Faculty Bios
Early Childhood Campus
Missy Barrow — Teacher, Eugenia Classroom (Ext. 243)
Education: B.A. — Psychology, Grand Valley State University (MI); Adult Supervision/Site Supervisor Courses, Ohlone College; American Montessori Society Training (A.M.S.) Montessori Training Center of San Leandro.
TBS since 2011.
Maureen Beck — Teacher, Eugenia Classroom (Ext. 243)
Education: B.A. — English Literature, University of Illinois; Montessori 6-12 Certification, St. Mary’s College, CA.
TBS since 2006.
Shannon Collins — Director, ECC Extended Day Program (Ext. 245)
Education: B.A., — Business Administration, Rowan University, N.J.; American Montessori Society Primary and Elementary Credentials (Pre-school through 6th grade), St. Mary’s College, CA; M. Ed. candidate, St. Mary’s College, CA.
TBS since 2003.
Chi Chun Hsu— Extended Day program (Ext. 245)
Education: B.A. — Linguistics, Shizuoka University, Japan; M.A. — Montessori Education, St. Mary’s College, CA; Certificate Program in Early Childhood Education, San Francisco State University, CA.
TBS since 2001.
Griselda Kondo — Teacher, Live Oak Classroom (Ext. 244)
Education: B.A. — Education, National Teachers University, Sinaloa, Mexico; Certificate in Primary Education, Sinaloa Teachers College, Mexico; AMS Primary Certification, Montessori Teacher Education Center, San Leandro, CA.
TBS since 2001.
Nancy Lieblich — EC5 Program Consultant
Education: A.A. — Early Childhood Education; AMS Montessori Primary Certification, Montessori Teacher Training Institute, Berkeley, CA.
TBS since 1986.
Chris Middlemiss — Teacher, Magnolia Classroom and Curriculum Coordinator (Ext. 242)
Education: B.A. — German, UC Davis, CA; Montessori Primary Certification, Montessori Teacher Training Institute, Berkeley, CA; Montessori 6-9 Elementary Certification, Montessori Teacher Education Center of the Bay Area, San Leandro, CA.
TBS since 1987.
Noushin Moghaddam — Extended Day program (Ext. 245)
Education: B.A. — Geography, Shirf University, Tehran.
TBS since 2005.
Laurel Schwarzbach — Teacher, Live Oak Classroom (Ext. 244)
Education: B. A. — Spanish, Willamette University; Montessori Primary Diploma, Montessori Institute Northwest; M. A. — Education, Loyola University Maryland (to be finalized January, 2012).
TBS since 2011.
Kathleen Seiter — Teacher, Cedar Classroom (Ext. 241)
Education: B.A. — Liberal Arts, Sarah Lawrence College; M.S.Ed. Early Childhood Special and General Education — Bank Street College of Education.
TBS since 2011.
Florence Fen-Hsiang Tsai — Teacher, Cedar Classroom (Ext. 241)
Education: B.A. — English, National Chin-Kung University, Taiwan, Republic of China; AMS Montessori Primary Certification — Montessori Teacher Education Program, Contra Costa College, CA; Orff Music Training (Level I); State of California Child Development Site Supervisor permit.
TBS since 1995.
Susie Vavasour — Teacher, Magnolia Classroom (Ext. 242)
Education: B.A. — English, Yale College, CT
TBS since 2007.
Elementary Faculty
Jodie Barton — K-5 Learning Support Coordinator (Ext. 152)
Education: B.A. — Psychology, Southern Connecticut State University; K-6 Multiple Subject Credential, Arizona State University; Educational Therapy certification, Holy Names University; M.A. — Education (candidate, May 2011), Holy Names University.
TBS since 2010.
Hillary Bensky — Assistant Teacher, Cerrito Creek (Ext. 132)
Education: B.A. — Theater Arts/Dance, Sonoma State University; B.A. — Liberal Studies/Education, Sonoma State University.
TBS since 2011.
