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Jordan Karp | Chair
Redwood Day Parent
B.A., Economics and Philosophy, Columbia University; Masters, City Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Professional Experience: Urban Planner
Other Redwood Day involvement: Former PGA President; Fun-Run co-chair; PGA Nominations Committee; Room Parent
Jordan has over 20 years experience in urban design and transportation planning, working for government agencies and in private consulting. He has successfully managed complex planning and design projects for clients throughout North America. Jordan currently manages a group of planners and engineers at AECOM in Northern California, providing planning services to transportation agencies in the Bay Area and throughout California.
Jordan and his family live in Oakland, and both his sons attend Redwood Day. He loves the outdoors, and tries to sneak in as much time in the forest and mountains as he can. He has volunteered with a variety of youth outdoor-education and leadership-skills programs, and is active in bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations.
Personal Statement: “Our family joined Redwood Day in 2013, and from the start we’ve valued the school’s approach to providing a comprehensive education that nurtures all aspects of a child’s growth. I'm excited to support Redwood Day and the fantastic community of faculty, staff and families that make this such a special place.”
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Elyse Whitehead | Vice Chair
Redwood Day Parent
B.A. in Psychology and American Studies, with highest honors from UNC-Chapel Hill and JD, magma cum laude from UC Hastings
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Elyse is the proud parent of Eleanor (4th) and Henry (2nd). She and her husband Todd joined Redwood Day because of the strong sense of community -- a community that celebrates individual children and works to make them not only engaged learners but good people and citizens. Elyse is thrilled to be in her third year of service on the RDS Board of Trustees. She serves on the Finance, DEIB, and Compensation Committees and as Secretary for the Board.
Elyse was born and raised in Atlanta, GA, and earned her B.A. with highest honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (go Tar Heels!) and her J.D. with highest honors from UC Hastings. Elyse spent over a decade in private practice at the boutique law firm of Keesal, Young & Logan, where she made partner and advised clients on a range of business matters and represented them in litigation. In 2020, Elyse joined Plaid, a fintech company whose mission is to unlock financial freedom for everyone. There, she leads the Enterprise Solutions team -- a team of dedicated and solutions-oriented attorneys and legal professionals whose focus is providing proactive, holistic, and practical advice on antitrust/competition, global employment, intellectual property and innovation, litigation, privacy, and regulatory matters. Elyse also serves as the Executive Sponsor for the Legal Team's DEIB Committee, a group dedicated to championing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within recruiting, hiring, and the workplace.
Outside of work, Elyse enjoys listening to true crime podcasts (strongly recommend "Bear Brook"!), taking long walks to enjoy the beautiful Bay Area weather, and playing 20-questions with Eleanor and Henry.
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Ayanna Brown | Advancement Committee Chair
Redwood Day Alumni Parent
B.A., University of California, Berkeley
Other Redwood Day Involvement: PGA Co-President, PGA Co-Vice President, Admissions Ambassador, Communications Secretary, Room Parent, Classroom Volunteer, Generations Day Volunteer, Book Fair Volunteer, Library Volunteer, Diversity in Action Committee, PGA Nominations Committee, Auction Committee
Ayanna is a proud Oakland native and dedicated member of the school community for over twenty years. She earned her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, and currently serves as an Epic Technology Trainer for Alameda Health System which provides patient- and family-centered care to communities across the East Bay.
Ayanna's roots in the school run deep – she is the mother of three daughters who attended Redwood Day from kindergarten through eighth grade, graduating in 2011, 2018, and 2025. Her family legacy began with her cousin, who graduated in 1997, and continues with two nieces in the classes of 2027 and 2033. Her daughters have gone on to attend Saint Mary's College High School, the College Preparatory School, the University of Hawai‘i, and Columbia University.
Ayanna currently lives in Oakland with two of her three daughters. She enjoys gardening, cooking, & reading and will always have a recommendation if you’re looking for your next great book.
Personal Statement: “I serve as a trustee because I am deeply committed to championing diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice at Redwood Day. As a parent of three with distinct learning styles – who all found both academic challenge and emotional support here – I have seen firsthand how the school nurtures the whole child. The combination of strong academics, social-emotional learning, and community makes this an amazing place. Teachers and staff are compassionate and committed to meeting students where they are and their work has left a lasting impact on my family. I want to ensure that students and families continue to feel welcome and benefit from the school.”
