Faculty & Staff

I was born and raised in Oakland and live there still. I have been teaching and leading in Bay Area independent schools for more than 25 years. My first teaching job was as a science teacher for grades K-2 at a school in the Outer Sunset. It was there that I learned the importance of “doing” science. With both Ocean Beach and Golden Gate Park an easy walk away, we spent countless hours outside studying plant and animal life and natural phenomena.

Teaching math is also a passion of mine. There is nothing like seeing the growing delight and confidence in students as they learn that they can make discoveries of their own that reveal patterns and rules that lead them to the next idea.

When I’m not teaching, I’m spending time with my 16-year-old son, playing doubles volleyball, and traveling and exploring the world around me – whether that means flying across oceans, trekking inn-to-inn on the California coast, hiking local trails, or noticing things I’ve not seen before on a walk in the city where I’ve lived for 42 years.

Shortly after graduating from middle school I began coaching youth soccer, where I discovered my passion for teaching. By the time I enrolled at Skidmore College, I already knew that I wanted to become a professional educator; the only question was: what subject?

After graduating in 2016 with a BS in Education Studies, I took advantage of my bilingual upbringing and spent 10 months in Chuburna Puerto, Mexico coaching, tutoring, and teaching children in both English and Spanish. In 2017-18, I joined the Spanish team at SFS. It is an honor to teach alongside many of the people that guided my path towards education.

I am a San Francisco native who has lived in San Francisco for most of my life! I received my undergraduate degree in early childhood education and a masters in Special Education from San Francisco State University. With more than 10 years of teaching experience in the classroom, I have facilitated children’s immersion in developmentally appropriate and challenging activities.

I started at SFS as a substitute teacher, was a teacher during summer camp, and enjoyed my time as the 3rd Grade Teaching Assistant as well as the 2nd Grade Teaching Assistant. I love my role as a Kindergarten Co-Head Teacher – Kindergarten is such an important transition from Preschool to Lower School, and I am happy to be part of it!

I appreciate the San Francisco School’s dedication to diversity, inclusion, and social justice, as well as the holistic approach to education that fosters both a love of learning and personal growth. I feel like these values align with my own. I also really admire the sense of community that this school inspires.

I have a B.S. in Psychology and a M.S. in Counseling Psychology, specializing in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling. I have worked with many SFS families, and I really admire the sense of community inspired by SFS. Both parenting adults and children alike have such a strong sense of community and connection within the school.

I was born and raised in Stoughton, MA, a suburb of Boston. I moved to the Bay Area in 2011 and fell in love with San Francisco. After high school, I went on to college and did coursework focusing on special education, art education, business, and communications.

I taught elementary school for two years with a focus on special education, but always had a passion for the part of my job that included supporting my students and the community outside of the classroom. I have enjoyed working with the community to register voters, hand out resources for food, and work together to improve the community through volunteer work.

Outside of work, you can find me singing and dancing with my two children, baking goodies to share with my children and coworkers, perusing a bookstore or two for exciting finds, crocheting or knitting, or enjoying the city with friends.

I was born and raised in San Francisco and have called the Bay Area home for many years. I even went to college in the Bay Area–I majored in Cognitive Science and minored in Education at UC Berkeley (Go Bears!). Throughout college, I enjoyed working with youth as a mentor in various capacities, and that led me to my first job as a middle school educational advisor for the Japanese Community Youth Council College Access Programs, where I coordinated programming to get students thinking about their paths to higher education.

I also spent three years at Tenderloin Community School teaching computer science to K-5 classes along with supporting the school with its digital learning needs. Most recently, I completed my M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology from Cal State Fullerton. I’d like to think that I am a learner at heart, and I bring the growth mindset with me each day at SFS.

I grew up outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with six siblings. I played softball at West Chester University of Pennsylvania and majored in Health and Physical Education with a minor in Adapted Physical Education.

I have taught all grade levels K-12 in Pennsylvania and Virginia before moving to California to teach Physical Education and be the Co-Athletic Director at Stanbridge Academy.

This will be my third year in the San Francisco area and I am loving it! Outside of teaching, I love going on hikes with my husband and my dog Remi, traveling, cheering for all Philly sports and coaching F45 classes as a fitness instructor. I can’t wait to start at SFS!

