Presidio Hill School teachers create a culture of expectation and inspiration for their students. They understand the inevitability of change and have in their power the ability to shape that change to the advantage of their students.

Presidio Hill teachers also understand their responsibility to keep learning as they grow and develop alongside their students. Rather than a community of the learned, we aspire to be a community of learners. The teaching methodology is grounded in progressive tradition.  

Presidio Hill seeks teachers who are passionate about progressive education, care deeply about children and their learning, are committed to continuing their own professional development, and value a diverse and energized community. Read more 

Transitional Kindergarten

Steve Manseau
· BA, San Francisco State University
· 23 years of teaching experience
I enjoy the camaraderie of the other teachers at this school, including the openness to sharing advice and ideas, lending a hand to help out each other when necessary, and sharing a few laughs. The environment of the school allows the voices of students to be heard, and the curriculum is creative and in-depth. Parents work with teachers and administrators to support their children at PHS.

Kindergarten

Shericka Hodges
· Coursework at City College
· 6 years of teaching experience
I enjoy working at Presidio Hill because it is the best place to learn and grow as a teacher. The community is inspiring, inclusive, vibrant, and warm. PHS encourages students to be flexible thinkers and to embrace social justice issues that affect us every day. It is a pleasure to be a part of such an enthusiastic team of committed human beings.

· MA, Western Oregon University 
· BA, Lewis and Clark College
· 5 years of teaching experience
At Presidio Hill I am lucky to be surrounded by educators and learners who are interested in discovering new things by asking questions, exploring, experiencing, and sharing perspectives with others; as well as learning to be caring, empathetic, and effective community members. Teaching here allows me to explore new topics in creative ways, and connect with students through listening to them, encouraging their individual passions, and working closely with them as they discover, practice, play, and grow. This community truly values lifelong learning and I am completely supported to further my development as a progressive educator here. 

First Grade

Robyn Moss
· BS, Boston University
· 10 years of teaching experience
I am often struck by the authentic and profound relationships that develop at PHS between teachers and students, teachers and parents, and among faculty and staff. Students and teachers seem to be more comfortable taking risks, making mistakes, and learning and growing through reflection and open communication. We are a community of people who care deeply about education, child development, and each other.

Second Grade

Patty Jepson
· BA, San Francisco State Unverisity
· 38 years of teaching experience
Teaching at Presidio Hill allows me to reach every child and help him or her learn difficult second grade concepts in a fun way. I see magic in our classroom every day. I look forward to watching my second graders grow throughout the year and take pleasure in watching them graduate from eighth grade.

Third Grade

Nick Martin
· MA, University of Massachusetts
· BA, University of California, Davis
· 4 years of teaching experience
I value the freedom PHS gives me as a teacher. I am able to design and implement a curriculum based on the interests of my students. It makes our projects and thematic units that much more engaging and meaningful.

Fourth Grade

Erainya Neirro
· MA, San Jose State University
· BS, University of Maryland
· 37 years of teaching experience
I love the flexibility of planning curriculum that is current and involves the fabulous resources of the Bay Area, including the fine arts and science museums. I appreciate the support I have received over so many years, which has allowed me to take advantage of many professional development opportunities. These experiences have made it possible for me to create enticing hands-on projects for my students.

Fifth Grade

Katie Quach
· BA, Carleton College
· 6 years of teaching experience
I have always been drawn to a progressive learning environment. I love working with students on big projects, and then seeing how the outcome almost always surpasses my expectations. Presidio Hill is a great place to teach, not only because the students are incredibly enthusiastic about their work, but my colleagues are also a great source of inspiration and knowledge.

Lower School Assistant TeacherS

Matt Shaw
· MA, University of North Florida
· BA, University of North Florida
· 1 year of teaching experience
I feel lucky to be a part of the inviting sense of community here at PHS. I am humbled daily by the professionalism and skill of my colleagues, as well as the commitment and gratitude of the community as a whole.

Sixth Grade

Matt Elliser, Humanities
· MA, CUNY, Brooklyn
· BA, University of Wisconsin
· 3 years teaching experience
Presidio Hill is a fantastic place to be a teacher. The students are incredibly curious and engaged, regularly taking their learning in new and interesting directions. The administration allows teachers the freedom to try new things, create new projects, and take the curriculum to where student interest lies. It's always fun to come to work here.

Todd Ditto, Math
· BS, Montana State University
· 27 years of teaching experience
The PHS focus on individual students, the importance of people coming together to explore and learn, and thoughtful professional practices, such as hands-on learning and mentor relationships, powerfully resonates with my beliefs and values. I love being a member of a community that is not only concerned with having sutdents succeed academically, but with becomeing good people who are empowered, compassionate citizens of the world. I value how every member of the Presidio Hill community strives to model core values, learn and grow together, solve problems collaboratively, deeply explore what is at the root of our motivations, and take responsibility for making the lives of others better! PHS considers how policies and programs affect intrinsic motivation, it challenges students to construct their own understanding, and structures learning around essential questions, projects, and problem solving. I find it profoundly engaging for students and staff alike.