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Mark Sopp | Buildings & Grounds Chair
Redwood Day Parent
B.S. in Design, Arizona State University School of Design
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Mark is Principal, Design Director, and member of the Board of Directors at SB Architects in San Francisco, CA and Miami, FL. specializing in Hospitality, Residential and Mixed-use projects. He is a licensed Architect in 9 states and have contributed design and planning of projects in 38 countries. His family loves the outdoors; hiking, biking, and sports. They are avid skiers.
Personal statement: I am honored to be part of the Board of Trustees and the opportunity to spend more time immersed in the Redwood Day community to understand how we can collectively continue the great work of providing a robust educational environment for our children.
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Dalbir Singh | DEIB Committee Chair
Redwood Day Parent
B.A. from UCLA: Mathematics with a specialization in Computation
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Professional Experience: Currently, Dalbir spends his time advising food companies as a board member and working on various technology-related projects. Additionally, he volunteers as a mentor and technology advisor to Berkeley Scholars, a Berkeley-based organization that provides need-based scholarships to college students. In his spare time, Dalbir enjoys cooking, spending time outdoors, and cherishing moments with his family.
Other Redwood Day Involvement: Previous PTA Co-President, Auction Committee, Fall Festival Committee
Dalbir is a proud parent of two boys, Jeevan and Sevak. He embarked on his career in the tech industry at Macromedia and later Adobe. In 2005 Dalbir transitioned to the food industry and became a full-time member of Sukhi's Gourmet Indian Foods, his family business. In his role as the Senior Vice President of Sales, Dalbir played a crucial role in driving Sukhi's growth and expanding its distribution nationwide over a span of 15 years.
Personal Statement: Our time at Redwood Day has been filled with joy and delight. We've seen our boys grow academically and emotionally into wonderful little people. In the process, we have made life-long friends of our own in the parent community.
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Monica Espinosa | Secretary
Redwood Day Parent
B.A., Economics and Legal Studies, University of California, Berkeley; and J.D., University of California, Hastings College of the Law
Monica has been a proud Redwood Day parent since 2018. Her involvement at Redwood Day has included serving as co-chair for the PGA’s Prism Committee, a room parent, and a tour guide for prospective families.
Monica received her Bachelor’s degree with a double major in Economics and Legal Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where she served as editor of the Hastings Law Journal.
Monica’s professional work focuses on providing reentry legal support as an attorney at Root & Rebound, an Oakland-based nonprofit whose mission is to restore power and resources to families and communities most harmed by mass incarceration through legal advocacy, public education, policy reform, and litigation. Monica’s prior experience includes post-conviction capital defense in habeas level appeals, civil legal aid, and family law litigation and mediation.
Monica serves on the East Bay La Raza Lawyers Association Board of Directors and is secretary and member of the EBLRLA Scholarship Fund Board of Directors. She has served as secretary on the Alameda County Bar Association’s Family Law Executive Committee. She spends her time outside of work cheering her family on at sports and music events, learning to play piano, and planning and enjoying road trips and outdoor adventures.
Personal Statement: Redwood Day means so much to our family. The Redwood Day faculty, staff, curriculum, and community go above and beyond to nurture and support every child’s growth from day one.
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Nitin Gupta | Strategic Planning Chair
Redwood Day Parent
B.S. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Yale University
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Nitin brings over 20 years of experience leading product and business teams. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Product at Quizlet, an ed-tech company offering AI-powered study tools that help students master what they’re learning. Before that, he led the core product at GoFundMe, and held leadership roles at GoDaddy and Glyde. He began his career in management consulting at Bain & Company.
A Bay Area native, Nitin now lives in Oakland with his wife, Wendy, and their son, Alden, a student at Redwood Day.
Personal Statement: “We feel honored to be part of the Redwood Day community. It’s inspiring to see the deep care faculty and staff show for each child—and how much families support one another.”
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Brandi Catanese | Trustees Committee Chair
Redwood Day Parent
B.A., UC Berkeley; Ph.D., Stanford University
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Brandi is currently an Associate Professor of African American Studies and Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies, UC Berkeley, where she has taught since 2003. Her courses focus on African American cultural history, performance theory, and dramatic criticism. Her research focuses on the power of representation to both reflect and actively shape widely held understandings of racial identity. In addition to her teaching and research, Brandi has extensive higher ed administrative experience spanning from curricular redesign, public programming, and admissions policy to equity and campus climate work and doctoral program administration. Her hobbies include cooking, being in nature, and traveling.