School has not always been a place where I felt I belonged, but when I did, I know it was the adults there that made it possible. Through my experiences working in SFUSD, a mental health rehabilitation center, and the Boys & Girls Club of San Francisco, I’ve discovered my brightest moments are in creative communities. I hope to contribute to some of the youth’s brightest memories at SFS.

I was born and raised in Tehran, Iran, and earned my degree in Business Management before moving to California. With over 20 years of experience in non-profit finance, I have served as a Business Manager at Drew School and ODC Dance, and as a Senior Accountant at Menlo School.

In addition to my passion for finance and business, I am an artist and the owner of Farnaz Ceramics. This creative pursuit allows me to share my love of art with others and brings me immense joy.

Having lived in the Portola neighborhood for the past two decades, I am excited to be a part of SFS and contribute to the community and city I cherish. In my free time, I engage in humanitarian causes, support the Portola Neighborhood Association, and enjoy relaxing at home with my son and our two cats.

I grew up in Michigan and attended Michigan State University, where I earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering. I was first hooked by math and science in middle school when assigned a project to build an egg drop device. Long after the project was over, I continued scaling my roof to test prototypes and dreamed about ways to perfect them. After graduating from college, I joined Teach for America. I was placed in San Jose where I taught Fifth grade for three years and earned my Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Whether students are tinkering with rhythms in the music room or building forts in the Adventure Playground, this school provides an environment where children can take risks, explore their passions, and figure out how things work.

I was born in France in the Parisian banlieue and immigrated with my family to Houston at the age of three. I grew up in a French-speaking household, and my family would travel back to France yearly, so I grew up feeling culturally French even though I was living in Texas.

I later moved to the Bay Area to attend UC Berkeley where I earned my BA in Philosophy with a minor in Greek Studies. After graduating from Cal in 2018, I worked as a bookseller at Pegasus Books in Berkeley. I fell head over heels in love with the book trade, and that love set me on my current career path in libraries. I went on to earn my Master’s in Library and Information Science from Simmons University before returning to the Bay Area to join SFS.

I love putting books into people’s hands and organizing spaces where imagination and inquiry thrive, so I feel immensely lucky for my role in the Learning Commons. I am always brainstorming new ways of creating a more engaging and digitally-integrated “library of the future” for students!

In my free time, I enjoy reading, long walks in the city, baking (and eating) sweets, and being a homebody with my partner Roz and our dog Charlie.

I grew up in Fairfield, California frequently traveling to Alaska to visit my dad. I studied Business Administration with an emphasis in International Business at San Francisco State, where I received my bachelor’s degree. A friend of mine told me about the accounting position at The San Francisco School and so I decided to apply. I am now working in two places at SFS – in the Business Office and the Development Office. I enjoy traveling when I can and trying out new places to eat – with the help of Yelp.

I am an east coast native; I grew up in Concord, Massachusetts and attended college in Vermont. I enjoy going back east every summer to spend time with my family on Cape Cod.

Prior to coming to SFS, I taught for three years as an early childhood educator in Washington, D.C., and for five years as a kindergarten teacher at the Tenderloin Community School. I have co-taught Kindergarten with Dolores Elkin for three years before becoming the K-4th Grade Learning Specialist.

I earned a BS in Elementary Education from the University of Vermont, a Master of the Arts in Teaching Reading from the University of San Francisco and hold a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. In my free time I enjoy hiking, reading and traveling!

As a child of a navy sailor, answering the question “Where are you from?” is always a challenge for me. Despite where I’ve lived, the San Francisco Bay Area has always been home base for me; my family immigrated here in the early ’80s, and it is the place I am glad to call my home.

I joined The San Francisco School in 2019, and am thrilled to be a part of this community. Prior to joining SFS, I worked with Pin@y Educational Partnerships (PEP), a partnership between public schools, universities, and the community with a goal of implementing a transformative, decolonizing curriculum. I have also taught Filipina/o American Studies and Foreign Language at Longfellow Elementary, and through PEP, oversaw program and curriculum development, and managed professional development opportunities for PEP colleagues at Longfellow. I also co-facilitated professional development for the Ethnic Studies Task Force at Malcolm X Academy.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from San Francisco State University, and am working toward my Master of Arts degree in Asian American Studies, also from SFSU. When I’m not exploring with my students ways to create a more equitable and just world, you can catch me gardening or lounging out somewhere in nature.

