Teacher Kaleena

Kaleena Santo-Domingo

Email me at: [email protected]

I am 1/2 Native American from my father’s side and 1/2 Japanese from my mother’s. I am a member of the Okanogan Tribe and an enrolled member of the Colville Tribes. I was born and raised in the Kent/Renton area and was in the Kent school district for K-12. I married my husband Sixto Santo-Domingo in April 2015. We have a son, Kennison, born in March 2018. We also have two cats, Mochi with Soy Sauce and Huckleberry Cheesecake.

In my free time I enjoy cooking, dancing at Native American powwows, collecting Hello Kitty, & watching the Seahawks & Huskies. I received my BA in American Indians Studies and Drama from the University of Washington in 2007. I also have two CDA’s (Child Development Associates).

After college I worked at United Indians Head Start program, at Daybreak Star in Magnolia for 5 years, before the program was closed. In 2012 I worked as an Early Head Start Specialist for Tulalip Tribes Early Head Start. In 2014 I again worked for United Indians when they opened an ECEAP program.

In 2016 I started working at a Montessori Childcare for the hospital workers at Seattle Children’s. I have also completed a Montessori Assistant training course with MEIPN and will be continuing my Montessori studies this year.

Testimonials

My daughter attended the pre-K program here for 1.5 years (started mid-year) and also did 2 summers at the camps. She entered as a shy 3-year-old and really blossomed, leaving at just shy of 6 with a strong personality, good friends, and great academic skills. She has always picked up reading and math easily, and here she was allowed to move beyond the basic counting and letter sounds she had mastered at 3 and entered kindergarten reading at a 1st grade level (based on kindergarten teacher’s ass…

Primary classroom parent

For 2024-2025 school year:
WE ARE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for FULL DAY students who are ready to enroll in Primary (ages 4.5-6) as well as Lower Elementary (ages 6-9). Apply today!

For 2025-2026:
We currently have students in the waiting pool to schedule observations and tours (ages 3-6). We are still accepting applications for all classrooms.

Waiting pool: there are a few factors contributing to enrollment, aside from date of application. We try to give priority to families with siblings already currently enrolled, families who intend to do Montessori through the elementary years here at DPM, the child’s age to ensure a balanced classroom, the commitment to Montessori practices at home, and there is an observation of the prospective student in the classroom with the teacher that takes place prior to enrollment.

For that reason, it is impossible to say for sure whether there’s space available until admissions decisions have been made in January. That’s when the enrollment invitation goes out to families who have completed the process and who’s kiddos are eligible to start in the following school year. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Alex, [email protected].