Staff and Board Profiles for the San Francisco Friends School

Catherine Hunter, Head of School
The daughter of a British Quaker physician and a Danish musician, Cathy was born in London, England and raised in upstate New York, where she attended public schools. She received her BFA in Sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design and immediately began her teaching career at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. Cathy served as teacher, dean, and division head in four independent schools across the country before coming to San Francisco Friends School. She received her M.Ed. from Loyola College, Maryland. Cathy has received awards and other recognition for her work in teaching, building and supporting faculty. She has also written and presented on the topic of adolescent development, and was the recipient of a Fulbright research grant for study in the field. Cathy and her partner Scott have two sons, Benjamin and Matthew.

Spencer Tolliver, Associate Head of School
Spencer was born and raised in Texas. He received his B.A. in Psychology from Morehouse College, where he was in the Golden Key National Honor Society and served as the President of the Student Government Association. Upon graduation, Spencer was the recipient of the Gallard Teaching Fellowship and began his career as an educator at the Branson School, where he taught history and psychology, and directed both the Student Support Services and the Allen Rand Learning Center. After three years at Branson, Spencer became the Dean of Students at Gateway Charter High School, developing the school�s advisory program, managing all disciplinary matters, and teaching humanities. He also served as the Gateway�s first Director of Community Life and Athletics, teaching physical education and coordinating a broad range of extracurricular activities. Most recently, Spencer has been the Principal of Youth Chance High School here in San Francisco. He served on the SFFS Board of Trustees for two years, before joining the SFFS administrative team as the school�s first Associate Head.

Charles J. Anderson, Third Grade Teacher
A native of Minnesota, CJ received his BA in Elementary Education from Luther College with a focus in reading, and further developed his teaching skills in Environmental Education training at University of California at Santa Cruz. Before joining the San Francisco Friends School staff in the school�s first year, he taught for six years at The Family Learning Center in St. Paul, Minnesota and at Children�s Day School here in San Francisco. CJ is a strong advocate of the arts, a proponent of the Responsive Classroom curriculum, and has experience in project-based learning curriculum design. He directed the summer program at Children�s Day School and created �Friends Around the World� summer camp here at SFFS. CJ is an actor and musician who has performed in community theatre productions since he was a child. He lives in San Francisco with his partner, Paul.

Caren Andrews, Art Teacher
Caren�s family lived in Georgia, Texas, New Jersey and Maryland before settling in the Bay Area in 1972. Caren attended Katherine Delmar Burke School and graduated from The Urban School, deepening her interest in the arts through after-school, weekend, and summer arts workshops. Caren received her BFA from University of California at Los Angeles and works as a painter, illustrator, and art teacher at her studio in the East Bay and at the San Francisco Friends School. Caren lives in Oakland with her partner Mike and two daughters, Malika and Kendra, who are elementary school students at The Head-Royce School. Caren represented San Francisco Friends School at the 2006 National Association of Independent Schools People of Color Conference.

Misato Araki, Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
Misato joined the San Francisco Friends School after working as a geologist at the Mojave National Reserve, and as an intern at Stillwater Sciences, where she mapped watersheds in California and Oregon. The daughter of an astrophysicist, Misato went to public schools in Oakland and on to U.C. Berkeley where she deepened her love of math and science and majored in geology. After completing her college degree, Misato did internships at the U.C. Berkeley Botanical Gardens, where she created a digital map of the gardens using a global positioning system, a Geomapper, and laser technology. Misato also served as a library assistant at the Bancroft Library, where she worked in the rare books and manuscripts collection. Misato�s interest in teaching was sparked by her experience creating curriculum for 3rd and 6th graders at the Desert Discovery Center in Barstow. A graduate of the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute, Misato assisted in the first grade in the 2005-06 school year, and is in her second year as a Kindergarten teaching assistant.

Ester Azucena, Spanish Teacher
Ester was born in El Salvador and moved with her family to the United States at the age of four; she went to public schools here in San Francisco. Ester and her family retained strong cultural connections to their homeland. Ester began teaching Sunday school when she was just thirteen, and she has remained connected to kids ever since. As a teenager, she also worked as a receptionist and an intern with the Private Industry Council of San Francisco, a local organization that specializes in supporting low-income youth and families. Ester attended college at San Francisco State University, and graduated with a double-major in Liberal Studies and Spanish. She has been a Spanish teacher and administrator for the pre-school and elementary language immersion program, �Language in Action.� In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Ester will complete her Masters in Spanish at San Francisco State University in the fall of 2007. In her spare time, Ester loves reading, hiking, music of all sorts, and being together with family and friends.

