BLACKBAUD - Key Persons
Afandie Winter began his journey at CDS as the Technology & Network Support Specialist in 2021 and quickly showcased his dedication and expertise. By early 2022, Afandie assumed the role of IT Manager, a testament to his leadership skills and technical acumen. CDS recognized Afandie's continued passion and upward trajectory, culminating in his position of Director of Technology later in 2022. Born and raised in Singapore before moving to San Francisco in 2005, Afandie is passionate about food and is always exploring new cuisines. Outside of work, Afandie is an avid record collector of 60s-early 70s Jamaican music and DJs his record collection monthly at an all-ages event.
Bio
Ali Walker joined the CDS team in 2023 as our Chief of Staff. She had previously served as a marketing coordinator and internal operations manager for Whisper.ai, and before that she was a school programs interpreter and education specialist at the Filoli Historic House & Garden in Woodside. Ali has also worked as a freelance illustrator, a volunteer field trip interpreter at the Conservatory of Flowers, and the Vice President of the Northern California Society of Botanical Artists. She holds a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from Stanford and is working on a master's in illustration from Academy of Art University.
Bio
Alicia Perdue, Kindergarten Teacher, has been teaching at CDS since 1997. Alicia earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Grand Canyon University. She has a child development master teacher permit with the State of California, is certified in the Project Approach, trained in the Responsive Classroom, and in 2004 served as the early childhood representative for the California Association of Independent Schools Northern Professional Services Committee. In 2020, Alicia received a certificate in Early Education Leadership through the Zaentz Professional Learning Academy at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Job Titles:
- Client Portfolio Manager at Dodge & Cox
Bio
Alka Singal is a Client Portfolio Manager at Dodge & Cox and has spent most of her career in asset management and strategy with a focus on fixed income. She has been involved in different aspects of CDS life, serving on the JEDI committee, the finance committee, and the retirement committee for the school's 403(b) plan and helping as a classroom liaison and sports team coordinator. She grew up in Michigan and earned a BA in economics from Dartmouth College and MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. She is passionate about DEI and mentorship and serves as a board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters Bay Area. She and her husband Brad are the parents of Neeraj ('28) and Sameera ('30).
Bio
Allie Hersh, our Middle School Counselor, joined CDS in 2022 with nearly 25 years of experience in the education industry. Most recently a counselor and learning specialist at the Peninsula School in Menlo Park, she also served as a counselor at various schools in Las Vegas and Texas as well as a sixth grade English teacher at San Francisco Day School and the American School of Madrid in Spain. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in English from Middlebury College and a master's in Educational Psychology/School Counseling from the University of Texas, Austin. Allie and her dog Honey are so happy to live and work in the Mission and give back to this vibrant community!
Job Titles:
- High School Transition Counselor
Bio
Amanda Richard, High School Transition Counselor, originally joined the CDS administration in 1993. Subsequently she worked in the CDS development office before joining the admission team in 2008. She added responsibilities as our High School Transition Coordinator in 2014 and began exclusively focusing on that position in 2019. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Boston University and loves to spend the summers in Hawaii, her childhood home. Amanda is the parent of CDS alumnae Marina ('10), Serena ('13) and Ciara ('15) Richard.
Job Titles:
- Food & Agricultural Science Teacher
Bio
Analise Heid, Food and Agricultural Sciences Teacher, joined CDS in 2014 from the Nueva School, where she taught science and coordinated the School Garden program. Since 2009, Analise has served as a master teacher in the STEM Teacher and Researcher Program at the Center for Excellence in Science & Mathematics Education at Cal Poly State University. Prior to that, Analise worked for 10 years as the Nature and Environmental Science Program Director as well as a naturalist, science and math teacher at the Greenwood School in Mill Valley. She has a bachelor's degree in forestry from the University of California, Berkeley, a California teaching credential from San Francisco State University, and a master's degree in secondary science education from San Francisco State University. Analise is an outdoor enthusiast and in her free time enjoys surfing, gardening, hiking and traveling to update her guidebooks, and hiking and backpacking Big Sur, Sierra South, and Backpacking California.
Bio
Angela Alvarado, Treasurer, is a partner at Deloitte, where she started as an audit intern in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2005, she moved to San Francisco where she has focused on advising private equity and corporate clients on acquisitions and investments, primarily in the technology, fintech and consumer sectors. Angela is a licensed CPA. At CDS, she and her husband Frank have volunteered as admission tour guides, parent panelists, and at various events including Country Fair, Faculty & Staff Appreciation, and co-chaired the 2019-2020 CDS Annual Fund campaign. Angela has recently served on the CDS Advancement and Finance Committees. She enjoys camping and traveling with Frank and their daughter Shelby ('26). Angela has also served as Treasurer on the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association (NOPNA) board for 7 years.
Bio
Angelique Huerta has been a community worker for over twenty years, serving in a range of capacities such as union organizing in the Salinas Valley, advocating immigration and legal cases for domestic violence victims in San Jose, coordinating employment opportunities for at-risk populations in South Central Los Angeles, coordinating services for homeless families in the Tenderloin, and most recently, doing social work in the government sector. She holds a bachelor's degree from U.C. Davis in Chicana/o Studies and Communications. At CDS, she has served on the JEDI committee. She also serves on the Board of Directors for CUAV (Community United Against Violence), an organization that works to build the power of LGBTQ communities to transform violence and oppression.
Bio
Anjali Jariwala, a CDS graduate, joined our front desk team in 2023 after working for several years in our summer camp and as an extended program teacher. She has led a wide range of activities ranging from arts and crafts to STEM work to field trips. Anjali has also served as a Spanish teaching aide and a front desk aide at Design Tech High School. She is currently pursuing an associate's degree in fashion design at City College of San Francisco.
Anna Lee, Fourth Grade Teacher, joined CDS in 2018. She is a graduate of Swarthmore College and a former Teaching Fellow with Breakthrough Collaborative, a nonprofit organization that provides summer academic programming and school-year support to under-resourced students. Anna also possesses experience as a student teacher in multiple constructivist schools, has worked with students between third and sixth grades, and has designed interdisciplinary lessons focused on equity and equality. She is trained in Responsive Classroom, an approach that implements classroom practices that build academic and social-emotional competencies.
Bio
Anna Christiansen joined our preschool teaching team in 2023. Anna came to us with nine years of teaching experience, including working at Bing, the lab school at Stanford, and as a preschool and pre-kindergarten lead English Teacher at the French American School of Silicon Valley in Sunnyvale. Her most recent teaching experience was as an elementary school garden educator. Anna has a Master of Arts in Teaching from Trinity Washington University in Washington D.C. and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Georgetown University. Away from school, Anna enjoys gardening, yoga, and cooking.
Job Titles:
- Advancement Associate
- CDS in 2023 As an Advancement Associate
Bio
Anna Nugent joined CDS in 2023 as an Advancement Associate. She has returned to San Francisco after four years in hometown Houston, where she worked on the Advancement team at the Menil Collection. While working towards her Bachelor's degree from the University of San Francisco, Anna served as a Democracy Coach at Presidio Middle School, where she taught civics and public speaking to 8th graders. Anna is passionate about protecting voting rights and living sustainably.
Anne Sculley joined CDS in 2017 as our 7th/8th Grade Science Teacher. She has previously served as a middle school science teacher and department coordinator at St. Cecilia School, a 7th-12th grade science teacher at Waverley College in Sydney, Australia, and a science teacher and department head at St. Vincent's College in the same city. Additionally, she has worked as a preschool teacher and fundraising chair at Miraloma Cooperative Public School, a teacher for English language learners at Transworld School, and a production executive in the film and television industry for more than a decade. She holds a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Canberra.
Anne Valentino joined the first grade team in 2022 after more than twenty years at Chinese American International School, in positions ranging from first grade teacher to Curriculum Director to Lower School Director. She fell back in love with the classroom after serving as a maternity leave substitute and decided to return to classroom teaching. Anne holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan.
Job Titles:
- Early Childhood Program Director
Bio
Antonette Greene, Early Childhood Program Director, joined CDS in 2016 with many years of experience in the area of early childhood education. Antonette completed her Ed.D. in educational leadership from Mills College and also has a master's degree in educational leadership from Mills. As a classroom teacher and assistant director for 18 years at Kumara School in Mill Valley, she served in many roles, including teaching, mentoring classroom teachers, partnering with the director to develop curriculum and program priorities, and presenting the program and curriculum to families. She has also worked as a teacher trainer, helping set goals for teacher growth and developing content and materials for trainings.
