogs; Scrappy and Olive.

Mackenzie Lommel, Lead Teacher

Mackenzie was raised on this island and enjoys all of the beauty it offers us every day. Her favorite things to do are spending time at our beaches, creating art using mixed media, and playing sports with her kids.  With her background in art, Mackenzie excitedly shares her ideas with the classroom and showcases these young bright minds to the community.

Mandy Hung, Lead Teacher

Mandy grew up in the heart of Taipei, Taiwan. From childhood, she had a love of learning and a passion to explore the world and its many cultures. After graduation, Mandy worked briefly in Dubai for Emirates Airlines where she had many opportunities to see the world.  Mandy worked as a Chinese teacher and fell in love with teaching. She approaches teaching as fostering compassion, self-confidence, and curiosity in her students.

Margaret Barker, Founder

Saint David’s Day School owes its existence to Margaret’s vision, experience and perseverance. Although she has now retired from the classroom, she continues to be closely involved with the governance of the school, and serves as a supervisor and mentor to our teaching staff.

Margaret came to us with more than twenty years of experience teaching Kindergarten at The Lexington School in Lexington, KY and fourteen additional years teaching at the preschool level. Mrs. Barker has been a presenter at local, state, and national NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) conventions. Margaret and her husband have been residents of San Juan Island since 2006.