Paul Benzaquin, Music Teacher
Paul joined the San Francisco Friends School performing arts staff after teaching music to kindergarten through 8th grade students at the Shady Hill School in Boston. Previous to his thirteen years in Boston, Paul taught at P.S. 207 in Howard Beach, and ran the summer music program at the Fieldston Outdoors Environmental Camp in the Bronx. Paul has directed musicals, instrumental and vocal ensembles, world percussion classes and created integrated music curriculum for grade level units on the Middle Ages, Ancient China and Africa. Paul graduated from Hunter College and completed graduate studies at the Aaron Copland School of Music; he has furthered his skills in Ireland at a choral music class, as well as in Kodaly, Orff and numerous other music educators’ programs. Paul’s wife, Rebecca, teaches art at Presidio Hill School; their daughter Amaya is in pre-school.

Alex Bereda, Second Grade Assistant Teacher
Alex joined our staff in 2005 from Cambridge Friends School, where he served as an After-School teacher, a long-term substitute in kindergarten through 8th grade, and as an assistant in the kindergarten and first grades. Alex received his B.A. in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Communication from Antioch University in Santa Barbara; throughout his years in college he served as a recreation leader and youth basketball coach with children from ages 5 to 13. Alex has attended workshops on gender bias in the media, working with parents of color, anti-racism training, and guiding the healthy social and emotional development of gifted black children. Alex served as a Kindergarten and Second Grade Assistant Teacher, taught cartooning in the Enrichment Program and coached in the school�s �Sandlot� after-school sports program.

Zachary Bloom, Fourth Grade Assistant Teacher Zachary joins us as a recent graduate of the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute. He served as an Associate Teacher for two years in the second grade at Katherine Delmar Burke School, as a kindergarten student teacher at Susan B. Anthony Elementary School in Daly City, a fourth and fifth grade classroom volunteer at Cesar Chavez Elementary School, and as an elementary and middle school tutor at 826 Valencia. Zachary graduated from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, with a BA in Writing and Cultural Studies. He spent a semester in London, with an internship at MOJO, a British music magazine. Zach's a contributing writer to HARP magazine and a devoted music buff.

Yvette Bonaparte, Director of Admissions
Yvette grew up in northern New Jersey, where she attended parochial and independent schools. She came to San Francisco Friends School in the school�s first year with experience as an office manager and conferencing coordinator at The WELL, an online discussion community. She studied classical violin at the Manhattan School of Music, graduated from State University of New York at Purchase and has an M.A. in Creative Writing from the University of San Francisco. A published journalist and short story writer, Yvette has taught English at USF and Skyline College. She represented San Francisco Friends School at the 2003 National Association of Independent Schools People of Color Conference and served as co-clerk of the SFFS Diversity Committee in 2003 and 2004, coordinating outreach to diversify the school community. Yvette also recently served on the board of the Bay Area chapter of POCIS (People of Color in Independent Schools.) Yvette studies jazz violin with India Cooke, loves playing with her cavadoodle puppy, Marley, and has a son in third grade at SFFS.

Noah Bowling, First Grade Teacher
Noah joined the Friends School team after teaching for three years in the Riverside Unified School District in southern California and at Jump Academy, a charter school in San Francisco. Noah received his BA in Early Childhood Education from Boston College, and served as an assistant teacher in public schools in the Boston area. He has worked with children from pre-school through third grade as both teacher and mentor. Passionate about baseball, Noah has coached the Urban School varsity baseball team, currently coaches the University School varsity baseball team, and has played for NABA�s Southern California Giants and Long Beach Mariners. He directed SFFS �Friends in Nature� Summer Camp during the summer of 2004, and traveled to Japan with a Fulbright Memorial Fund Grant in the fall of 2005.

Lauren Brodsky, Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
Lauren received her B.A. in Music from Smith College in 2003. She began her teaching career in New York as a teaching assistant at Coddington Road Community Childcare Center, where she worked with autistic and special needs children, led music groups, and helped out as a substitute teacher. After moving to San Francisco, Lauren served as a caregiver for a seven-year-old boy with special needs, providing physical and occupational therapy as well as academic tutoring. She is enrolled as a second year student in the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute.

