Hi my name is Cheif Sam Labi. I have family ties to Ghana and Nigeria. I teach in the Upward Bound Program and this would be my 5th year with Upward Bound. I teach History, Senior Seminar, and Computer Science. I am very happy to have been able to rally my brilliant, and energetic students into helping me build the Upward Bound website. Somehow, my students got to know of my age and so some of them call me Old Man. I guess you can say my gray beard does not help me much. Everyday presents its own challenges and with each challenge comes excitement and new discovery.

I am very greatful to the City of Seattle and Upward Bound staff and students who always welcome me with open arms. I hope they are benefitting from me in as much as I am benefitting from them.  The Upward Bound program is a welcoming idea for all our students.  The staff is wonderful and the organization is great by all standards.

Here is a brief synopsis,

Willie Seals of sound mind, body, and spirit is a Seattle Native. Born and
Raised in the Central District, product of the Seattle Public School system. 
Willie graduated in 1996 from Garfield High School (Greatest High School in
Washington State). 

Willie is a seasoned Upward Bounder, he was a student
(1994-1996), tutor (1997-99; 2001-2004), Group Project Coordinator (Summer
2004), before serving as a Counselor with Upward Bound Willie served worked as a
Youth Development Director at Washington Middle School and Showalter Middle
School. 

Willie enjoys working with Upward Bound because he sees a lot of
himself in a few current students and believes that all students in the program
are going to be successful college graduates.  The thing that stands for Willie
is that when he was in high school he believed that he could not go to college
and it was not helpful that his high school counselor suggested that he should
go to Trade School rather than college. 

By joining Upward Bound Willie changed his perspective about going to college and he
graduated from Chicago State University.  There three things that Willie would
like for any student in this program should take with them is (1) "No one else
determines your future but yourself." (2) Choices can lead to many things
whether they are good choices or bad choices they follow you forever" and lastly 
(3) Think of yourself like this: "Im the bomb like tick, tick!" -Lil Wayne 
 

My name is Corey Gaither and I teach Math 3, Pre-Calculus, and SAT Prep.  This is my ninth summer teaching with Upward Bound.  I am a former Garfield High school math teacher and I currently reside in Las Vegas Nevada.  Upward bound is one of the best college readiness  programs out there and I am honored that I have to opportunity to work with such motivated students.   

Native of Los Angeles (thus... a Laker fan)
The second of four children- all born 2 years apart (kinda scary how the parents
planned it out so well)
Married to a Brazilian-American (with no kids...yet)
Loves playing any and every sport (especially those that require being in the
water)
Has 3 dogs (don't try this at home!!)
Enjoys reading all types of stuff
Gets excited about new foods that he's never tasted before
Dislikes mosquito bites and the hiccups
Longs for the sun during the Northwest winters
Very excited to be part of Upward Bound!

Keith Van Essen


 

Born and raised in the Central District of Seattle.

I am the youngest child of three and only daughter, times were hard.

Graduated from Seattle University with a degree in English/Creative Writing.

Have worked for Upward Bound for two years.

Contemplating a career in teaching.



Is this sufficient?

Sasha Ife' Sobers-Outlaw
 

Ann Crisostomo

This is my 10^th summer with Upward Bound! It is such a rewarding feeling to see Upward Bound students develop, mature and succeed throughout the years!

I was raised growing up in a military family. I have 2 older brothers and a younger sister. Born in California, lived in Virginia, Bremerton, Guam and back to Seattle. I enjoy traveling. I’m Guamanian and Vietnamese.

When I’m not at work I am hanging out with family. I have twin boys, Deion & Dominique who are 11 years old and who are also Samoan/Hawaiian. We definitely have no shortage of relatives from any sides. We are blessed

Mr. Clem teaches Language Arts, Visions and Business Education for Upward Bound.  During the regular school year, he teaches Language Arts at Meadowdale High School in the Edmonds School District.

Mr. Clem is going into his seventh year of teaching.  Before his teaching career, he worked in various sales and marketing positions for U.S. West and Pacific Bell.  Mr. Clem earned his teaching certificate from Western Washington University.  He also has a master’s degree in Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Willamette University in Oregon.  His bachelor’s degree was earned at Western Washington University.