Faculty/Staff Directory

I feel honored to be part of a community dedicated to instilling a passion for not only learning, but global stewardship as well. PHS strives to recognize and celebrate the many facets that our students bring to the table and it is refreshing to be surrounded by faculty and staff that truly work as a team to address the needs of those they serve. I am thrilled to be able to work with PHS students on self-advocacy and resiliency - two skills that are critical for the future.

I am excited to return to PHS and help teach these fabulous Kindergarten students!

I am originally from New York and have lived in the Bay Area for over twenty years. I started my teaching career in San Francisco at Town School Boys. I worked at Children’s Day School, San Francisco Day School and, of course, at Presidio Hill School. I am drawn to PHS because of the warm and inclusive community, the connection and collaboration between faculty and staff, the engaged students, and the Wednesday soup!  

During the past two and a half years, I have pursued other creative endeavors. In addition to substitute teaching, I have been working on two book projects and I have written and performed several solo performance pieces. I am a former triathlete and I still enjoy swimming and biking in Marin. My husband, Adam, and I live in Fairfax and we have a seven year old daughter, Hayden, and a Golden Retriever named Addie.

¡Hola familias de PHS! I have been teaching Spanish to young children for over a decade. I have taught ELC through 5th grade at local Independent Schools around the Peninsula. Prior to that, I also taught High School, City College and at a Language Institute in Seattle, Washington. I studied Spanish Literature and Latin American Studies at UCSB, where I earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Spanish Literature. 

My philosophy of learning a language goes hand-in-hand with fostering a joyful and even playful environment for learning, especially within the lower grades. In my classes you might see a little bit of everything: from singing, to role-playing, to making crafts, or moving around the room to identify vocabulary. In my spare time, I enjoy reading a good book, cooking, visiting the cities Cafe’s, bookstores, museums, and restaurants. I am thrilled to be part of the PHS family and to join their wonderful faculty and staff this winter as the new Lower School Spanish teacher.  Gracias, Isabel

PHS is a magical place steeped in a rich history that embodies the heart of the progressive San Francisco that I deeply love and cherish. Everyday I wake up and say to myself, “I’m working at my dream job!” I am grateful and humbled to be part of a community where teaching and learning, kindness and inquiry, political activism and personal autonomy are inextricably linked.

We look to create a culture of keeping sports and physical education fun and to provide a platform for learning life lessons through sports. In PE classes, we promote sportsmanship, teamwork, and personal growth over a "must win" attitude. We also embrace the vital role that students play in helping design the curriculum in a supportive, caring and encouraging setting.

I believe everybody has the potential to be a successful artist when guided through a mindful process. Mastering tools and techniques leads to confidence in ability and facilitates a growth mindset that can continue to be developed throughout life. When value is placed on curiosity and personal growth, our students are motivated to stretch themselves -- they become engaged in authentic learning.

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.

I am passionate about guiding students to learn how to take pride in their academic experience and how to be a part of a classroom community that is not only diverse but promotes equity for all students. I am committed to helping our youth become empowered learners, stewards for the environment and effective changemakers. I’m a proud Oaklander (Go A’s!) and live in the Temescal area with my educator husband and our small terrier. When not in the classroom, you’ll find me hiking in the redwoods above Oakland, riding my bike on the winding roads to Pt. Reyes, or sitting among flowers reading historical fiction. I look forward to meeting everyone in the fall!

As a teacher, Jen promotes intrinsic motivation by grounding students in a personal connection to the world. She makes content relevant and encourages students to figure out how the world works by getting their hands on it. Beyond teaching skills and concepts, she helps kids take an active role in their own education. They learn to manage time and choices, set goals and evaluate progress, and become effective communicators and team members. At PHS, she sees kids taking action to answer questions they ask themselves.

I am thrilled to be here as a new member of PHS!  Oprah Winfrey once said, "Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom."  I love the idea that books can transport you to wondrous places! My proudest moments as a teacher took place when everyone in the room worked to lift each other up, and help each other through, I am proud to join a community of learners who commit to investing in each other, and in our shared journey.

I deeply believe in the importance of human connection. As someone who loves to travel, I have learned the value of positively engaging with the people I encounter. These experiences translate into my educational values, as I deeply believe in the importance of forming positive teacher-student relationships. These relationships are principal as they have the ability to enhance student engagement and create a welcoming and diverse classroom community. These beliefs are what have drawn me to PHS, as the school prioritizes fostering positive relationships. I am eager to be a part of this progressive community and look forward to forming relationships as a 2nd grade Teaching Apprentice!

My favorite thing about working with kids is how bright they can be on a cloudy day. A child's love and honesty is priceless; I'm so blessed to have a job that I believe in. I am so fortunate for the opportunity to teach, learn & grow with the children at PHS. I'm excited to work in the Kindergarten classroom & I can't wait to learn and grow with all the children, families, staff and faculty at Presidio Hill School!

As a San Francisco native, and as someone with lots of love for her city, to work in an environment representing a mosaic of this city is a dream. PHS is a place where children are given the opportunity of educational value in many forms. Instead of spending their day zoned into a textbook, the students of PHS are out of their seats exploring with hands on material and learning through appropriate discussions and debates; even at the age of 5! I value a school that lets its students know they can ask questions, or make comments without feeling embarrassed. PHS does its best to let all students know that they are welcome to be exactly who they choose, and a that acceptance gives students a greater desire to learn. I am grateful to be a part of a community that shares the same values as I do myself and look forward to the upcoming year!

I want my students to love thinking, to enjoy toggling with ideas, and to be open to changing their minds. Learning is a messy process and, seemingly, has no end. I came to Presidio Hill so that I would be able to teach more openly and learn from a student body that feels comfortable expressing their ideas and opinions. 

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!”

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. 

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.

Presidio Hill School is an incredibly important institution as it has helped shape the minds and lives of students for 100 years in this progressive City. After working over a decade in both the classroom and administrative positions in public, charter, and independent schools, I have never found a school that captures the joy of learning like PHS. In my new role as Director of Development, I hope that I am able to honor the many ways in which community members support the work at PHS, as well as ensure that the resources and opportunities continue to grow for our students. I believe that the education provided by our teachers instills a lifelong love of learning, individual awareness, compassion, and the belief that one is capable of making a great and positive impact in their communities.

When I first came to Presidio Hill School, I was seriously amazed. I did not know communities like these even existed. For the last two years, I’ve been continually inspired by students through their kindness, inclusivity, and curiosity.  I’m happy that I have found a place where I can utilize my past management skills while also having a genuine sense of community and shared goals. I look forward to continuing to be apart of the PHS community school experience by engaging children in problem solving and critical thinking projects, ultimately creating and sustaining a quality child care and enrichment programs.