Xochi Batlle, Fourth Grade Associate Teacher, holds a bachelor of science in wildlife ecology and conservation and a bachelor of arts in anthropology from the University of Florida. Prior to joining CDS, Xochi taught a science-based curriculum to preschool through fifth grade students at Fairmount Elementary School through Education Outside, a nonprofit organization that advances science education and environmental literacy by teaching outdoors in public school. Most recently, she taught life sciences at SF Expeditionary School, a small school providing individualized instruction to students in grades 4 through 7. She also has been a lead teacher at Aim High, a summer learning and enrichment program that serves under-resourced middle school students, and a teacher-in-residence at Slide Ranch, leading outdoor experiential learning programs that emphasized farming, cooking, caring for animals, and exploring the wilderness and the coast. 

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.

Jenni Choi came to CDS in 2021 after spending seven years as a middle school math teacher at CICS Prairie and St. Nicholas Cathedral School, both in Chicago. At St. Nicholas, she also taught science and coding to middle schoolers, led an after-school coding and robotics club for lower schoolers, collaborated with the University of Chicago on a summer math camp, and served as the leader of a professional development program for teachers. Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in urban elementary education from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Kate Corliss joined CDS in January 2017 as our Lower School Counselor. She holds a master’s degree in school counseling from George Washington University and has more than a decade of experience in a variety of positions and grade levels. At various schools in Washington, D.C. and Maryland from 2004-2012, she served as a Pre-K classroom teacher, as a K-8 art instructor, as an administrator for a Summer Academy program targeted at failing and below-proficient students, and as a counseling intern for District of Columbia public schools. After moving to the west coast in 2012, she served as a case manager for the Raphael House of San Francisco, where she developed an implemented a wide-ranging counseling program for homeless children and families. 

Ryan Davis joined the fourth grade team in 2021 with 15 years of experience teaching elementary classes. He most recently was a fourth grade teacher at Laurel School in Menlo Park and previously spent nine years teaching third and fourth grades at Bel Aire Elementary in Tiburon, where he was named the Rotary Educator of the Year for 2017 and served as the team lead of the Equity & Inclusion Committee. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s in education and instruction from George Mason University.

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.

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).

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.

Reggie Foldes, Second Grade Teacher, joined CDS in 2012. Reggie received a multiple subject teaching credential and master's degree in curriculum and instruction through the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute at the University of the Pacific. Reggie also has a bachelor's degree in history with a minor in education studies from The Colorado College. She brings experience teaching environmental education to elementary-aged children with Vida Verde Nature Education, The Marine Mammal Center and the Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary, with a focus on hands-on, inquiry-based and experiential learning. When not teaching, Reggie loves to hike in beautiful places, listen to bluegrass music, and cook delicious fresh foods.

Daven Gee, Digital Innovation Specialist, is an experienced educator, administrator and digital media artist. He has a bachelor's degree in public communications and a master's degree in film production. Prior to joining CDS in 2018, he worked with Streetside Stories, co-creating curricula and co-teaching in Bay Area elementary and middle school ELA and ELD classrooms, integrating media arts practices.

Daven is especially interested in strengthening personal voice, community engagement, and social justice through creative expression and media literacy. In addition to pursuing this work as an educator, he has done so with many award-winning documentary films, including Regret to Inform, Blessed Is the Match, Scout's Honor, and the PBS documentary series  P.O.V. and Independent Lens.

Born in Southern California and raised on a farm in Northern California, Daven has long been interested in cross-cultural exchange. He is passionately engaged with family and community in the East Bay and is earning a TESOL certificate (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from the University of California, Berkeley.

Belinda Gray, First Grade Teacher, joined CDS in 2014 with nine years of teaching experience, including six years lead-teaching first grade at the San Francisco Day School and at the Keys School in Palo Alto. Belinda has an M.F.A. in photography from the San Francisco Art Institute and a bachelor's degree in photography from Humboldt State University. She holds a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential through the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute at San Francisco State University. Belinda has received mindfulness curriculum training through Mindful Schools, a leading nonprofit in the field of mindfulness in education. She is trained in the Lucy Calkins Reading and Writing Workshop at Columbia University Teachers College and in Responsive Classroom, an approach that implements classroom practices that build academic and social-emotional competencies.

