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 an 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.

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.

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.

Alicia Perdue, Leaping Lizard 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.

Jasmin Flores, Preschool Starfish 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. 

Daisy Martinez joined CDS in 2019 as our ECP Extended Program Coordinator before moving to the Preschool Leaping Lizards classroom 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.

Nicole, who joined the Third Grade Pelicans team in 2019, 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.

Belinda Gray, First Grade Owls 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.

Katie Klamm joined the Kindergarten Sequoias 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.

Jessica Kumar 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.

Anna Lee, who joined the First Grade Owls team in 2018, is a recent 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, Fourth Grade Marbled Murrelets 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.

Josephine Saunders, Second Grade Dolphins Teacher, holds a bachelor's degree in English with Qualified Teacher Status from Liverpool John Moores University in England. Prior to joining CDS 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. 

Michael Shin joined the First Grade Hawks team in 2019. He received a bachelor's degree in education from Swarthmore College and has experience working with all grades between first and fourth. He served as a first grade teacher at Phillips Brooks School for three years before coming to CDS, and he previously worked as a first and third grade teacher at Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School in Washington, DC, and as a second and fourth grade teacher at San Francisco Day School. Michael also worked as a math instructor for the Prison University Project in San Quentin.

Jamie Turner joined the Fourth Grade Marbled Murrelets team in 2019 after having worked in the extended program during the previous school year. Jamie has a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Columbus College of Art and Design and a master's degree in the same field from California College of the Arts. She has served as a lead preschool teacher in New York and Ohio and also has worked extensively in arts education. She is the co-founder and education coordinator for the Bay Area Newcomer Arts Exchange, serving refugee families and children, and also worked as a fellow at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

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).

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.

Skye Scarbrough, who became our Fifth & Sixth Grade Math Teacher in 2019, originally joined CDS as a fourth grade teacher in 2015 with seven years of classroom teaching experience in California as well as Georgia and Florida. Most recently, Skye was a third grade teacher at Stratford Elementary School in San Francisco. Skye has a master's degree in teaching from the University of South Florida and a bachelor's degree in public policy from Georgia State University. In addition to her work in schools, Skye was a lobbyist for the Georgia state judicial system and has been a project manager in both the public and private sectors.

Ryan joined CDS in 2016 as our Seventh & Eighth Grade Math Teacher. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon, and prior to joining CDS he taught sixth, seventh, and eighth grade math at the Hillcrest School in the East Bay. In his first year at CDS, Ryan was instrumental in creating math and statistics clubs designed to provide extracurricular challenges to students. He is a former semi-pro soccer player and has played professional soccer in Spain.

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.

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.

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 advertising 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 (where he won the Outstanding Graduate Student Award in 2015) and SOMArts Cultural Center (where he served as the Director of Ceramic Programs). He has designed more than two dozen local art exhibitions.

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.

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.

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.

Lucy Beltran joined the Preschool Butterfly program in 2019. A graduate of Balboa High School, she is currently studying child development at City College of San Francisco. She has worked as a high school teaching assistant and volunteered with buildOn, an organization that empowers urban youth to transform their neighborhoods through intensive community service. While with buildOn, Lucy provided childcare at a career center, worked at a food bank, and provided support to senior citizens.

Brian Holbert, who joined the CDS team in 2019, holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting from San Francisco State University and has a multiple subject teaching credential from Holy Names University. Brian has worked as an assistant teacher in kindergarten, second, and third grades, as well as working as a preschool teacher in an after school program. Additionally, he has worked as a basketball and track and field coach at School of the Madeleine in Berkeley. Brian is currently beginning work on a documentary film on the importance of recess.