Other Redwood Day Involvement: Classroom volunteering, PGA Faculty Appreciation Committee (since 2018)
Personal statement: "Redwood Day has been a fantastic fit for our family! I am honored to serve on the Board and to help ensure that the learning environment at Redwood Day continues to prepare students for their next challenges in these rapidly changing times."
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Christa Edwards | Trustee
B.A. from Scripps College
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Christa is a graduate of Scripps College. She has been in the early education field for 15 years and is currently the Executive Director of BlueSkies for Children, the only NAEYC-accredited preschool in Oakland, CA. She is fascinated by how humans learn, how children develop a concept of self, and the social justice aspects of increasing credibility and career pathways in a field dominated by women of color. Prior to her appointment as Executive Director, she served on the Board of BlueSkies for nine years. She lives with her husband, Peter, daughter, Naomi, and dog, Lexi, in Richmond, CA.
Personal statement: "I am excited to learn more about and contribute to the Redwood Day community, where many of our students land after graduation. The thoughtfulness behind programs and holistic approach to student growth at Redwood Day line up nicely with our mission and focus at BlueSkies."
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Cathy Hunter | Trustee
BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design; MEd from Loyola College with an emphasis on women in leadership
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Cathy Hunter has spent over forty years in independent school education, serving as teacher, dean, division head, head of school, trustee, and consultant. Born in London and raised in upstate New York, her career began on the east coast; after several years of teaching (Phillips Academy Andover and Maumee Valley Country Day School) she served as department chair and dean at St. Timothy’s School in Baltimore, Maryland for eleven years and Upper School Head at Head-Royce School in Oakland, California for twelve years.
Cathy was founding Head of School (2002-2016) at the San Francisco Friends School where she and her team built an exceptional program based on Quaker values, raised over twenty million dollars to transform the hundred year-old Levi-Strauss factory into an award-winning school facility, and pioneered numerous partnerships with organizations in San Francisco’s Mission district. Cathy spent the 2016-17 school year in London as a consultant at King Solomon Academy, and the following year as Interim Head of School at Marin Horizon School.
Cathy currently serves as a consultant at RG175, a firm that completes Head of School —and other leadership searches—for independent schools across the country and around the world.
Personal Statement: "As a long-time resident of Oakland and an even-longer-time independent school educator, it is a delight to join the leadership team of Redwood Day School. The school is at once filled with a vision for the future and a grounded celebration of the "now-ness" of childhood. Redwood Day occupies an important place in the Bay Area educational landscape; I'm honored to help the school ask questions that drive its continued healthy growth and development."
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Jennifer Jackson | Trustee
Redwood Day Parent
Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Michigan Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology from Stanford University
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Jennifer is a university educator with a private psychotherapy practice. Her expertise in mental health, culturally responsive education/infrastructure, and DEIB practices is a welcome addition to the Board. Jennifer previously served as a Board Trustee at Pacific Primary School.
More info to come.
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Benjamin Jones | Trustee
Redwood Day Parent
B.A. Stanford University, J.D. Northwestern University School of Law
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Ben and his wife Betsy live in Oakland, and their sons -- Jack and Parker -- attend Redwood Day. He joined the Board of Trustees in 2021.
Ben is a Senior Counsel at Google, where he leads the team of lawyers supporting product development and regulatory compliance for the Google Maps business. Before joining Google, he was in private practice in San Francisco. Ben volunteers as a flag football and little league baseball coach and enjoys playing golf and tennis, following NBA basketball, and travel.
Personal statement: "Redwood Day means a lot to our family. The boys have found a great group of classmates and friends, the teachers and staff work hard to create an environment where learning is an adventure, and we've made great friends among the parents."
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Katie Larkin-Wong | Trustee
Redwood Day Parent
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Katie works at DoorDash, as the Director of Competition and Litigation. She has particular expertise in advancement, strategic communications and planning, governance, finance committee tasks, and equity and inclusion. Katie has experience on various boards/bodies including the ABA Board of Governors, Ms. JD (as Board Chair and President), and Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession.
More info to come.