Shawn Brokemond, Kindergarten Teacher
A native of Indiana, Shawn received her BA in Early Childhood Education from De Paul University in Chicago. Shawn started her teaching career in pre-school, with three years at the San Francisco School and three years at Pacific Primary. As an elementary school educator, Shawn has taught kindergarten through third grade at Marin Country Day School and Windrush School. Shawn has attended a Lucy Calkins workshop entitled �The Art of Teaching Writing� at Columbia University, a Lindamood Bell seminar on language development and phonemic awareness, and a �Responsive Classroom� seminar in New York. She represented San Francisco Friends School at the 2004 National Association of Independent Schools People of Color Conference. In the summer of 2005, she studied Spanish in Guatemala. An avid trail runner, surfer, basketball player and mountain biker, Shawn lives in Mill Valley with her partner Dan. Her son, Josh, lives in San Francisco.

Jon Burnett, Drama Teacher
Jon grew up in Palo Alto in a Quaker family. He fondly remembers performing at the Pacific Yearly Meeting of Friends; even as a young child he was eager to become an actor. Jon earned his BA from San Francisco�s New College of California, and an MFA in Performance from University of Tennessee�s International Actor Training Academy. Jon has taught drama in Tennessee, Washington, and California, directed productions of �Les Miserables,� �Phantom of the Opera� and �Pippin� at the Willows Theatre camp, and performed locally in La Luna Theatre�s �Never in My Lifetime� and Porchlight Theatre�s production of Chekhov�s �Wild Honey.� Jon lives in El Cerrito with his partner Rebecca and their toddler son, Leo.

Tracy Coleman, Drama Teacher
Tracy was born and raised in Britain and attended the Sherborne School for Girls in Dorset. She came to college in the United States and received her B.S. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Vermont. Following graduation she interned in New York at the Children�s Television Workshop and then came out west as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer to work in Richmond at the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts. Tracy launched her classroom teaching career a little over a decade ago, completing her M.A. in Elementary Education at San Francisco State. She has taught kindergarten at the French American International School, first grade at Discovery Center School and a K/1 combination at the White Oaks School in San Carlos. Tracy, her partner Jordy, and their toddler son, Oliver, live in San Francisco.

Omar Cotom, Janitor
Omar was born and raised in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, along with his five brothers and sisters. After graduating with a technical degree as a lathe operator, Omar was married, and he and his wife, Gloria, welcomed their first child, Lorenis, born on Christmas Eve. Omar worked as a machinery operator in an aluminum door and window manufacturing plant before coming to the United States seeking further opportunity. In America, he missed his family and struggled to adjust to the new language and customs. Returning to Guatemala, Omar still found few opportunities in his home country, and after the birth his third child, he returned to San Francisco, where he got a job at a janitorial service. Some years later, he was able to bring his wife and children to join him; the Cotom family found their spiritual home at Ministerio Cosecha. Eswin�s janitorial company �Omar�s Janitorial and Window Service� has provided service for Live Oak School for 14 years, and San Francisco Friends School since its founding. Omar and Gloria�s nephews attend SFFS; Sergio is a 5th grader, and Boris is a 1st grader.

Gloria Cotom, Janitor
Gloria was born and raised in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala where she married and started a family with Omar. She joined her husband in San Francisco five years ago and promptly began helping him with his janitorial work at Live Oak School and later at the San Francisco Friends School. Gloria loves children and works closely with them at her family�s spiritual home Ministerio Cosecha. You�ll often find Gloria merrily cooking up a storm of traditional dishes in her kitchen. In her spare time, Gloria enjoys reading about spirituality and making original greeting cards. Son, Omar, and daughter,Tania, live with Gloria and Omar; their oldest daughter, Lorenis, lives in Guatemala with her grandmother. Omar and Gloria�s nephews attend SFFS; Sergio is a 5th grader, and Boris is a 1st grader.

Daniel Ervin, Third Grade Assistant Teacher, Outdoor Ed Coordinator
Daniel was born and raised in Seattle, and attended Carleton College, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with degrees in Music and French. Following college, Daniel was a field staff member for the Juneau Icefield Research Program in Alaska, where he managed camp, taught mountaineering skills, and assisted in all planning and logistics related to the field science program. Following his sojourn in Alaska, Daniel worked for two years as a private piano instructor with over thirty students, focusing on jazz, theory and technical skills, as well as music appreciation. Most recently, Daniel worked as a volunteer in Santiago, Chile at Residencia EntreTODAS, a home for girls who were victims of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Daniel taught martial arts, music, and provided academic support; he also organized field trips, and helped with the maintenance of the facility. Daniel has extensive outdoor education experience, and has completed courses in mountaineering, wilderness survival, wilderness rescue and navigation, and also has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and is currently studying for his teaching credential in the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute.