Bio
Ash Carera-Henry, our Middle School Learning Specialist, joined the CDS team in 2022. Ash previously worked as a teacher and case manager at Elmhurst United Middle School in Oakland, where she also served as a temporary assistant principal. Prior thereto, she worked as a dean of students and instructional coach at Guidepost Montessori in Yerba Buena and as a classroom teacher in various California schools, supervising students ranging from third to eighth grades. Ash holds a bachelor's degree in English from UC Santa Barbara and a master's in the same subject from Cal State Northridge.
Belinda Gray, First Grade Teacher, joined CDS in 2014 with nine years of teaching experience, including six years lead-teaching first grade at the San Francisco Day School and at the Keys School in Palo Alto. Belinda has an M.F.A. in photography from the San Francisco Art Institute and a bachelor's degree in photography from Humboldt State University. She holds a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential through the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute at San Francisco State University. Belinda has received mindfulness curriculum training through Mindful Schools, a leading nonprofit in the field of mindfulness in education. She is trained in the Lucy Calkins Reading and Writing Workshop at Columbia University Teachers College and in Responsive Classroom, an approach that implements classroom practices that build academic and social-emotional competencies.
Job Titles:
- Designer
- Designer in San Francisco
Bio
Brad Terrell is a designer in San Francisco, providing architectural services and related consulting to the construction and real estate development community. Brad holds a Master's in Architecture from Virginia Tech and earned his undergraduate degree in Interior Design from Radford University. Brad volunteers his time coaching youth sports and serves on the CDS Facilities Committee. Brad and his wife, Melody Hsu, are parents to Owen ('27) and Reese ('23).
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing & Communications
- CDS in 2023 As the New Director of Marketing & Communications
Bio
Bradley J Bethel Jr joined CDS in 2023 as the new Director of Marketing & Communications. He has twelve years' experience in the non-profit world, with a dual concentration towards community development and visual storytelling. Originally from Buffalo NY, his marketing and communications experience has taken him on a journey through various community advocacy groups, public awareness campaigns, architectural preservation organizations, and educational institutions.
Before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area, Bradley worked as a Research Associate for the Restore Our Community Coalition, and as a Communications Manager for Preservation Buffalo Niagara. Upon moving to California, he worked as a Graphic Designer for the Salvation Army Kroc Community Center in Suisun City, and as a Webmaster & Graphic Designer for Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. Among his additional endeavors include serving as a Board Member for Locust Street Arts, and as a Delegate for Buffalo's first-ever Participatory Budget Program.
Bradley has a Bachelors degree in Environmental Design from the University at Buffalo, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Visual Communications from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Brandon Culley joined our fourth grade team in 2022. He has more than 20 years of experience at various schools in California, most recently as a third and fourth grade teacher at Bayside Martin Luther King Jr. Academy in Marin City. In his previous position as a second and fourth grade teacher at Brookside Elementary School in San Anselmo, he was named the school's Teacher of the Year for 2017. Brandon holds a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Oklahoma and a master's in education from National University.
Bio
Brian Kreischer and his wife Sarah Maxwell are parents to Odessa ('25) and Ben ('30). In his day job Brian serves as Managing Partner and Chairman at Frank, Rimerman + Co. LLP, a CPA firm of approximately 600 people, where Brian has worked his entire 30-year career. In that capacity, Brian's primary focus is leadership development and coaching, strategy, risk management and organizational development. Brian also serves on the Board of Directors of Baker Tilly International, a global network of accountancy firms representing 145 countries.
Brian has served on the CDS finance committee since 2017. In past philanthropic board service, Brian has co-chaired the Syracuse University San Francisco Regional Advisory Council, supporting the University in development, engagement and admissions. Brian also served for almost ten years on the board of the Palo Alto Art Center Foundation, where he chaired the finance committee and formed the first development committee.
Bio
Brionna McGhee joined CDS's after school team in 2019. She has worked as a substitute teacher in local schools since 2016, and she has also served as a patient support assistant for UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay and as a hospital security officer. Brionna is currently pursuing an associate degree in business and fashion merchandising from City College of San Francisco.
Bio
Candy Mabry, Preschool Teacher, joined the CDS preschool team in 1990. During the 2004-2005 school year, Candy was the Assistant Head of School, and from 2006-2008 she taught kindergarten. During the 2003-2004 school year, Candy served as the early childhood representative for the California Association of Independent Schools Northern Professional Services Committee. Candy earned her bachelor's degree in music at San Francisco State University and received certificates from City College of San Francisco in early childhood education and early childhood administration. Candy is certified in the Project Approach and has received training through All Kinds of Minds. Prior to joining CDS, she spent eight years as a head teacher at the Jewish Community Center, Rosenberg Early Childhood Center in San Francisco.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President
- Social Entrepreneur and Strategy Consultant
Bio
Carolyn Laub is a social entrepreneur and strategy consultant working with nonprofits and foundations focused on equity, justice, and social change. Carolyn currently serves as a senior communications strategist with Wonder: Strategies for Good and a senior strategist with Public Equity Group. She currently serves on the board of Majority Action, which empowers shareholders to hold corporations accountable to high standards of corporate governance, social responsibility, and long-term value creation. In 1998, she founded and led GSA Network, which organizes LGBTQ youth to advocate for safety, equity, and restorative justice through a national network of over 4000+ Gay-Straight Alliance clubs in high schools and middle schools. Carolyn is an Echoing Green Fellow, Ashoka Fellow, and Pahara Fellow. She holds a BA in Cultural Anthropology from Stanford University. At CDS, Carolyn has been a classroom liaison, family farmer, and admissions volunteer. She and her wife, Heather, are parents to Zuri ('26) and Kira ('30). Carolyn has served on the following boards: Majority Action (2018-current); Transgender Law Center (2001-2011); California Safe Schools Coalition (2001-2011); Bay Area Young Positives (1997-2002).
Catherine Grove, Fourth and Fifth Grade Learning Specialist, joined CDS in 2017 after 14 years as a teacher with the San Francisco Unified School District. Catherine holds a California Teaching Credential in both Elementary Education (Multiple Subjects) and Special Education from San Francisco State University. She has a master's degree in special education with an emphasis on mild/moderate learning disabilities from San Francisco State. Catherine is trained in Slingerland Multisensory Structured Language Approach, Project Read, LindaMood Bell, Making Math Real, and Social Thinking Curriculum. Outside of teaching, Catherine enjoys biking, reading, and playing at the beach with her two children.
Bio
Christina Garbarino joined the CDS team in 2023 as part of the first grade teaching team. Previously, Christina was an English Literacy Teacher at Presidio Knolls School in San Francisco. Prior thereto she taught at The Hamlin School, where she was an Associate Teacher for first, second, and third grades. Also at Hamlin, she was a coach of the running team. Christina earned a Master of Arts in Education from University of the Pacific and a Bachelor of Arts from Colby College in Maine. She also is a graduate of the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute (BATTI) Program.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Middle School Director
Bio
Christopher Wachsmith became our Middle School Director in 2021. Prior to joining CDS in 2015 as a Seventh Grade Humanities Teacher, Christopher was a language arts and math teacher at St. John School in San Francisco. He also has teaching experience abroad, having worked as an English as a Second Language Instructor for high school-aged students in Pokhara, Nepal. Christopher earned a master's degree in teaching from the University of San Francisco and also holds bachelor's degrees from San Francisco State University in psychology (child development) and literature. In 2018, he received the first annual Molly Huffman Award for Teaching Excellence as the teacher whose work best exemplifies the core educational values of CDS: engaging students in critical and creative thinking, inspiring the joy of learning, challenging and inspiring students to do their best work, exhibiting high personal and professional standards, and engaging actively in professional development.
CJ Logel joined the second grade team in 2021. He came to CDS after six years at The San Francisco School, where he taught first through third grades, helped found and lead the school's Rainbow Alliance, and coached the middle school cross country team. CJ has a bachelor's degree in dance from the University of California, Riverside and a master's in education from the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute at the University of the Pacific. He is also a professional contemporary dancer and a certified kids' yoga teacher.