Sue Marvit, Science
· MA, Boston University
· BA, Cedar Crest College
· 21 years of teaching experience
I have been at PHS for over 14 years and love it for many reasons. As a strong advocate of progressive education and teaching for understanding, I especially appreciate being able to teach using educational philosophies in which I believe. At Presidio Hill we "do" science, utlizing block scheduling for labs twice a week. I can incorporate field trips that take advantage of the rich science opportunities in the Bay Area, from museums to citizen monitoring projects. As a school, we are a community of folks, young and old, which supports and encourages one another so we can continue being lifelong learners.

Seventh Grade

Elizabeth Herrick, Humanities
· MA, Middlebury College's Breadloaf School of English
· BA, Williams College
· 8 years of teaching experience
I was drawn to Presidio Hill's small size and progressive pedagogy. As a middle school teacher, I value the school's ability to create a safe space where adolescents feel comfortable exploring their identity and expressing themselves. I see humanities class as a place to enhance academic skills and build community.

Eleanor Long, Math
· MA, Pacific University
· BA, Middlebury College
· 4 years of teaching experience
I value teaching at PHS because it is a school founded on the philosophy of progressive education. As a math teacher, I know students learn middle school mathematics most effectively when they discover the principles explored, not when they are fed an algorithm to repeat and regurgitate. The small classes at PHS are ideal for this type of exploring and discovery. Daily, the students impress me with their creative insights and enthusiastic "a-ha" moments. They make teaching here a true pleasure.

Sue Marvit, Science
· MA, Boston University
· BA, Cedar Crest College 
· 21 years of teaching experience
See above statement for Sue Marvit, Sixth Grade Science

Eighth Grade

· 27 years of teaching experience
See above statement for Todd Ditto, Sixth Grade Math

Spanish Language Grades 3-5

Paola Nou
· MA, Universidad Nacional de Cordoba, Argentina
· BA,  Universidad Nacional de Cordoba, Argentina
· 11 years of teaching experience
Currently on maternity leave.

Feli Pulaski
· MA, Conservatorio Provincial de Música de Santa Cruz
· BA, Instituto Superior del Profesorado, Joaquin V. Gonzalez, Buenos Aires
· BA, Escuela Superior de Periodismo, Buenos Aires
· 18 years of teaching experience 
At Presidio Hill School I feel that all ideas and creations are possible. I love the excitement students show when we start a new project and also how they come to me with suggestions about what we should do next. I have a lot of fun with the students!

Art: Grades TK-8

Gena Rabinowitz
· 6 years of teaching experience
Teaching at a progressive school like PHS means more than just developiing a progressive curriculum: it means working with students who are empowered, independent, and inventive. In the PHS art room I help curious hands explore new materials, young artists experiment with self-expression, and open-minde students see the world through fresh eyes. Creativity, flexibility, and imagination are encouraged by both teachers and students at Presidio Hill—values that not only form the basis of a healthy progressve education, but are the underpinnings of art itself.

Music: Grades TK-4

Dan Goldensohn
· BA, Harvard University
· 35 years of teaching experience
When my son was one year old, I came to work at Presidio Hill School, having been urged to apply by friends who knew my work with children. They told me how happy their kids were at the school, how wonderful the teachers, how exciting the lessons. My son is now 18, a graduate of PHS, and I still feel the excitement and pride in being part of the progressive education provided at this school. It is a joy to communicate my love of music to children and families, and to grow as a musician and a teacher by living with the deep emotions of children singing.

Music: Grades 3-8

Kate Porter
· MA, New York University
· BA, University of Virginia
· 7 years of teaching experience
PHS is a warm, vibrant, and caring community. I love the fact that each person here—student, faculty, and staff—is seen, known, and valued for their gifts. Everyone works together to create this safe and magical space for children to learn, explore, and grow. Every day here is a breath of fresh air.

Performance/Drama: Grades 3-8

Physical Education: Grades TK-5; Middle school athletics

Tegwyn Lewis-Pine
· BA, University of California, Santa Cruz
I appreciate being at Presidio Hill because my co-workers are collaborative, the students are excited and eager to learn, and I get to teach physical education in the beautiful setting of The Presidio. It is truly a great place to work!

Physical Education: Grades 6-8

Kiah Jeffries
· 6 years of teaching experience
I was once a middle school student at Presidio Hill. I teach because I want to give PHS students all the positive experiences I enjoyed here. I am aware that I am a role model for them and strive to embody the traits I admired so much in my PHS teachers.

Director of Learning Support Services

Ann Meissner
· MA, San Francisco State University
· BA, Antioch College
· 35 years of teaching experience
Presidio Hill School really cares about the individual student. Teachers, parents, and administrators work closely together to optimize the school experience for each and every child. Over the past three decades, I've witnessed amazing things happen as students receive this kind of focused attention. It's really wonderful.

Math & Learning Specialist

Eso Romero
· MS, Bank Street College of Education
· BA, Brown University
· 16 years of teaching experience
PHS fosters a love of learning, celebrates the process and not just the end product, and embraces both the strengths and challenges of each child. I'm thrilled to be a member of this community.

Librarian