Stephen Cahill — Co-Teacher, Strawberry Creek (Ext. 120)
Education: B.A. — Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, University of Washington, Tacoma; M.A. — Special Education, concentration in Autism Education, San Francisco State University.
TBS since 2009.
Ben Coleman — Co-Teacher, Laurel Creek (Ext. 121)
Education: B.A. — English, Oberlin College, OH; M.A. – Early Childhood Education, Mills College; 2042 Multiple Subject Credential with special preparation in grades Pre-K through 3, Mills College.
TBS since 2011.
Rennea Couttenye — K-5 Spanish (Ext. 233)
Education: B.A. — Graphic Design – Academy of Art College; B.A. Humanities, University of San Francisco; M.A. — Communications — Universidad Catolica Andres Bello.
TBS since 2011.
Eve Decker — Teacher, K-6 Music and 6-8 Drama (Ext. 266)
Education: B.A. — Dramatic Arts, U.C. Berkeley; Orff Schulwerk Certification, Mills College.
TBS since 2010.
Brandt Frandle — Teacher, Extended Day (Ext. 162)
Education: B.A. International Labor and Immigration History, Western Washington University.
TBS since 2010.
Javanne Golob — Teacher, Extended Day, K-3 Seed-to-Table, and K-1 Yoga (Ext. 162)
Education: B.A. — Psychology/Art History, U.C. Berkeley.
TBS since 2008.
Jeff Grether — Co-Teacher, Strawberry Creek (Ext. 120)
Education: B.A. — English/American Literature, U.C. Santa Cruz; Illustration and Sculpture coursework, Academy of Art University, S.F.; teaching credential through Bay Area Teacher Training Institute (BATTI).
TBS since 2011.
Amy Helmstetter — Co-Teacher, Sweet Briar Creek (Ext. 130)
Education: B.F.A. — Dance, Choreography & Performance, Ohio University; M.A. — Dance Research, University of Quebec; CA Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, C.S.U. East Bay.
TBS since 2010.
Julianne Hughes — Elementary Art Teacher (Ext. 153)
Education: B.S. — Design, Buffalo State College, NY; M.F.A., California College of Arts and Crafts.
TBS since 1996.
Lyssa Ichikawa — Co-Teacher, Laurel Creek (Ext. 121)
Education: A.A. Musical Theatre, American Musical and Dramatic Academy NY; B.F.A. Musical Theatre, New School University, NY; M.S. Ed., Childhood General Education, Bank Street College of Education NY.
TBS since 2009.
Craig Jackson — Elementary and Middle School Physical Education (Ext. 256)
Education: Attended Chabot College — mathematics.
TBS since 2004.
Kate Klaire — Recess Facilitator & Extended Day Director (Ext. 162)
Education: B.A. — Music, Belmont University, TN; MA candidate — Montessori Education, St. Mary’s College, CA.
TBS since 2007.
Sima Misra — Co-Teacher, Strawberry Creek (Ext. 120)
Education: B.A. Biochemistry, Rice University, TX; Ph.D. Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Montessori 6-9 Elementary Certification, Montessori Teacher Education Center of the Bay Area, San Leandro, CA.
TBS since 2007.
Maple Molina — Teacher, Extended Day (Ext. 162)
Education: B.A. Sociology/Psychology, U.C. Riverside.
TBS since 2009.
Darby Morris — K-5 Learning Support (Ext. 152)
Education: B.A. – Social Work, University of California, Berkeley; M.A. – Social Work, San Jose State University; Educational Specialist: Level 2, Dominican University of California; Educational Specialist: Preliminary Level 1 Moderate-Severe Credential, San Francisco State University; California Multiple Subject Credential; Educational Specialist: Preliminary Level I Mild/Moderate Credential, Dominican University of California.
TBS since 2012.
Nancy Nash — Co-Teacher, Temescal Creek (Ext. 131)
Education: B.A. — Sociology, Clark University, MA; Montessori Elementary 6-9 Certification, Center for Montessori Teacher Education, New Rochelle, NY; Montessori Elementary 9-12 Certification, Montessori Teacher Education Center of the Bay Area, San Leandro, CA.