Cathy Greene, Preschool Mental Health & Wellbeing Coordinator, joined CDS in 2019. Cathy has a private practice in Kentfield and was previously an intern therapist for schools in Mill Valley and San Leandro, where she worked with students, parents, and teachers. She also served as a lecturer for five years in the Elementary Education Department at San Francisco State University. Cathy was the Director of Kumara School in Mill Valley for nearly twenty years. She earned a master's degree in counseling from Sonoma State University and a master's in early childhood education from San Francisco State University.

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.

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.

Jo Hoffman joined us in 2021 as our 5th/6th Grade Science Teacher. She holds two bachelor’s degrees—one in environmental studies and another in ecology and evolutionary biology—from the University of California, Santa Cruz, as well as a master’s in natural resources from the University of Idaho. Jo has worked in a variety of science education positions in the Bay Area, including as a science teacher at Achieve Academy, a professional learning specialist at the Lawrence Hall of Science, a program manager at KIDS for the BAY, and a field science instructor at YMCA East Bay Outdoor School.

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.

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.

Marie Keating, who joined us in 2021 as a first grade teacher, has previously taught first and second grades at Hamlin, Woodland School, and Convent of the Sacred Heart, as well as being an International ESL teacher in Thailand. She holds a bachelor’s degree in humanities from the University of Colorado and is pursuing a master’s in leadership from Columbia University Teachers College. Marie has received extensive anti-racist education training and chaired the humanities department at Woodland, where she also founded the environmental committee and worked as a literacy coach.

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.

CJ Logel joined the second grade team in 2021. He came to CDS after six years at The San Francisco School, where he taught first through third grades, helped found and lead the school’s Rainbow Alliance, and coached the middle school cross country team. CJ has a bachelor’s degree in dance from the University of California, Riverside and a master’s in education from the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute at the University of the Pacific. He is also a professional contemporary dancer and a certified kids’ yoga teacher.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Alicia Perdue, Preschool 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.

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.

Amanda Richard, High School Transition Counselor, originally joined the CDS administration in 1993. Subsequently she worked in the CDS development office before joining the admission team in 2008. She added responsibilities as our High School Transition Coordinator in 2014 and began exclusively focusing on that position in 2019. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Boston University and loves to spend the summers in Hawaii, her childhood home. Amanda is the parent of CDS alumnae Marina (’10), Serena (’13) and Ciara (’15) Richard.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Divya Vyas, Transitional Kindergarten Teacher, joined CDS in 2014 with more than ten years of experience in curriculum planning, classroom teaching, and documentation of different early childhood settings. Divya earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and child care from SNDT University, Mumbai, India, a master's degree in English literature from JNV University, and a master’s degree in early childhood education from San Francisco State University.

Wendy Macias Walker, Middle School Counselor, holds a M.Ed. in Secondary Counseling from the University of South Carolina and a bachelor's degree in sociology-anthropology and Spanish from Knox College in Illinois. Before joining CDS in 2016, Wendy spent 18 years at Punahou School, a K-12 independent school in Hawaii, first as a teacher and subsequently as a teacher and counselor. During her 13 years as a counselor at Punahou, Wendy maintained long-term counseling relationships with students, developed curriculum, taught psychology, provided ninth grade guidance, peer helping, and advanced peer helping, and served as an advisor to the school’s Neuro Club. Prior to her work at Punahou, Wendy worked as a teacher at various schools in Tennessee, South Carolina, Michigan, and Mexico. She is fluent in Spanish.

Shelly Luke Wille joined CDS as Head of School in 2018. A Bay Area native, she possesses a deep knowledge of and commitment to progressive education. Shelly holds a master's degree in special education and a bachelor's degree in diversified liberal arts (with an emphasis on math and science) from St. Mary’s College, California, as well as credentials in Multiple Subject Teaching and Special Education. Before coming to CDS, Shelly served as the Head of School at Chadwick International in South Korea, a K-12 school with 1,200 students. She was previously the Assistant Head and Elementary School Head at Chadwick before ascending to the Head position. She also served as Assistant Head and Lower School Head at Hillbrook School in Los Gatos, California.