I first stepped through the Gaven Street gates in 2005 when my wife Kate and I brought our then two-year-old son Ben (Class of ’17) to his preschool assessment. When we finished up with the teachers and told him it was time to go, he asked very sincerely, “Why are we leaving?” Thankfully he began his SFS journey later that fall. And yes, he routinely came home dirty, tired, and hungry!

I was born and raised in the Central Valley, attended Smith College where I received a BA in Religion and Art History, and earned my Master’s in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley. I worked with patients and families as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Stanford Hospital and UCSF for 20 years and have been a member of the admissions team since 2019.

While at SFS as a parent, I served on the board, chairing the Public Purpose Committee from 2010-2015 and served as Board Chair from 2015-2018. I am a freelance photographer and particularly enjoy sports photography. I feed my soul by volunteering at Toluma Farms, a goat and sheep dairy in Tomales, CA. I love cooking without recipes, capturing big and tiny moments in my travel journal, and spending time with my wife, son and black lab, Harley - preferably together on the couch or with friends and family around a bonfire on the Oregon Coast.

I grew up in Austin, TX in the house of a college professor and a college administrator. As the youngest of four children I left Austin for the Pacific Northwest where I pursued a BA in Anthropology from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma and an MA in Communications from the University of Washington. After college I taught at a Spanish Immersion preschool and at the Learning Garden Montessori Preschool in Seattle. I am currently a student at SF State getting a MA in Early Childhood Education focusing on inquiry and curriculum in early learning.

When not in the classroom I am exploring new restaurants, reading, or painting. I spend a lot of time with friends and my border collie Lucy or exploring the diverse cultures and landscapes of California.

I have lived in the Portola District since 1986. Prior to coming to SFS, for 17 years, I was a paraeducator for autistic students, working for the San Mateo County Office of Education. During this time, there were good and bad experiences – but I loved every minute of it. I learned a lot about autistic students and their uniqueness, how they see the world, and how the world see them. I have know many of them since they started Kindergarten until their graduation at age 22, and I can’t help but get attached to them as I see them grow and achieve. “My kids” will always have a place in my heart.

I’ve also made lifelong friends with co-workers and teachers–together we’ve participated in the Polar Plunge for the past ten years in a row, and fundraised for our Special Olympics.

I am looking forward to a fresh start at SFS, and I am ready for new opportunities to learn from new students and co-workers.

My bucket list includes seeing every country on the map! I love travel, reading romance books while on vacation, and knitting at night.

I attended Lick-Wilmerding High School, Tufts University, and got my masters through BATTI. I taught first grade for four years in Buenos Aires, Argentina as well as a variety of Bay Area schools, but no community felt as “just right” as the one I came from.

I am thrilled to be a teacher here, with the freedom to shape the curriculum based on my students’ interests, the remarkable opportunities to collaborate with colleagues to deepen learning, and the sincere faith I have that the entire SFS community is truly living out its mission statement and cultivating the kinds of citizens who we trust to inherit this world.

When out of the classroom, I love: games, games, and more games (less strategy ones, more license-to-act-a-fool ones), long backpacking trips, running trail races, yoga, writing, creative dinner solutions with a sparse fridge, and constantly spinning the globe to land on the next big adventure that will launch me outside of my comfort zone.

I am in my first year at San Francisco State University studying child adolescent development. I am from Long Beach, CA, where I grew up playing soccer. I now play for SFSU, and I enjoy being a part of the team and representing my school on the field. After college, I want to teach Kindergarten.

In my free time, I love shopping, trying new restaurants in the city, and exploring Golden Gate Park!

I grew up in New York City. My schools were in high-rise buildings and we had recess on the roof! Some of my favorite learning moments were in after-school music lessons in a three-story brownstone, at first happily running around and freezing to music played by my teacher, but before long learning to sing and play the piano and clarinet myself. Although I majored in biology at Yale University, I was drawn back into music through playing in a Balinese gamelan (Indonesian percussion ensemble). Playing by ear, accompanying dance…I fell in love with music all over again! The Bay Area was the place to be for world music study, and I thought I would come out for a year and then go back to start Medical School. A visit to The San Francisco School changed my plans- I saw creative music and movement classes that excited me and I knew I wanted to try my hand at this kind of music teaching. Over 20 years later, I am still excited and challenged by the task of bringing the delight of music to children. I lead workshops for other music teachers in Orff Schulwerk, and I have published a book “From Wibbleton to Wobbleton” a collection of musical lesson ideas with the theme of creative play.

