Farin Houk
Head of School
Founder and Head of Seattle Amistad School, Farin has been an educator in different capacities for more than 20 years. Farin started her public school teaching career in a Two-Way Immersion program in Long Beach, California, and has taught children through fifth grade. After many years as a Kindergarten teacher, she has come to believe that Kindergarten is one of the most important years of our lives. Farin has also worked as a literacy coach, supporting teachers in reflecting on and improving their craft. Before becoming a public schoolteacher, Farin worked in numerous early childhood settings, including Head Start, dual immersion, and with children of homeless families. Farin did her graduate work in bilingual/bicultural studies at Pacific Oaks College NW, and is a graduate of the Danforth Educational Leadership Program for Education Administration. Farin is the author of Supporting English Language Learners: A Guide for Teachers and Administrators(Heinemann, 2005), and is a contributing author to Saving Our Schools: The Case for Public Education, Saying No to "No Child Left Behind", edited by Goodman, Shannon, Goodman, and Rapoport, (RDR Books, 2004),and Open A World of Possible: Real Stories About the Joy and Power of Reading, edited by Robinson and Bridges (Scholastic, 2014). Most importantly, Farin has had extensive, enlightening, exhausting, and exhilarating real-life experience with her own magnificently brilliant bilingual and bicultural children.
Luisa Moreno 6-8th Grade Teacher
Luisa grew up here in Seattle and attended the University of Washington where she got her BA studying History, Education and Spanish. She has also worked at Green Lake Elementary with their drama program, at the Seattle Public Library, and with UW Riverways Education Partnerships, where she ran a literacy arts project in around Washington State. She is passionate about working with young people and helping them make the world a better place, especially through writing and reading! In her free time, Luisa loves to eat big meals with her family, play board games with friends, and find time to make art when she can. She is excited and honored to be apart of the Amistad community!
Thania Chicas 1st - 2nd Grade Teacher
Thania is from El Salvador. She graduated as an educator in 2010 at the University of El Salvador and she has never been as happy as she is in the classroom teaching. She earned a B.A in Arts of education in Goddard College in 2020. She said "Being a teacher is rewarding and one of the greatest privileges I can enjoy"
Nicole Chica -Kinder Teacher
Nicole Chica was born and raised in San Salvador, El Salvador and she has been living in Seattle for four years. She discovered her love for teaching in her home country as an English teacher for pre-k kids. She was part of the Au Pair exchange program where she learned a lot about American culture and kids’ education. “For her, seeing kids grow up and learn new things that are favorable for their future is the best reward she can get.” She is currently getting her Associate Degree in Arts in the North Seattle College and plans to transfer to UW later on. In her free time, she enjoys roller skating, drawing, listening to music and going out with friends.