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Greg Pasquali | Trustee
Redwood Day Parent
B.A. in Architecture, Urban Studies, Yale University
Greg is the parent of Eleanor in 6th grade and Noah in 4th grade
Greg is an expert in housing development, real estate investment and asset management, land use strategy and execution. He has worked for cities planning for long-range growth and sustainability, taught undergraduate and graduate programs on real estate development, and primarily focuses on building new buildings and improving old ones to make both the buildings and their surrounding neighborhoods more vibrant, sustainable and profitable. The work is very collaborative and interdisciplinary, involving working with community groups and neighbors, designers and engineers, other experts, and public agencies to get things done.
In addition to Redwood Day's Board of Trustees, Greg also serves on the Board of Directors of the Downtown Oakland Association and Jack London District Associations. He formerly served as a founder and board member of Manna Project International, a non-profit building school, healthcare, and community facilities in Central and South America.
Greg got into real estate development and land use planning as a way to protect the outdoor places where he loves to play. Greg is a cyclist, runner, boater, skier, and deep down just a kid who loves to play outside in nature with his family and friends.
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Bill Perrine | Trustee
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Computer Science at Hamilton College
Master of Arts in Teaching at the University of San Francisco
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Bill recently completed his 38th year in independent school education and is currently in his eighth year as Head of School at Marin Horizon School in Mill Valley, California. Prior to his role at Marin Horizon, he served as Head of School at Oak Meadow School in Massachusetts and as Head of Middle School at Friends Academy, also in Massachusetts. Earlier in his career, Bill taught middle school math at The Bancroft School (MA) and The Town School for Boys in San Francisco.
Personal Statement: "I am excited to join the Redwood Day Board of Trustees and learn about this wonderful school. I look forward to supporting the long-term health and direction of the school."
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Geoff Rhizor | Finance Chair
Redwood Day Parent
B.S., Business Administration with a Minor in History, Boston University
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Professional Experience: Technology Investment Banker
Other Redwood Day involvement: Annual Fund Ambassador, Classroom Volunteer
Geoff has over 18 years of experience in technology investment banking, advising software and tech-enabled services businesses on M&A, Debt and Equity Capital Raising, and IPOs. He is a managing director at middle market firm Houlihan Lokey in the technology investment banking group. Additionally, he has partially focused for the past 6 years on advising social good, fundraising, and nonprofit businesses.
Geoff and his family live in Rockridge. His daughters both attend Redwood Day. He loves running, cycling, and the outdoors and tries to sneak in as much time in nature as he can.
Personal Statement: "The Redwood Day community has been incredibly welcoming to our family since joining in 2022, and we are so excited about how our daughters are developing academic, social and emotional well-being at Redwood Day. It is truly a unique place, and I am enthusiastic about providing any support I can to the school and community at large as the school continues to evolve and grow."
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Ashminder "Ash" Singh | Trustee
Redwood Day Parent
B.S. Business Administration, University of California, Berkeley
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Ashminder is a Partner and co-head of real estate investments at Fremont Group, a private investment firm in San Francisco. He has been with Fremont for nearly twenty years. During that time, he has exclusively focused on acquiring and growing real estate operating companies, both domestically and abroad.
Ashminder was born in Oakland and currently lives in Piedmont with his wife and two daughters, Harjun and Kirpa, who attend Redwood Day. He volunteers at his local Gurdwara, where both of his girls attend Sunday school. In his spare time, he enjoys playing tennis, hiking, and listening to Indian classical music.
Personal Statement: "I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve on the Redwood Day Board. I have seen our eldest daughter grow immensely, both academically and emotionally, while benefitting from a supportive environment at Redwood Day. I look forward to having our younger daughter attend as well, and the opportunity to give back to the Redwood Day community through service on the Board."
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Susan Webster | Trustee
Redwood Day Grandparent
B.A., Economics, Wesleyan University
M.S. in Accounting, NYU Stern School of Business
J.D., Fordham University School of Law
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Susan is the Executive Vice President of Fremont Group, a private investment firm in San Francisco. She is a member of the Fremont Group Investment Advisory Committee and Board of Directors. Prior to joining Fremont, Susan was a partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in New York City. For more than thirty years, she represented public and private companies on a wide variety of corporate transactions and counseled boards of directors and senior management on general corporate issues, including corporate and board governance.
Susan and her husband have two granddaughters at Redwood Day. In her spare time, in addition to spending time with her granddaughters, Susan is an ardent reader and enjoys travel and swimming.
