Rebecca Kroll, Assistant Head of School, joined CDS in 2005 after completing the graduate-level Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs. Previously, she taught fifth grade with Teach for America in Long Beach, CA and also served as the Academic Program Coordinator for the “I Have a Dream" Foundation in San Francisco. Rebecca has a BA in English literature from the University of Texas, Austin and an MA in Educational Leadership from the University of the Pacific. She speaks Spanish, and in her free time she enjoys photography, reading, travel, and studying U.S. history.

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

Cheryl Ewers joined CDS in May 2016 as our Director of Finance and Operations. Cheryl worked as a VP for Finance in educational publishing beginning in 2004 and before that as a Director of Finance. She has a MBA from University of Michigan, serves on the board of St. Brendan School, and lives in the West Portal neighborhood.

Diane Larrabee, Director of Admission, joined CDS in 2005. Diane has a BA in English literature from the University of California, Berkeley and a JD 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 in Education from Harvard and a B.A. in Modern Literature from U.C. 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.

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. 

 

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 in Educational Therapy from California State University, Northridge, and a BA in Family & Consumer Sciences, Early Childhood Education from San Francisco State University.

Gretchen Ott, Starfish Head Teacher, began serving as a preschool teacher at Children’s Day School in 2000. She received her BA in child development from California State University, Humboldt. Gretchen served as a faculty representative on the CDS Committee on Inclusion and Diversity for over five years. She has been a presenter at the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) Regional Conference and in 2011 authored an article for the CAIS quarterly publication on using online blogging as a communication tool to make preschool learning visible to parents. Gretchen is certified in the Project Approach, a teaching approach where teachers guide students through in-depth studies of real-world topics, and she is trained in Responsive Classroom, an approach that implements classroom practices that build academic and social-emotional competencies.

Guillermo Cortez joined CDS in 2016 as a Starfish Teacher after holding various teaching positions in San Francisco and Cambridge, Massachusetts. Most recently, he was a first grade co-teacher at San Francisco Day School, and prior thereto was a paraprofessional teacher at Presidio Early Education School, an inclusive Reggio Emilia preschool, and a lead science instructor at Galileo Innovation Camp for Kids. He holds a BA in Child Development from Tufts University and is trained in Responsive Classroom, an approach that implements classroom practices that build academic and social-emotional competencies. Guillermo is fluent in Spanish. 

Prior to joining CDS as a Leaping Lizard Teacher in 2015, Jasmin was a preschool teacher for 14 years at Buen Dia Family School in San Francisco, an arts-focused English-Spanish bilingual preschool program. 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. 

Shaye (Shaghayegh) Shirinbab permanently joined the Teddy Bears team in 2018 after having previously served with CDS as a substitute teacher. She holds a BA in English Literature from Bahonar University in Iran, a Montessori Early Childhood Diploma from the Toronto Montessori Institute, a MA 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.

Spencer Donaldson, Fourth Grade Associate Teacher, joined CDS in 2016. He holds an MA in education and a California Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from the University of the Pacific Bay Area Teacher Training Institute, as well as a BA 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.

Andrea Gard joined the Third Grade Quails team in 2018 while concurrently pursuing a master’s in Education and California teaching credential through the University of the Pacific, Bay Area Teacher Training Institute. Andrea holds a BA from Syracuse University with a dual degree in Television & Film Production and English Literature. An Emmy Award winner, Andrea is pursuing a career in education after two decades in the film industry, where she served as a sound editor for films such as The Iron Giant, Brave, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Since 2006, Andrea has been a parent volunteer in her children’s classes at their SFUSD schools.

Tristan Jemiolo joined the Kindergarten Sequoias team in the spring of 2017, after having served there as a maternity substitute earlier in the year. Tristan holds a BA 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, where his duties included supervising digital literacy classes and lessons on Scratch coding. He currently is Commissioner of the Boys U-13 and U-15 Divisions of the Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association, and has coached lacrosse, soccer, and basketball at Town School and at Stuart Hall for Boys. 

Jessica joins CDS full-time this year after having previously served as a maternity substitute. She has an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from University of the Pacific, Bay Area Teacher Training Institute; a BA in Religious Studies from Pomona College; and a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University, Bay Area Teacher Training Institute. 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 BA 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 Redwoods Co-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 an MA in early childhood education and a multiple subject teaching credential with a focus on early childhood education from Mills College, and holds a BA in liberal studies from San Francisco State University. She is fluent in Portuguese and enjoys yoga, traveling, cooking, and biking to the beach.

Josephine Saunders, Second Grade Dolphins Teacher, holds a BA 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. 

Ginny Spivey returned to the Third Grade Quails 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 BA in Spanish and a master’s in Teaching (dual certification in Special Education and Elementary Education) from the University of Virginia, and is National Board-certified. She is trained in Responsive Classroom, an approach that implements classroom practices that build academic and social-emotional competencies.