Bio
Cyndi Wong is an attorney who manages her own firm and represents clients in the healthcare industry throughout the country. She counsels her clients on all matters, including business development, human resource issues, and litigation disputes. Cyndi received a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Information Management from Carnegie Mellon University, and a Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School. Cyndi is a dedicated CDS admission volunteer and family farmer, parent to her two children, Orestes ('28) and Daphne ('25), and traveler and foodie with her partner Thanos.
Bio
Daisy Martinez, Preschool Teacher, joined CDS in 2019 as our ECP Extended Program Coordinator before moving to the preschool team later that year. Daisy is bilingual (English & Spanish) and holds a bachelor's degree in child and adolescent development from San Francisco State University. She has nine years of experience in the field of early childhood education working with children and families from diverse backgrounds, both as a lead preschool teacher and as a site supervisor.
Job Titles:
- Advancement Database Manager
Darryl Owens, Fifth Grade Humanities Teacher, joined us in 2017 as a fourth grade teacher and moved to the middle school team five years later. Darryl came to CDS from Presidio Hill School, where she was the maternity leave substitute in fifth grade for over a year. Prior thereto, she taught fourth and fifth grade for four years at the Kennington Junior Academy in England, and previously was a summer volunteer teacher with Art in Tanzania, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that promotes the development of vulnerable communities in Tanzania through education, arts and health and environmental programs. Darryl holds a bachelor's degree and Qualified Teacher Status in primary education from Canterbury Christ Church University in England. She is trained in Responsive Classroom, an approach that implements classroom practices that build academic and social-emotional competencies.
Job Titles:
- Digital Innovation Specialist
Bio
Daven Gee, Digital Innovation Specialist, is an experienced educator, administrator and digital media artist. He has a bachelor's degree in public communications and a master's degree in film production. Prior to joining CDS in 2018, he worked with Streetside Stories, co-creating curricula and co-teaching in Bay Area elementary and middle school ELA and ELD classrooms, integrating media arts practices.
Daven is especially interested in strengthening personal voice, community engagement, and social justice through creative expression and media literacy. In addition to pursuing this work as an educator, he has done so with many award-winning documentary films, including Regret to Inform, Blessed Is the Match, Scout's Honor, and the PBS documentary series P.O.V. and Independent Lens.
Born in Southern California and raised on a farm in Northern California, Daven has long been interested in cross-cultural exchange. He is passionately engaged with family and community in the East Bay and is earning a TESOL certificate (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from the University of California, Berkeley.
David Eastin joined the CDS team in 2021 as our Seventh Grade Humanities Teacher. He had most recently served as a fifth-grade teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School (where he was a member of the Culture and Climate Team as well as the Digital Learning Facilitator Program) and sixth through eighth-grade humanities teacher at Spanish Infusion School. Prior thereto, he spent seven years in Spain as an English instructor at various local schools. David holds a bachelor's degree in literary studies from Utah Valley University and completed master's courses in English literature at St. Louis University in Madrid.
Bio
If anyone knows the Children's Day School community, it's Diane Larrabee (Incoming Trustee) who helped create it. Diane has 16 years of experience in admission and enrollment management, including serving for twelve years as the Director of Admission at CDS. Diane led all aspects of the admission process, including the review of all applications, while also managing multiple admission events and projects. During her tenure, the racial/ethnic diversity at the school increased from 16% to 49%.
Prior to her work in admission and enrollment management, Diane was a practicing attorney for 11 years, specializing in commercial and securities litigation. Diane has served on a variety of non-profit and school boards, including Town School for Boys and Compass Family Services, for which she was President of the Board for five years. She also served for six years on the Board of Laurel Hill Nursery School in San Francisco, including three years as President of the Board. Diane earned a B.A. in English Literature from University of California, Berkeley (with honors) and a J.D. from the University of California School of Law, San Francisco (Order of the Coif).
Job Titles:
- Transitional Kindergarten Teacher
Bio
Divya Vyas, Transitional Kindergarten Teacher, joined CDS in 2014 with more than ten years of experience in curriculum planning, classroom teaching, and documentation of different early childhood settings. Divya earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and child care from SNDT University, Mumbai, India, a master's degree in English literature from JNV University, and a master's degree in early childhood education from San Francisco State University.
Job Titles:
- ECP & LS Library Specialist
Bio
Elsa Townsend joined CDS as our Librarian in 2005. Previously, Elsa was the head librarian at Sherman Elementary School for five years. Elsa volunteers in various organizations, serving on the board of directors of Blind San Franciscans, Inc. and The Welcome Ministry, non-profits providing services for blind and homeless people, respectively. She has a bachelor's degree in French language and literature from Goucher College. Elsa enjoys singing, gardening, reading, and cycling.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Enrollment Management
Bio
Erin McHale joined CDS in 2021 as our Assistant Director of Enrollment Management. She has taught students of various ages from kindergarten through eighth grade as a classroom teacher and a youth leadership coordinator in public and private schools in New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area. Additionally, she has held the roles of Assistant Principal at Annunciation School and Head of Lower School at School of the Blessed Sacrament, leading the schools' admissions and community engagement efforts. Erin holds a bachelor's degree in world religions and American government from Georgetown University, as well as a master's in curriculum and teaching and an MEd in private school leadership from the Klingenstein Center for Private School Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University. Erin and her husband's twins are students in the CDS class of 2027.
Job Titles:
- CDS in 2022 As an Extended Program Staff Member
- Extended Program Teacher
Bio
Eva Kane joined CDS in 2022 as an Extended Program Staff member. Before joining CDS, she worked as an independent childcare provider in California and New York State, working with families of children ages 4-8. She also works as a freelance web and graphic designer, curating literature into accessible reading formats, and she publishes multi-platform documents and portraits through her freelance photography services.
Eva is currently studying health sciences at University of the People with an emphasis in developmental psychology.
Bio
George Lopez Jr., Head Receptionist, joined CDS in June 2014 after spending many years in the retail management/customer service and film industries. Originally from Southern California, he moved to San Francisco in 1994 and has made the city his home. George enjoys cooking, creating art, visiting local museums, and traveling.
Bio
Greg Gardner, Preschool Teacher, joined us in 2012 from Presidio Early Education School, an inclusive Reggio Emilia preschool. Prior to that, he was a substitute for special ed/child development classrooms through San Francisco Unified School District and has also been an instructor at the Thrive Foundation for Youth in San Francisco. He earned his Early Childhood Education credits from City College of San Francisco. Greg graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Grand Canyon University. In 2021, Greg was awarded the Molly Huffman Award for Teaching Excellence (named after former CDS Head of School Molly Huffman). He also owns his own independent record label, has performed with Conspiracy of Beards, creates children's songs and books about social justice issues, and designs graphics for the San Francisco Skate Club. He is the father of two children.
Bio
Gretchen Ott worked on the CDS preschool team from 2001-2019 and returned to the school in 2022. She received her BA in child development from California State University, Humboldt. Gretchen has been a presenter at the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) Regional Conference and in 2011 authored an article for the CAIS quarterly publication on using online blogging as a communication tool to make preschool learning visible to parents. Gretchen is certified in the Project Approach, a teaching approach where teachers guide students through in-depth studies of real-world topics, and is trained in Responsive Classroom, an approach that implements classroom practices that build academic and social-emotional competencies.
Job Titles:
- LS Substitute Spanish Teacher
Bio
Gueli Ugarte joined CDS in 2024. She brings to Lower School students extensive experience in the Spanish language from a variety of educational initiatives. Born in Bolivia, she previously worked as a Spanish teacher at French American International School (middle and high school), Bentley Upper School (high school), and Ring Mountain Day School (elementary school). Additionally, she has provided guidance and emotional support for student academics and activities through event coordination and community services.
Gueli has Bachelor's degree in Spanish Literature from the University of California Davis, and a Master's degree in Spanish Literature from the University of New Mexico.