TBS since 1982.
Kyla O’Neill — Co-Teacher, Blackberry Creek (Ext. 122)
Education: B.A. — Psychology, concentration in Women’s & Gender Studies, College of the Holy Cross (MA).
TBS since 2009.
Claire Patterson — Co-Teacher, Blackberry Creek (Ext. 122)
Education: B.F.A. — Painting, UC Santa Cruz; Universidad de Granada, Facultad de Bellas Artes; Center for Montessori Teacher Education (6-12 certification).
TBS since 2006.
Mike Raven — Co-Teacher, Temescal Creek (Ext. 131)
Education: B.A. — Philosophy, UC, Santa Barbara, CA; Montessori 6-9 Elementary Certification, Montessori Teacher Education Center of the Bay Area, San Leandro, CA.
TBS since 1996.
Irene Sazer — Elementary music (strings) (Ext. 262)
B.M., Peabody Conservatory; Fellow, Banff Centre of Fine Arts.
TBS since 2009.
Laurie Schoeffler — K-5 Curriculum Coordinator (Ext. 152)
Education: B.A. — Child Study, Tufts University; M.S. — Educational Administration (concentration in Education Law), University of Rochester; CA Clear Multiple Subject Preschool, K-12, Adult Teacher; CA CLAD Credential.
TBS since 2010.
Michael Sinclaire — Teacher, Cerrito Creek (Ext. 132)
Education: B.A. — Religion, The Colorado College, CO; CA. State Teaching Credential — Elementary Education, San Francisco State University, CA.
TBS since 2008.
Danette Swan — Co-Teacher, Sweet Briar Creek (Ext. 130)
Education: Montessori 6-9 Elementary Certification, Seacoast Center for Education, NH.
TBS since 2006.
Middle School Faculty
Marcella Anwandter — Teacher, Math and Science strand, Wildcat Creek (6th grade) (Ext. 154)
Education: B.A. — Psychology and Visual Studies, University of Pennsylvania; M.S. — Education, City College of New York; New York State Teacher Certification, Middle Childhood Education (5-9), Students with Disabilities (5-9).
TBS since 2010.
Rebecca Greco — 7/8 Humanities
Education: B.A. English — Bryn Mawr College (PA); M.S. — Education, University of Pennsylvania.
TBS since 2011.
Benicia Hill — Middle School Art (Ext. 263)
Education: B.F.A. — Sculpture, San Francisco Art Institute; M.A. — Art & Design Education, Pratt Institute.
TBS since 2008.
Craig Jackson — Elementary and Middle School Physical Education (Ext. 256)
(see bio under “Elementary Faculty,” above)
Norman Johnson — Teacher (Humanities strand), Wildcat Creek (6th grade); Theater Arts, 4-8th grades (Ext. 154
Education: B.A. — English Literature/Creative Writing, City College of New York, NY; AMS 6-12 Certification (in progress), St. Mary’s College, CA; American Conservatory Theater Summer Training Congress, San Francisco, CA.
TBS since 2002.
Tanya Madrid-Campbell — 6th-8th Grade Spanish (Ext. 259)
Education: B.A. — Marketing & Advertising; University Laica Vicente Rocafuerte, Ecuador; BA — General Studies, University of San Francisco; MA candidate — Education, University of San Francisco.
TBS since 2004.
Christopher Perdue — 7/8 Science (Ext. 257)
Education: B.S. — Mathematics and Computer Science, James Madison University, VA.
TBS since 2009.
Jono Schrode — 7/8 Math (Ext. 255)
Education: B.A. — Music and Math/Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
TBS since 2012.
Mary Beth Ventura — 4-8 Learning Support Coordinator (Ext. 152)
Education: B.A. — Spanish, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN; Letter of Completion, San Francisco State University, Single Subject Teaching Credential Program; M.A — Bilingual Multicultural Education, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ.
TBS since 2003.