Christine Federici, Bookkeeper
A native of Dubois, Pennsylvania, Christine developed her love of the performing arts as a young child, and went on to receive her degree in Drama and English Literature at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania. Following college, Christine migrated immediately to New York City, where she was a dancer and teacher with the Nancy Meehan Dance Company. Christine came to the Bay Area to join a Zen community, and continued as a dancer and dance teacher while also deepening her practice of Zen meditation. She has worked as a bookkeeper with private clients and small businesses since her days in New York. Christine is also an avid photographer.

Ryan Gallagher, Educational Technology Director
Ryan grew up in Tacoma, Washington, and received his Bachelor of Business Administration at Stetson University in Florida. He served as IT manager at Runtime Technologies in New York for three years, acting as project manager and key client contact for major accounts such as JP Morgan, Chase, Compaq, The School at Columbia, Columbia Law School and the Audubon Society. Drawn to education, Ryan became Senior Systems Coordinator at The School at Columbia University, working with architects, construction staff and vendors for a newly constructed K-8 school, as well as coordinating faculty training, maintaining over 500 laptops, teaching Lego Robotics and digital photography. During the time he was in New York, Ryan was a consultant at Hannah Sennesh School in Brooklyn. In 2006, Ryan came west to work as Director of Technology at the Stanford School, managing technology operations, faculty training, professional development, and the integration of technology into the newly founded school’s developing curriculum. He serves as technology consultant at the Ross Institute in New York.

Michaela Garzelloni, First Grade Assistant Teacher
Michaela was born and raised in Oregon, and received her BS in Social Sciences and MEd in Elementary Education at Portland State University. Michaela has taught at Circle of Life Preschool, at the Vermont Hills program (associated with the Portland Public Schools) and at the Emerson School, where she was the lead teacher of a Kindergarten/First grade classroom. Michaela completed the student teaching portion of her credential program in the fourth grades at Grout Elementary and Metropolitan Learning Center. She completed Slingerland training in multi-sensory language acquisition. Beyond her work with kids, Michaela is an avid outdoorswoman and seasoned traveler. She loves surfing, hiking and biking, and credits her Oregon childhood with instilling a lifelong love of nature.

Jane Gersick, First Grade Assistant Teacher
Jane�s extensive teaching career includes work with children from age six to eighteen. Before joining the SFFS staff in 2003, she taught third grade as well as studio art and art history at Hebrew Academy, St. Vincent de Paul, and in the After-School Academy at The Hamlin School. Jane was raised in New York and Arizona, and attended the University of Arizona, Arizona State and Oxford University for degrees in English and Education. Jane, her partner Jeff and daughter Lauren have traveled extensively, living in South Africa and London for six years. Jane is passionate about art history, and refines lessons on art and artists for students at San Francisco Friends School.

Araxi Gundelfinger, Director of Development
Araxi relished her childhood on the Hawaiian Islands before calling California home. With her expertise in non-profit development, she also brings a deep passion for education and the performing arts. Araxi began her development career at the California College of the Arts for the opening of the San Francisco campus of the Schools of Architecture and Design, then signed on to the advancement team during CCA�s $15 million capital campaign. Before joining SFFS, Araxi directed the development effort at Marin Theatre Company. Her travel itch and performance bug have inspired her to live and perform abroad. Araxi earned a double BA in Dramatic Art and Political Science from University of California at Berkeley. She loves music, from a cappella to opera, and still sings in 9-part harmony with the alumnae of Cal's California Golden Overtones.

Paula Haarvei, Director of Finance and Operations
The eldest of the seven Keitel children, Paula attended St. Philomena�s School from kindergarten through 8th grade in Livingston, New Jersey. Paula�s family then moved to Chicago, where she went to Highland Park High School, and on to Barat College for a BS in Economics and Lake Forest School of Management, where she completed her MBA. Paula has over twenty-five years experience as business manager in independent schools; she started her career at Woodlands Academy (a Sacred Heart School) in Lake Forest, Illinois, followed by thirteen years at the Francis W. Parker School in Chicago. Paula moved west to serve at the Bush School in Seattle and the Bentley School in Oakland. Paula has three grown children - Lona, Tina, and Michael � and two grandsons. She is an avid traveler and a voracious reader, with special affection for mysteries.

