{"id":3208,"date":"2021-03-01T17:34:23","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T17:34:23","guid":{"rendered":"\/?page_id=3208"},"modified":"2024-11-13T22:37:55","modified_gmt":"2024-11-13T22:37:55","slug":"staff","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"\/staff\/","title":{"rendered":"Staff"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Staff<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Meet Our Staff<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe remarkable staff at Tessellations shares a passionate dedication to teaching gifted children. Our teachers\u2019 diversity of experience allows them to bring a deeper, richer worldview into the classroom, and their kindness, intelligence, and authenticity help set the tone for our whole community. Our teachers have diverse backgrounds and interests, hold an uncharacteristically high number of advanced degrees, and have taught all over the world. We have mathematicians, artists, practicing naturalists, a former criminal attorney, scientists, and one of the nation\u2019s foremost experts in the social\/emotional needs of the gifted. Read on for more:\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Grace Stanat<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Head of School, Founder<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGrace has guided Tessellations since our humble beginnings, from 34 kids in a Zoom meeting to what we are today. He became our Head of School because of his belief that gifted students need a specialized environment to thrive. Grace has hired our staff, negotiated our premises, managed our finances and fundraising, and led admissions through our first three seasons. Grace takes great pride in our exceptional teachers, happy students, and the warm community he\u2019s helped build and grow thus far. Grace graduated valedictorian from Pomona College with dual degrees in Mathematics and Fine Art, after which he attended Oxford University on a Marshall Scholarship, earning both a Masters in Computer Science and a Masters in Fine Art from the Ruskin School of Drawing (Oxford). As the former founder and CEO of several successful companies, Grace excels at leading early-stage organizations.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Anne Beneventi<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Founding Visionary<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAnne is a Certified Master Practitioner of Gifted Qualitative Assessment (GQA), and is the successor to Annemarie Roeper, a pioneer and giant in the field of education who taught that the emotions of the gifted child are as important as their cognitive abilities. Anne is an Associate of the Gifted Development Center, has served as Chair of the Global Awareness Network of the National Association for Gifted Children, and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG) in 2017 for promoting an understanding of the essence of giftedness and for her method of identification of giftedness through GQA. Tessellations is the fourth school for the gifted that she has successfully co-founded. Her greatest professional accomplishments have been creating communities where gifted families can connect, belong, and thrive, and assisting the educational journey of gifted children so they can actualize their potential, principles which continue to serve as Anne\u2019s personal and professional mission at Tessellations.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Kai Marks<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Associate Head of School<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKai Marks has worked in Bay Area education for nearly 30 years, serving in public, independent, non-profit, and for-profit schools. A graduate of the Disney Institute Program for Excellence in Leadership, she has served as Head of School, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, and coach for teachers. She has experience working with neuro-typical and neuro-divergent students and staff, and has taught in middle, high school, and university settings. Kai has a deep love for school accreditation processes and has helped schools with their self-study processes and chaired many visiting teams. Her bachelor\u2019s degrees are in English and Latin-American Studies from Notre Dame de Namur University, and she earned a master\u2019s degree in Writing as well as an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of San Francisco. She also holds a single-subject teaching credential in English. When not working, Kai is happy to curl up with her mini labradoodle and a good book or explore Disneyland. \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Remy Adama<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Relief & Support Educator\/After-School Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Remy went to San Jose State University and earned a BA in Child and Adolescent Development in 2018. Lead by their deep love for nature, they spent 7 years in outdoor education as a field instructor, specializing in environmental science, team building and social emotional learning. In August 2017, Remy had a fast and victorious battle against cancer, which resulted in having their vocal cords removed. A few weeks after surgery, they leapt back into the field, ready to teach with their new voice. Eventually, they left outdoor education in search of a more student-centered community that values exploration and experiential learning, which is exactly what they\u2019ve found at Tessellations. They enjoy incorporating an appreciation of nature and big imagination into everything they do with students. Remy sees every moment as teachable and loves to learn new things themselves, which they funnel into hobbies like knitting, gardening, and playing TTRPGs with friends in their free time.