Bio
Guillermo Cortez, Preschool Teacher, joined CDS in 2016 after holding various teaching positions in San Francisco and Cambridge, Massachusetts. Most recently, he was a first grade co-teacher at San Francisco Day School; prior thereto he was a paraprofessional teacher at Presidio Early Education School, an inclusive Reggio Emilia preschool, and a lead science instructor at Galileo Innovation Camp for Kids. He holds a bachelor's degree in child development from Tufts University and is trained in Responsive Classroom, an approach that implements classroom practices that build academic and social-emotional competencies. Guillermo is fluent in Spanish.
Bio
Hannah Tacké joined the Fourth Grade team in 2023. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with her Multiple Subjects Teaching Credentials and Masters in Education in 2018. Afterwards, she participated in the Associate Teacher Program at Stuart Hall for Boys, then moved to San Jose to teach Fourth and Fifth grades at Discovery Charter School. In her free time, Hannah enjoys traveling, eating yummy food, playing with her dog, and spending time with friends and family.
Henrry Blanco joined the CDS team in 2023 with more than twenty years of experience as a Spanish teacher, including twelve years of K-8 classroom experience. Most recently, Henrry taught Spanish at Saint Thomas the Apostle School in San Francisco, where he developed the Spanish curriculum for all grades throughout the school. Henrry also has eight years of experience as an art teacher in grades kindergarten through 8th. Henrry earned his undergraduate degree in Modern Languages from Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas.
Bio
Jasmin Flores, Preschool Teacher, joined CDS in 2015. She was a preschool teacher for 14 years at Buen Dia Family School in San Francisco, an arts-focused English-Spanish bilingual preschool program, and prior thereto she taught at Guided Discovery, an inclusion preschool that is a program of the YMCA in Boise, Idaho. Jasmin earned her Early Childhood Education units through City College of San Francisco and has received training in mindfulness in education. She is fluent in Spanish.
Bio
Jeanna Yoo, Director of Advancement, joined CDS in 2012 from the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD), where she was the Chief Advancement Officer. Prior to MCASD, she was the Director of Individual Giving at the California Academy of Sciences, where she helped to raise $500 million to open the new building in Golden Gate Park. She was also previously the Membership Director at SFMoMA. She has a master's degree in art history and museum studies from the University of Southern California and a bachelor's degree in art history and psychology from UCLA. On weekends, she enjoys cooking and hiking with her husband and daughter.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance & Operations
Bio
Jeanne Jacobs-Gaffney joined the CDS team in 2021 as our Director of Finance & Operations. Jeanne has 30 years of experience as a business officer in California schools, including Abraham Joshua Heschel School in Northridge, Sinai Akiba Academy in Los Angeles, and The Center for Early Education in West Hollywood. Some of her projects have included managing the creation of an Innovation Lab and reimagining a summer camp program. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from La Salle and a master's in the same subject from California Lutheran University.
Bio
Jed Borghei (Incoming Trustee) is an environmental attorney who focuses on representing public water suppliers in groundwater contamination cases. In 2010, he took a pause from litigating to serve as Counsel to the Presidential Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, where he helped to investigate and evaluate the response of government and industry to the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill. Jed has a BA in Philosophy from the College of William and Mary, an MA in Philosophy from the City University of New York, and a JD from Georgetown University. As a CDS parent over the past five years, Jed has enjoyed volunteering as an Annual Fund Co-Chair and as a member of the Campaign Cabinet, which is helping to raise funds for the 333 Campus Expansion that will soon break ground. He also has enjoyed being a parent-coach for several CDS soccer teams - most recently this winter's TK/K indoor futsal team, which played with passion.
Jenni Choi, 5th/6th Grade Math Teacher, came to CDS in 2021 after spending seven years as a middle school math teacher at CICS Prairie and St. Nicholas Cathedral School, both in Chicago. At St. Nicholas, she also taught science and coding to middle schoolers, led an after-school coding and robotics club for lower schoolers, collaborated with the University of Chicago on a summer math camp, and served as the leader of a professional development program for teachers. Jennifer holds a bachelor's degree in urban elementary education from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Bio
Jessica Alva joined the CDS team in 2022 as our Human Resources Director. She came to CDS with nearly twenty years of experience in human resources work, most recently at Kaiser Permanente and previously at Recology Sunset Scavenger. Jessica holds a bachelor's degree in liberal studies from San Francisco State and a master's in human resource management from Golden Gate University.
Job Titles:
- K - 3 Learning Specialist
Jessica Kumar joined CDS in 2017 as a classroom teacher and moved to become our K-3 Learning Specialist in 2022. She has an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from University of the Pacific, Bay Area Teacher Training Institute; a BA in Religious Studies from Pomona College; and a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University, Bay Area Teacher Training Institute. Jessica has been a lead teacher in first grade at Prospect Sierra School in El Cerrito, California, and at Ormondale School in Portola Valley, California. She also has taught kindergarten and fourth grade and was a teaching fellow in fifth grade at Epiphany Middle School, an independent, tuition-free middle school serving children from low-income families in the Boston area.
Jo Hoffman joined us in 2021 as our 5th/6th Grade Science Teacher. They hold two bachelor's degrees-one in environmental studies and another in ecology and evolutionary biology-from the University of California, Santa Cruz, as well as a master's in natural resources from the University of Idaho. Jo has worked in a variety of science education positions in the Bay Area, including as a science teacher at Achieve Academy, a professional learning specialist at the Lawrence Hall of Science, a program manager at KIDS for the BAY, and a field science instructor at YMCA East Bay Outdoor School.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder of Connolly Educational Consulting
Bio
Joe Connolly is the co-founder of Connolly Educational Consulting, where he helps independent school leaders adapt the strategic tools and frameworks that guided him to and through success in his career. Joe is the former Chief Advancement and Enrollment Officer at Hillbrook School in Los Gatos, CA, where he was responsible for advancement, enrollment, alumni affairs, communications and marketing, community involvement and support, transportation, and summer and after-school programs. Prior to that role, Joe was the Middle School Head at Hillbrook and also served several roles in independent schools, including Dean of Students, Wellness Director, Athletic Director, Coach, and Teacher. After a few years of teaching and coaching directly out of college, Joe enjoyed a 20-year career as a sales and marketing executive, including co-founding and being CEO of two companies. Joe and his wife Mary have three adult children and are proud grandparents of six grandchildren, two of whom are current independent school students in the South Bay.
Bio
John Castro joined CDS in July 2015 as our Director of Facilities, bringing more than twenty years of experience in facilities direction and management. For the previous eight years, he was the Director of Facilities at Salesian College Preparatory School in Richmond. He also worked for many years as the building manager for KRON TV-4 in San Francisco.
Bio
John Nguyen is a nonprofit and strategic partnerships professional who has worked with mission-driven, high-impact organizations, scaling global health innovations at PATH and supporting entrepreneurial scientists advancing early stage deep-tech and climate technologies at Activate. He is a founding member of the Bay Area Global Health Alliance (2017-2019). A Bay Area native, John enjoys serving as a CDS admissions volunteer, parent panelist, member of the Advancement Committee, and Annual Fund Leadership Class Captain. He and his wife, Ria Fresnoza, are parents to Elias ('28).
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Head of Middle School at Park Day School
Bio
Jules Greene (Incoming Trustee) is currently the Head of Middle School at Park Day School in Oakland California and has spent her entire career in independent schools in a variety of roles, including 8th-grade history teacher and Director of Diversity at multiple schools throughout the greater Bay Area. Jules also attended independent schools in the Sacramento area. She is a very proud Banana Slug with B.A. degrees in History and Theater Arts from UC Santa Cruz, and earned an M.A. in History Education from San Jose State University. Jules enjoys coffee, travel, costume design, dancing with her two-year-old daughter Blake and husband Cord, and coffee.
Bio
Julie Bruins, Early Childhood and Lower School Music Teacher, joined CDS in 2019 with 15 years of experience at various Bay Area schools. She most recently served as the music teacher at Alta Vista School; prior thereto, she held the same job at Coronado Elementary School, Piedmont Avenue Elementary School, The Bentley School, and St. Elizabeth Elementary School. Julie holds a bachelor of music from NYU, majoring in flute performance and graduating cum laude, and she also possesses a Level III Orff Certificate and a World Music Drumming Level I Certificate. She is a board member of the Northern California chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association.
