Faculty/Staff Directory

After a career in hospitality management, I came to PHS searching for a more community oriented environment, with the idea that I may want to pursue teaching. I found that I greatly admired the energy, commitment and creativity that I saw in our teachers each day. I quickly determined that teaching wasn't the right path for me, but have greatly enjoyed my various support positions at PHS for the past decade plus. 

As a graduate of a K-8 progressive school myself, I was immediately drawn to the warmth, creativity, and community evident at Presidio Hill School. After working in the legal sector for the past few years, I am excited to return to the world of education. I’m thrilled that in my position I am able to interact with just about every member of the PHS community, from current students, faculty, and parents to alumni and friends!

I have discovered that learning comes in many formats throughout our lives. It can change day-to-day, month-to-month, or decade-to-decade. Discovering what works for an individual and a group, and finding a way to bringing these two styles together can make a difference to a student’s education and life. In my personal experience it was Literature and Music that made all the difference. Whether it was relating to a character or putting hard material to music, I found a way to not only change how I viewed my education, but my life. It was at PHS where I was able to discover my educational balance and begin to believe that I could be successful in everything that I did. I am ecstatic to be able to assist students and families in finding that same balance.

I continually strive to make Presidio Hill the best school it can possibly be. I am constantly inspired by the faculty to keep on this path; they take risks, try new things and are always looking to make things better for all learners. Of course, it's the day to day interactions with students and seeing their growth that makes PHS such a fun place to be. It's exciting to think that I have been here for about a quarter of our 100 year history!

I am so grateful to be a part of the PHS community; witnessing the daily interactions and shared learning among our students, parents, faculty and staff inspires and challenges me every single day.

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!

I love making math friendly and accessible for students and creating an environment that allows for discussion to deepen understanding and problem solving skills. As a student who learned best when engaged, I feel that exploring and discovering is essential to learning. My first experience teaching was teaching martial arts in high school, so a hands-on approach that emphasizes practice and determination are important to me. When I’m not teaching, I enjoy reading and traveling even if it’s simply an adventure to the closest park. I am so excited to begin this year at PHS and see what adventures await.

I love how PHS accepts and encourages diversity because I feel all children have the right to learn, grow, and feel safe within a classroom. Progressive education connects adults, nature, community and most importantly the children together. I am happy to be a part of a school that truly allows children to develop into curious and open minded individuals.

At PHS we foster a love of artistic expression in our students. We encourage them to explore, invent, take risks, and share who they are. In Music, the students will have total, active involvement in music making, releasing creativity that extends far beyond the music classroom. At PHS the community celebrates diversity and values and cultivates in its students compassion, empathy and respect. This creates a non-competative, fun, fertile environment for learning and making good music together.

I am ecstatic to join the PHS faculty this year!  I am passionate about cooperative learning - the more talking and interacting students do in school, the better!  I prioritize critical thinking, inquiry, autonomy, and reflection when creating our learning community.

I am thrilled to be joining the PHS community! I fell in love with Presidio Hill the moment I stepped onto campus: the vibrant, colorful art on the walls, the easy camaraderie of the faculty, and the exuberance and thoughtful curiosity of the students. It was clear to me that PHS kids are given the freedom to explore, to create, to question, and to be themselves, with a caring and nurturing community to support them. And classes in the Presidio? Sign me up! I’m a Bay Area native and a long-time English teacher, and I’m genuinely excited to become a part of a community so deeply rooted in the Bay and so committed to joyous learning. I know that we are all uncertain about what next year might bring, but I’m looking forward to meeting the challenges with creativity, passion, and hopefully a lot of laughter and love. 

John Dewey famously asserted that "education is not preparation for life, education is life itself" and the spirit of that maxim is alive and well here at Presidio Hill School, where children and adults embrace and learn from one another as symbiotic members of a distinct community of individuals. As I see it, the humanities classroom should be a place for students to actively explore, investigate, collaborate, and inquire about themselves and the world around them, past and present. I feel grateful to be part of the PHS community, where such exploration extends far beyond my classroom and in fact, is ingrained so deeply in the mission and overall ethos of our school. 

Presidio Hill intentionally celebrates individual learning styles and unique viewpoints. This engenders an inclusive and caring community for all. I enjoy that students are provided the opportunity to reflect on their own learning and encouraged to become a part of the learning process. As a science teacher, the curriculum allows me to teach to my passions, this flexibility creates a program where I can respond to the needs and curiosities of the students. This approach allows students to build personal connections with the natural world, thus providing students with inspiration, skills and desire to become global of the world around them. 

I was drawn to Presidio Hill School for its mission to provide children with an education that is creative and child-centered, and I am inspired by its community of open, welcoming, and passionate individuals. I believe that education should be ever-changing, where children and adults are working together to develop a lifelong love for learning. At PHS, students are able to develop their creativity, explore their own voice, and learn how we are all active members of our society. I believe learning can and should be fun! Dr. Seuss said it best, “You’ll never be bored when you try something new. There’s really no limit to what you can do!”

Hola, wonderful PHS community! I am very happy to have the opportunity to be working with all of the faculty, families, and most importantly the students at PHS. I’ve always dreamed of working at a school like PHS that’s progressive, inclusive, and promotes curiosity. I am a passionate, dedicated, and enthusiastic educator who truly cares about empowering children through learning Spanish; I strongly believe in a bilingüal education. Here is a little bit about me: I was born and raised in Mexico City. I earned my B.S. in Biology from Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana (Mexico), and a master's degree in Environmental Education from Universidad Iberoamericana, (Mexico). I also have additional training in the TPRS (Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling) and CI (Comprehensible Input) methods of instruction. After being an environmental education teacher at La Salle Elementary School (Mexico), I immigrated to the USA, where I’ve taught Spanish in preschool through high school at educational establishments all throughout the Bay Area. I enjoy hiking and spending time with my eighteen-year-old son who goes to college this school year. I’m excited to join this amazing community and can’t wait for what lies ahead! 

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.

I strive to work collaboratively with learners to raise their critical consciousness and engage in contemporary and historical issues from a variety of entry points. I value the student-centered, progressive approach to education at PHS, and I look forward to supporting students in their social, emotional and academic growth through readings, discussions, art, music and projects. In my spare time I am most often traveling, volunteering, exploring farmers markets, reading, dancing and appreciating animals. I am very excited to join a community of fellow progressive educators and get to know the students and families at this wonderful school!