Noah Kelly, Second Grade Teacher and Assistant Teacher
Noah grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico and attended public schools there; as a young child he fell in love with theatre, playing Mowgli in The Jungle Book and Thomas Jefferson in Do It Again, George! His teachers did their level best to engage his �overactive imagination.� Noah graduated from Humboldt State University with his BA in Theatre, and completed course work at San Francisco State and City College of San Francisco in child development, human sexuality and medicine. His work in schools began at Children�s Day School, where he served as the Office Administrator from 1997-2001, and continued at San Francisco Day School where he was the associate teacher in kindergarten for two years, and a participant in S.E.E.D. (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) monthly discussion groups. Noah served as a Kindergarten Assistant Teacher in the 2005-06 school year, and graduated from the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute in June 2007.

Greta Kent-Stoll, Physical Education teacher, Second Grade Assistant Teacher
Greta was born and raised in Santa Cruz in a family of educators. She double majored in dance and psychology at Loyola Marymount, alternating an intense performing schedule with her predilection for hitting the books. When she is not reading, she practices yoga and kung fu, continues her lifelong love of musical theatre and music, or heads to the woods or mountains to camp and hike. Greta has worked as a tutor for children with learning differences, served through Ameri-corps at E.R. Taylor Elementary School running their Sports-4-Kids program, and taught yoga at Gator Youth Sports camp at San Francisco State University. Here at San Francisco Friends School, when Greta is not in class, in the gym or on the playing field, you'll find her helping out in the Extended Day program.
Back to top

Angela Kim, Kindergarten Teacher
Angela was born in Korea and raised in Michigan, just outside of Detroit. She attended public school through 4th grade and independent school, University�Liggett, from 5th through 12th grades. Angela graduated from Smith College, where she majored in English Literature and Government, nurtured her lifelong love of literature, and developed a plan to become a teacher. After graduation, she helped coordinate a World Conference on Conflict and Order in Seoul, and became a research assistant at the Center for International Studies. As the Community Development Coordinator at the Center for Inspired Teaching in Washington D.C., Angie developed curriculum, raised in-kind donations, supervised a literacy tutoring program, edited grant proposals, and participated in professional development workshops for teaching. Following her work in Washington, Angie completed her Masters in Curriculum and Teacher Education at Stanford, and then launched her teaching career as a first grade teacher at Brightwood Elementary School and Community Academy Public Charter. Angie loves listening to music � Ella, Motown, classical � and tracking the Pistons. She lives with her partner, John Lee.

Jose Lizarraga, Office Manager
Jose joined the San Francisco Friends School staff from the California College of the Arts, where he served as Area Coordinator for Housing. The son of first generation Mexican immigrants, Jose grew up in Salinas where he attended public schools and developed an early talent as an artist. Jose studied French, Japanese, and American Sign Language to supplement his fluent English and Spanish, and planned a career in translation or foreign relations. A beloved art history professor encouraged Jose to apply for scholarships to study art and culture in Japan and to pursue painting at California College of the Arts. He won both scholarships in a single week, and shifted directions towards the visual arts. In Japan, Jose developed a deep interest in the Urasenke tradition of tea, and in the Japanese aesthetic, which he incorporated into his pursuit of simplicity and purity in his paintings. At CCA, Jose served as a Resident Advisor and eventually became the coordinator for the first year residency program at the college. In addition to his study of Japanese art and culture, and his work as a visual artist, Jose also loves singing and touring karaoke joints in the city.

Back to top Helene Manheim, Educational Therapist
Helene received her certificate in Educational Therapy at the University of California, Berkeley, and completed training as a Slingerland specialist. She has served as a Learning Specialist at the Nueva School and Presidio Hill School, and also works with students in a thriving private practice. In her spare time she loves to hike, knit, and play with Spice, the family Border Collie/Shepherd. Her daughter Maritte is a freshman at University High School.

Toby Mickelson, Educational Therapist
Toby received both undergraduate and graduate degrees from UC Berkeley, and completed her Educational Therapy Certificate at Holy Names University in Oakland. She has served as Clinical Director of Big Brothers of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, provided individual, family and group treatment in private psychotherapy practice, served as a Learning Specialist and Teaching Assistant at Prospect Sierra School, and, for the last six years, served as Middle School Learning Specialist at Redwood Day School. Toby has trained to become a Profile Advisor and Subject Specialist through the Schools Attuned Program, taken several courses of the Lindamood Bell program in multi-sensory language acquisition, completed the “Making Math Real” teachers’ training at Berkeley, and honed her teaching expertise as an organization and study skills coach for middle-school grades. Toby has raised and shown terriers, and now focuses her attention on more demanding – but quieter – orchids. She maintains a private educational therapy practice in the East Bay. She and her partner Donald have three grown sons, Harris, Evan, and Alex.