Shelly and her husband, Michael, are passionate believers in our child-centered, constructivist approach, so they were thrilled to find a mission-aligned school for their own children. Their two younger sons, Séamus and Braden, are Middle School students at CDS and their eldest, Kaffie, is a college student.

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.

Jack Hamm joined CDS in 2016 as our Communications & Marketing Associate. In 2015, Jack graduated from University of Chicago, where he made the Dean’s List four consecutive years, with a bachelor's degree in English literature. Before coming to CDS, Jack served as Hospitality Coordinator for the New Orleans Film Festival and as a development intern for the San Francisco Film Society.

Derric Johnson joined CDS in 2021 as our Assistant Head of Community, Equity, and Belonging. Previously, he was a senior administrator at The Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences in Santa Monica, where he founded the Equity and Justice Institute to oversee social justice advocacy and equity education on campus. Prior, he was a Senior Deputy for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, where he established the Civilian Oversight Commission of the Sheriff’s Department, led efforts to reform the Probation Department, worked to improve deficiencies in cultural competency and implicit biases, and procured funds to support restorative justice and community-based programs to divert youth from the juvenile justice system. In 2019, Derric was appointed as a Commissioner for the L.A. County Human Relations Commission. Derric is also on the executive council of Children’s Defense Fund-CA, a historic child advocacy organization. As a National Urban Fellow, Derric earned his secondary Master’s in Public Administration from Baruch College-City University of New York, completed a Master’s in Business Management from Azusa Pacific University, and earned his bachelor’s from Pitzer College, where he serves on the Alumni Board.

Josephine Saunders, Equity & Inclusion Coach, 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. 

Ty Chavez-Gallo joined the aftercare team in 2020. A San Francisco native, she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from CCSF and is fluent in Spanish. Ty comes from a long line of caregivers and previously worked as a babysitter for CDS families.

Anjali Jariwala, a CDS graduate, joined our after school team in 2021 after working for several years in our summer camp program. She has led a wide range of activities ranging from arts and crafts to STEM work to field trips. Anjali has also served as a Spanish teaching aide and a front desk aide at Design Tech High School. She is currently pursuing an associate’s degree in fashion design at City College of San Francisco.

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.

Benito joined the extended program in 2021 with six years of experience in San Francisco schools, having worked as a preschool and/or kindergarten prep teacher at Creative Gardens Daycare & Preschool, Bright Horizons, and Kidz Kollege Preschool & Child Care Center. Benito has studied early childhood education, psychology, and communication at Skyline College and is working towards a degree in childhood education. He is fluent in English and Spanish.

Tim Hathaway, Staff Accountant, joined CDS in March 2015. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Tim moved to San Francisco in 1995 and has lived and worked in The City since then.  With 20 years of accounting and finance experience, Tim has spent his career working for San Francisco corporations, small businesses, and nonprofits. Tim enjoys travelling, reading, good food and binge-watching.

Jeanne Jacobs-Gaffney joined the CDS team in 2021 as our Director of Finance & Operations. Jeanne has 30 years of experience as a business officer in California schools, including Abraham Joshua Heschel school in Northridge, Sinai Akiba Academy in Los Angeles, and The Center for Early Education in West Hollywood. Some of her projects have included managing the creation of an Innovation Lab and reimagining a summer camp program. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from La Salle and a master’s in the same subject from California Lutheran University.

George Lopez Jr., Head Receptionist, joined CDS in June 2014 after spending many years in the retail management/customer service and film industries. Originally from Southern California, he moved to San Francisco in 1994 and currently lives in the Lower Haight with his partner. George enjoys cooking, creating art, visiting local museums, and spending time with his partner’s family.

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.

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.

Paul Weiss joined CDS in 2015 as our Controller. He has more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit accounting, as well as bachelor's degrees in accounting and business administration with minors in economics and communications. Paul is a dog lover, a baseball fan, and an avid car-camper.