Our teachers and collaborators
Summer 2026
Keegan Harshman, Music Instructor
Keegan Harshman grew up on Whidbey Island participating in the music programs of Chris Harshman (his father and South Whidbey High School’s band director). As a young child, Keegan was encouraged and supported to pursue any musical direction that caught his interest, which is something he plans to pass on to his son, Jazper (currently a WIWS student). Keegan began playing instruments in kindergarten and played several different ones before settling on the bass. He was part of the South Whidbey High School Jazz Band—participating there in exclusive festivals. After high school, Keegan moved to San Luis Obispo, California to attend Cuesta College’s Music and Audio Technology programs, and has gone on to perform and tour with many bands and groups locally and internationally.
Keegan moved back to Whidbey Island in 2016, and is now wearing many hats in the local community: a musician and music teacher/tutor, the owner of Blue Sound music store, and the organizer of Little Big Fest – a grassroot summer music festival on Whidbey Island.
Keegan will lead the Music Adventures camp (June 15-19)
Knight Arndt, Art Instructor
Knight is currently a senior at Western Washington University, graduating in Winter of 2026 with a P–12 Art Teaching Certification and a minor in Design. She has worked with students from kindergarten through high school and loves helping young artists grow through creativity and confidence. With hands-on classroom experience and a background in customer service, she brings patience, flexibility, and a passion for imaginative learning to every lesson!
Knight will lead various art camps for kids and art camps for teens in South Whidbey
Mia Bui Toles, Coding, Robotics & Tech Instructor
Mia Bui Toles graduated from Federal Way Public Academy in 2023 and is currently a student at Highline College pursuing her degree in cybersecurity investigation. Mia grew up attending LEGO and coding clubs; she is now fluent in many programming languages including Python, JavaScript, and C++. An aviation enthusiast, she has logged over 60 flight hours and has experience instructing children and young adults in aviation fundamentals at her local flying club. Since November 2025, she has also been teaching robotics using Edison Robots and game creation through MakeCode Arcade at WILASC, expanding her experience in STEM education.
A tech enthusiast and young entrepreneur, Mia also founded and operates her own phone repair business, where she specializes in troubleshooting and repairing mobile devices. She currently works part-time as an Investigative Aide with the Liquor and Cannabis Board, where she helps ensure compliance with federal laws around age-restricted products.
Mia will lead all the technology camps (Coding, Robotics, 3D Printing, Drone Academy) in South Whidbey
Katie Phillips, STEAM Instructor
Katelyn Phillips is a dedicated Special Education Teacher at Crescent Harbor Elementary with a Master's degree in Special Education and Bachelor's certification in Elementary Education from Western Governors University. With dual endorsements in Special Education K-12 and ELA K-12, Katelyn brings hands-on expertise in differentiated instruction, curriculum design, and classroom leadership. In her current role, she creates inclusive, dynamic learning experiences for diverse learners, managing individualized education plans, implementing data-driven instruction, and leading a team of paraprofessionals. Her background in special education and commitment to accessible, student-centered learning make her an invaluable contributor to STEAM education, where she helps all students engage meaningfully with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics concepts.
Katie will lead all the STEM camps for kids in South Whidbey
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Kiersten Tyson - LEGO Robotics Teacher
Kiersten is a Civil Engineering student at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, with an expected graduation year of 2028. She is also pursuing a minor in Construction Management and enjoys finding creative, hands-on solutions to real-world problems.
As a robotics instructor, Kiersten loves helping students build, test, and program robots while developing confidence, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Seeing students bring their ideas to life and overcome challenges is one of her favorite parts of teaching.
Her interest in engineering began at a young age through activities like building LEGO robots and experimenting with electrical circuits. Today, she continues to grow her technical skills through Cal Poly’s “Learn by Doing” approach.
Outside of school and teaching, Kiersten enjoys baking, gaming, reading, and spending time with friends and family. She loves learning new things and sharing that excitement with her students.
Kiersten will lead the LEGO Robotics camps in Oak Harbor
Em Ritchie - Art & Outdoor Instructor
Em Ritchie is an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary artist working across music, visual art, theater, creative writing, and environmental design as a freelance artist. For over 15 years, they have worked internationally and domestically as both an artist and educator, working with thousands of young artists through arts and nature-based education. Career highlights include working with a theater company in the Netherlands, touring Germany with a band and opening for Duran Duran in Berlin, helping create one of San Francisco’s first green infrastructure learning gardens, creating and performing art in Berlin for several years, and working for a decade as a theater scenic charge and set painter in the Bay Area of California.
