Deanna Sarmento, Humanities 5/6

Deanna Sarmento’s path to the Humanities classroom took a few interesting turns, from studying music in Northern California, to working in human resources and client support, to beginning a new career in education. Although those experiences may seem very different, she says they taught her the same important lesson: people grow when they feel known, supported, and encouraged to use their voices.

Deanna is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from California State University, Chico, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Western Governors University. She joined SLArts in 2026 and teaches 5th- and 6th-grade Humanities.

To Deanna, history is much more than a collection of names and dates. It is the story of people: their ideas, choices, struggles, creativity, and connections across time and place. In her classroom, students read, write, investigate, discuss, ask questions, and bring their learning to life through creative projects. Her goal is to build a classroom where students feel safe taking academic risks and leave with greater confidence in their own voices and a lasting curiosity about the world.

Outside the classroom, Deanna rarely sits still. Depending on the season, you might find her snowboarding, playing softball, climbing, camping, river kayaking, or cheering loudly for the Seattle Seahawks. She also loves watching and playing sports, seeing as many musicals as possible, and spending time with her husband and daughters.

In teaching and in life, Deanna tries to follow three simple values: Live Fully. Love Deeply. Keep Learning