Meet Our Dedicated Team

Meet the dedicated team helping our children learn and grow. Our staff combine professional expertise with a community‑oriented co‑op spirit.

Our Teachers

A smiling elderly woman with long silver hair, wearing a colorful abstract patterned top, against a blue background.

Diana Wagner-Boyd, Infants & Twos

Experience: Diana has been part of the Magnolia Co-op since 2014 and has been teaching in co-op communities since 1997. 

Teaching Focus: She brings creativity, music, and fun to the classroom, drawing on her theater degree from Cornish College of the Arts and her experience teaching children of all ages. Her guitar and lively collection of songs make circle time truly magical and create joyful, memorable experiences for the children.

Fun Facts: Diana enjoys gardening, hiking, rock climbing, surfing, and roller-skating. She lives in north Seattle with her husband Ed, her cockatiel Frisbee, and cat Missy.

A woman with short brown hair, red glasses, and a septum piercing takes a selfie at the beach, with the ocean and cloudy sky in the background.

Jillian Bentley, Toddlers

Experience: An award-winning teacher with decades of experience, Jillian has taught French and Multilingual Learners in K-12 schools, she has taught in the Enrichment programs at MCP, and she has served as a parent mentor. She is currently completing a Masters in Education in Early Childhood Education.

Teaching Focus: She is passionate about parent education, fostering connections within the community, and learning through play!

Fun Facts: Jillian enjoys biking, swimming, cooking, baking, crossword puzzling, and spending time with friends, family, and her two pups, Felix and Edgar. She lives in Magnolia.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiling and wearing a light purple button-up shirt, gold hoop earrings, and a gold necklace with a dark green pendant, against a black background.

Elise Cranston, Pre-Kindergarten

Experience: Elise joined Magnolia Co-op in 2024 as our Pre-K teacher. With a background in Theology, Spanish, and TESL, she discovered her passion for early childhood education while working as a nanny and preschool teacher. 

Teaching Focus: Elise’s classroom emphasizes joy, learning, autonomy, and empathy. 

Fun Facts: Outside of school, she enjoys cooking, live music, outdoor exercise, and social justice. She lives in Queen Anne with her husband Tyler.

A smiling man with glasses, dark hair, and a beard, wearing a black jacket and a gray T-shirt, outdoors near a body of water on a cloudy day.

Mike Pandorf, Threes & Music Enrichment

Experience: Mike has been a teacher at the co-op since 2022, beginning with Enrichment classes and now leading the Multi-Age Classroom. He draws on his parenting experiences and training as a musician at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University.

Teaching focus: Mike believes music is a powerful tool to inspire and connect children!

Fun Facts: Mike enjoys playing brass instruments, cooking, and home improvement. He lives in Magnolia.

A smiling woman with red hair, wearing a pink sweatshirt and beige pants, sitting on a colorful rainbow-themed rug in a classroom setting with toy shelves and educational materials in the background.

Melanie Martin, Teaching Assistant

Experience: Melanie has brought creativity, care, and joy to the MAC for many years, with a multi-generational connection to the co-op through her family. 

Teaching Focus: Creating a nurturing and playful environment for all children.

Fun Fact: Loves connecting with children and co-op families!

A woman standing in a meadow with purple flowers, mountains with snow patches in the background, and a cloudy sky.

Mary Murray, Teaching Assistant

Experience: Mary has supported families as a caregiver and teaching assistant for several years. 

Teaching Focus: She enjoys connecting with each child’s interests. 

Fun Facts: Mary loves outdoor adventures and nature.

Our Director of Parent Education and Support

A woman with curly blonde hair, smiling, standing outdoors in a natural setting with trees and grass, wearing a colorful floral dress and jewelry.

Becky Cooke, Prek, Threes, Twos and Toddlers

Experience: Becky started as an occupational therapist in NYC and found her passion for co-op preschool after her own experience as a long-time co-op parent. 

Teaching Focus: She brings an OT perspective to understanding neurodiversity and sensory needs. 

Fun Fact: Becky enjoys volunteering, walking in Discovery Park, gardening, and sharing her love of the outdoors and mushrooms. Ask her about salmon!