CTE Instructors

Claudia Buxton
For 40+ years Claudia's passion has been serving in public education mostly, although not exclusively, at the secondary and post-secondary levels. Prior to Claudia’s work as an Observer for South Seattle College’s CTE Practicum, Claudia served for 15 years as a high school Business Education instructor, about 8 years as a High School College and Career Readiness Counselor in two districts, 12 years as a CTE Administrator and Director for three school districts, 9 years as Director of Sno-Isle Skills Center, two years as a K-12 Mentor Teacher, and two years as Director, Leadership Snohomish County. Claudia has a B.A. in Business Education from Northwest Nazarene University (Nampa, ID), a 5th year at the University of Washington, an M.Ed from Seattle University and post-Master’s degree work from John F. Kennedy University as well as many in-state universities.

Bryan Erickson
Bryan brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in CTE. Erickson has taught the following subjects for over 30 years; Business and Marketing, Diversified Occupations, Student Leadership, Work-based learning, Career Specialist. Assistant Director for Career and Technical Education in the Evergreen School District, Adjunct professor for CWU for 13 years. He has taught courses in Work Coordination Techniques, History and Philosophy of Career and Technical Education, School Law and Leadership. Bryan has served on numerous state OSPI program and curriculum committees. His degrees and certificates are in AA., BA, Speech Communications and Business, M.Ed. Education Administration. K-12 Certificate, P-12 Administrator, CTE Director Certificate.

Chance Gower
Chance is the Career & Technical Education Director for the Highline School District.

Brenda Grabski
Brenda is a business and marketing teacher in the Olympia School District and previously taught at Black Hills High School and Centralia High School. She also serves as a DECA Advisor. Prior to teaching she was an account and finance manager with BP Oil and Exploration. Brenda is a member of ACTE, WA-ACTE, WAME, WSBEA, WEA. Former Professional Development Chair for WAME. Degrees: MBA, BS in Business Education and BS in Accounting. National Board Certified Teacher.

Betty Johnson
Betty has taught Career and Technical Education (CTE) for 38 years ranging from middle school to college ages and is currently an adjunct instructor for the CTE Training Center for Bates Technical College. She has been teaching CTE Philosophy of Career and Technical Education and CTE Work-based Learning Coordination courses for the past nine years. Betty worked for 15 years with the Renton School District as a Business and Education instructor and with Orting School District as Business and Marketing Education instructor and CTE Director for the District, which included middle school and high school programs. She was an FBLA Advisor for 32 years and a DECA Advisor with the student store program.

Thomas Kaup
Thomas Kaup decided to become a teacher because of two films: “To Sir With Love”, about a teacher who wins over students others had given up on, and “Goodbye Mr. Chips”, a story about a professor at a university in England. Thomas is completing his 32nd year of teaching at Auburn High School and is co-author of Middle School Journalism, published by Teaching-Point.net. He has a B.A. in English from the University of St. Thomas, Masters in Theology and Literature Degree from the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Chicago, and an M.ED in Instructional Design from Western Governors University. Thomas received his CTE Certification from South in 2016. He is a National Board Certified Teacher as well as a Master Journalism Educator. Thomas was the Washington Adviser of the Year in 2014, a Special Recognition Adviser by the Dow Jones News Fund in 2015, Auburn High School Teacher of the Year, 2016, and in 2018 received the Dorothy McPhillips Distinguished Service Award from the Washington Journalism Education Association. Thomas currently teaches Newspaper, Yearbook, and Visual Communication at Auburn High School. Thomas is thrilled to be teaching in the CTE Program at South!

