Meet Some of the Founding Faces of Rainier Valley Leadership Academy High School
Last year, Green Dot Public Schools opened the middle school grades for Rainier Valley Leadership Academy, and now we are excited to announce the opening of Rainier Valley Leadership Academy High School (RVLA HS) this fall!
At the helm of RVLA HS will be Seattle native Arneidra Lloyd. “I’m honored and excited about creating a great high school in Southeast Seattle,” said Lloyd. At full enrollment, RVLA HS will serve 460 students from the Othello area in grades 9-12, beginning with a founding ninth grade class and adding a grade level each year. As a free public charter school, RVLA HS accepts and welcomes all students and is overseen by a state commission. For the 2018-19 school year, RVLA HS will be housed on the RVLA MS campus (6020 Rainier Avenue South), and then move nearby in its own space (3900 South Holly Park Drive) for the 2019-2020 school year.
Lloyd and Assistant Principal Jeremy Tullis have been working together to carefully hire passionate educators that believe in the brilliance of all children. “At RVLA High School, students will have the opportunity to prepare for college, leadership and life in a safe environment filled with teachers and staff that personally care for them,” said Lloyd. Meet some of the founding members of the RVLAHS family who are excited for the opportunity to make their inaugural year a great one for all students and families.
Sylvia Hadnot, Performing Arts Teacher
Born and raised in Seattle, Sylvia Hadnot grew up in the Beacon Hill neighborhood before moving to Shoreline to attend high school. Perpetually interested in the growth and success of those around her, Hadnot has been interested in education since age five. Her kindergarten teacher even put her in timeout for over-helping her classmates from time to time! She has since learned how to support others on their journeys to success rather than do the work for them. With several years classroom teaching experience, from working with students in the King County Youth Detention Center to special populations, Hadnot is excited and prepared to teach a diverse group of scholars and guide them on their own personal paths to fulfillment.
Hadnot is a multicultural educator extraordinaire; from jazz to ecological history to art leadership and more, Hadnot brings real-world knowledge and experience into her classroom experiences. Hadnot has performed jazz piano at the Triple Door and the Paramount, among other jazz houses. She launched her own benefit events company to support local artists in the city. She has written youth curricula for social-emotional health, college and career readiness, and environmental justice. Between all of her activities and work, Hadnot found the time to complete a Master’s in Education, with focuses on Multicultural and Urban Environmental Education.
L. Allen Crosby, Counselor
“L”. Allen Crosby is a native of Washington, D.C. with 20 years’ experience working with underserved and underrepresented communities. No stranger to Green Dot Public Schools, Crosby worked at Destiny Middle School as the School Counselor and McKinney-Vento Liaison during the 2017-2018 school year.
Crosby graduated from the University of Maryland University College with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in African American Studies. She went on to earn her master’s degree from Trinity Washington University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. To further broaden her work, she is currently pursuing her PhD in Counseling Education and Supervision with a focus on trauma and crisis at Walden University. As a mental health professional, social justice advocate, educator and mentor, Crosby is passionate about the positive impact that access to mental health has on communities of color.
Dominique Matte, English Language Arts Teacher
Dominique Matte is a Norfolk, Virginia native. After graduating from Old Dominion University with a degree in English with an emphasis in Linguistics, Dominique applied for the Master of Teaching program at University of Virginia. Dominique has explored many roles as an educator, from providing literacy tutoring to elementary students to working one-on-one with adults seeking alternative diplomas. Most recently, she has worked as a classroom teacher for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students in Virginia.
Outside of teaching, she enjoys reading non-fiction, hiking in the Appalachian Mountains, spending time with her six nieces and nephews, and playing women's recreational league rugby. She is beyond excited to begin working with RVLA HS students and families this fall.
The founding team at RVLA HS is looking forward to partnering with the team at RVLA Middle School, including Principal Walter Chen, and is excited to kick off a great first year this coming fall.