David Dobson-Smith, Lower School Director, arrived at CDS in 2020 with a wealth of experience as a head of school, division head, administrator, and teacher. Most recently, David was the Director of School Success/Head of School for Higher Ground Education. Previously, he worked across the Bay Area and New York on the central administrative team at AltSchool as the Head of Student Support and Personalization. From 2008 to 2012, David was the Head of Early Years and Lower School at Phoenix Secondary and Primary School in London and later was the Deputy Head at Corbets Tey School.
 
David is currently earning a Master of Education in Special Needs (Autism) from the University of Birmingham in the UK and holds a Bachelor of Education in English and Special Needs from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. David lives in the Bay Area with his husband.

Middle School Director Ed Rhee has previously served as an administrator, teacher, and coach for nearly twenty years on the east coast.  Ed has a master's degree in education from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education and a bachelor's degree in English and drama from Kenyon College. He and his wife Katie, along with their two sons Emerson (CDS '24) and Lachlan (CDS '28), enjoy traveling and exploring new places.

Erin Dayton-Jones, Extended Program Coordinator for the Early Childhood Program, comes to the CDS community all the way from Syracuse, New York, where she attended Syracuse University, receiving a bachelor's degree in education and child and family studies. She is an experienced educator and caregiver and loves helping kids work through problems. She is passionate about acceptance, tolerance, and diversity in education.

Paul Galvin, Director of Finance and Operations, joined CDS in 2020. Paul brings with him years of experience as an independent school business officer, dating from 1988 with the Children's Storefront School in Harlem. Since then, he has kept an eye on finance and facilities at other schools in New York, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area. Paul received a bachelor's degree in Latin from City College of New York. He spends his free time traveling with his partner Elisabeth, reading, hiking, and enjoying the rich arts scene in the Bay Area.

Diane Larrabee, Director of Enrollment Management, joined CDS in 2005. Diane has a bachelor's degree in English literature from the University of California, Berkeley and a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. She was a commercial litigator for ten years before leaving the practice of law to pursue nonprofit interests. Diane has served as a trustee for several nonprofits, including Compass Family Services and Town School for Boys, where she chaired the diversity committee for four years. Diane enjoys cooking, writing, and reading.

Chris Teare, who joined CDS in 2018 as the Director of the Extended Program, has a master's degree in education from Harvard and a bachelor's degree in modern literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He has worked in teaching positions at numerous Bay Area organizations, including four years as a teacher and afterschool program director for the Jewish Community Center in Berkeley as well as afterschool positions at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Cruz and Americorps in East Oakland. Most recently, he served as the program director for Compass Education Group, a local tutoring organization. Chris has traveled extensively throughout Latin America and is proficient in Spanish. Outside of work, Chris is a musician, photographer, and an outdoor sports enthusiast. In addition to his extended program duties, he is also the official coordinator for our response to COVID-19.

Catherine Grove, Lower School 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.

Josephine Saunders, Online Home Learning Coordinator, holds a bachelor's degree in English with Qualified Teacher Status from Liverpool John Moores University in England. Prior to joining CDS as a second grade teacher in 2016, Josephine was a third grade teacher at Concord Hill School in Chevy Chase, Maryland for two years. Prior thereto, she was at The British Schools of America for 12 years, where she held several positions, including classroom teacher for various grades, Instructional Coach, Literacy Subject Leader, International Primary Curriculum Coordinator, and Director of Lower School. She also taught elementary grades at St. Margaret Mary’s Primary School in Liverpool, England. Josephine has received extensive professional development in the area of multicultural education and while at Concord Hill School was the school’s Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator. 

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. 

PB Gutierrez joined the transitional kindergarten team in 2019. They hold a bachelor's degree in child/adolescent development from San Francisco State and have taught for the past four years at Children’s Campus, the early childhood educational facility on the SF State campus. They also have served as an intern in the kindergarten classroom of Spruce Elementary School in South San Francisco.

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.

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.

Candy Mabry, Preschool Head 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.

Alicia Perdue, Preschool Head 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.

