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.

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.

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.

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.

Stephanie Jack joined the first grade team in 2021. She previously served as a TK/kindergarten lead guide at Guidepost Montessori, a foundational and lower elementary teacher at AltSchool, and a TK/kindergarten teacher at Our Lady Queen of Peace School in Madison, Wisconsin, where she established the full-day TK program and served on the Technology Committee. Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin. She is also an abstract painter, a certified yoga teacher, and the leader of a rooftop gardening group.

Tianjia (TJ) Jin, who joined the third grade team in 2021, holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Michigan and a master’s in learning sciences and technology from the University of Pennsylvania. She has worked in a variety of educational settings, including as a lead guide for Guidepost Montessori at Fort Mason, a first grade student teacher at Burns Park Elementary School in Ann Arbor, and a curriculum developer for underprivileged children in China. TJ is bilingual in Chinese and English and plays two traditional Chinese instruments, the guzheng and hulusi.

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. 

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.

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.

Candy Mabry, Preschool 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.

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.

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.

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.

Darryl Owens, Fourth Grade 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.

Luisa Pinto, Kindergarten 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.

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.

Jordan Wong joined CDS in 2021 as a playground supervisor. A Bay Area native, he graduated from San Francisco State with a bachelor’s degree in business administration - marketing. Previously, he was a recreation leader and camp counselor at the Harker School, a K-12 private school in the South Bay. He has extensive experience creating after school programs and clubs for students and supporting emotional learning on the yard. He enjoys spending time outdoors, including backpacking, hiking, and surfing.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Michael Lee, Jr. joined our tech department as a systems administrator in 2020. Before joining CDS, Michael worked in IT for nine years, beginning at Apple where he worked as a senior tech and mentor; he then transitioned into desk-side support, which would soon become systems administration for a financial technology startup. He is passionate about technology systems and device management. In his free time, Michael enjoys time with his family, riding his bike, and his dog Zoe. Please feel free to say hello to him if you see him around campus!

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.

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.

Lexi Villasana joined CDS in 2018 as our 601 Dolores Afternoon Receptionist. A graduate of California College of the Arts with a bachelor's degree in illustration, she also works as a freelance creator of illustrations, paper goods, and window displays. Before coming to CDS, she worked as a buyer and sales associate at the San Francisco shops Rare Device and Foggy Notion.