My teaching career began in kindergarten. There my passion for early childhood allowed me to lead inquiry-based projects that connected STEAM to the environment, literacy, and social justice. Prior to that, I worked in 3rd and then 4th grade as a teaching assistant where my commitment to joyful learning experiences was ignited. At the same time, I earned my Master’s in Education from the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute through the University of the Pacific. Throughout my years of working alongside children and families, student curiosity and wonder continuously inspire me.

In my free time, I enjoy swimming, dancing, traveling, and sharing ice cream with friends and family.

I even graduated from San Francisco State University. I don’t know if I could ever move away from San Francisco.

I’ve always enjoyed working with young children ever since I was in high school. Many people know I’m a preschool teacher but are surprised when they find out I also coach and love to bake. I always try to bring these other passions to my work in the preschool.

What I love about SFS is the community; the amount of faculty, staff, parents, neighbors, alum, etc. who are constantly involved with the school. Even when people move on in their lives, they always find time to come back. No one hesitates to say “Yes!” when asked for help.

I started teaching when I was in the fourth grade. My neighbor, Mrs. Lunblad, gave me a box full of her extra dittos meant for second graders. I loved that box of math problem sets, fill-in-the-blank reading exercises, and spelling sheets. I used them when my friends and I would play school. I taught macramé classes to kids in my grandfather’s neighborhood when I went to Ludington, Michigan the summer after sixth grade. Both my parents were teachers, so I guess it was in my blood.

When given the choice of teaching a combined 4th/5th or as the first SFS Middle School teacher, I chose the latter, excited to help create a new program. I chose well in 1985 and have loved teaching in this community ever since.

I have taught music since I was 19 years old! I was born in Madrid, Spain and went to a school that had wonderful music classes. Growing up singing, playing xylophones, dancing, and reciting poetry was a great foundation for becoming a music teacher. The year after I graduated from high school, I was tapped by my school’s music department to teach! Later I studied recorder, flute, and Baroque music in Madrid and London, and specialized in music pedagogy in Madrid and at the Orff Institute in Salzburg, Austria. I came to The San Francisco School in 1996 and I still enjoy walking into the main gate every morning, entering the quiet music room and imagining how it will soon be filled with the sound explorations and rhythms of the day.

Outside the gates of 300 Gaven, I am a teacher-educator, leading hands-on courses all over the world in the teaching philosophy of Orff Schulwerk. In 2012 I received the Pro Merito award from the International Orff Schulwerk Forum for my work as a leader in this field. I have published two books in English: “Quien Canta Su Mal Espanta” a collection of traditional children’s rhymes, songs, and dances from Latin America, and “Blue is the Sea” which explores the integration of music, movement, and the visual arts, one of my favorite themes as a teacher. San Francisco is now my home, but I love spending the winter and summer vacations with my family in Spain.

I am a San Francisco native who has a love for traveling, which has led me to live abroad in South Africa and China. I graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a double major in International Relations and Anthropology. I then went on to study Chinese, Mandarin at the Beijing Language and Culture University while teaching English in Beijing. It was during my third year in China, while teaching English to a class of first graders, that I discovered my passion for teaching children. I returned back home to San Francisco soon after and received my master’s in Curriculum and Instruction.

In my teaching career, I have had the privilege of being able to collaborate with many teachers from different backgrounds and teach across different grade levels including: kindergarten, second, third, and fourth grade. These experiences have led to my passion in spearheading student-centered curriculum that focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion. I hope to bring my enthusiasm for creating a classroom environment that focuses on social justice to SFS.

I’ve always been attracted to stories. Going to college wasn’t just a rite of passage; it accelerated my love of stories. The history major–and taking creative writing and foreign languages classes–at UC Berkeley was a great conduit to different perspectives. Later, graduate school at New York University expanded my exposure to different stories and ways of telling them. I was lucky enough to watch many types of films and do video production, where I shot other people’s stories as well as my own. But there was more to explore: A department that combined art, new media, and collaboration fulfilled that zest for continued learning.