Ami Sciarrillo joined CDS in 2019, initially as a fourth grade teacher before moving to the kindergarten team in Fall 2020. Previously, she served as a third grade teaching assistant at San Francisco Friends School.  She has a bachelor's degree in liberal studies from San Francisco State as well as a master's degree in education and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential through the University of the Pacific, Bay Area Teacher Training Institute. Ami has worked as a volunteer in multiple local schools, including Starr King Elementary School and Marshall Elementary School. She also has done educational work with Jumpstart and Amigos de las Americas. She is trained in Responsive Classroom, an approach that implements classroom practices that build academic and social-emotional competencies, and she is fluent in Spanish and conversational in French.

Ngoc Tran, Preschool Teacher, came to CDS in 2000 from Head Start, where she worked for five years. Ngoc received her associate degree in child development and a certificate in child development administration from City College of San Francisco, and she has a child development site supervisor permit with the state of California. Ngoc is certified in the Project Approach and trained in Total Physical Response (TPR). She continues to pursue child development coursework and classes in English as a Second Language. Ngoc has two children and, in addition to English, she speaks and writes Vietnamese, Cantonese, and Mandarin. She enjoys sewing and is passionate about sharing her culture and learning about other cultures in the CDS community.

Valentine Batra joined the Second Grade team in 2019 after having worked in our extended care program since the fall of 2018. Valentine 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. Valentine also volunteered for four years at a nursing home in New York.

Caitlyn Connolly joined the Fourth Grade team in 2019 after teaching students in grades 1-3 at Shanghai Community International School in China for five years. She has considerable experience in the Bay Area educational world: after receiving a bachelor's degree in history from Santa Clara and a master's degree in teaching from the University of San Francisco, she served as a kindergarten teacher first at Rosa Parks Elementary School in San Francisco and then at St. Timothy’s Catholic School in San Mateo, and later as a first grade teacher at All Souls Catholic School in South San Francisco. Caitlyn also served as a middle and high school basketball coach during her time in China.

Belinda Gray, First Grade Head 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.

Anna Lee, who joined the First Grade team in 2018, 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.

Darryl Owens, Fourth Grade Head Teacher, joined CDS in 2017 from Presidio Hill School, where she was the maternity leave substitute in fifth grade for over a year. Prior thereto, Darryl 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.

Ginny Spivey returned to the Third Grade classroom in 2018 after having served as CDS' K-4 Director of Teaching and Learning for four years. She originally joined CDS in 2006 after teaching in the Virginia public school system for five years. She also has worked as an instructional coordinator and assistant principal, and she piloted a partial Spanish immersion program in the Charlottesville City Schools in Charlottesville, Virginia. Ginny has a bachelor's degree in Spanish and a master’s degree in teaching (dual certification in special education and elementary education) from the University of Virginia, and she is National Board-certified. She is trained in Responsive Classroom, an approach that implements classroom practices that build academic and social-emotional competencies.

Kay Washington, Second Grade Head 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.

Mickael Drouet, Spanish Teacher (grades 7-8), joined CDS in 2010 from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he was a French instructor. Prior to college teaching, he taught English and Spanish to middle school students. He has a master’s degree in language arts and commerce (English and Spanish) from the University of Caen (France) and a bachelor's degree in foreign languages and philosophy (English, Spanish and Italian).

Genesis Manyari, who joined the CDS team in 2020 as our Fifth Grade Humanities Teacher, is a first-generation college graduate from Saint Mary’s College of California with a bachelor’s degree in Justice, Community, and Leadership and a minor in Women and Gender Studies. Before coming to CDS, she worked as a science teacher at De Marillac Academy. A proud Peruvian who grew up in the Mission District, she believes in the power of learning and is a passionate advocate for children and families.

Art Oloresisimo joined CDS in 2016 as a Sixth Grade Humanities Teacher after teaching middle school social studies for nine years at St. Philip School in San Francisco. He also has taught social studies in middle and high school with the San Francisco Unified School District, and has taught advanced reading to adult ESL students at the College of San Mateo. Art holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley and a master's degree in teaching English as a second language as well as a Single-Subject California Teaching Credential from the University of San Francisco. 