Job Titles:
- Director of Education Design at Pfau Long Architecture
Bio
Kami Kinkaid has been the Director of Education Design at Pfau Long Architecture since 2006. She has overseen and managed the design of numerous local campuses and made many conference presentations on topics such as master planning, learning commons/libraries, and cross-disciplinary learning environments. She recently co-authored an article for Teacher Librarian: "Creating Ever-Evolving School-Specific Learning Commons." Kami graduated with a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Kansas and was selected as a recipient of the Gastinger Walker Harden Merit Award for Design. She and her husband Richard Kim are parents to Tatum and Nelson, who attend the French American International School in San Francisco.
Bio
Karen Hayes joined CDS in 2023 after serving as Advancement Director for the past six years at Escuela Bilingüe International. While there, she played a leading role in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, designed strategic fundraising plans, launched a family communication portal, and led a rebranding effort, all of which led to dramatic increases in the school's application numbers and community satisfaction ratings.
Karen holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from Howard University and a master's in business administration from UC Berkeley. Before entering the education industry, she spent nearly two decades at Procter & Gamble, where she eventually became a North America Associate Sales Director and led the creation of a digital and mobile innovation team. She later founded the Bounce Blowdry Bar hair salon in Oakland and Berkeley and oversaw its operations for the first four years of its existence.
Bio
Kate Corliss joined CDS in January 2017 as our Lower School Counselor. She holds a master's degree in school counseling from George Washington University and has more than a decade of experience in a variety of positions and grade levels. At various schools in Washington, D.C. and Maryland from 2004-2012, she served as a Pre-K classroom teacher, as a K-8 art instructor, as an administrator for a Summer Academy program targeted at failing and below-proficient students, and as a counseling intern for District of Columbia public schools. After moving to the west coast in 2012, she served as a case manager for the Raphael House of San Francisco, where she developed an implemented a wide-ranging counseling program for homeless children and families.
Kay Washington, Second Grade Teacher, joined CDS in 2011. She holds a bachelor's degree in English literature and child development from Mills College, as well as a master's degree in curriculum and instruction and a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute at the University of the Pacific. Kay also has experience working in the elementary grades in the Oakland Unified School District. She is trained in Responsive Classroom, an approach that implements classroom practices that build academic and social-emotional competencies, and is fluent in Spanish.
Bio
Katie Hart, who joined us in 2018 as our Early Childhood Program and Lower School Art teacher, holds a master's degree in urban education from Holy Names University, a bachelor's degree in visual arts from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a California Clear Single-Subject Art Teaching Credential. She is a practicing artist and has more than a decade of experience teaching art to students across all grades from kindergarten to high school. Before coming to CDS, she served for eight years as the K-6 art teacher at Lighthouse Community Charter School in Oakland.
Bio
Katie Klamm joined the Kindergarten team in 2019 with a decade of experience working with children in a variety of roles. Before coming to CDS, she taught for five years at the Mission Preparatory School, first in kindergarten and later in transitional kindergarten. Previously, she worked as a teacher in the charter school network Rocketship Education, as a Teach for America educator, and as an administrative assistant at the Habitot Children's Museum in Berkeley. Katie holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley and an master's degree in education (Early Childhood Concentration) from Arizona State University.
Bio
Kaya Wurtzel joined the Third Grade Quails classroom in 2023. Kaya holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Bowdoin College and previously worked as a second grade teacher at Congregation Beth El, where she taught a weekly after-school Jewish learning class. While she was at Bowdoin College, Kaya ran a weekly after school program at a local middle school. Through her various work with middle schoolers and during her time as a second grade Hebrew school teacher, she has designed lesson plans with a focus on play and hands-on projects.
Job Titles:
- Director of Enrollment Management
Bio
Kristina Berman joined CDS in 2014 as a first-grade teacher and in 2021 became our Director of Enrollment Management. She received her master's degree in education and her California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from the University of California, Berkeley, and she has a bachelor's degree in history with a double minor in Spanish and education from the University of California, Davis. Prior to joining CDS, Kristina taught kindergarten at Cherry Chase Elementary School in Sunnyvale, California. A Bay Area native, she is on the Lick-Wilmerding Alumni Board. Kristina is proficient in Spanish. She has two young children, including a son who attends Children's Day School.
Job Titles:
- System Administrator
- Technology Systems Administrator
Ky Lim joined the CDS team in 2021 as our System Administrator. He earned his degree as an Enterprise Security Professional from De Anza College. Before joining CDS, Ky worked as a System Engineer at Return Path, where he gained extensive experience successfully implementing various systems, including Active Directory, Group Policies, Google Workspace, Okta, Symantec Management Platform, and ShoreTel. His passion for technology drives him to find effective solutions that improve the user experience and productivity. Outside of tech, Ky enjoys hiking and taking walks in nature.
Lamat Kateb joined CDS in 2023 after working at San Francisco Day School, where for six years she taught students ranging from first through fifth grade and also led the school's Asian American and Pacific Islander student affinity group. Lamat has also been a professional yoga teacher. She holds a bachelor's degree from UC Irvine, double majoring in social ecology and criminology, law, and society, as well as a master's in teaching from Holy Names University in partnership with BATTI (Bay Area Teacher Training Institute).
Job Titles:
- PS Specialist Teacher, Afternoon & Camp Coordinator
Bio
Laura DiMonte joined CDS in 2021 as our Preschool Specialist Teacher. She arrived with more than a decade of experience as an arts educator in New York and the Bay Area, including a tenure as an art studio lead teacher at Bright Horizons (where she won an Environmental Champion Award for leading environmental awareness in the workplace), as an arts specialist and after school coordinator at Mission Montessori, and an at-home preschool pod teacher at Happy Little School during the COVID-19 pandemic. Laura holds a bachelor's degree in art education from Nazareth College.
Laura Picciarelli, 601 Receptionist, joined CDS in September 2016. Originally from Georgia, Laura graduated from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. In 2013, she moved to San Francisco with her husband and her dog Teddy. Laura enjoys playing softball, taking her dog on long walks around San Francisco, and traveling whenever she gets the chance.
Laura Sims - Chief Investment Officer
Bio
Laura Sims has spent her career in private equity investing, at TPG Capital, as a partner at Sageview Capital, and currently as the Chief Investment Officer of a family office. Laura holds a bachelor's degree in economics and government from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. Originally from Cincinnati, OH, Laura moved to the Bay Area in 2001, and her family joined the CDS community in 2017. At CDS, she has been a member of the Bid & Bash committee, an Annual Fund captain, and a member of the Advancement Committee. Laura and her husband Hunter are parents to two CDS Bulldogs, Rhett (‘28) and Willie (‘30), and one real-life bulldog, Macho.
Laura Wolfram, who became our Sixth Grade Humanities Teacher in 2021, first joined CDS in 2015 as our Learning Resources and Middle School Curriculum Coordinator. Previously, Laura taught at Town School for Boys, where she was the Inquiry Project Coordinator for the school's eighth grade cross-curricular course, a seventh and eighth grade English teacher, and the school's Directory of Library Services. Her prior teaching experience includes positions at The Marymount School and Horace Mann School in New York City. Laura earned her bachelor's degree from Swarthmore College, her master's degree in art history from the Institute of Fine Arts in New York City and an M.L.S. from Queens College, City University of New York.
Bio
Lauren Campagna graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies. She worked for South San Francisco Parks and Recreation for 8 years where she created a sports summer camp as well as taught after-school care classes. Lauren most recently worked for Redwood City School District as a Paraprofessional. While working at these places, she also coached middle school Volleyball, Basketball and Lacrosse. Lauren is excited to continue as the Recreation Coordinator here at CDS.
Job Titles:
- 601 Afternoon Receptionist
Bio
Lexi Villasana joined CDS in 2018 as our 601 Dolores Afternoon Receptionist. A graduate of California College of the Arts with a bachelor's degree in illustration, she also works as a freelance creator of illustrations, paper goods, and window displays. Before coming to CDS, she worked as a buyer and sales associate at the San Francisco shops Rare Device and Foggy Notion.
Lilyanne Kane, who joined the CDS Extended Program in 2020 and began working as a Farm & Garden teacher the following year, holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of California, Riverside and a master's degree in creative writing from Mississippi University for Women. They have held a variety of childcare positions throughout California, including as a STEM teacher at the Sarah's Science program in Berkeley, as a substitute teacher in the Orange County area, and as a nanny. Lilyanne has also worked as an event photographer and interned at the John D. Cooper Archaeological and Paleontological Center as well as the San Bernardino County Museum.