Teaching, though, wasn’t on my radar. But subbing for a colleague was, and it led to gigs at The New School, which, I found, suited me. Those relationships forged in grad school also led me to independent education: I spent 5 years as a Media Studies teacher at a Long Island middle and upper school, which was an ideal place for my experience in history and video production.

Being back in California brought me back to the dedicated history classroom, where it was a big privilege to teach 7th and 8th graders. We studied the past and present with a critical eye. We later synthesized our knowledge into narratives (including audio ones) as well as informative and persuasive texts. Just as important were the laughs we shared despite all the seriousness of the material.

Finally, I am excited to continue lifelong learning with the vibrant SFS community and to forge new relationships with you.

I was drawn to The San Francisco School due to our shared values of play, adventure, and inclusion. As the SFS healthcare practitioner, I look forward to building rapport and being someone students, teachers, staff and parenting adults can all turn to for compassionate care and health related concerns. As an EMT, BLS CPR provider and Wilderness EMT, I have experience dealing with a range of situations, from minor to major injuries, illnesses and emergencies.

Like many others at SFS, I grew up in the Bay Area and have always had a deep love for the outdoors. In recent years I have spent many months backpacking with my girlfriend on the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Canada’s Great Divide Trail. I am an avid mountain biker and cyclocross racer, and will spend many days after school out on a bike!

I am delighted to call SFS my home. As counselor, my goal is to help our students calibrate their inner compass so they can navigate all development peaks and valleys that come their way. I have worked with young people for more than two decades, as a science teacher, SEL educator, and mental health therapist. I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), and hold a Master of Science in Counseling from San Francisco State University with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC), and a Bachelor of Science in Resource Economics from the University of New Hampshire.

I have been in private practice as a therapist and school wellness consultant, most recently at Marin Montessori. Before coming to SFS, I worked at The Menlo School on the Peninsula for 10 years, as a grade 6-8 counselor and facilitator of faculty trainings and parent education on topics surrounding current tween and teen experiences.

I grew up in Massachusetts and have called San Francisco home for 20 years. I live with my family in cozy Bernal Heights. Being half city mouse and half country mouse, I love taking in all the creative urban vibes the City has to offer and then retreating into nature to soothe my senses.

I love coming to work each day with such enthusiastic and engaged students, as well as a talented, dedicated, and passionate group of colleagues. In addition to working as the Upper School Learning Specialist, I also am a 6th grade advisor and basketball coach.

I grew up in the Bay Area and absolutely love it here. Prior to coming to SFS, I worked as a special education teacher in Berkeley and San Leandro. I’ve worked with students from kindergarten through high school in my career.

I live in El Sobrante with my wife, Rebecca, and two sons. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, cooking, and the outdoors.

I was born and grew up in Hong Kong. I graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. Prior to joining SFS, I worked at Park Day School for seven years, and other non-profit organizations for several years. I have two children, Christy and Justin, and enjoy listening to soft music and doing crossword puzzles.

Growing up in San Francisco and within the SFS walls, I have deep passions in movement, social justice, and environmental justice. After attending the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts for Dance, I graduated from Saint Mary’s College of California with a double major in Justice, Community, and Leadership and Dance and Choreographic Studies with an extra concentration in Women’s and Gender Studies.

I grew up in Germany. After earning my BA in Social Work, I got a job with Social Services in Berlin supporting homeless youth and young drug users. Then my social work career took me to the south side of Chicago where I worked with impoverished seniors living in some of Chicago’s most notorious public housing projects. The time with my clients opened a window into a level of poverty and deep seated, blatant systemic racism that I had never known before. This experience propelled me toward learning more about and working toward racial equity and justice ever since.

I moved to San Francisco in the late 1980s and have since studied Montessori Education, received an Early Childhood Education credential, completed my Multiple Subject Teaching credential and earned a Masters in Educational Administration. After directing the Montessori Children’s House on Lake Street for several years I joined SFS’s North Class team in 1996. There has not been a dull moment playing, learning, and teaching alongside my students and co-teachers in the preschool.

Outside of school, I love to hike, boogie-board, garden and travel with family and friends.