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.

Christopher Wachter is our Seventh Grade Humanities Teacher. Prior to joining CDS in 2015, 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.

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.

Spencer Donaldson, Lower School Associate PE Teacher, joined CDS in 2016 as a lower school classroom teacher before moving to the athletic department in 2019. He holds an master's degree in education and a California Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute at the University of the Pacific, as well as a bachelor's degree in English from Occidental College. He has been a counselor at various camps for elementary-aged children, including working with third grade students at the summer academy of Growth and Learning Opportunities (GLO), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower youth and families to be leaders toward equitable communities. Spencer is an experienced podcaster, blogger, and writer, focusing on sports topics, and an accomplished musician.

 

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. 

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.

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.

Robin Ostenfeld Adams, Farm & Garden Manager, 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.

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.

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. He is the husband of Second Grade Dolphins teacher Josephine Saunders and is father to Emily ('24) and Gabriel (Preschool Leaping Lizards).

Serena Chen joined CDS in 2019 as our Annual Fund & Events Manager. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in language studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, she moved to Bali to teach English to young students through a nonprofit called Yayasan Bumi Sehat. Upon her return, she moved to San Francisco and enrolled at City College of San Francisco, earning an associate degree in hospitality management. Before coming to CDS, Serena worked for Project Open Hand as their Events and Community Relations Associate.

In her spare time, she enjoys discovering new hiking and camping spots, dabbling in yoga, and spending time by the ocean surfing or relaxing on the beach.

Daven Gee, Technology Integration 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.

Alyce Ide joined the CDS team in 2017 as the Technology Support Specialist with over 15 years’ experience of educational technical support in the Oakland Unified School District, Laney College, and California College of the Arts. She is an Oakland native and holds associate degrees in Asian/Asian American studies and applied design from Laney College.

In her spare time, she freelances as a graphic designer for nonprofits and community service organizations that help low-income and minority groups.

Grecia Lacayo joined CDS in 2019 as our Donor Relations Associate. Originally from Los Angeles, Grecia moved to San Francisco to attend the University of San Francisco, from which she holds a bachelor's degree in biology. She also holds a master's degree in primate conservation from Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom, and her thesis research led her to live in Colombia for some time. For over a decade, Grecia has worked in schools in various roles, and she most recently worked at San Francisco Friends School before joining CDS.

Cristobal Perez has worked at CDS for eight years. In addition to helping maintain our beautiful CDS campus, Cristobal also works with MC Janitorial Services. Cristobal is a resident of the Mission in San Francisco.

Alexis Carbajal joined the after school team in 2020. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from San Francisco State University and most recently served as a program leader for the after school and summer programs at James Denman Middle School. Alexis enjoys volunteering at a variety of local children’s organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club, 5 Elements Youth Program, and Wheel Kids Bicycle Club.

June Espinosa joined our after school team in 2020. They graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health education with a minor in holistic health studies from San Francisco State University, where their activities included conducting a Community Health Assessment in the Mission District, creating a grant proposal to address mental health disparities among African-American youth, and designing a website with information about COVID-19. June has also interned at several local organizations, including the Holistic Health Department at SF State, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Mandela Partners.

Brionna McGhee joined the 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.

Jose Olmedo joined the after care team in 2018. A bilingual Spanish speaker, he is currently a senior at SF State studying child psychology. Before coming to CDS, Jose worked for several years in the after school departments at St. Cecilia School and Mission Preparatory School.

Erika Mejia, who joined CDS in 2019 as our 333 Dolores Afternoon Receptionist, holds a bachelor’s degree in film and digital media from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Before coming to CDS, she worked as a sales associate at Nordstrom and an office manager at the local software company BuildingConnected. A San Francisco native, she served in high school as an intern at 826 Valencia and the San Francisco LGBT Community Center. She enjoys sketch comedy, blogging, cooking, and buying a new book every month.