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.

John Castro joined CDS in July 2015 as our Facilities Director, 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.

Andrei Ferrera, Director of Communication, joined CDS in November 2012. Previously, he was Director of Communications for ten years at Head-Royce School, a K-12 independent school in Oakland. Andrei earned a bachelor's degree in music from Sonoma State University. Away from work, he enjoys playing bluegrass music with friends, cooking, and going to the beach with his wife and their dog, Maggie.

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, an master's degree in early childhood education from New York University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Mills College.

Rico Tan, Director of Technology, received his education in business and computer science at the Indonesian Business Institute in Jakarta, Indonesia. Prior to joining CDS in 2009, he worked at 3Com Corporation, leading their Customer Briefing Center, and also at Heller Ehrman LLP, leading their Worldwide Video Conferencing technology department. At CDS Rico has overhauled the technology infrastructure and introduced Apple desktop computers, laptops, and iPads to staff, faculty, and middle school students. He keeps the CDS Technology Department moving at a very fast pace; he played a key role in the Innovation Lab project for our 601 Dolores middle school building and helped implement a strong online home learning program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rico loves to travel, is an accomplished photographer and, of course, likes all things related to technology.

Anthony Witte, Director of Inclusion, is an experienced educator, administrator, and diversity practitioner who joined us in 2014 from Head-Royce School in Oakland. Anthony has a bachelor's degree in Asian studies from the University of California, Berkeley, a master’s degree in education, equity, and social justice from San Francisco State University, and has studied abroad in Beijing, Hong Kong, and Guangzhou. He brought with him 10 years of independent school and community experience and possesses a skill set that includes restorative justice, design thinking, differentiated instruction, and social justice theater. Anthony is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Call to Action, a national think tank on diversity, and has been a facilitator, presenter, and blogger at the NAIS People of Color Conference. He is the co-author of Diversity Work in Independent Schools: The Practice and the Practitioner. Anthony is trained in Responsive Classroom, an approach that implements classroom practices that build academic and social-emotional competencies.

Jill Rosenberg joined CDS in 2018 as our Middle School Learning Specialist. She had served in the same position for the previous four years at Chinese American International School, and she has more than ten years of experience working in various roles in the teaching world, including as a classroom teacher, an administrator, and an educational therapist. Jill holds a master’s degree in educational therapy from California State University, Northridge, and a bachelor's degree in family & consumer sciences, early childhood education from San Francisco State University.

Greg Gardner, Preschool Head 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 and is working towards a bachelor's degree in education from Grand Canyon University. 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.

Cindy Huang joined the CDS preschool team in 2020 with several years of experience in early childhood education at Creative Gardens Preschool, Bright Horizons, and Trinity Presbyterian Preschool. She is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education/Development. When not teaching, Cindy enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, studying calligraphy, and spending time in nature with her dogs.

Lilyanne Kane, who joined the CDS Extended Program in 2020 and moved to the Preschool team later that 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.

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.

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.

Luisa Pinto, Kindergarten Head 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.

Shaye (Shaghayegh) Shirinbab permanently joined the Preschool team in 2018 after having previously served with CDS as a substitute teacher. She holds a bachelor's degree in English literature from Bahonar University in Iran, a Montessori Early Childhood Diploma from the Toronto Montessori Institute, a master's degree in arts education from Concordia University in Montreal, and an Administration Early Childhood Certificate from City College of San Francisco. Shaye has served as a lead teacher at Toronto Montessori schools, an after school educator and administrator at the Golestan Center for Language Immersion and Cultural Education in Berkeley, and an art education intern at Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco. She is the co-founder and program director of Multiverse Art Gallery, a showcase for multicultural works of art in the Bay Area.

Nicole Chin, Fourth Grade Teacher, joined the CDS team in 2019. Nicole is a graduate of the University of California, Davis with a double major in economics and music and a minor in education. She worked for three years at the Peregrine School, initially as a chorus teacher working with all elementary grades and eventually adding duties as a Chinese immersion kindergarten teacher. Nicole is also a private violin instructor and has worked as an assistant conductor at Chanticleer Skills/Lab, a summer camp program for young singers. She is fluent in Mandarin.