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWatch Video<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Aisha Amer<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Primary School Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAisha is an experienced educator with a heart full of love for children and an unwavering passion for making a lasting impact on their lives. \u201cI love spending time with miniature tornadoes,\u201d she says. With a BA in Fine Arts from the University of Punjab in Pakistan, as well as a degree in Graphic Design, she combines her artistic and design talents to create dynamic learning experiences. Having worked as a UX designer for three years, Aisha brings a valuable perspective to her educational approach, incorporating innovative and user-friendly strategies in her teaching methods. Outside of the classroom, Aisha finds inspiration in hiking and exploring the great outdoors. As an artist, she also dedicates her free time to painting, allowing her creativity to flourish. Above all, she treasures moments spent with her family. Whether it\u2019s sharing laughter, embarking on adventures, or simply enjoying quality time together, family is at the core of her happiness.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Rachel Bagnani<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Giftedness Specialist<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A Bay Area native, Rachel earned a BA in Child and Adolescent Development and an MA in Education from San Francisco State University. Drawing on her passion and knowledge of the Reggio Emilia approach to early education, Rachel was an integral part of the team that developed Google\u2019s highly regarded Children\u2019s Center at the Woods. Her experience and expertise with gifted children deepened when she shifted into teaching gifted kindergarteners in a private school setting in 2014. \u201cI’m thrilled to be a part of such a kind and caring community,\u201d says Rachel. \u201cOne of my passions is designing beautiful, engaging environments for children, and I’m excited to be able to do this at Tessellations.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Dawn Bailey<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Outdoor Educator (Naturalist)<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDawn has over ten years of experience in environmental education across Kentucky, Florida, and Alaska. She says, “My favorite moments are when I can help a student appreciate and respect an animal they once feared or disliked.” After graduating from the University of Kentucky, Dawn worked as a kayak guide in the Everglades and coastal mangroves of Florida. She then transitioned to the National Park Service, where she brought environmental education into classrooms. Dawn further developed her skills working with youth outdoors as the Manager of the Kentucky Children’s Garden. She is excited to bring her expertise to Tessellations. In her free time, Dawn enjoys birding, backpacking, and trying new foods.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sarah Baker<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Kindergarten Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSarah loves cultivating environments that make learning meaningful and memorable with social emotional development at the heart of her instructional approach. She has a BS in Dance from the University of Oregon and a MA in Education from USF, where her thesis centered on kinesthetic movement in elementary education for all curricular subjects. As a teacher of movement and creativity since 2001 and a credentialed elementary educator since 2011, Sarah has taught Kindergarten and 2\/3 combination classes across public, private, special, and gifted education settings. Outside of work, Sarah plays with her daughter, teaches yoga, and spends as much time as possible immersed in nature.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Shelby Barthold<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Primary School Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShelby always wanted to be a teacher. \u201cEven though I\u2019ve been in education for a while now, I still feel so lucky that I get to do what I’m passionate about every day,\u201d she says. \u201cI especially enjoy teaching math and showing children how fun and exciting it can be. Math doesn’t have to be a scary thing!\u201d Shelby began her journey in education as a math interventionist for Denver Public Schools, and then continued teaching in the classroom and in after-school programs in California, including five summers at The Nueva School. She received a BA in Psychology from Claremont McKenna College and a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of San Diego. Shelby is also passionate about sports, especially basketball, which she played at the collegiate level. In addition to playing in adult leagues, she enjoys coaching children, to show them the multitude of life skills that can be learned through playing sports.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Nichole Bocanegra<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Early Childhood Associate Teacher (TCC)<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Nichole is passionate about helping children succeed! She has worked in a preschool office and in multiple classroom settings as an after-school director and an international teacher. Nichole\u2019s teaching style focuses on making each day an adventure as children investigate the world around them through hands-on learning experiences. She believes in a nurturing environment where children feel safe to be themselves. It is her hope to create many fond memories that spark students\u2019 excitement for learning and honor their individual creativity.<\/p>

