Welcoming New Faculty and Staff to the Ridge

We are thrilled to welcome five talented educators, along with two familiar faces on our Facilities team, to the Ridge for the 2026-27 school year. Each brings a unique blend of expertise, passion, and perspective that will enrich the student experience both inside and outside the classroom. We invite you to get to know them below.

Daisy Guo, Upper School Mandarin Teacher
Daisy joins Forest Ridge's Upper School as a Mandarin teacher. A native Chinese speaker with a Ph.D. in Chinese Linguistics, she brings more than ten years of experience teaching Chinese language and culture in both China and the United States. Daisy loves helping students build confidence in speaking Mandarin through engaging, interactive lessons and meaningful cultural connections, and she believes language learning should be enjoyable, inspiring, and accessible to every student. She is excited to join the Forest Ridge community and looks forward to getting to know her students and sharing her love of Chinese language and culture. In her free time, Daisy enjoys outdoor adventures with her family, including hiking, kayaking, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.

Tanner Marshall, Upper School Physics Teacher
Tanner joins Forest Ridge's Upper School this year as a Physics teacher. He earned his B.S. in physics from Seattle University and a master's degree in applied physics, with a specialization in optics, from the University of Oregon. After graduate school, Tanner spent about five years in the defense industry as an optical engineer specializing in high-energy lasers before deciding to pursue his passion for teaching. He returned to school and earned his Washington state teaching certification through Seattle Pacific University last year, and he is looking forward to meeting his new students and becoming part of the Forest Ridge community.

Lusiqi Liu, Middle and Upper School Mandarin Teacher
Lusiqi joins Forest Ridge as a part-time Middle and Upper School Mandarin teacher. She holds master's degrees in education from Seattle Pacific University and the University of Southern California and is a Washington State certified teacher with endorsements in Chinese and Elementary Education. Lusiqi has taught Mandarin to learners across a wide range of ages, including through USC's STARTALK Chinese language program, where she worked with high school students in an intensive, communicative learning environment. She is passionate about creating an engaging and supportive classroom where students build confidence using Mandarin in meaningful, real-world contexts while developing a deeper understanding of Chinese language and culture.

Alison Sola, Upper School French Teacher
Alison joins Forest Ridge as an Upper School French teacher. Originally from the Atlanta, Georgia area, her language-learning journey began at age 13 in her middle school French class, sparking a passion she carried through both her bachelor's and master's degrees in French and language education. As a teacher, Alison combines her love of the French language and francophone cultures with a commitment to student-centered learning. She spent the last eight years teaching Upper School IB French near Dallas, Texas, and is excited and grateful to move to the Pacific Northwest this summer. Alison looks forward to supporting Forest Ridge students on their French language journey.

Michelle D'Card, Middle School Art Teacher
Michelle has joined Forest Ridge as a Middle School Art teacher, bringing a rich background in interdisciplinary visual arts, design, and community arts education. She earned her degree in Print and Illustration from Cornish College of the Arts and has taught students of all ages through schools, community programs, and enrichment initiatives. Michelle's teaching focuses on hands-on, project-based learning, and she creates supportive studio environments where students can experiment, build confidence, and develop their own artistic voices. Her own creative practice includes textiles, embroidery, mixed media, and wearable art jewelry. Michelle believes that making art is not just about the final product, but also about curiosity, connection, and discovery, and she is excited to share this perspective with the Forest Ridge community.

Christopher Smith and Jake Slater, Facilities Team
While not brand new to our community, having joined in the spring of 2026, Christopher Smith and Jake Slater also join our Facilities team this year. We're glad to have them continue as part of the Forest Ridge family.

Please join us in giving Daisy, Tanner, Lusiqi, Alison, Michelle, Christopher and Jake a warm Forest Ridge welcome. We can't wait to see the energy and expertise they bring to our classrooms and campus this year!