Rich Oberman, Third Grade Teacher
Rich joins the San Francisco Friends School staff with eight years of teaching experience. A Speech and Communications graduate of San Francisco State University, Rich began his work as an educator as the coordinator of the after-school program at Schools of the Sacred Heart, and continued as a third grade teacher at Stuart Hall for Boys. He has devoted three summers to the Lucy Calkins Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University, and completed Making Math Real training with David Berg. The child of a Japanese-Hawaiian mother and German father, Rich has a long-standing passion for Taiko drumming; he is also a trained medic with extensive experience as a first-aid teacher.

Marianne O'Grady, Second Grade Teacher
A veteran Friends educator, Marianne has taught primary school for eighteen years at Cambridge Friends School, Marin Country Day School, and San Francisco Friends School. Marianne grew up outside of Boston, where she attended public schools and went on to receive her B.S. and M.Ed. degrees in Early Childhood Education from Fitchburg State College and Wheelock College. Marianne has trained at �The Writing Project� at Columbia University, �Project Zero� at Harvard University, Dr. Mel Levine�s �Schools Attuned� which focuses on differing learning styles, NASA�s elementary educators program in aeronautics, engineering and technology, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute marine biology workshop. She received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, a Christa McAuliffe Teaching Grant, and a Fulbright Memorial Fund Grant to study and travel in Japan. Marianne�s class was featured in the film �It�s Elementary, Talking about Gay Issues at School.� Marianne trains teachers to teach math and science at USF�s Graduate School of Education, and at the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute. She has traveled to Afghanistan and Belize to work with fellow educators, and spread her passion for inquiry-based science, and engaging �hands-on� teaching and learning.

Mary Lou Orr, Business Manager
Mary Lou brings eighteen years of accounting, finance and school business office experience to the San Francisco Friends School. A cum laude graduate of San Francisco State University, she began her career as a senior accountant and auditor at Lautze and Lautze Accountancy Corporation, and then became an accountant at Head-Royce School. In 1994, she became Director of Business and Financial Services at South Hebrew Day School. After serving three years there, she went on to serve in the same leadership role at Phillips Brooks School (1997 to 2000) and Charles Armstrong School (2000 to 2007). Mary Lou is Board President of the Independent School Business Officers Association of Northern California, and Executive Board Vice President of the Belmont Chamber of Commerce.

Jodi Pickering, Fifth Grade Teacher
Jodi brings seventeen years of experience as an educator to the San Francisco Friends School, where she is part of our founding team of Middle School educators. Most recently, she served as Middle School Dean of Students at Abington Friends School, where she coordinated academic and behavioral support for students, created the schedule, led the service learning, advising and assembly programs, taught English and health, and coached softball. At Germantown Friends School, Jodi was Director of Non-Academic Affairs (activities, projects and special events) and at Plymouth Meeting Friends School she taught Spanish. On the west coast, Jodi has taught English and Social Studies at Windrush School, and coached soccer at Urban. She is a graduate of Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she spent a semester in Madrid at the Instituto de Estudios Europeos. Jodi’s partner, Tony, is an administrator at the Bay School; their daughter, Sophie, is a third grader at SFFS.
Back to top

Jeff Porter, Fourth Grade Teacher
Jeff was born in the Panama Canal Zone, and moved twenty times before the age of 18; his father was a German language instructor at West Point, and a career Army man. Jeff attended schools in Germany, and all over the United States. He developed an interest in Native American culture as a teenager, especially the Cherokee, Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache Indians near his home in Oklahoma. He became a fancy feather dancer during this time, and performed at festivals and pow-wows in the southwest. Jeff graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in Visual Communications, and came to San Francisco to complete his Master of Fine Arts at San Francisco Art Institute. In the decade following, Jeff taught children and adolescents as part of Performing Arts Workshop; he also worked in media design and documentary films and served as a long-term substitute at Windrush School. His professional development work includes Columbia University Teacher�s College Reading and Writing Project, Dr. Mel Levine�s �Schools Attuned� program, Responsive Classroom curriculum training, and the �Family Matters: Resources for LGBT Families� workshop. Jeff performs with the Barbary Coast Cloggers, an all-male precision clogging group, and tends an organic garden, an interest of his for over twenty years. Here at SFFS, Jeff has served as an Assistant Teacher in Kindergarten, a lead teacher in First Grade, and a pioneering member of our Fourth Grade teaching team.