Job Titles:
- Director of Curriculum and Program Innovation
Bio
Lindsay Hershenhorn originally joined CDS in 2009 as a first grade head teacher. She left CDS in 2012 to pursue her doctorate in educational leadership. Lindsay returned to CDS in 2014, first as our Literacy Specialist, then the Assistant Lower School Director, and currently as the Director of Curriculum & Program Innovation. Lindsay holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Ithaca College, a master's degree in early childhood education from New York University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Mills College.
Bio
Lindsay Woollerson is a biologist at Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences and parent to CDS student Henry ('25). Lindsay has a bachelor's degree in marine biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a master's degree in sustainable management from Presidio Graduate School. Prior to parenthood, Lindsay ran Green Business Programs for Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin Counties. At CDS, she served as class liaison, President of the PTTA from 2016-2018, and Co-Chair of the Head of School search in 2017, and she currently chairs the Committee on Trustees.
Job Titles:
- Middle School Drama Teacher
Bio
Lizzie Chapman joined the CDS team in 2023 as our Middle School Drama Teacher. Since 2016, Lizzie had been the Director of Musical Theatre and a Senior Teaching Artist at the Spindrift School of Performing Arts. Part of her duties included the role of coordinator of the school's outreach program, serving fifteen schools in Pacifica and neighboring communities. Lizzie was also the Artistic Chair of the Pacifica Spindrift Players from 2020 to 2022. She earned her bachelor of arts in Interdisciplinary Dance Studies from Humboldt State University with a minor in theatre performance.
Job Titles:
- Teacher
- Middle School Physical Education Teacher
Bio
Lori Roberts, Middle School Physical Education Teacher, joined CDS in 2015 after more than ten years at Beacon Day School in Oakland, where she taught physical education in kindergarten through eighth grade, coached after-school sports, and managed the after-school program for all grades. Lori holds a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Phoenix.
Job Titles:
- LS Spanish Teacher
- LS Substitute Spanish Teacher
- LS Substitute Teacher
Bio
Lucy Beltran joined the CDS team in 2019. A graduate of Balboa High School, she is currently studying child development at City College of San Francisco. She has worked as a high school teaching assistant and volunteered with buildOn, an organization that empowers urban youth to transform their neighborhoods through intensive community service. While with buildOn, Lucy provided childcare at a career center, worked at a food bank, and provided support to senior citizens.
Bio
Luisa Pinto, Kindergarten Teacher, came to CDS in 2008 after teaching kindergarten, first, and second grades at Ring Mountain Day School in Mill Valley. She previously taught elementary school at The Nueva School in Hillsborough. Luisa has a master's degree in early childhood education and a multiple subject teaching credential with a focus on early childhood education from Mills College, and holds a bachelor's degree in liberal studies from San Francisco State University. She is fluent in Portuguese and enjoys yoga, traveling, cooking, and biking to the beach.
Maddie Vilhauer joined CDS as our new Annual Fund & Events Manager. She previously worked in development at Horizons at San Francisco Friends School, and as a Community Engagement Coordinator at Global Glimpse. Having begun her career in Washington D.C. before relocating to the Bay Area, she has extensive experience in fundraising, event production, and development.
Maddie is a Cum Laude graduate of The George Washington University.
Job Titles:
- Annual Fund & Events Manager
Madison Luber joined the second grade team in 2022. Madison is a Bay Area native who is returning home after having lived and taught in Western NY for several years. She previously taught and co-created the curriculum for the visual arts and English Language Learner programs for children ranging from kindergarten to seventh grade at Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School and Buffalo Collegiate Charter School. She holds a bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology from Biola University and a master's of science in childhood urban education with an emphasis in TESOL from Canisius College.
Job Titles:
- Technology & Network Support Specialist
Bio
Manny Marquez joined the CDS team in 2022. Born in Puebla, Mexico, he has lived in the Mission District for over 20 years. Before coming to CDS, Manny worked as an IT technician at the San Francisco Department of Public Health and Lighthouse Community Public Schools in Oakland. A few hobbies of his are playing and watching soccer, going for walks, and spending time with family.
Bio
Marie Keating joined CDS in 2021 as a first grade teacher, and became the Lower School Director the following year. She previously taught first and second grades at Hamlin, Woodland School, and Convent of the Sacred Heart, as well as teaching ESL abroad in Thailand. Marie holds a Bachelor's degree in Humanities from the University of Colorado, and completed a Master's in Leadership from Columbia University Teachers College in 2023.
Marie has received extensive anti-racist education training and chaired the humanities department at Woodland, where she also founded the environmental committee and worked as a literacy coach.
Job Titles:
- Afternoon Preschool Teacher
Bio
Mark Mandapat, who joined the Extended Program team in 2022, was born and raised in the Lakeview/Excelsior neighborhoods of San Francisco. He has previous experience as an After School teacher at an elementary school for The Richmond Neighborhood Center, as well as a full-time Community Hub Leader in partnership with DCYF and SF Parks and Recreation during the pandemic in 2020. Mark is currently working on his degree in Early Childhood Education at City College of San Francisco.
Bio
Matt Goldberg returned to CDS in 2019 as our Middle School Art Teacher after having served as a maternity sub for the first half of the previous school year. Matt holds bachelor's degrees in studio art and art history from the University of Colorado and a master's degree in sculpture from the San Francisco Art Institute. Before coming to CDS, Matt was the Resident Art Teacher at Town School while also working as a teaching artist for various institutions, including SFAI and SOMArts Cultural Center (where he serves as the Director of Ceramic Programs). He maintains his own studio art practice and regularly exhibits work.
Bio
Meghna Subramanian, Co-Chair, is an attorney and mediator who has handled a wide range of corporate, litigation, and employment issues for technology and consulting companies. Meghna immigrated to the U.S. from India in middle school, and earned her B.A. in Political Economy from U.C. Berkeley and her J.D. from the University of Chicago. At CDS, Meghna enjoys volunteering as an admissions tour guide, a classroom liaison, and as the PTTA Faculty Appreciation Brunch Coordinator. She and her husband, Kareem Ghanem, are parents of Zaina ('27) and Sufyan ('31). She also serves on the board of directors of Jivox, a personalized advertising technology company.
Mimi Matthews joined the first grade team in 2022. Before coming to CDS, she taught first grade students at Ponderosa Elementary School and fifth grade students at Vargas Elementary School while earning her graduate degree. Prior to moving to the Bay Area from the east coast, she worked in Boston at The Learning Project Elementary School for three years as a teaching fellow and an all school academic support teacher. Mimi holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Middlebury College and a master's of arts in education from Stanford University.
Mylene Acosta-Mercado immigrated to San Francisco from the Philippines with her parents and five sisters in 1975. She has bachelor's and master's degrees in education, as well as a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, from San Francisco State University. Mylene has been an elementary school teacher at MP Brown School in the Jefferson School District in Daly City for the past 28 years. She and her husband Nerius have been CDS parents for 16 years. Their oldest daughter, Bianca, graduated from CDS in 2015, Bella in 2019, and Leo in 2022. She has volunteered in numerous activities at CDS, including in admissions and for the Country Fair.
Nathaniel Catunao joined CDS in 2020, initially working with the extended program and later becoming the Full Time Lower School Substitute Teacher. Before coming to CDS he worked at a variety of educational settings including The Exploratorium, Balboa High School, Gateway High School, Gateway Middle School, and The Presidio Trust. Nathaniel graduated from the University of San Francisco with a masters in Education, a bachelor's degree in History, and his California teaching credential.
Job Titles:
- Athletics Director
- CDS in 2018 As Our Athletic Director
Bio
Nick Saunders joined CDS in 2018 as our Athletic Director and Middle School PE teacher. He has nearly two decades of experience in PE leadership roles, having served as athletic director at schools in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and California; before coming to CDS, he held that position at Redwood Day School in Oakland. Nick has a bachelor's degree in secondary physical education from Liverpool John Moores University in England.