Barbie Brannon joined CDS in 2016 as a Fifth Grade Humanities Teacher with more than ten years of teaching experience, most recently at St. Philip Elementary School in San Francisco and prior thereto at St. John School in San Francisco. While at St. John School, she was a lead teacher in second and fourth grade, taught fifth grade history for four years, taught fifth and sixth grade language arts in the 2007 summer program, and was principal of the summer program in 2009. Barbie holds a BA in psychology from the University of San Francisco and an MA in Cross Cultural Education and a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from National University.

Frances Elsberry, Fifth & Sixth Grade Math Teacher, holds a MA in education, a California Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from the University of the Pacific, Bay Area Teacher Training Institute, a BA in Politics from Pomona College. Prior to joining CDS in 2017, Frances was a co-teacher in fifth grade at San Francisco Day School, where she taught differentiated lessons in math using the Universal Design for Learning framework to develop conceptual understanding, estimation techniques, effective communication of reasoning, and application to real life situations. Prior thereto, she was an intern teacher at Breakthrough Collaborative, an intensive academic enrichment and support program for motivated San Francisco students with limited educational opportunities, and previously was a team leader and corps member for Jumpstart (Americorps), a pre-kindergarten program for children from under-resourced communities. Frances is trained in Developmental Designs, an approach that builds student skills and engagement in three key areas of school life: social-emotional, relationship and community, and academic. Frances is proficient in Spanish.

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 an MA from the State University of Argentina and is trained in Developmental Designs.

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 B.A. in Education from the University of Canberra.

Christopher Wachter is our Seventh Grade Humanities Teacher. Prior to joining CDS, 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 of arts 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.

Diana Bennett, Lower School Physical Education Teacher, came to CDS in 2015 with previous experience serving as the Director of Athletics at Buffalo Seminary High School in New York and as a personal trainer and wellness instructor at the University of Pennsylvania. Most recently, Diana worked at Lycée Français de San Francisco as a physical activity coordinator and staff trainer. Diana earned a BA in American Studies from Boston University.

Colleen Flayler, Art Teacher, has a BA in art education and a master’s degree in informational graphics and publication design. Before joining CDS, Colleen taught K-5 art, was a project assistant for a technology consulting company, and was a designer/outreach ambassador for a new art startup. She loves traveling and experiencing new adventures. She and her husband once went on an epic road trip in the west for 80 days, covering 14,000 miles.

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 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 an Honors B.A. in Theatre Studies from Dalhousie University and an Honors M.A. in Social Practice and Public Forms from California College of the Arts. She is fluent in Hebrew and learning Arabic. 

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 science education and sustainable communities. An east coast transplant, Robin earned a BS in Business Administration from Fordham University and an MS in Museum Education from Bank Street College of Education. Away from school, Robin enjoys gardening, cooking, yoga, surfing, and hiking with her dog, Olivia.

Lisa Roberts holds a B.S. in Music Education from Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania. Prior to joining CDS in 2016 as our Middle School Music Teacher, she taught fourth and fifth grade music in the Cupertino Union School District and, prior thereto, taught music and vocal music for four years in several public schools in Virginia, including serving as a long-term substitute middle school and high school string teacher. She holds a California Single Subject Teaching Credential in Music, a Virginia Pre-K through 12 Vocal/Choral Music Certification, a Pennsylvania K-12 Music Certification, and an Orff-Schulwerk Certification. Lisa is trained in Responsive Classroom, an approach that implements classroom practices that build academic and social-emotional competencies. 

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 BS in exercise and Sport Sciences with a specialty in Exercise Science from Colby-Sawyer College and a teaching credential (physical education) from CSU Hayward.

Samuel Sevett joined CDS in 2016 as the Innovation Lab Intern. Before joining CDS, 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 B.A. in psychology from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Jack Hamm joined CDS in 2016 as our Communications & Marketing Associate. In 2015, Jack graduated from University of Chicago with a degree in English, where he made the Dean’s List four consecutive years. 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.

Karla Martínez-Cuéllar, Admissions Assistant, joined CDS in 2016. Karla holds a B.A. in Communicative Disorders from San Francisco State University and is currently pursuing her M.A. in Early Childhood Special Education at San Francisco State University.

Karla is passionate about youth, education, and social justice issues. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her 5-year old daughter, husband, and friends in the SF Bay Area.

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.

Erin Dayton-Jones comes to the CDS community all the way from Syracuse, New York, where she attended Syracuse University, receiving a B.S. in Education and Child and Family Studies. She is an experienced educator and caregiver and loves helping kids work through problems. She is passionate about acceptance, tolerance, and diversity in education.

James Bannister, After School Butterflies Teacher, had been a substitute teacher at CDS for ten years prior to joining the school in 2008 as a Starfish Teacher. He received his BA from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania and studied early childhood education at San Francisco City College. When not teaching, James is a musician and a singer/songwriter.

Nicole Davis, who joined the after school team in 2017, has a longtime love of plants and loves sharing her knowledge with kids through hands-on activities in Farm and Garden Club. When not at CDS, you can find her  leading educational programs in the Children's Garden at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens.

George Lopez Jr., Head Receptionist and Admission Events Coordinator, 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.