Marina Vendrell Renaut, Extended Day Program Coordinator, Summer Program Director
A native of the Bay Area, Marina attended Humboldt State University, where she received a BA in Fine Arts, and California College of the Arts, where she completed her Masters in Fine Arts. She has taught children and adolescents and served as a guest artist, artist-in-residence and lecturer, most recently at the San Francisco Day School, where she was an Associate Teacher in the first and second grades for two years. Currently, she teaches Visual Arts to ninth graders at Marin Academy. Marina has attended a seminar in the Responsive Classroom, joined a workshop entitled �Words Their Way� and been a participant in a S.E.E.D. (Seeking Equity and Educational Diversity) discussion group. She served as an Assistant in the �Friends Around the World� Summer camp at San Francisco Friends School in 2003 and 2004, and directed the school�s Summer Camp in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Her artwork was featured in a show in China during the summer of 2004.

Chris Rini, Physical Education Teacher
A native of Southern California, Chris was a passionate athlete throughout his youth. He graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Liberal Studies, and began his coaching and teaching career as a youth sports coach and summer program counselor at the Jewish Community Center. He has coached a variety of sports, including baseball, basketball, and football and served as an assistant teacher at Balboa High School, where he taught a class in Filipino culture and history. Chris is a member of the Positive Coaching Alliance, a certified soccer coach, and has his full child and adult CPR certification. During the past two summers, Chris has coached baseball for middle school boys at the National Maccabi Games. Chris is an avid photographer, a skill he developed as an undergraduate. He lives with his wife, Poem, in San Francisco.

Lloyd Sacks, Associate Director of Development
Lloyd was raised in Orange County after his family immigrated from South Africa. He attended local independent schools and graduated from Thacher, a boarding school in Ojai. Lloyd attended Northwestern University, where he majored in Communication Studies, minored in Slavic Literature, played squash and was involved in theatre. Following university, he came out to San Francisco to work for a boutique advertising agency. Lloyd then moved to Italy, working first in the active travel business before settling in Rome, where he perfected la cucina romana and managed sales and marketing operations for an international cultural merchandising company. Abandoning the private sector, but not Rome, Lloyd served as a donor communications officer for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for two years. This was followed by a year in Sudan with FAO, where he helped to advocate for and to coordinate relief operations in Darfur and Southern Sudan. Lloyd is thrilled to be working with Araxi and to be back in the Bay Area where his love for food, wine, cinema and cycling can flourish.

Christopher Slater, Fifth Grade Teacher
A Minnesota native, Chris graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BA in English and Theatre, and launched his career as a freelance film writer, actor, director and producer here in the Bay Area. In addition, he wrote features, essays, interviews and criticism about film, music and culture, and served for over a decade as a film technician. In 2002, Chris received the Dean Goodman Acting Award and the Best of San Francisco Fringe Award. Chris decided to become a teacher after serving as a classroom volunteer at Jose Ortega Elementary School, and a substitute teacher in the San Leandro Schools; he completed his MA in Education and teaching credential at UC Berkeley, and began full-time teaching 4th/5th grade at the East Bay Conservation Corps Charter School in Oakland, and then joined the Park Day School faculty as a fifth grade teacher. When he’s not in the classroom, Chris enjoys being in nature - hiking, biking, climbing, and kayaking.

Chad Stephenson, Librarian, Second Grade Assistant Teacher
Growing up in rural Maine, Chad learned the value of good public and school libraries as a child. After high school, Chad completed a year abroad as an exchange student to Israel, and then attended the State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia where he received his B.A. in English, and minored in Creative Writing and Education. Looking for a place to begin a writing career he came to San Francisco, where he served as a freelance music journalist. Subsequently, he completed an AA degree in Library Information Technology at the City College of San Francisco, and completed his Masters in Library and Information Science (MLIS) at San Jose State University with a focus on school libraries. He served as Librarian for four years at Mercy High School, and has continued part-time work at the Waldorf School, Lick-Wilmerding and UCSF. Currently, he serves as President of the Bay Area Independent School Librarians association. Chad lives in San Francisco with his wife, Panida, and loves to ride his bicycle to work whenever he isn't riding his 1976 BMW motorcycle.

Amabelle Sze, Fourth Grade Teacher
Amabelle�s father and mother immigrated from China as students, and settled in Wisconsin for the first of many academic postings. The fourth of five children, Amabelle was born in Madison and moved to Chicago in second grade. All of the Sze children played musical instruments, and Amabelle was particularly captivated by classical music. She received her BFA from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and was headed for a career as a professional musician until she completed her undergraduate work, had several years of private piano and violin teaching under her belt, and realized that she was drawn to the challenges and delights of working with kids. Amabelle joins the SFFS team after serving as an assistant teacher in the third grade at Cathedral School for Boys and in the second and fourth grades at Stuart Hall for Boys. She received her teaching credential from San Francisco State University, completing her student teaching at Escondido Elementary School in Palo Alto. Beyond her consuming interest in curriculum development, Amabelle plays the viola and piano, scales boulders, loves auto racing video games, and bakes an �awesome� batch of cupcakes!

