Leaf Schumann--Though an elementary school counselor by training, Leaf has directed the Blaine Family Service Center since its inception in 1997. He loves his work and going home at night having done something that mattered. He reports that "the worse thing about the job is probably my coffee..."

Andree Marcus--Andree is in her 5th year as Readiness To Learn Coordinator and Alternative Response System Case Manager. Her primary duties include working with families and helping bring much needed services to the Blaine School District including Preventive Dental, Community Voice Mail and Medicaid enrollment to name a few. Andree is a parent of a Blaine kindergartner and is planning to pursue her Masters in Social Work in 2004 while continuing her work with the Family Service Center.

Larissa Dhanani--Although hired initially as our secretary, Larissa's extensive experience in business and community relations has led to an expansion of her role to office manager. She currently coordinates both our Books and Breakfast program and our Preventive Dental Screening as well as overseeing local fundraising efforts.

Wendy Beardslee--With a BA in child development and a MEd in adult education Wendy is equipped to teach the GED, ELL and Ready To Work classes on our Blaine School District campus through Bellingham Technical College. She lives with her husband and daughters in a house that's "always full of teenagers".

 

Lila Salmonson--Lila serves as Family Literacy Coordinator for our Morning Books, Bedtime Books family literacy project. Wearing this cap entails regular home visits, developing family trainings, and irregular hours. Lila reports that her dual roles as both center staffperson and college sociology major manage to converge nicely in her work with family literacy.