Community

Hear the voices of our students and faculty

“Our teachers are reflective, generative, and compassionate. They continue to promote scholarship, spark passions, and help students to discover their truths and realize their beauty and purpose.”

— Percy L. Abram, Head of School

At The Bush School, our dynamic, inclusive, and creative community makes us strong. We value the identities, backgrounds, and experiences that our 700 students and over 100 faculty and staff bring to The Bush School and we know that the connections within our community are not just what make learning possible but also what makes learning dynamic, energizing, and engaging. Relationships are at the core of all we do which makes a difference for student growth both socially and academically. Watch the videos below to hear from students about how The Bush School helps them grow, learn, and discover.

Learn a little bit more about some of our faculty and staff below!

Sean Carroll

Kindergarten

How long have you taught at Bush? One year. I have been teaching Kindergarten for just over a decade.

What is your favorite part of your job? I love that working in Kindergarten is so imaginative. I get to play pretend while inspiring students to love learning.

What book are you currently reading? I am currently reading Dune. I love Science Fiction and escaping to other worlds.

What has surprised you so far at Bush? No something surprising but after my short time here, I feel so welcome. Everyone I have met has been so helpful and kind.

What is something you never leave home without? A backpack! I seem to carry everything with me everywhere I go.

Brian Rafferty

Eighth Grade Math

How long have you taught at Bush? Three years.

What do you enjoy most about working with Middle School students? How Middle School students find ways to have fun in every situation imaginable.

Describe Bush in 3 words. Creativity, Joy, Growth

What is your proudest accomplishment? Being the first in my family to graduate from college.

What is a favorite E-week you have led in the past? Methow River Rafting

Molly Olguín

Upper School English

How long have you taught at Bush and what drew you to working here? One year. I was drawn to Bush because of the focus on experiential learning and commitment to anti-racism.

What is your favorite part of teaching? I love getting to nerd out with kids about books!

What is something you have learned from your students? It is always better to be honest.

What has surprised you in your time at Bush? Learning that students address teachers by their first names was a surprise! I love how this repositions the teacher as a member of the class community, rather than a more formal and distant role.

Bush Alumni in the World

Nearly a century after The Bush School was founded by Helen Taylor Bush in 1924, Bush alumni have helped grow, shape, and build the school to the community it is today. Some return to teach at Bush and others dedicate their time on the Board of Trustees. Alumni in the Seattle area and beyond offer internship opportunities for students or act as coaches in the Bush Athletics program. The Bush Alumni Office coordinates additional opportunities for graduates to remain connected with the school through events, leadership opportunities, class reunions, and Alumni Day.

The Bush School alumni pursue their passions. Generations of leaders have come to Bush to help shape their own path to purpose. At Bush, they built relationships, explored big questions, learned to write and think critically, and found inspiration in the arts, coding, advocating for social justice, and more. To learn more about a few of our alumni and their diverse talents and pursuits, click on their stories below and read more in Experience magazine.

Cori Tingstad ’14

Graduate of the University of Chicago, B.A. in Public Policy

Seeking healthcare access for incarcerated individuals

“Bush introduced me to peace circles and restorative justice and fundamentally changed my views on how social change is made.”

Monica Anselmetti, M.D., ‘82

Obstetric Laborist, Swedish Seattle and MEDNAX Washington

“When I walk into a room to care for a patient, no matter who they are, my goal is to have a human connection with them.”

Dylan Young ‘88

Paralympics Gold Medalist, Seoul 1988

“I did not expect all of these achievements. I believe it is a message of Bush to do many things and not focus solely on academics. I will often press on through mediocrity based on a feeling that I simply belong there.”

Chelsea Ryoko Wong ‘04

Visual Artist

“Bush provided opportunities most kids and adults can only dream of. We received an education of the highest caliber. In the classroom we were pushed to excel, and also questioned and held accountable for our thoughts and ideas. The small class sizes and round table lectures ensured that no student was left behind. We were taught to think for ourselves, stand up for our values and be exceptional—qualities I still value to this day. My work as a painter expands upon the pursuit of knowledge, encouraging education and an openness to the world we live in.”

College Destinations Class of 2017-2021

Each year The Bush School Office of College Counseling works closely with students to identify and apply to colleges and universities that suit each individual student. Over 200 recent Bush alumni have matriculated to the following colleges and universities in the United States and internationally.

Arizona
Arizona State University

California
California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo)
Chapman University
Claremont McKenna College
Loyola Marymount University
Mills College
Occidental College
Pitzer College
Pomona College
Santa Clara University
Scripps College
Stanford University
University of California (Berkeley)
University of California (Davis)
University of California (Irvine)
University of California (Los Angeles)
University of California San Diego
University of Redlands
University of San Francisco
University of Southern California

Colorado
Colorado College
Colorado School of Mines
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Denver

Connecticut
Connecticut College
Trinity College
Wesleyan University
Yale University

Florida
University of Miami

Georgia
Emory University

Illinois
University of Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago

Indiana
Purdue University

Iowa
Grinnell College

Louisiana
Tulane University

Maine
Bates College
Bowdoin College
Colby College

Massachusetts
Berklee College of Music
Boston College
Boston University
College of the Holy Cross
Mount Holyoke College
Northeastern University
School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University
Smith College
Tufts University
Wellesley College
Williams College
Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Michigan
University of Michigan

Minnesota
Carleton College
Macalester College
St. Olaf College

Missouri
Washington University in St Louis

New Hampshire
Dartmouth College

New Jersey
Princeton University

New York
Bard College
Barnard College
Bryn Mawr College
Columbia University
Fordham University
Hamilton College
Hofstra University
New York University
Pratt Institute
Sarah Lawrence College
Syracuse University
The New School
University of Rochester
Vassar College

North Carolina
Davidson College
Duke University
Wake Forest University

North Dakota
University of North Dakota

Ohio
Kenyon College

Oregon
Lewis & Clark College
Pacific Northwest College of Art
Reed College
Willamette University

Pennsylvania
Carnegie Mellon University
Dickinson College
Drexel University
Franklin & Marshall College
Haverford College
Lafayette College
Lehigh University
Swarthmore College
University of Pennsylvania
Villanova University

Rhode Island
Brown University
Rhode Island School of Design

Tennessee
Vanderbilt University

Texas
Paul Quinn College
Rice University
The University of Texas at Austin
Trinity University

Vermont
Middlebury College

Virginia
College of William and Mary
University of Virginia

Washington
Cornish College of the Arts
Gonzaga University
Seattle University
University of Washington
University of Washington (Bothell Campus)
Washington State University
Western Washington University
Whitman College

Washington, D.C.
George Washington University
Howard University

INTERNATIONAL

China
NYU Shanghai

Scotland
The University of Edinburgh
University of Glasgow

Vancouver, B.C.
University of British Columbia