Nichole was born in San Jose, and grew up in Kauai, New Mexico and Missouri. She spent her childhood racing around barefoot on her property in Kauai, developing a love for nature by caring for animals. She later developed a passion for helping children in need while spending time at orphanages in Mexico and the Philippines, where she worked on the construction of schools and provided educational supplies. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors with her husband, trying out new restaurants, or visiting friends and family.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Rebecca Bradley<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Director of High School<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Bec is committed to facilitating the opportunities and experiences that students need to reach their unique potential and be future ready. A British Educator and Leader in the UK and International Educational space for over 20 years, people are at the heart of her approach. This was clear in her most recent Head of Secondary role, where she was instrumental in a new International High School in central Switzerland. With dual Bachelors\u2019 in Fine Art & French, her love of creativity and communication underpins her personal, academic and professional practice. Her roots in teaching French, Spanish and Art to students in Middle and High School, Bec has also headed two large Modern Languages Faculties in the UK, provided focused pedagogical consultancy and outreach to departments in need of support, and worked as Professional Mentor for Teacher training in Cheshire Schools. Bec is thrilled to be the new Director of Education, High School and play her part in the next chapter of this inspirational and dynamic learning Community.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Kanchan Bhandare<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Intermediate School Science Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKanchan went to school at the University of Mumbai and earned a BS in Chemistry and an MS in Analytical Chemistry. After spending a few years in AIDS research at a major hospital in Mumbai, she \u201cfell backward\u201d into teaching by substituting at her kids\u2019 school and never looked back. Since 2009 she\u2019s taught science at the middle school level, and particularly enjoys creating fun, engaging lessons that support and challenge students. Her particular passion for environmental science made Tessellations\u2019 Nature Campus especially appealing, but no matter the topic, Kanchan\u2019s teaching style shows her heartfelt commitment to fostering a positive environment for students and helping them flourish. \u201cTessellations\u2019 approach to teaching resonates with me,\u201d says Kanchan. \u201cI make connections with all my students and believe that every student needs a champion. Every voice matters.\u201d She is the mother of two grown daughters and loves gardening, hiking, reading, and doing art projects.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Len Bloch<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Middle School Science Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLen\u2019s love of teaching was ignited in 1985, one year after he earned a BS in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania. Since then, he has taught every academic subject, every age from pre-school to post-graduate, and both gifted and special education. Still, he always returns to middle school science, and he finds a special joy in working with gifted students. When he wasn\u2019t busy teaching, he earned an MA in Education from UC Berkeley, and a PhD in Science Education from the University of Georgia. His dissertation asked how master teachers teach about climate change, and he is deeply committed to helping young people prepare to face the challenges of life on a rapidly changing planet. His two TED-Ed videos have garnered over four million views, and he received the \u201cOutstanding Earth Science Teacher Award\u201d for California in 2018.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Ivar Blomquist<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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After-School Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGrowing up in the Bay Area, Ivar had exposure to all types of sports from a young age. As an adult he has explored a multitude of ways to engage youth in physical activity. A variety of previous opportunities working with kids helped him realize that any and every interaction can be a meaningful moment of learning to a child. When he looks back at his own life, Ivar remembers the smallest moments being the ones that helped define his character as he grew up. He admires how Tessellations allows young people to explore many kinds of activities, fields, and interests, because he values exploration as a means to help kids shape their identity and self esteem. He is excited to play all types of games, whether they are physically or mentally challenging, with Tessellations students. Ivar holds a BA in kinesiology from Chico State University. \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Danny Boyer<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Middle School Science Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tInside and outside the classroom, Danny\u2019s teaching career has centered on inspiring in his students a love and respect for nature, and the confidence and motivation to have a positive impact on the world. He has taught middle school science in a classroom setting for fifteen years, and has led an outdoor adventure summer camp for twenty, taking kids surfing, kayaking, and rock climbing. Danny graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BS in geology and an emphasis in paleontology, and first found his love for teaching working as a naturalist. He worked as a sea kayak guide in Alaska, California, and Baja California, and has traveled to or lived in over thirty countries.\u00a0At Tessellations, he most enjoys <\/span><\/span>getting to know all the students, collaborating with other faculty, and, most of all, sharing time with everyone outdoors surrounded by nature.