Bliss Tobin, First Grade Teacher, Developmental Support Coordinator
Bliss has sixteen years of experience as a primary school teacher at Francis W. Parker School, the Winnetka Public Schools in Chicago, The Head-Royce School in Oakland, and San Francisco Friends School. Bliss was raised in Connecticut and is a graduate of Yale University; she received her MA in Teaching from the University of Chicago. Bliss has extensive experience in curriculum design, particularly in mathematics, is trained in Dr. Mel Levine�s �Schools Attuned�, and has closely studied the philosophy of the early childhood schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy. She served as Director of Studies in 2005-06, and as Admissions Director at San Francisco Friends School for two years, before returning to the classroom to work directly with children, and continue her work in curriculum design and development. She currently coordinates the school's Developmental Support program. Bliss has a long-standing love of the performing arts, is an enthusiastic tennis player, and a recent convert to the joys of open water swimming.

Melissa Vangelis, Second Grade Teacher
Melissa was born in a small town in southeastern Kansas and moved to Colorado with her family when she was 14. She attended the University of Colorado, where she received her BA and an Elementary Education Certificate. Moving to the Bay Area, Melissa taught 3rd grade at the Discovery Center School for three years, and then 2nd grade at Bentley School where she served on the school�s Curriculum Committee. She is trained in Mel Levine�s �Schools Attuned,� and has attended a workshop at the Friends Council on Education for teachers new to Quaker schools. Melissa serves as Clerk of the San Francisco Faculty and Staff. Melissa lives in San Francisco with her partner Damon, infant daughter, Stella, and loves to spend time hiking and playing with their golden retriever, Max.

Anya Wasiutynski, Third Grade Assistant Teacher
Anya was born and raised in Watertown, Connecticut as the middle child of seven. She ventured west to attend University of San Francisco where she majored in psychology, and where she is now completing her MA in Teaching. Anya has worked with children since her early teens, when she began babysitting, teaching swim lessons, assisting at pre-school, and tutoring. When she�s not taking care of children, Anya loves sewing and painting, road biking around the city, and hiking and camping. She joined the SFFS staff in the fall of 2005, and pioneered the popular �Weird Science� class in our after-school Enrichment program.

Scott Donohue earned a BA from Wesleyan University. Scott moved to San Francisco from London where he was working with a privately held international investment group developing and acquiring health clubs in Western Europe. He has worked in the communications industry and has been the founder of three successful wireless companies, most recently launching WCS Wireless. Scott has also served on the Board of Advisors for Get Out and Learn, a program in the San Francisco Unified School District which integrates outdoor leadership skills, community service and environmental programs with the high school curriculum. Scott and his wife, Amory, live in San Francisco with their two sons. Quinn, is in San Francisco Friends School Class of 2012, and Will is in the Class of 2016.

Brian Elliott grew up in Illinois and earned his BA in Economics and Mathematics from Northwestern University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Brian worked for Boston Consulting Group in Chicago, Singapore and San Francisco for a number of years as a strategy consultant to Fortune 500 consumer retail and technology companies. He is currently President and COO of Alibris, Inc., an online exchange for thousands of independent sellers of books, music and movies from over 40 countries around the globe. Brian and his wife, Maureen McAvoy, have two sons; Connor is in the San Francisco Friends School Class of 2014, and Riley is in the Class of 2016.

Gil Fleitas was raised in New York City. After attending Friends Seminary from grades 7 thru 12, he earned a BA in Government from Harvard College and a JD from Stanford Law School. After a 14 year career at Trammell Crow Company, specializing in real estate development and corporate outsourcing services, Gil devoted his energies to pursuing more entrepreneurial and socially minded endeavors, such as GreenHome.com (offering “green” products on the web), AngelPoints.com (facilitating volunteerism), and Nutek Lighting Solutions (providing energy efficient lighting retrofit solutions for commercial establishments). He is also co-founder of Byzantium, a real estate brokerage team at Pacific Union representing luxury homes and investment properties. Gil served on the Board of the Homeless Prenatal Program for 10 years, (7 years as Board President), a San Francisco non-profit dedicated to ensuring that homeless women give birth to healthy babies. Gil and his wife, Kelli Donovan, live in San Francisco.