Bio
Nicolas King, Secretary, is a native of New York City and is slowly transforming into a Californian. Nicolas is a lawyer who works in local government improving processes, implementing legislation and advising senior officials. Nicolas studied government at Yale and attended New York University School of Law. At CDS, he's a long-time family farmer, classroom liaison, admissions volunteer, and participant in JEDI work. Nicolas and his wife, Dawn Ogawa, are the parents of Elli (‘21) and Seiji (‘25).
Paola Nou, Fifth & Sixth Grade Spanish Teacher, joined CDS in 2017 after teaching Spanish for 12 years at Presidio Hill School. She has taught Spanish at Live Oak School (middle school), Greenwood School in Mill Valley (grades K-8), and Gateway High School. She also has served as a Spanish-language crisis line volunteer at Casa de las Madres, a nonprofit organization providing support and services to women and children experiencing domestic violence. Paola holds a master's degree from the State University of Argentina and is trained in Developmental Designs.
Bio
Patricia Kao has spent most of her career in financial services - spanning public finance, fixed income trading, asset management, investment product development, sustainable investing, and commodities risk management. She and her family joined the CDS community in 2016 when they moved to San Francisco from Washington D.C., where she had served as a policy director at the U.S. Treasury Department in the Obama Administration. Patty graduated from U.C. Berkeley and holds an MBA from MIT Sloan. At CDS, Patty has participated as a member of the Finance Committee, donations chair for Bid & Bash, and a one-off volunteer as needed. She and her husband Seth are the parents of Malia (‘23) and Kaia (‘25).
Bio
Radha Kindler, Preschool Teacher, joined CDS in 2015. Radha earned an associate degree in child development and a certificate in child development from City College of San Francisco. She has 10 years of experience teaching according to the Reggio Emilia philosophy at the Jewish Community Center and over 18 years of teaching experience altogether. Most recently, Radha has been the Lead Volunteer and Childcare Coordinator for Project Homeless Connect, an agency that connects San Franciscans experiencing homelessness with the care and support they need to move forward.
Reggie Foldes, Second Grade Teacher, joined CDS in 2012. Reggie received a multiple subject teaching credential and master's degree in curriculum and instruction through the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute at the University of the Pacific. Reggie also has a bachelor's degree in history with a minor in education studies from The Colorado College. She brings experience teaching environmental education to elementary-aged children with Vida Verde Nature Education, The Marine Mammal Center and the Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary, with a focus on hands-on, inquiry-based and experiential learning. When not teaching, Reggie loves to hike in beautiful places, listen to bluegrass music, and cook delicious fresh foods.
Job Titles:
- Physical Education Teacher
- ECP & LS Head Physical Education Teacher
Bio
Rhonda Ross, Physical Education Teacher, joined us from St. Paul's School in Oakland, where she taught P.E. for twelve years. She also served as a basketball and volleyball coach. Before St. Paul's, she taught P.E. at Chinese American International School. She has a bachelor's degree in exercise and sport sciences with a specialty in exercise science from Colby-Sawyer College and a teaching credential (physical education) from California State University, Hayward.
Robin Ostenfeld Adams, Food and Agricultural Science Teacher, joined CDS in 2015 with more than ten years of experience teaching in inquiry-based and materials-driven environments. Previously, Robin has served as a fourth and fifth grade science teacher, service learning coordinator, and an adjunct professor. In addition, Robin was an instructor for several summers in the cloud forest of Monteverde, Costa Rica, working with K-8 teachers from Bank Street College of Education in an immersion program that focused on science education and sustainable communities. An east coast transplant, Robin earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Fordham University and a master's degree in museum education from Bank Street College of Education. Away from school, Robin enjoys gardening, cooking, yoga, surfing, and hiking with her dog, Olivia.
Ryan Trutner joined CDS in 2016 as our Seventh & Eighth Grade Math Teacher. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon, and prior to joining CDS he taught sixth, seventh, and eighth grade math at the Hillcrest School in the East Bay. In his first year at CDS, Ryan was instrumental in creating math and statistics clubs designed to provide extracurricular challenges to students. He is a former semi-professional soccer player and has played semi-pro soccer in Spain.
Sadie Renjilian joined our third grade team in 2021. She previously worked for three years as a teaching fellow at San Francisco Day School. In recent years, Sadie has also worked as a sixth grade math teacher at Aim High, an educator at Project Ember, and a one-on-one tutor for students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a graduate of Wesleyan University, from which she holds a bachelor's degree in history, and she earned her Masters of Education from the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute. Sadie is originally from Atlanta, Georgia.
Bio
Salvador Martinez joined us in 2023 after working at San Francisco Friends School for the past several years as a Lower School Teaching Assistant and substitute teacher. For more than ten years, Salvador was a children's yoga teacher at The Charrette School in New York City. He is trained in Responsive Classroom. Salvador earned his Bachelor of Arts in Humanities with an emphasis in Cross Cultural Studies from San Francisco State University.
Samuel Sevett began working in the CDS Innovation Lab in 2016. Previously, Sam was a teaching assistant for two years at Sinai Akiba Academy in Los Angeles, where he worked with elementary and middle school students in programming, 3D modeling, computer simulations, and other STEM learning. Prior thereto, Sam served two years as the Sports and Judaic Studies Program Developer at Sinai Temple Religious School in Los Angeles, where he created a unique curriculum blending aspects of traditional Judaic values with sports and athletics. While in Los Angeles, Sam also was a Hebrew tutor at Temple Israel of Hollywood. Sam holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
Job Titles:
- Data & Systems Support Specialist
Bio
Serena Richard became our Data & Systems Support Specialist in 2022 after having previously worked for us as a substitute teacher, receptionist, and Assistant to the Middle School Director. A CDS graduate, she holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from Willamette University. Before joining the CDS team, she worked in a realtor's office and also served as an advancement database research assistant at Willamette.
Job Titles:
- Director of Community Engagement
Bio
Sharon Ng joined CDS in 2023 as our Director of Community Engagement. Sharon is known for her innovative and culturally centered auxiliary programs, ranging from children's foreign language classes and activist girls' maker camps to place-based service-learning programs that educate children to be compassionate, curious, and courageous young citizens who take action for social good. She possesses a Master's in Public Administration from the NYU Wagner School of Public Service and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia, and she spent four years as the Director of Special Programs at The San Francisco School.
In her free time, Sharon enjoys working in her community garden and hiking daily with her mini poodle Qiqi (Mandarin for "energy"). She is an avid reader and an Adrienne Maree Brown enthusiast. She hails from Vancouver, Canada, and loves to open-water swim all year round; you can find her at China Beach on Sunday mornings. She loves traveling with her family internationally - she can be found with her husband and two daughters on the hunt for delicious local street eats and global handcraft markets, whatever destination she visits here and abroad.
Bio
Shelly Luke Wille joined CDS as Head of School in 2018. A Bay Area native, she possesses a deep knowledge of and commitment to progressive education. Shelly holds a master's degree in special education and a bachelor's degree in diversified liberal arts (with an emphasis on math and science) from St. Mary's College, California, as well as credentials in Multiple Subject Teaching and Special Education. Before coming to CDS, Shelly served as the Head of School at Chadwick International in South Korea, a K-12 school with 1,200 students. She was previously the Assistant Head and Elementary School Head at Chadwick before ascending to the Head position. She also served as Assistant Head and Lower School Head at Hillbrook School in Los Gatos, California.
Shelly and her husband, Michael, are passionate believers in our child-centered, constructivist approach, so they were thrilled to find a mission-aligned school for their own children. Their two younger sons, Séamus and Braden, attended CDS and their eldest, Kaffie, recently graduated from college.
Sonia Pinto-Scherstuhl joined the Lower School PE team in 2022 after serving for many years as our K-4 Spanish Teacher. She joined CDS from the Head-Royce School in Oakland and has extensive experience teaching elementary, middle school, and high school Spanish. A native Spanish speaker, she has a master's degree in biology from Boston University and a bachelor's degree in biology from Oberlin College, and she holds a Massachusetts Foreign Language (Spanish) Preliminary License.