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Claudia Campano<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Kindergarten Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClaudia co-teaches Tessellations\u2019 kindergarteners with Rachel. She started her career by working as a preschool innovation coach, helping other teachers build curricula with engaging, hands-on lessons to capture the hearts and minds of the youngest students, and provide them a foundation for technological subjects like coding. Since then, she\u2019s moved into classroom teaching, starting with first graders. Since 2018 she\u2019s taught gifted kindergarteners, including designing their curriculum. \u201cI most enjoy working with younger ones because it’s when learning is the most exciting. I’ve seen the wonder and enthusiasm the young ones have whenever we start a class and I love seeing their eagerness to apply their learning to the world around them. I love watching them come into kindergarten as one child, sometimes timid, and seeing them flourish into independent thinkers.\u201d Claudia earned a BA in Elementary Education and Exceptional Education from the University of Miami.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Jose Caraan<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Early Childhood Associate Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWith a BA in Psychology and a minor in Child and Adolescent Development from San Jose State University, Jose originally planned to become a clinical and research psychologist. But after realizing his joy working directly with children at the university\u2019s Child Development center, Jose switched careers to early childhood education. He has worked with infants to preschoolers, and has an inclination towards music and the natural world. He encourages children to develop their rhythm and ear for music, as well as explore the different lifeforms found in our world. A child at heart, Jose can often be found sitting on the floor examining something alongside the children. His life goal is to help others be the best versions of themselves. He hopes to build that foundation with little ones by giving them the excitement and confidence to explore the world around them.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Lauren Castro<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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School Counselor<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Lauren is passionate about supporting youth. She helps unlock their potential by partnering with them to overcome mental, social, and emotional struggles, and works collaboratively to cultivate an environment for success. Lauren values creating a safe space for individuals to be vulnerable and get in touch with their emotions, and is experienced in crisis management and de-escalation techniques. Her approach is eclectic, bringing flexibility to meet an individual where they are, challenge them, and work together to achieve growth. Lauren has a Master\u2019s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Canisius University in Buffalo, NY, and is registered as an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. When she\u2019s not working, she\u2019s chasing down a good sunset, on a walk, traveling, or hanging out with loved ones.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Adam C'DeBaca<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Middle School Humanities Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Adam has diverse cultural and social background in education, having taught at the public, private and university level in Texas, Washington state, the US Virgin Islands, New York and California. He earned a double major in English Language & Literature and Spanish Language & Literature from the University of North Texas, with coursework completed in Seville, Spain. In San Mateo, he worked with grades 7-12, where he developed individualized curriculum and integrative learning for students with specific learning differences; led popular creative writing and musical production workshops for poetry, lyrical song writing, music production, art, and dance; and solicited partnerships and support from cultural organizations such as Hip Hop for Change. His teaching is based on the maieutic method of inquiry-based learning that utilizes Socratic dialogue, logic and rhetoric as its main focus and model. Students participate in daily writing, reading, dialogue and reflection to sharpen their critical thinking and apply it to the analysis of classical, modern and contemporary literature. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring and hiking the beautiful California landscape, reading esoteric history and philosophy books (and comic books), and watching Major League Baseball. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Dusten Conlon<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Early Childhood Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAs the oldest son of teachers in a blended family, it was almost as if Dusten was fated to become one himself. Taking a keen interest in the science of learning and development, he graduated from UC San Diego with a BS in Cognitive Science. Specializing in Human Cognition, he researched how the brains of parent and child respond and synchronize to unexpected outcomes while playing games together. He has mentored undergraduates, homeschooled communities of rural students, and worked extensively with special needs populations. Beyond campus, Dusten hosts a weekly dinner and book club. He also enjoys musicals, keeping up with research findings, and being a Dungeon Master for his friends.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Victoria Cota<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Primary School Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAfter spending time working with learners in various settings, including a rare opportunity teaching in a refugee camp for a summer, Victoria earned a BA in Education from Biola University. She dedicated her time as an educator to cultivating a student-centric classroom, as well as training other educators on various best practices. For the past couple of years, Victoria took advantage of a chance to work in management at a general contracting design\/build firm, but now, excited, invigorated, and equipped with new skills, she is thrilled to be returning to education. A lifelong learner herself, Victoria believes the best gift a teacher can give his\/her student is not knowledge itself, but instead, a love of learning and tools for the pursuit of knowledge. \u201cThere are few communities as unique and remarkable as Tessellations,\u201d Victoria reflects. \u201cI\u2019m honored to be a small part of something so incredible.