Faculty/Staff Directory

Presidio Hill School is an incredibly vibrant community of learners and I am proud and happy to be a member of such an amazing group of people. I came to PHS looking for a community that embodied all the aspects of administration and a progressive education that I love. At PHS there is engaged learning between teachers, students, families and administration, commitment to being a social, global citizen, and an emphasis on people, rather than product. 

Welcome to Adrienne Moon, Presidio Hill School's new Director of Development! Adrienne joins us after nearly a decade working in Advancement at the Exploratorium and six years building The Hamlin School's Alumni Engagement program. She will spend the last few weeks of this school year with us on campus; please say hello when you see her on the curb in June! Adrienne shares: "It is an honor and a privilege to join Presidio Hill School's vibrant, inclusive, and supportive community. I am thrilled to combine my passion for Development work with my deep commitment to the core values of progressive education. I am particularly excited about getting to know everyone in the PHS community and being a part of the day-to-day life of the school." 

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.

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 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 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.

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. 

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 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.

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! 

When I received my invitation to join the PHS community, it was like receiving my very own Hogwarts letter; 3839 Washington Street may not be Hogwarts Castle, but it truly is just as magical and joyful of a place! During my visit, I quickly fell in love with the school and its mission to challenge and inspire young students to imagine, inquire, and create. What struck me most and made PHS instantly feel like home was the palpable sense of joy for learning that exuded from each student and teacher. I sensed that joy as I saw kindergarteners bury their noses in a new book, second graders excitedly joke with their teachers on their way to recess, and teachers check-in with one another during their lunch break. I am beyond thrilled and honored to be joining PHS as a kindergarten teacher. Elephant and Piggie said it best: "Waiting is not easy!"

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.

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!

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!

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.