Faculty

Our teachers are intelligent and passionate, dedicated to educating the whole child: mind, body, and spirit. Our faculty and professional staff 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 the emotional, physical, and social needs of each child.

Sarah Lehman

Denise Breland

Lower School Director

Mrs. Breland taught first grade at Redwood Day School for ten years, before becoming 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 graduate studies in special education at George Washington University. In 1990,  she moved to the Bay Area, where she received a certificate in Reading Recovery from San Bernardino University. She has over 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, Maryland; Cleveland, Ohio; East Palo Alto and Oakland. Now entering her 15th year with Redwood Day School, she is delighted to have the opportunity to support the children, families, and faculty of RDS as an administrator.

Lower School Faculty

Leah Aguilera

Leah Aguilera

3rd Grade Teacher (3A)
Kelly Barlow

Kelly Barlow

4th Grade Teacher (4B)

Jan Clitherow

Jan Clitherow

1st Grade Teacher (1A)

Vicky Green

Vicky Green

2nd Grade Teacher (2B)

Emily Hedges

Emily Hedges

Kindergarten Teacher (KB)
Kim Kita

Kim Kita

1st Grade Teacher (1B)
Erika Lagrisola

Erika Lagrisola

4th Grade Teacher (4A)
Kenneth Lim

Kenneth Lim

5th Grade Teacher (5A)


Monica Rees

Monica Rees

5th Grade Teacher (5B)
Taj Simmons

Taj Simmons

2nd Grade Teacher (2A)
Rhonda Smith

Rhonda Smith

3rd Grade Teacher (3B)
Regina Sorey

Regina Sorey

Kindergarten Teacher (KA)

Lower School Specialists

Gina Ali

Gina Ali

K - 4th Music Teacher

Jennifer Ammenti

Jennifer Ammenti

Librarian, 8th Grade Advisor

Mark Bernfield

Mark Bernfield

5th-8th Grade Music Teacher, 8th Grade Advisor

Barbara Bowman

Barbara Bowman

Library Assistant

Tanna Hall

Tanna Hall

K-4 P.E. Teacher

Rebecca Highland

Rebecca Highland

Assistant Librarian


Loryn Hudson

Loryn Hudson

Lower School Learning Specialist
Barbara Jerabek

Barbara Jerabek

Nature Program Coordinator
Thelma Lancaster

Thelma Lancaster

Computers/Cooking

Pica Lockwood

Pica Lockwood

Lower School Spanish Teacher
Cindy Nelson

Cindy Nelson

Lower School Art Teacher

Roger Riedlbauer

Roger Riedlbauer

Lunch Time Rock Band

Lower School Interns

Meghan Campbell

Meghan Campbell

1st Grade Intern (1A)
Amber Copeland

Amber Copeland

Kindergarten Intern (KA)
Alexander Fernandez

Alexander Fernandez

3rd Grade Intern (3A)
Julie Lee

Julee Lee

Kindergarten Intern (KB)
Kirstie Mah

Kirstie Mah

1st Grade Intern (1B)
Kelly Moore

Kelly Moore

2nd Grade Intern (2A)
Lisa Perloff

Lisa Perloff

2nd Grade Intern (2B)
Enessa Sanchez

Enessa Sanchez

3rd Grade Intern (3B)
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Engaged. Prepared. Inspired.