Administration Team
Principal Sean Cassidy
It is an honor to be in the role of principal at Summit Trail Middle School. My wife and I moved to Maple Valley in 2001 in part due to the strong reputation of the Tahoma School District. The opportunity to serve our local community and our children at the middle level is something I highly value and cherish.
Growing up in a family of educators, I have always had a strong connection to the schools that I attended and have supported in my role of student, teacher, administrator and now parent. For me, as I progressed through Redmond High School, Centralia College and the University of Washington, I found great connections in student leadership, athletics and social events. I would love to help create and sustain a school environment where every student can find an opportunity to get involved and participate in a rich, safe and dynamic experience.
In 1999, I started teaching middle school students at Pine Lake Middle School in the Issaquah School District. Most of my classes were Language Arts/Social Studies blocks, but I had a few other roles such as PE/Health, Special Education, coach and administrative duties. In 2005, I took on a new position as Assistant Principal at Redmond Junior High in the Lake Washington School District. While there, we went through a major and successful grade reconfiguration shifting from a 7-9 grade junior high to a 6-8 grade middle school. This experience was later invaluable in Tahoma's version of a grade reconfiguration in 2017. Soon after, I became principal at Evergreen Middle School in the same district. With an extensive model of student, staff and family collaboration and support, we received a 2014 “School of Distinction” award for being in the top 5% of improvement in reading and mathematics. Recently, we received a similar award at Summit Trail, now called a "Washington State Recognized School" for the 2023-24 school year for targeted academic growth.
As a school, we continue to grow as a learning organization to meet community expectations for the success of every student. This large comprehensive middle school is filled with hard working and dedicated teams and individuals striving each day to provide an inclusive experience to help each child grow and become a Future Ready student for high school and beyond. If any students or family members have any questions about our programs or classes, please reach out to us by phone or email. We want to help!
Since arriving in Tahoma in 2014, it has been a privilege to work alongside amazing staff and families in this area as both a school leader and community volunteer. In 2016, I became a member of the Maple Valley/Black Diamond Rotary. More recently, I have represented our district as a middle school representative on the Executive Board for District 3 of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA); and as a representative on the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) Grade Level Leadership Committee for Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) 121. Each organization has provided opportunities to improve the overall experience for our own Tahoma students, as well as other children across the region and state.
My intent with our daily actions is a desire to continually learn and grow as professionals, so we can create and sustain a healthy, rigorous and fun experience for our children during their middle school years.
Associate Principal Paul Gardner
I’m an Eastern Washington University graduate, where I earned my teaching credentials with endorsements in K–8 education, reading, math, and special education, basically, all the fun stuff. I also hold a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley College and received my administrative credentials from City University because, apparently, I never quite figured out how to leave school.
I’ve spent my entire career working with middle school students, and yes, I genuinely love this age group. Really. Middle schoolers are wonderfully weird, fiercely honest, endlessly entertaining, and full of potential. They can debate with the confidence of attorneys, lose a Chromebook charger three times in one week, and still amaze you with their creativity and kindness. They keep me laughing, and on my toes every single day.
Before becoming an educator, I worked as a school custodian and later as a paraeducator. Those experiences gave me a deep appreciation for every role in a school and taught me that it takes an entire team to support student success. My teaching career began in special education before transitioning into 7th-grade math.
In 2007, I joined the Tahoma School District as Assistant Principal at Tahoma Middle School. When Summit Trail Middle School opened in 2017, I had the privilege of helping launch it as the Associate Principal alongside an incredible staff dedicated to creating a positive and supportive 6-8 middle school. Middle school is where I feel most at home. It’s a privilege to support students during these formative and sometimes unpredictable years as they grow, learn, make mistakes, discover their strengths, and figure out who they are. There’s never a dull moment in middle school, and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Assistant Principal Bea Cordes
I am overjoyed by the opportunity to continue serving Summit Trail Middle School, now as Assistant Principal. Since 2022, I have been supporting STMS staff and students as an Instructional Coach, Special Education TOSA, and Administrative Intern. These experiences have offered me a keen insight into the routines of our building, the strengths of our staff, and the opportunities for joyful learning that keep middle school fun.
My educational background consists of a Bachelors in Special Education, a Masters in Curriculum & Instruction, and most recently a principal certificate from Pacific Lutheran University. Prior to working in Tahoma, I taught special education at the middle and high school levels in Federal Way for 14 years where I also became a National Board Certified Teacher in Exceptional Needs. During that time, I served as a leader for inclusive practices and collected many tools for making rigorous coursework accessible for all students. One of my favorite things about education is witnessing students rise to meet high expectations!
On the homefront, my husband and I have two children attending Tahoma schools, and we’ve found this community to be warm and nurturing, allowing both of them to flourish. I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back by supporting our students through the awkward, silly, contemplative, and formative years of middle school at Summit Trail.
It’s my honor and privilege to serve in this role, and I’m eager to continue learning alongside our incredible staff and partnering with families and students to help make these years a time when every student feels seen and excited about what comes next.