Originally from the DC area, I have been in California since 1992, when I started my career in education as a 5th Grade teacher in Southern California. After five years in the classroom, I moved to the Bay Area for graduate school and got my MA and PhD in Education at Stanford. I have spent my career working in and with schools in a variety of capacities, primarily focused on improving education for traditionally underserved students. I fell in love with SFS initially as a parent, particularly appreciating the school’s arts program, humanitarian mission, focus on social justice, and commitment to reflecting the diversity of the city. Now as a member of the administrative team, I’m thrilled to be helping the School achieve the visions of the Strategic Plan.

I moved to San Francisco from Los Angeles where I received my B.A. from Occidental College in Politics with a minor in Studio Art. Before my time at SFS, I worked as a Special Needs Teaching Assistant for students aged 5 to 22 with cerebral palsy. I feel grateful to be a part of SFS, as it is such a special school!

I joined the SFS community in 2021 as the 3rd Grade Head Teacher. Professionally, I came from small progressive schools in the East Bay that challenged me and my students to show who we are with our classwork. I value that I get to continue that kind of work here at SFS, through all of our curriculum. Personally, I’m usually dreaming of a vegan pastry or basking in the prose of a recent lit-fic read on my BART commute.

With a BA in two majors English and Art History (Rice University), an MA in Visual Studies (UC Irvine), and another MA in Curriculum and Instruction (University of the Pacific/ Bay Area Teacher Training Institute [BATTI]), I’m one of those people that can’t get enough of learning; lucky for me, 3rd graders are such great teachers.

I was born in Oakland as Desiree Campbell. I was raised all over the Bay Area, one of the most beautiful places in the world to me. That view from the Bay Bridge never gets old, ever. I attended many schools in the East Bay before graduating from Golden Gate Academy to graduate (the senior class trip was to Hawaii!).

I love music. From freshman to senior year of high school, I studied at UC Berkeley as a voice major. I was fortunate to work with local great musicians like Bill Bell, Phil Reeder, and Bishop Walter Hawkins. I then attended Howard University for one semester before moving to Los Angeles where I lived for 30 years working in the music and entertainment industry. I also served my surrounding communities through Ephesus and Spirit of Life Ministries.

I returned to the Bay Area in 2018 when I met my friend and 8th Grade Science Teacher Eugene Stampley who introduced me to SFS. I feel so very fortunate to have this wonderful opportunity to work at SFS with the great Extended Day Program team.

I love that the Arts (visual, music, dance, and drama) are so often incorporated into the classroom curriculum. It’s a community that values the process of making art, not just the final product - the story behind the art is what is interesting here. A community that values this is a community worth being a part of. I also love that the outdoor space is so natural and wild and that the students get long periods of time to play, learn, and grow through their social interactions at SFS.

I grew up in the tri-state area of New York, between the Catskill and Berkshire Mountains. I spent a lot of time playing, exploring, and investigating the natural world. I attended both public and Waldorf schools. I graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology, where I studied advertising photography and graphic design, with a BFA. I moved to San Francisco in 2006, worked as a freelance graphic designer and photographer for a few years before receiving my child development degree and Montessori training. Most recently, I received my Masters in Education from the University of the Pacific through the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute (BATTI).

I am most passionate about creating, crafting, and making art with children. Outside of school, I love to paint, print make, make collages, photograph, practice yoga, visit museums, travel and explore with my husband.

I am a San Francisco native, born and raised in this extraordinary city. I am a Sacred Heart Cathedral alumna and I continued my education at the University of San Francisco where I studied Psychology and Sociology. I was blessed to receive a full athletic (basketball) scholarship at the University of San Francisco. After college I worked with inner city youth at an afterschool program at Booker T. Washington Community Center. Later I discovered a passion for teaching Physical Education in the public school system at Claire Lilienthal Elementary and Sutro Elementary.

With three brothers and a family who loves sports, I quickly developed a passion for athletics. I was fortunate enough to pursue my childhood dream and play basketball professionally in Montenegro. Upon my return I attended Skyline College where I received my certificate in Early Childhood Education. I have coached basketball at elementary, middle school, and high school.

I began my career at SFS as a substitute for two years. When the Preschool & Elementary PE position opened up, I applied. SFS has continued to support me in my professional development as a lifelong learner. I have held several positions (interim Athletic Director, Middle School Advisor, Extended Day Instructor, etc.), chaired committees, served on the SFS Board of Trustees. I am currently an Admissions Coordinator and, almost 12 years later, I am now a proud parent of a student here at SFS.

