Our Founder: Huda Giddens

Born into a family of teachers, Huda Giddens' earliest experiences were focused on learning, and the value of the individual. However her British schooling highlighted the strict adherence to rules, and the pure acquisition of knowledge.

It was during her college years that Huda focused her attention on the field of Child Development and Early Childhood Education. In working on her Master's degree, she became steeped in the work of Piaget, Eric Erikson and others, who emphasized the importance of the individual child as a unique and active learner in the school setting.

After earning her Master's degree, and spending a number of years teaching at the university level, Huda decided to found a school. When she arrived in Seattle in 1968, she discovered that there was only one other school with a philosophy of education that focused on the importance of the individual child in the classroom. This stimulated the founding of Happy Medium in 1972, starting at the preschool level, to afford continuity in the child's school experience, during the early formative years.

In 2005, the Board of Directors decided to change the name of the school from Happy Medium to Giddens School to honor Huda.

Although no longer involved in the administration of the school, Huda remains a close connection with it, attending weekly faculty meetings and special events.