Staff Directory

Personal Message

I can be reached at cmgrissom@seattleschools.org opens an email client application opens an email client application .

Please feel free to contact me at any time. I'm always happy to try to be of help.

Personal Message

I'm excited to join the North Beach community as your new principal!  I completed my administrative internship at North Beach Elementary during the 2016-17 school year after serving as the librarian/technology teacher there since 2010.  Prior to coming to North Beach I was an elementary school librarian for 10 years in the Bellevue School District and also worked as a high school Social Studies teacher for the Orcas Island and Shoreline School Districts.  When I'm not at school I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and watching or playing soccer.  You can reach me at kemclane@seattleschools.org. 

Graduate of Seattle Public Schools and University of Washington. Trombonist in Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra. I teach mornings at: Leschi (M), Northgate (T), Licton Springs (W), North Beach (Th), and Sand Point (F). Afternoons I'm at Catharine Blaine.

I teach instrumental music to 4th and 5th graders at six schools, and middle school band and orchestra at Catharine Blaine.

My favorite subjects in school:

• Band
• French
• Geometry
• PE at Lawton and Columbia (when we did archery, unicycling, roller skating, and juggling)

Pets: I have three cats, even though I'm allergic. Their names are Toby, Prudence, and Jupiter.

Family: Spouse Becky, and two high schoolers. One attends school in Gig Harbor, and the other attends in Seattle. In fact, he commuted two hours each way with me to Seattle for all of middle school. (Can you imagine?!?) Thankfully, we now have an apartment in city!

Favorite food: MOD Pizza

Favorite movies: Frozen 2, Enchanted, and Edward Scissorhands.

Favorite books: the Silver Trilogy by Kerstin Gier. (For many years my favorite book was The Eight by Catherine Neville. And one day I would like to get all the way through Gödel Escher Bach by Douglas Hofstadter)

Favorite music: listening to my students after they've practiced something they're excited about!

What I've been working on: Becoming more technically proficient with computer apps like Schoology, the Source, and especially audio/video editing (which I know almost nothing about). I'm a semi-professional trombonist, but violin was my first instrument as a kid (for a very short time), and since coming to work in SPS, I've been working on my fiddle skills. It's a long road, but I know if I just keep doing it, I'll keep getting better. And the better I get, the more fun I have playing!

Other favorite activities: Road trips, camping, and enjoying nature.

Schools I attended:

• Pinehurst (gr. 1)
• Lawton (2-3)
• Columbia (4)
• Lynndale (5 through part of 6, in Edmonds)
• West Woodland (6)
• Whitman (7-8)
• Franklin (9-12)
• University of Washington (BA/BM, with teaching endorsements in instrumental music, choir, and math)

Personal Message

Hello! I am so excited to be apart of the Blaine team as a fifth grade teacher. I previously taught fifth grade in the Kent School District for two years before making the transition to Seattle Public Schools. I grew up in Spokane, Washington and recently moved to the area a few years ago. I graduated from Washington State University with a bachelors degree in education. GO COUGS! Within the next few years I hope to continue my education and get my Masters. I am looking forward to a fun-filled year getting to know the community and making connections with students and parents.