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Ed Sargent, Director
Library Services
While I have only been the Director, Library Services for less than a year, one of the first things that I noticed about Lake Washington Technical College is the friendly atmosphere of the school. All of the staff and faculty are willing to bend over backwards to help each other and the students.
The library staff and I offer to the LWTC community ready access to information resources and technology by creating an environment that is supportive of the community’s need to create quality research papers and presentations. The information skills and technology classes offered by the library will assist students in becoming critical information users and creators. I am happy to work at a college that encourages me to give the highest level of service to our community.
I have worked in many libraries across the country and our library is one of the most beautiful libraries that I have seen. I feel honored to have the responsibility to develop the library and offer resources to our students that will prepare them for the workforce.
 Letty Barnes, M.Ed., Faculty
Business Applications Support Program
There is nothing more gratifying to someone who loves to teach than finding earnest, hard-working, and appreciative students. That is exactly what I have found here at Lake Washington Technical College.
My employment at LWTC began in 2000 as a part-time employee teaching some Microsoft Office applications. I worked as a part-timer until a couple of years ago, and then was offered a temporary full-time position on the Business Applications Support program. After a couple of years of full time teaching here I am really getting to know the college, the programs, and the students. Our demographics are cool: 20% of our students have a degree prior to attending here, 81% are in Workforce training, and 78% are daytime students. Those statistics will tell you that they are here to learn!
As an instructor I have found that the college is a great place to challenge myself to higher and greater achievements. I’ve been well-funded to attend professional development courses, I’m expected to participate in the process of creating improvements through our various committees, and I’m encouraged to work toward creative, responsive changes that will best serve our students.
It is the people that make working here great, both the friendly, competent staff and administration, and especially the many students who, despite sometimes great personal obstacles, work diligently to gain new knowledge and skills. My deep satisfaction comes when I see people’s faces light-up with the excitement and hope that comes from learning.
David Coan, Faculty
Culinary Arts Program
I have been at Lake Washington Technical College for over four years. I initially came to talk to my old boss Rino Baglio, from the restaurant il Bacio, who was teaching the LWTC baking program at the time. He introduced me to Chef Alan Joynson who almost immediately asked if I would be interested in teaching a front-of-the-house service class at the college. Wow, I thought, here’s something new! I started on January 2nd 2003.
I have been in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years working as a cook, bartender, server, and manager, so running the front of the house in the college’s restaurant comes as second nature. I teach my first-quarter students table service while they actually work in our restaurant, something most of them have not done before. It is a new and enlightening experience for them, I’m sure. I also teach wine-tasting classes in the evenings for Extended Learning which are quite popular and fun. I have recently passed the Introductory Sommelier exam, a goal I had set for myself many years ago.
I enjoy the interaction with the students as I teach them about my profession. They have such different backgrounds and experiences.
I really enjoy working here; the people are friendly and helpful. I recall the first In-service I attended--I came in not knowing anyone except for two or three people who, of course, were not around when I arrived at 7:30 a.m. Someone immediately introduced themselves to me and showed me around. It sure made my day a lot less stressful.
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