Job Titles:
- CDS in 2023 As Our Extended Program Director
- Extended Program Director
Bio
Tanner Taylor joined CDS in 2023 as our Extended Program Director. He is experienced in both administrative and student-facing positions, having served as the Assistant Director of Advancement for Extended Programs at Phillips Brooks School for four years and a second grade associate teacher at the same institution for another two years. Tanner holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and at-risk youth care from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Teresa Rodriguez joined the CDS team in 2022. She has worked as an educator in the Bay Area for over 15 years, teaching in both public and private school settings. Most recently, she was a second and third grade teacher at Connect Community Charter School in Redwood City. Prior thereto, she taught the same two grades at Synergy School for more than a decade, and also served as a bilingual fourth and fifth grade teacher at Sanchez School. Given her extensive training in Making Math Real, a multisensory approach, Teresa has been an educational math tutor for students in grades 1-6. She is also trained in Lucy Calkins Writing Workshop, the Institute for Multisensory Education Orton-Gillingham approach, and the Six Seconds Model of Emotional Intelligence. Teresa has also served as a school design team member with the San Mateo Foster City School District as part of the Pedro Noguera Consulting team.
Teresa holds a bachelor's degree in Social Welfare from UC-Berkeley and a Multi-subject BCLAD teaching credential from San Francisco State University. She is fluent in Spanish and is the former owner of a fitness studio.
Bio
Tim Hathaway, Staff Accountant, joined CDS in March 2015. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Tim moved to San Francisco in 1995 and has lived and worked in The City since then. With 20 years of accounting and finance experience, Tim has spent his career working for San Francisco corporations, small businesses, and nonprofits. Tim enjoys travelling, reading, good food and binge-watching.
Bio
Tim is a partner at William Blair and has spent most of his career as a financial analyst specializing in the biotechnology industry. He is a California native and has lived in the state his whole life outside of five chilly years in Chicago. He joined the CDS community in the fall of 2020. When he's not working he enjoys snowboarding, surfing, live music, eating spicy food, and watching his children Simone (‘28) and Solomon (‘31) play soccer with his wife Kristina Shih.
Tim is the co-head of the 333 Campus Expansion capital campaign and looks forward to seeing his children play in the newly designed school yard. Outside of the CDS community he is involved with CAL NERDS, an organization looking to increase diversity in STEM industries, as well as the Undocumented Student Program both based at UC Berkeley. Tim graduated with a double major in molecular and cellular biology (with an emphasis in genetics) and economics from UC Berkeley.
Bio
Tina Bravo joined the CDS team in 2022 as our Controller. She had most recently served as the Chief Financial & Administrative Officer at the Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus, and she has also worked with many other local schools and nonprofits, including Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep, Project Open Hand, and Catholic Charities. A native San Franciscan who grew up in the Mission neighborhood, Tina holds a degree in accounting from Heald Business College. She enjoys meeting new people, traveling, and being immersed in new cultures and traditions.
Bio
Todd Wandell (Incoming Trustee) is a 23-year retail executive who is currently serving as the Chief Product Officer of The Citizenry, a home furnishings e-commerce brand that designs and develops artisan-made World Fair Trade-certified home furnishings and furniture. He previously spent 17 years with the Williams Sonoma brands, most recently as Senior Vice President and General Manager at Pottery Barn Teen. Originally from Minneapolis, Todd attended an independent school with similar values to CDS and later earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Vassar College. Todd and his partner, Jamie Wieferman, are parents to Hunter ('29). Since joining the CDS community, Todd has been a class liaison, a member of the Bid and Bash the Annual Fund committees, and is currently on the Capital Cabinet to help fundraise for the 333 Campus Expansion.
Bio
Tracy Kirkham, Counsel Emeritus, was Chair of the Board from 2002 to 2008 and is a lawyer specializing in business litigation, with an emphasis on complex multiparty cases and class actions. She is a partner in the San Francisco firm Cooper & Kirkham, P.C. Her eldest daughter Gillian ('07) started preschool at CDS in 1994 at the age of two. Daughters Sydney and Greer Cooper (both '12) joined their sister at CDS in 2000. Along with her husband, Tracy was instrumental in converting CDS from a privately-owned preschool to a non-profit elementary school. In 2001, she negotiated and documented the purchase of the school site from the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. In her free time, Tracy enjoys photography, skiing, and scuba diving.
Bio
Tristan Jemiolo joined the kindergarten team in the spring of 2017 after having served there as a maternity substitute earlier in the school year. Tristan holds a bachelor's degree in film from Vassar College and is a graduate of the New Teacher Institute at Town School for Boys. While at Town School, Tristan was an intern teacher in kindergarten and in third grade. He was previously the Commissioner of the Boys U-13 and U-15 Divisions of the Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association, and he has coached lacrosse, soccer, and basketball at Town School and at Stuart Hall for Boys.
Tzarina Saenz joined CDS in 2022 as a Middle School Coach. Her prior experience includes founding the
Bio
Profe Gutierrez was born and raised in Madrid, where she finished her master's degree in Applied Linguistics to Language Teaching, at Universidad Complutense de Madrid. She also took the PhD. courses in Didactics of Languages and Literature. She has been teaching since 2005 in different countries, and at independent schools in the US since 2014. She has attended several workshops and conferences on Comprehensible Input and (storytelling) TPRS, which she finds the most successful approaches for second language acquisition.
In her free time, Vanesa loves running, traveling, video calling her family in Spain and spending time with her cats. She is a Potterhead, a LOTR fan, and would love to be one of the Doctor Who's companions (the 10th if she can ask)
Val Batra, Third Grade Teacher, joined the classroom team in 2019 after having worked in our extended care program since the fall of 2018. Val has a bachelor's degree in history from Lewis & Clark College and has worked as an educator on three different continents. She has been a volunteer English teacher in Nepal and a summer camp counselor in rural Spain, and in America she has served as a math tutor, an intern for children's programs at the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, and a camp counselor and social media director at the Portland Children's Museum. Val also volunteered for four years at a nursing home in New York.
Job Titles:
- Early Childhood Program Counselor
Bio
Vasudha Narasimha became our Early Childhood Program Mental Health and Well-Being Counselor in 2023. She joined CDS with thirteen years of experience working with young children and their families in the mental health field. She is currently on the UC Davis-Napa Infant-Parent Mental Health Fellowship faculty. She is also the Co-Founder of Dear Families, an organization that supports mental health and emotional wellness of families from prenatal through age 5, utilizing science-based information. Vasudha earned a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Psychology and a minor in Cognitive Science and Dance (Provost Honors) from the University of California, San Diego. Her Master of Social Work with a concentration in mental health (Dean's Scholar) is from University of Southern California.
Bio
Veronica Saucedo joined our extended program team in 2021. She previously served as a community hub leader at the Richmond Neighborhood Center, where she provided full-day supervision and enrichment for elementary-aged students; prior thereto, she worked as a research assistant at the Native American Health Center in Oakland. Veronica holds a bachelor's degree in ethnic, gender, and labor studies from the University of Washington Tacoma and is working towards a degree in early childhood education from City College of San Francisco.
Job Titles:
- Co - Chair
- Director Clinical Operations
Bio
Vivien Zraick, Co-Chair, has worked in the medical device industry for over twenty years, running clinical operations in start-ups focused on newborn care, diabetes, asthma, and movement disorders. She has been heavily involved with the CDS community, working on the organizing committee for Bid & Bash, as a PTTA liaison coordinator, and as a classroom liaison. Originally from Brazil, Vivien moved to the United States when she was in high school and later earned her bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Brown University. She relocated to the Bay Area in 1998, where she rediscovered the sunshine and received her master's degree in biomechanics from Stanford University. Vivien and her husband Ben are the parents of Sofia ('22) and Lilah ('24).
Bio
Yari Mander, Middle School Music Teacher, joined CDS in 2019 with more than two decades of experience at Bay Area schools. Before coming to CDS, he worked as a music teacher in the Oakland Unified School District; prior thereto, he served in the same position at Walden Center and School and Live Oak School, and also was a classroom teacher for grades 3-5 in the San Francisco Unified School District. In addition, he is the founder and lead instructor of the Oakland performing arts organization Heart of Rhythm. Yari holds a bachelor's degree in humanities from New College of California, a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and an Orff-Schulwerk Certification. As a musician, he has performed with artists and groups including Joan Baez, Gamelan X, the Chochmat HaLev Ensemble, Octopretzel, Lauren Arrow, Suzanne Sterling, the Agape International Choir, and Mikey Pauker.