Susan is a Trustee Emerita of Wesleyan University and is the Co-Chair of the Wesleyan Athletic Advisory Council. She is an emerita member of the Fordham Law School Advisory Board and served for fourteen years as a Trustee and Secretary of St. Bernard’s School, a K-8 school in New York City.
Susan is honored to have the opportunity to serve on the Redwood Day Board.
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Sarah Wilson | Trustee
Redwood Day Parent
B.A., Biology, Pomona College; M.D. University of California, San Francisco, M.Ed. University of California, Berkeley
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Sarah practices as an inpatient Obstetric Hospitalist at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland with an emphasis on high-risk deliveries and mitigation of inequities in pregnancy care. She has over 20 years of experience in education as well, first in elementary science education prior to medical school and then in graduate medical education. She has served in leadership positions in residency programs both at her current position and at UCSF. She has expertise in educational assessment, curricular design, pipeline development and recruitment and retention. Most recently, Sarah was appointed as a Medical Director of Technology for The Permanente Medical Group. She also served on the Board of Trustees for Pomona College after graduation as a young Alumni trustee.
Sarah Lives in Oakland with her husband, Robby, and two sons. She loves cooking and baking and reads cookbooks from cover to cover to explore new recipes. She spends most of her weekends at the baseball diamond, in her backyard gardening, or on the East Bay trails.
Other Redwood Day Involvement: Room Parent and classroom volunteering
Personal Statement: Sarah is deeply grateful for this opportunity to give back to the school and contribute her expertise in education, medicine, and community health to the RDS community.
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John Loeser | Head of School, Ex-Officio
Redwood Day Parent
B.A., Education and Psychology from Swarthmore College and a M.Ed. in School Leadership from Harvard University.
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John Loeser has been Head of Redwood Day School since 2011. Prior to Redwood Day, John was the Assistant Head of School at The Carey School in San Mateo, CA for seven years. He began his teaching career as a 5th grade teacher at Chenery Middle School in Belmont, Massachusetts and spent eight consecutive summers as an advanced mathematics instructor and Academic Dean at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, teaching students in grades 5-8 and leading a diverse faculty in the development of a rigorous academic program. John has written extensively for teachers in training and enjoys every opportunity to help new and veteran teachers hone their craft. He has led many initiatives in schools including those focused on differentiated instruction, curriculum development, faculty professional growth, diversity, social-emotional development, service learning and long-term sustainability. John holds a B.A. in Education and Psychology from Swarthmore College and a M.Ed. in School Leadership from Harvard University.
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Deann Hays | CFOO, Ex-Officio
B.S. in Accounting from Colorado State University
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Deann is a career finance professional with more than 20 years of financial management experience developed in both public accounting and private sector environments. She joined Redwood Day as the school’s CFOO in July of 2018. Prior to working at Redwood Day, Deann spent approximately five years as the Finance Director of the American Community School of Abu Dhabi. She holds a BS in accounting from Colorado State University and is a licensed CPA.
Deann thoroughly enjoys working at Redwood Day and loves the energy and enthusiasm of the students. In her free time, she enjoys reading, travel, exercise and spending time with family and friends.
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Shawnetta Jones | Faculty Trustee
2nd Grade Teacher
Redwood Day Parent
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Professional Experience: to come
Personal statement: to come
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Shefali Nanavati | Faculty Trustee
6/7 Math Teacher, Advisor
Redwood Day Parent
With over two decades of experience in education, Shefali Nanavati is a dedicated middle school mathematics teacher and advisor at Redwood Day. Her professional journey has spanned public and independent schools in New York City and California, where she has consistently fostered student growth through inclusive, equity-centered teaching practices. At Redwood Day, she has played a leading role in math curriculum development, while also contributing to key committees such as hiring, admissions, and compensation. She’s also a frequent presenter at math education conferences, passionate about sharing innovative strategies to make math meaningful and accessible for all learners. Outside the classroom,
Shefali enjoys practicing yoga—both as a teacher and a student—along with dancing, camping, and spending time with family and friends, often over delicious meals.
Personal statement: "Redwood Day has been an incredibly supportive community for me—as an educator and a parent. With both of my children attending the school, I’ve seen firsthand how the teachers, learning environment, and community values work together to nurture them into thoughtful, empathetic individuals."
