Mike Riera, Ph.D., Head of School
Mike has worked in schools since 1980 as a counselor, teacher, and administrator. He is a best-selling author or co-author of five books, an award-winning columnist, and a national speaker on issues of children, adolescents, families, and parenting. Mike is also the Family and Adolescent Counselor for the CBS Saturday Early Show and a frequent guest on Oprah and NPR Radio. Most recently he was the dean of students at Marin Academy, and before that the counselor at University High School.
Denise Taylor Breland,
Lower School Director
Mrs. Breland taught first grade at Redwood Day School for nine years, before becoming the Interim Lower School Director. Born and raised in New York City, she attended Keuka College and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, followed by post-graduate studies in Special Education at George Washington University. In 1990 she married and moved to the Bay Area, where she received a certificate in Reading Recovery from San Bernardino University. Denise has 30 years of teaching experience, from kindergarten through eighth grade. She has taught in both public and private schools in Washington, DC; Prince Georges County, MD; Cleveland, Ohio; East Palo Alto and Oakland. Now entering her 10th year with Redwood Day School, she is delighted to have the opportunity to support the children, families and faculty of RDS as an administrator.
Warren Sepkowitz, Middle School Director
Prior to joining Redwood Day School Warren served at Woodlawn School in south Iredell County, North Carolina. He joined Woodlawn in 2005 as the first Head of School and was responsible for the school's day-to-day operations. Warren served for 11 years as a History teacher and as an administrator at Providence Day School in Charlotte. His administrative roles there included Acting Director of Upper School, Director of Studies, and Director of Professional Development. Prior to joining Providence Day School, Warren taught at independent schools in Oklahoma City and Head-Royce in Oakland. He also served as Middle School Director at the Aylett Country Day School in Virginia. Warren holds a BA degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and a MA degree in Liberal Studies from Duke University. He and his wife, Mary Lynn, have three children, Isabel, Emma, and Amos.