\u201d\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Janelle Downey<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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School Program Scheduler<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Janelle is excited to join the Tesselations team as the new School Program Scheduler. Janelle\u2019s <\/span>passion for the arts and education began in her adolescence, as a student of theatre. With her BA in Theatre Performance from Chapman University, she\u2019s spent the past 15 years in the non-profit sector supporting programs focused on education and the arts. During her time as Campus Manager and Admissions Assistant at Headwaters School in Austin Texas, Janelle saw the benefits of a well-rounded education for students and believes social and emotional learning is just as important as academic achievement. At Starting Arts in San Jose, she grew as a teaching artist and administrator while working with a diverse community of students. This experience strengthened her love of performing and her belief in the benefits art can provide students on their learning journeys. In her free time, Janelle enjoys being outdoors in nature, throwing pottery and traveling the world \u2013 she has visited 19 countries to date, and looks forward to the next!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Hugo Escobedo<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Custodian<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHugo has worked in maintenance for over six years, mostly at nonprofit organizations, including another school and a church, before he came to Tessellations. He also has prior experience in construction. He was attracted to Tessellations in particular for its fair employment policies, but also likes the environment, finding it to be very friendly. He feels the staff are inviting and that they listen to him. Hugo lives nearby, and when he isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his family, including his young daughter.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Michael Fariss<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Director of Technology<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMichael Fariss has been helping independent Bay Area school communities with technology for well over a decade. He was responsible for running IT departments at several schools, including managing staff, projects and training educators to use technology without techno-babble. His vision for technology in education is to allow technology to enhance the communication of concepts, without interfering with students\u2019 learning process. Michael has an extremely broad knowledge base including shop-mechanics, electrical systems and many digital devices. He earned his BS in Software Engineering at San Jose State University, an MBA at Argosy University as well as some classes at various other schools including Berkeley Extension. When not wrangling digital devices, he enjoys exploring new hiking trails, mountaintops, and historic sites in the Bay Area.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Jaden Fong<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Outdoor Educator (Naturalist)<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBorn in Sacramento, California, Jaden Fong grew up with his hands in the dirt and his feet in the water of the American River. First attending nature camps at Effie Yeaw Nature Center, he later worked as a Camp Leader for these same camps, inspiring the campers to seek knowledge through nature. Jaden received his undergraduate education at Santa Clara University, where he graduated with a double major in English and French & Francophone Studies and a minor in Creative Writing. Here, he worked as the Poetry Editor for a global literary magazine and pursued his passion for the intersection of nature and education by writing a final thesis on the developmental and educational benefits of outdoor education. He soon attended Stanford University as part of the STEP program and received his M.A. in Education; in this program, he participated in intensive specialty coursework in SEL, expressivist pedagogy, and equitable education. When he is not writing, Jaden enjoys playing volleyball, indulging his sweet tooth, and building bioactive enclosures for reptiles.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Prachi Gangwal<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Innovation Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrachi has been a learner of life and always curious about how machines and technology work. As Innovation teacher at Tessellations, she is dedicated to educating and guiding children to use critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration and empathetic project-based learning. It has been a passion for her to combine art and design thinking with science and engineering at its core and she believes in providing a space for young minds where their imagination and creativity can be nourished. She holds a BS from Nagpur University and an MS from North Carolina State University, both in Civil Engineering. She felt a deep inner calling to serve others, especially children, through teaching. “Teaching them and learning from them is profound. I find magic around children.\u201d she says. In addition to being a teacher, she is an artist, podcast host, the author of several self-published children\u2019s books and a \u201clife-long learner of human inner engineering.\u201d She loves to spend time outside of school by spending time with her family, hiking in the woods, gazing at the stars, weaving words in poetic ways, creating artwork, taking photos and learning new skills.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Ana Paula Giorgi<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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High School Science Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brasil, Ana Paula has more than 20 years working as a field biologist specializing in the conservation science field. With a B.A. in Biology and a master’s degree in Applied Ecology and Environmental Education from the University of Sao Paulo, she also has a Ph.D. in Geography from UCLA.<\/span><\/p>