The San Francisco School is a special place and I felt that the moment I first stepped on campus years ago. I still feel that magical energy walking through the front gate on Gaven street now and treasure all of the relationships I have with students, colleagues, and parents in this community. It is rare to find a teaching job where you feel supported to take risks, dream big, and are encouraged to play. I’m looking forward to the day when my toddler will be a student here and get to be part of this special community as well.

A native of Chicago, I have been in secondary and middle school education for more than twenty years. I have a great passion for teaching science, most likely inherited from my mother who was a Special Education Teacher for many years.

My life has been and continues to be centered on family. My husband and I have the honor of guiding and rearing our son, Jayden, who is now an SFS student. My extended family includes two sisters, two nephews, and one niece.

My parents and grandparents are deceased. I must admit that at times I miss them immensely, I had the great honor and pleasure of caring for both of my parents and grandparents during a very difficult time that led to their transition. I am grateful to God for having the opportunity to show them all how much I loved them.

I have always been passionate about teaching and science. When I was seven years old, I asked my parents for a microscope for my birthday. They were perplexed about my request, asking how I knew what a microscope was, to this day, I don’t know. During the summer my sisters and I would “play” school, and I always had to be the teacher. This natural curiosity about teaching and science guided me to participate in the science fair in high school. During my senior year in high school, I was selected to represent the State of Illinois at the International Science and Engineering Fair, being the first African-American selected from the State of Illinois.

During my teaching career I have received many recognitions. The most valuable recognition however, has been the many thank you cards, phone calls, and personal accolades offered by my students. I have been nominated for the Golden Apple Teaching Award, and been the recipient of the Suave Performance Plus Award for Excellence in Teaching, and Teacher of the Year four times. Recently I received my Master of Arts degree in Education with a concentration in Teacher Leadership from Ashford University.

As I reflect on my life, I am humbled that I was chosen to impart and share knowledge with young adults. I cannot think of any profession that is more noble than teaching, and I am truly, truly humbled! If my life at the end reflects my journey, I want my epithet to read, “Just a Teacher!”

I received a bachelors degree in Fine Arts with an emphasis in ceramic sculpture from San Francisco State University. After college, I’ve worked as a Lead Teacher for the summer program at Children’s Day School and as a substitute at Pacific Primary before landing at SFS.

I have a wide variety of interests which I incorporate into my work with children, from arts and yoga to sciences, philosophy, and history. I’ve completed early childhood education credits at SFSU and City College of San Francisco.

I earned my AA in 2003 at City College of SF and followed up with a BA in Health Science from Jackson State University in 2005. I spent the past eight years as a Recreation Leader with SF Recreation and Park, and have been an active referee and coach in Bay Area basketball leagues for many years. I’ve also also been a basketball league administrator for Sports 4 Good, a Bay Area adult recreational sports league. Outside of school, I love to spend time with my two children.

Before becoming a teacher, I received my bachelor’s degree in Psychology, master’s degree in Elementary Education and Teaching Credential from Smith College. I am inspired by the school’s ability to nurture students who thrive academically, but who also develop into joyful, creative and playful thinkers. The school creates a community committed to a shared set of values - children and adults who work to treat each other and the world with respect and intelligence.

I was born and raised in Madrid, Spain, where I earned my Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and Teaching as well as a Master’s in Educational Psychology. I bring 16 years of experience in the K-12 education field. I have served as a teacher and in different leadership positions in Spain and the United States.

When I moved to the Bay Area, I studied Early Childhood Education and specialized in second language acquisition and teaching. At my last school, Escuela Bilingüe Internacional, an IB and bilingual school, I served as Principal 2-8. Before moving to the East Bay school, I was at Spanish Infusion School (former Marin Preparatory School) for six years. There, I held different roles, from teaching to Upper School Head, supporting families, students, and teachers in the division 5-8. I also served as Spanish Language Director for four years, where I proudly developed and led the K-8 Spanish Program.

I believe that the role of educators is guiding students to think critically and support them in their journey to finding their own path. Partnering with all members of the community is essential to enabling students to become compassionate adults and lifelong learners, ready to make a positive impact in their communities and the world.