Reggie Foldes, First Grade Head 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.

Jessica Kumar, Online Home Learning Teacher for second through fourth grades, joined CDS full-time in 2017 after having previously served as a maternity substitute. She has a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute at the University of the Pacific; a bachelor's degree in religious studies from Pomona College; and a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute at San Francisco State University. 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.

Alex Miller, Third Grade Head Teacher, joined CDS in 2013. He earned a bachelor's degree in communication studies from the University of San Diego and a master's degree in elementary education from the University of Phoenix. Previous to CDS, Alex worked as a 3rd grade intern and a 1st grade intern in the New Teacher Institute at Town School for Boys. Alex has extensive experience in athletics, serving as a head coach for 6th grade baseball and soccer, 8th grade basketball, 5th-8th grade golf, and 1st grade baseball. He also was a 5th grade after school teacher with Growth & Learning Opportunities in San Francisco. Alex is trained in Responsive Classroom, an approach that implements classroom practices that build academic and social-emotional competencies. Away from school, Alex enjoys cooking and exploring new hiking trails with his dog, Bailey.

Courtney Schwass joined the CDS team in 2021 as our Playground Supervisor and Summer Camp Coordinator. Courtney holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Westmont College and is currently enrolled in a master’s program from the Columbia School of Social Work. As a social work student, Courtney has developed skills in child play therapy as well as school social work. She has worked with a number of educational organizations throughout California, including Galileo Learning in Menlo Park, iD Tech in Orange County, and Cliff Drive Care Center in Santa Barbara; her responsibilities have ranged from engaging K-5 students in project-based learning to managing weekly camp operations for hundreds of students.

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.

Jonah Mandis, Fifth & Sixth Grade Science Teacher, joined CDS in 2017 with 15 years' experience teaching science, most recently for three years at The Academy School in Berkeley, California, where he taught a hands-on science curriculum to grades K-8. Prior thereto, he taught sixth through eighth grade science for two years at Archway Middle School, also in Berkeley. He also has taught chemistry, biology, environmental science, and AP Honors Physics at the School for Independent Learners, was a K-1 science teacher at the Nueva School, and has been a science educator for nonprofits such as Coyote Point Museum, the Aquarium of the Bay, and Camp Galileo. Jonah holds a master's degree in entomology from San Jose State University and a bachelor's degree in plant ecology from San Francisco State University.

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.

Jim Peters joined the CDS team in 2021 as our Seventh Grade Humanities Teacher during Chris Wachter’s paternity leave. Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in Classical Studies from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in Creative Arts Interdisciplinary/English from San Francisco State. He has several decades of teaching experience in Bay Area middle and high schools, during which he was named the Alameda Unified School District Teacher of the Year for 1994-95 and also won the AUSD Board‘s Education Navigator Award for educational leadership and innovation. Jim is the co-founder of two middle schools, The Wood Academy and The International Academy.

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.

Jeri Countryman, Director of the Innovation Lab, brings to CDS a rich and diverse background in technology, innovation, and design thinking. Previously, she was a senior project manager at Chabot Space & Science Center and has served as a curriculum and technology consultant for various educational organizations. Jeri earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Simmons College, a master’s degree in interdisciplinary computer science from Mills College, and a master’s degree in education from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Jeri is a parent at CDS.

Cristal Fiel joined CDS in 2019 as our first-ever All School Librarian. Before coming to CDS, she was a Teacher Librarian at Frick Impact Academy in Oakland, where she worked to empower students with a love of reading by providing access to books and media that reflected their cultural environment. Previously, Cristal served as a Community Investments Senior Program Associate for the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC), where she helped provide grants for historically marginalized communities. She also co-chaired the Cultural Equity Working Group at SFAC and served as a City and County of San Francisco representative in the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE). Cristal holds bachelor’s degrees in ethnic studies and sociology from the University of California, Berkeley and a master’s in library and information sciences from the University of Washington Information School.

