David Schonfeld

HS English/Humanities
HS Liberal Arts
Spanish

David Schonfeld received B.A.s in Journalism and Spanish from Penn State University, where he was awarded the Eddie Nichols Award for Short Fiction and the Linda Martelli Award in Journalism, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College. David has taught classes in both public and private school settings. He studied at the University of Alicante while in high school and has led numerous trips with high school students to Argentina. David’s writing has appeared on Tiny Mix Tapes and The Daily Collegian. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Spectrum Culture, an online magazine that covers music, film, books, and food.

dschonfeld@nwacademy.org

Erin Shannon

MS Dance
HS Dance
HS Yoga/Fitness
HS Musical Theatre

ERIN SHANNON holds a B.F.A. in dance from Oklahoma City University and has been teaching theatre dance, tap, jazz, lyrical dance, and ballet for over 18 years. As a professional dancer, Erin has performed with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Broadway Rose Theatre Company, Lakewood Theatre Company, Pixie Dust Productions, TriptheDark dance company and many others. Choreography credits include numerous productions with professional Portland theatre companies, high school, and college productions. Erin was featured on Oregon Art Beat for her choreography, and won the Portland Area Music Theatre Award for Best Choreography in 2009. She is a regular teaching artist with Staged! Conservatory and Spotlight Theatre Camps. Erin is also certified to teach Hatha yoga. In the spring, Erin directs Dynamo and Esprit as part of NWA’s Arts Week. She has been with Northwest Academy since 2009.

eshannon@nwacademy.org

Kate Legere

MS Visual Art
MS Learning Lab

KATE LEGERE earned her B.F.A. from Alfred University in New York. While volunteering with the Peace Corps on a small island in the Republic of Kiribati in the Central Pacific, she fell in love with teaching and felt called to return to education. Kate later went on to study Art Education at the Moore College of Art. Her teaching career spanned Philadelphia to Brussels, where she taught at The International School of Belgium for five years, eventually choosing to relocate to Portland. Kate has been with Northwest Academy since 2016.

Mark Lighthiser

HS Instrumental Music
MS Instrumental Music

MARK LIGHTHISER

mlighthiser@nwacademy.org

Paul Martone

HS English/Humanities
HS Liberal Arts

PAUL MARTONE is a published writer with an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Oregon, an M.A. in English from the State University of New York (SUNY) Albany, and a B.A. in English from the SUNY Buffalo. He was awarded the Walter and Nancy Kidd Fellowship from the University of Oregon, a position offered to one Graduate Teaching Fellow each year. At Oregon State University, Paul taught a variety of undergraduate courses. He joined Northwest Academy in 2008 and spearheaded the school’s Challenge Program, which allows juniors and seniors to earn 200-level college credits in English and writing at Portland State University. Paul has been with Northwest Academy since 2008.

pmartone@nwacademy.org

Wade Willis

Arts Coordinator
HS Vocal Music
HS Theatre
Project Theatre

WADE WILLIS has been a professional actor, singer, director, and educator for over 25 years. He has an M.A. in teaching from Pacific University and a B.S. in music from University of Oregon.  The city of Beaverton honored Wade with two awards: the Outstanding Educator in the Arts Award and the Individual Diversity Award. Wade received a Drammy Award and an OTAS Award for Best Direction for Into the Woods. Wade has been with Northwest Academy since 2010.

wwillis@nwacademy.org