I am a sports fan who loves to cook, read, work out, and discover new places with my husband and daughter.

As an art educator, I have more than 15 years of experience teaching K-12 visual and digital arts in a wide variety of settings that include the Oakland Unified Hospital School Program, the San Francisco Art Institute’s Young Artist Program, the Children’s Creativity Museum, and the Asian Art Museum. Additionally, I have taught students at George Washington Carver Elementary in Bayview-Hunters Point and Sunnyside Elementary in Westwood Park.

I received my Bachelors of Arts in International Relations from Wesleyan University and my Master of Fine Arts degree from University of Michigan School of Art & Design.

Born and raised in Long Beach, California, I have been in San Francisco for the last four years. I recently graduated from The University of San Francisco where I majored in Media Studies and Music. Growing up with my mother being a high school English teacher, I have always had an interest for education, collaborating with others, and connecting with students.

I played on my high school soccer and swim teams and played the cello in my school’s orchestra where I got to perform at Carnegie Hall! During my time in college, my love for teaching grew and I have had many opportunities to explore my passion. I was an assistant teacher for summer programs at the Long Beach Yacht Club, where I assisted in the day to day activities of the classroom. I was a soccer coach for the nonprofit organization Girls Leading Girls, as well as a an after school tutor at 826 Valencia.

In my free time, I enjoy going on long walks in Golden Gate Park, watching new movies with friends and family, playing soccer on at beach, and wrapping up at home with a good book.

I grew up on the East Coast and for the first half of my life considered myself a New Yorker. I studied Women’s Studies and Comparative Religion and received my Teaching Credential from Dartmouth College. I moved to the Bay Area in 1992 and taught Third Grade at an alternative Elementary school in Cupertino for nine years. During that time, I returned to school to enhance my teaching skills and better understand the diverse learning styles of my students. I received my Masters Degree in Special Education and my Education Therapy Credential from San Francisco State. I have been in the Learning Services Department at The San Francisco School since 2001.

I live with my son (Class of 2019) and our cat in Pacifica. I now consider myself more a Californian than a New Yorker. I enjoy hiking, gardening, and spending time outside with my family, and I love the community of students, teachers, and parents at SFS.

I began teaching Humanities in 2000 and teaching at SFS in 2006. My days as a Classical Studies major at Santa Clara University eventually led to graduate school at the University of San Francisco where I completed my master’s and Single Subject Credential in English. While at USF, I became active in the Teaching for Excellence and Social Justice program, which laid the foundation for critical pedagogy and transformative learning.

Growing up (still growing up) as a Korean immigrant in a large immigrant family is a history that shapes how I’ve become a life-long learner, why I appreciate each individual who dedicates his/her life to this “calling”, and WHO schools should represent - all people, all languages, all classes, and all family structures. The act of teaching and the institution of schooling is the most powerful form of social activism, and this, I carry with me each day at SFS.

I was born and raised in Hangzhou, China, a coastal city near Shanghai. In 2000, I adventured across the world to attend Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. I graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in Mathematics and Computer Science in 2003.

After interning as a software engineer in my senior year, I decided to pursue a teaching career instead. I spent three years teaching at Garrison Forest School, a preK-12th All-Girl Boarding/Day School outside of Baltimore. While there, I taught courses from algebra to calculus, and served as a dorm parent. These three years opened a window for me to glimpse into the cultural landscape of American schools, and provided a precious opportunity for me to get to know each student as a “whole” person. I also learned the importance to incorporate real-world applications in my classrooms to make math more accessible and meaningful.

In 2006, I moved to San Francisco and started teaching at Marin Academy in San Rafael. I spent nine rich and stimulating years there, collaborating with colleagues and growing to understand myself better as an educator and an Asian American. I am excited to be the 8th grade math teacher this year, and to share with the students what it takes to succeed in high school and beyond.

Over these years of teaching, I have found a set of yoga and meditation practices that help me clear away daily stress so that I can perceive and communicate better in and outside of the classroom. In 2009, I completed my yoga and meditation teacher training through the Art of Living Foundation. Now, I volunteer to teach workshops for teenagers and adults across the bay area. M&M - Math & Meditation! What better tools to give to young people to help them become calmer, smarter, and happier!