Sue Longstreth
Sue has worked in career & technical education for over 30 years. She is retired as the Director of Career & Technical Education for the Marysville School District, where she supervised 12 programs housed in seven small learning communities. She served as the state-wide staff person for the student organization-HOSA. Other previous work experience includes serving as an Associate Dean at Front Range Community College in Ft. Collins, Colorado, the Executive Director of the State Council on Vocational Education for Washington, Director of Applied Learning at the Chief Leschi Schools in Puyallup, and Director of CTE for the Bremerton School District. She has a Master’s degree in education and a PhD in vocational education administration from Colorado State University. Sue has served on South’s CTE Professional Education Advisory Committee since 2005.

Thomas Mosby
Thomas is is the Career and College Counselor for North Mason High School. He is also Adjunct faculty for University of Phoenix School of Advanced Studies in Education Administration and Leadership and Masters in Teaching programs. He has been involved in public education at the Elementary, middle, secondary and post- secondary levels as a teacher, counselor or administrator for over 25 years. During his time in K-12 education he has spent the past 19 years as a Career and Technical Administrator. Dr. Mosby has served on South’s CTE Professional Education Advisory Committee since 2001.

Tammy Price
Tammy has taught Floriculture, a Career and Technical Education course since 2002 at Everett High School in Everett Public Schools and as an occasional summer course at Sno-Isle Tech Skills Center in Mukilteo. In addition has been a Work-Based Learning Coordinator and taught computer applications. She completed her CTE Teaching Certification at South Seattle’s program in 2007. Her previous work experience included 12 years in the floral industry as a floral designer and flower shop manager. She has an AS in Horticulture from Louisiana Tech University, a BA in Culture/Literature/Arts from UW-Bothell, as well as a Master's Degree in Educational Technology and a Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching from Boise State University where she was invited to join Kappa Delta Pi an Honor Society for outstanding educational professionals. Tammy has served on South’s CTE Professional Education Advisory Committee since 2007.

Susie Roberts
Susie has been a high school and adult vocational teacher for 25 years. Currently she teaches a variety of marketing classes (Sports and Entertainment, Marketing Essentials, Sales and Advertising, Retail Store Management) at Edmonds Woodway High School in the Edmonds School District and is a DECA Chapter Advisor. She also enjoys teaching IB Business Management because students love the challenge of the IB Curriculum. Susie also served the Edmonds School District as a Career Specialist and was a member of the Washington DECA Board for two years. She was President of the Washington Association of Marketing Educator and was named WAME Marketing Educator of the Year in 2015. Susie has also served on the Executive Board of WA-ACTE. As Co-chair of her Business & Marketing department, she enjoys the inner workings of staffing, scheduling, and connecting with industry. As a graduate of the University of Washington and a teacher with industry experience and a CTE Certification, she has had several careers in the travel and retail industries.

Jillian Waffle-Osborn
Jillian has been teaching Family and Consumer Sciences and CTE for the past thirteen years. She is currently teaching in Federal Way School District. She has taught at the Internet Academy, in a traditional comprehensive high school as well as a smaller career focused academy at an alternative high school. Over the years Jillian has facilitated CTE leadership through the FCCLA leadership organization and the running of a student store and espresso cart. Jillian graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and a Primary Endorsement in Family and Consumer Sciences. She earned a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and Technology from Grand Canyon University, which she completed through their online program. In 2014 Jillian earned her National Board Certification in Early Adolescents to Young Adulthood Career and Technical Education.

Lance Wrzeskinksi
Most recently Lance has accepted the position of Project Coordinator for Career Connect Washington at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI. He previously served as Business and Marketing Program Supervisor at OSPI where he worked with the Business and Marketing Pathways along with FBLA and DECA board positions. Work Based learning has also be an assigned focus during his time at OSPI. He currently continues to serve on the National Governors Association State Policy Academy on Scaling High Quality Work-Based Learning. Prior to accepting the job at OSPI, he was an Associate Professor of Business Administration, teaching business and accounting classes at Centralia College and advising the school's Rotaract Club. He taught High School Business Education at W.F. West in Chehalis, Pe Ell High School, and White Pass High School for the 11 years before accepting the position at Centralia College.