With an extensive background in experiential education (including being one of the founding faculty of Avenues The World School Sao Paulo <\/span>and Silicon Valley campuses<\/span>), Ana is passionate about place-based learning and is deeply committed to designing <\/span>interdisciplinary, experiential learning environments. She\u2019s joining our High School founding faculty with great enthusiasm and positive thinking, and her ability to connect classroom learning with real-world environmental challenges will inspire Tessellations students to find meaning and relevance in their school work.<\/span><\/p>

She loves spending time with her family and friends and spending hours at pools around California watching her son’s water polo competitions. Ana enjoys staying active and is always looking for different skateboard parks and great outdoor adventures, especially ones related to the ocean.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Shoshana Gleit<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Visual Arts Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShoshana is an artist from Philadelphia. She is a graduate of Parsons School of Design in New York City where she studied illustration and art education. She loves art history and gets excited to learn about diverse and unique visual artists. She particularly loves 16th-century Flemish art, Japanese Ukiyo-e, and the Guerrilla Girls. Shoshana is excited to introduce a choice-based, child-centered art program to Tessellations that encourages exploration and experimentation with different materials and techniques. Outside of teaching, she is an avid traveler who loves to visit World Heritage Sites, art museums, national parks and unique kitschy landmarks. She has visited over 20 countries and has a constant plan for a new adventure. Shoshana also enjoys vegetarian cooking, hiking, camping, and spending time with her husband and kids.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Caroline Gupta<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Director of Operations<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCaroline is a true Renaissance woman. After earning her Bachelor Degree from the University of Ottawa, she started exploring politics and ended up assisting the Canadian Prime Minister. She then co-owned a restaurant for a few years and eventually became the chef. Next, she pivoted to the tech industry, joined a startup, and moved to California. While working for another company, she temporarily relocated to France to open\u00a0new corporate <\/span>offices, and loved traveling all over Europe dealing with vendors and suppliers and managing events. Later, Caroline became a stay at home mom. She served on the board of the preschool, then was PTA president and on the PTA team for many years, helping organize, fundraise and manage multiple events. She re-entered the workforce a few years ago, doing project management for Microsoft and Apple, but her love of being with children and in a school environment led her to Tessellations.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mehrnaz Habibi<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Intermediate School Science Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMehrnaz’s passion for environmental science, belief in educating the whole child, and focus on encouraging hard work and dedication led her to Tessellations. She has taught preschool through upper elementary grades with an approach centered on inquiry-based, hands-on activities where students take responsibility for their learning. Mehrnaz earned a BS in Environmental Pollution from Iran, a BS in Early Childhood Studies and an MSEd with a concentration in Mathematics and Science from Walden University. She is currently pursuing her Ed.D degree in Educational Leadership at California Coast University. Outside work, Mehrnaz frequents crafting stores, engages in crafting projects, and makes music with family and friends. She enjoys playing ukulele, percussion, and the piano.\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Tooba Hamid<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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High School\/K-8 Math Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Tooba has a passion for instilling confidence and proficiency in her students’ mathematical abilities. With a background in Mathematics and Economics, she brings energy, expertise, and a commitment to excellence to her classroom. She received her Masters in Economics from University of Reading (UK), to include a dissertation that used varied mathematical and statistical modeling techniques and tools such as Eviews and SPSS. Tooba was also part of a group to empower and support women entrepreneurs throughout the United Kingdom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Tooba fosters an interactive and supportive learning environment where students feel empowered to tackle challenging mathematical concepts. She uses many instructional methods, including hands-on activities, technology integration, and cooperative learning, to cater for diverse learning styles and ensure student engagement. Tooba is dedicated to helping her students master their mathematical skills as well as develop problem-solving abilities and critical thinking skills that are essential for lifelong learning. She emphasizes the real-world applications of mathematics, connecting abstract concepts to everyday situations to make learning meaningful and relevant. Tooba is committed to fostering a collaborative partnership with parents and colleagues to ensure the academic success and well-being of all students.