I'm happy to be part of the James Baldwin Elementary School community, my neighborhood school. I've been with the district since 2018, and way back when, attended Viewlands, Whitman, and Ingraham High School. Go Eagles!

Originally from a small country in south of South America by the Atlantic Ocean, Uruguay. Born and raised from a Brazilian mother and a Uruguayan father. Grew up as an only child in a bilingual family. Attended an only girls’ school for PreK-12th grade. Graduated from college in 2008 with Regular Education and Special Education Degrees.

Favorite Book: Little Prince.

Favorite Author: Paulo Coelho from Brazil.

Favorite things do: travel and get to know people and cultures.

Favorite Places in the world: Paris and Montevideo.

Favorite Food: French Onion Soup and Uruguayan Empanadas.

Dreams: to live in Paris, and to spend a summer in Uruguay doing my favorite activity as a child, enjoying the sun, the ocean and walking on the warm sand.

Favorite Activities at school: Reading and Gardening.

I grew up in Spokane and studied Spanish and International Economics at the University of
Washington before teaching English in Thailand for five years. After earning a Master’s in
Elementary Education from Eastern Washington University, I returned to Thailand to teach at
British international schools in Bangkok for another five years. I’ve been working in Washington
State public education since 2018 and love being part of the James Baldwin community.
Outside of school, my wife, Tamsin, our two daughters, Lyra and Luna, and I love being active
outdoors—climbing, hiking, biking, skiing, swimming, and traveling together.

What I love about James Baldwin Elementary:

• The warm community centered around our students
• The vibrant curiosity of our students
• James Baldwin Staff commitment to teaching the whole child
• I get to learn something new from my students every day!

Teaching and learning from students from all over the world makes this a wonderful place to be! In addition to teaching, I enjoy reading, traveling, and spending time with my children.

Heather McQuarrie (Ms. McQ) has been teaching in Seattle Public Schools since 2018. After three years as a second grade teacher in Ballard, she worked as a head teacher at Adams Elementary to support admin, teachers, families, and to create a building-wide Social Emotional Learning plan to help the building transition back to in-person learning. Following her maternity leave in 2022, she joined the James Baldwin family and loves being a part of this community.

Heather lives with her husband Toby and her toddler son Cavan in Edmonds. In her spare time, she enjoys singing & playing music, cooking, reading, and crafts.