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.

Jackie Katz joined CDS in 2017 as our Middle School Drama Teacher, having formerly worked as a teaching assistant at the California College of the Arts, a lead teacher with the Renegade Girls Club after school program, an Education Coordinator at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and a facilitator of Visual and Social Practice Art at Centre 3 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (her hometown!). Jackie has also been a volunteer teacher in refugee centers in Toronto, New York, and the Bay Area for over 12 years. She is the founder of Play:ground, an adventure playground on Governor’s Island in New York, and of Stellarvisions, a creative arts program that has been implemented in multiple cities. She holds a bachelor's degree in theatre studies from Dalhousie University and a master's degree in social practice and public forms from California College of the Arts. She is fluent in Hebrew and learning Arabic. 

Gabriela Martinez del Campo, Middle School Spanish Teacher, joined CDS in 2015 with more than 25 years of experience in teaching and curriculum development. Gabriela has a master’s degree in social communication from Universidad Panamericana in México and a bachelor's degree in education from Universidad Nacional Autinoma de México. She also earned a Certificate from the National Conservatory of Music in México.

Sonia Pinto-Scherstuhl, K-4 Spanish Teacher, 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.

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.

Samuel Sevett joined CDS in 2016 as the Innovation Lab Intern. 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.

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.

Gwen Hill, who joined the CDS team in 2021 as our Human Resources Manager, is a Bay Area native raised in the East Bay. She received a bachelor's degree in psychology from San Francisco State University. Gwen is an experienced professional with an extensive HR background. She loves family, music, being happy, working out, and most importantly peace and tranquility.

Patricia Jameson joined the CDS team in 2018 as the Assistant to the Head of School. Patricia has an associate degree in early childhood education from San Joaquin Delta College and a bachelor's degree from American Indian College. Before coming to CDS, she worked for the San Francisco Archdiocese as a Department Coordinator. She is also an artist and has been taking photographs since she received her own camera at the age of six.  She proudly found her exhibition start at the Lodi Grape and Wine Festival and grew up splitting her time between a cattle ranch in California with her mother and grandparents and the Navajo reservation with her father. These two very different places sparked her love of people and portraits.

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.

Melissa Vainio joined CDS in April 2012, having spent 12 years maintaining the databases at Windrush School. Melissa has a bachelor’s degree in English from Mount Holyoke College and a master’s degree in music (horn performance) from Sibelius Academy in Finland, combined with a minor in computer science from Helsinki University. She is also a professional handbell ringer and an amateur mosaic artist, and she has a black belt in karate. In 2017 Melissa left the Bay Area to live near family in New Hampshire, where she now works as an independent contractor, helping organizations (including CDS) get the most out of their databases.

Nathaniel Catunao joined our after school team in 2020. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in teaching, both from the University of San Francisco. Nathaniel has worked in a variety of educational settings, including as a student teacher at Gateway Middle School and Balboa High School, a summer camp science teacher at Brandeis School, and an Explainer at the Exploratorium.

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.

Linda Greiff joined our Extended Program team in 2021 as a classroom support/substitute teacher and aftercare teacher. She holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Queens College and a degree in textile design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Linda has spent extensive time in the design world, worked as an art instructor at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, the Art Institute of California, and Academy of Art University, and taught art and music at Live Oak School.

Natalie Mills joined the after school team in 2020. She holds a degree in kinesiology from the University of San Francisco, where she was active as the president of the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students, an events coordinator for the Black Student Union, and an office manager for the student housing department. Natalie loves working with kids and is currently pursuing a degree in pediatrics and has a wide variety of experience in the medical field, including as a medical assistant at the UCSF Corpus Clinic and an intern at the Orlando Regional Medical Center in Florida. She was also a competitive gymnast for 17 years, and her favorite hobby is photography.

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.