Em will lead the Outdoor Camps at Whidbey Institute and Maxwelton Beach
Julia Dye - Outdoor Education Instructor
Julia is a recent graduate of Wenatchee Valley College, and is entering the Elementary Education program at Central Washington University starting in the fall of 2026. Her experience with children ranges through multiple age groups and a variety of learning settings. Her favorite opportunity was volunteering as a counselor for middle school outdoor education camps at Lake Wenatchee! However, she also has experience instructing in middle school and preschool classrooms, as well as in daycares. Growing up with six little sisters has given her much patience for kids of all ages, as well as an aptitude for teaching!
Julia will lead the outdoor camp "Meadow Adventures: Movement, Nature Exploration, STEAM & Outdoor Play" - on July 13-17
Claudia Kiyama, Design & Build Camp Instructor
Claudia Kiyama holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Architecture. Her first job out of college was designing houses independently and in a small architectural studio. She has taught college-level design workshops and classes, including History of architecture and Introduction to architecture . Her love for historic buildings guided her to focus on historic preservation. She served as Preservation Coordinator to Ebey’s Reserve right here on Whidbey Island.
Claudia will lead the "Architecture - Design & Build Studio" camp on July 13-17
Eldritch Black, Writing Instructor
Eldritch Black (Derrick Sutton) is the author of spooky stories for Middle Grade readers and adults who enjoy magical adventures. He is most well-known among Whidbey locals as the author of the Weirdbey Island, a book series for middle graders featuring mystical creatures making friends and experiencing all manners of magical mishaps. Born in London, UK, and now live on Whidbey Island, Eldritch has also written a few stand-alone novels. Derrick is passionate about imparting the love of writing to the young generations through his writing, school visits, and writing workshops. He has just finished writing a book about the craft of writing.
Eldritch will lead the Creative Writing camp on July 20-21 and July 28-29
Joelle Berry, Music Instructor
Joelle brings dynamic energy and extensive professional experience to our music summer camp. As a versatile professional vocalist since 1997, she has lent her talents to movie scores, commercials, video games, and live concert events, including performances with professional choirs Choral Arts NW and Esoterics. She is also a soloist for the Rainier Symphony and numerous private events throughout the Pacific Northwest.
With over two decades as an independent vocal and piano theory instructor,vJoelle's teaching experience includes preparing students for college music program auditions and facilitating collaborative music workshops specifically designed for tweens and teens. She also served as a Music Artist in Residence at Lawton Elementary, where she created diverse curriculum introducing students to rhythm, notation, vocal technique, and songwriting.
A University of Washington graduate with a BA in Vocal Performance,
Joelle's ongoing musical projects showcase her versatility across genres—from the folk/Americana harmonies of her band "Townies" to classical performances of Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater."
Joelle will lead the music camps: "Let's Sing - Doo Woop Vocal Camp for Teens (August 3-7) and Rock Band (August 10-14)
Udie Chima, Music Instructor
Udie Chima is the founder of Sound Dialect and an experienced music producer who came up through the Seattle hip-hop scene. His work includes collaborations with Grammy Award-winner Macklemore. He now leads monthly collaborative meetups for Whidbey Island musicians, creating welcoming spaces where artists can connect, experiment, and grow together. He believes self-expression through sound is more than just making noise—it’s how we find our voice. It brings people together, strengthens courage, and opens up unexpected paths.
Udie will lead the music camp: Summer Beat - Beatmaking and Music Production (August 17-21)
Lana Hickman, Art Instructor
Lana Hickman has been creating art since age six in her native Belarus, where she trained at the prestigious Vasiliy Sumarev Art School in Minsk. An accomplished artist whose work has been exhibited internationally—from galleries and museums across Europe to venues in Asia and North America—Lana brings both mastery and passion to her teaching. She furthered her studies in Art Therapy at the University of Washington, combining her deep creative foundation with a commitment to helping others discover artistic expression. As a teaching artist and curriculum developer, she has collaborated with educational institutions and community spaces to make art accessible to all ages.
Lana is the instructor for many of WILASC's 2026 summer camps in Oak Harbor where she creates spaces where young people discover the joy and freedom of artistic expression.