lower school staff

Our teachers are intelligent and passionate, dedicated to educating the whole child: mind, body and spirit. Our highly skilled faculty and professional staff also engage themselves in a constant process of professional development. Teachers seek to become better not only at meeting the cognitive needs of their students, but also at understanding child and early adolescent development and therefore the emotional, physical and social needs of each child. Look for staff with their names underlined to read more.

Lower School Faculty

Lower School Specialists

Denise Breland

Lower School Director
B.S., Keuka College
Graduate Studies, George Washington University

Rebecca Denison

Asst to Lower School Director/ Service Learning
B.A., University of California, Santa Cruz

Leah Aguilera

3rd Grade Teacher (3A)
M.Ed - curriculum - CSUEB; B.A., Mills College;

Multiple Subject Credential, CLAD Credential, UC Berkeley

Gina Ali

K-4 Music Teacher
Bachelor of Music, Meredith College Raleigh, NC Single Subject Credential, Music CLAD Certificate

Kelly Alexander

4th Grade Teacher (4B)
Multiple Subjects Credential, CalStateTEACH
B.A., University of Michigan

Jennifer Ammenti

K-8 Head Librarian
B.A., California State University, Chico
Multiple Subject Clear Credential with English Supplement, CSU, Chico

Jan Clitherow

1st Grade Teacher (1A)
B.A., Warwick University, England

Mark Bernfield

5-8 Grade Music Teacher
B.A., UC San Diego
Coursework at Berklee College of Music

Emily Freedman

Kindergarten Grade Teacher (KA)
B.S., Elementary Education, University of Vermont

Barbara Bowman

Library Assistant
B.A., University of California, Davis

Vicky Green

2nd Grade Teacher (2B)
Chadron University (University of Nebraska)
Substitute Teaching Certificate, State of Wyoming

Tanna Hall

K-5 P.E. Teacher
B.A., San Francisco State University

Kim Kita

1st Grade Teacher (1B)
Multiple Subjects Credential, CLAD, M.S.,
Cal State University of the East Bay
B.A., UC Berkeley

Loryn Hudson

LS Learning Specialist
Educational Therapist, Holy Names University
Multiple Subject Credential, CLAD, SFSU
Slingerland Institute
BFA, University of Michigan

Erika Lagrisola

4th Grade Teacher (4A)
Multiple Subject Clear Credential,
CLAD Masters in Early Childhood Education,
Mills College

Barbara Jerabek

Nature Program Coordinator
Early Childhood Education Studies
Director, Animal Crackers Pre-School

Tontra Love

Kindergarten Teacher (KB)
B.A., UC Berkeley
Multiple Subject Clear Credential, CLAD

Thelma Lancaster

Computer/Cooking
B.A., Macalester College
Baking Degree, Dunwoody Industrial Institute

Monica Rees

5th Grade Teacher (5B)
G.C.E., Swansea College of Education, U.K.

Pica Lockwood

K-5 Spanish Teacher
B.A., UC Berkeley

Taj Simmons

2nd Grade Teacher (2A)
B.A., Linfield College
Multiple Subject Clear Credential, CLAD, SFSU

Cindy Nelson

Lower School Art Teacher
BFA, University of Illinois

Rhonda Smith

3rd Grade Teacher (3B
BA, UC Berkeley Multiple Subject Credential, CLAD

Roger Riedlbauer

Rock Band B Coordinator
SFSU, San Diego State University

Nicole Solis

5th GradeTeacher (5A)
B.S., Susquehanna University
Single Subject Science Clear Credential CLAD & SDAIE
Peace Corps Service - Camargo, Chuquisaca, Bolivia Peace Corps Fellowship - M.A. Social Justice and Multicultural Education, SFSU

Mary Ann Scheuer

Librarian
M.A., London School of Economics
B.A., Georgetown University
Single Subject Credentials in English and Social Studies, CLAD, UC Berkeley

Narda Skov

Health Educator/Counselor
Masters in Public Health, Columbia University
B.A., UCLA

Interns

Sara Baker

Kindergarten Intern (KA)
B.A., Cal State East Bay

Paris Christopher

1st Grade Intern (1A)
B.A. Saint Mary's College of California Multiple Subject Credential, CLAD Mills College

Richard Dahl

1st Grade Intern (1B)
B.A., UC Santa Cruz

Lisa Furrow

2nd Grade Intern (2B)
Bachelor of Administration in Management, University of Houston-Downtown

Hallie Hester

Kindergarten Intern (2B)
B.A., UC Berkeley

Carrie Klein

3rd Grade Intern (3A)
B.A., Hamilton College
CLAD, M.S. Ed., Bank Street College of Education

Jessica Poggi

2nd Grade Intern (2A)
B.A., English Literature, Anthropology, Barnard College

Christine Wooldridge

3rd Grade Intern (3B)
Sc.B., Brown University