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Mary Hansell<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Middle School Humanities Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOriginally from Wisconsin, Mary matriculated at the University of Dallas to take advantage of its well-established program in Rome, where she enjoyed experiencing different cultures and learning from all of them. After earning a BA in Elementary Education, Mary spent a few years teaching computer programming, reading, math and science before pursuing an MA in Humanities to combine her interests in art, history, and literature. At The Episcopal School of Dallas, she taught a world cultures course and helped her students become more informed and appreciative of multicultural viewpoints. She designed collaborative projects with students around the world, including Shenzhen, China and Sydney, Australia. Using mock trials, simulations and student-centered activities, she delighted in engaging her students to deepen their learning. She also served as Department Chair for History and was the school\u2019s Director of Educational Technology. Mary is inspired by Tessellations\u2019 mission, values and belief in using imagination to bring positive change in the world.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Kyle Hietala<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Speech & Debate Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKyle believes that students can realize exceptional interpersonal and intellectual growth through advocacy and argument. He is excited to help students develop the critical compassion needed to illuminate truth, advance justice, and understand others in a pluralistic, technological society – and have fun competing at tournaments! Kyle began teaching with Breakthrough Collaborative and Teach For America and has taught speech and debate at schools including St. Luke’s (CT), Spence (NY), and Sidwell Friends (DC). He was a two-time speech and debate State Champion in Lincoln Douglas Debate, competed in Original Oratory, and placed as a National Semifinalist and was the North American (NorthAms) Champion in 2017 for Parliamentary Debate. Kyle holds a BA in Cognitive Science from Yale University and completed coursework at the Johns Hopkins School of Education. He lives in Menlo Park with his partner Miles and their cat, Candace. He enjoys spamming his friends with memes, hunting for new-release items at Trader Joe\u2019s, and watching socio-political documentaries.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Kim-Ha Ho<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Chief Financial Officer<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The focal point of Kim’s 15-year career has been supporting educators and students from all walks of life. Kim began her accounting career with a regional accountancy firm, where she developed a deep interest in nonprofit financials and operations. She then contributed her skill set to numerous nonprofit organizations and communities in the Bay Area, including private foundations, independent schools, higher education, school districts, and government-subsidy nonprofits. Additionally, she has shared her passion for financial literacy with Bay Area youth at California Jump$tart Financial Smarts for Students, NextGen Personal Finance, Society of Young Inklings, and YMCA Project Cornerstones. Kim has a Bachelor from San Jose State University, and an MBA from Santa Clara University Leavey School of Business. Kim finds Tessellations intellectually stimulating and loves to be surrounded by talented and gifted individuals here. When not working on spreadsheets and data, Kim enjoys her bountiful garden and occasional travels with her spouse and their 3 children.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Stephanie Holson<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Co-Director of Preschool \/ Lead Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Stephanie serves as Co-Director and Lead Teacher for the Children\u2019s Center at Tessellations. She brings a deep understanding of child development to her work: she taught at Stanford University\u2019s Bing Nursery School for 10 years, and holds both a BA in Child Development and MA in Early Childhood Education from Mills College. She excels at creating inviting spaces and compelling curriculum that enable young learners to continue their exploration and understanding of the wondrous world all around them. \u201cI feel so lucky to spend my time supporting young children and their families,\u201d she says. When she\u2019s not in the classroom, you can find Stephanie spending quality time with her husband, two great kids, and their small menagerie of pets.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Debora Hoppis<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Early Childhood Teacher \/ Director of Extended Care<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBorn and raised in Brazil, Debora has worked in education for 15 years, living in California for the last 10 years. She has an AS in Early Childhood Education from Orange Coast College, a BA in Pedagogy Education from Brazil, and is finishing her MS in Early Childhood Studies (specializing in Administration, Management, and Leadership) from Walden University. Debora has a long and impressive history working as Site Director, Child Development Instructor, and Teacher Trainer in a variety of environments, including Reggio Emilia, Montessori, and play-based approaches. In addition, she led, created, and implemented a hands-on emergent curriculum for children 1-6 at the Apple Children’s Center with Bright Horizons. Also a published author, she\u2019s currently writing a series of bilingual, self-empowering STEM books for young children. When she’s not in the classroom or writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband, being outdoors, candle making, or finding new things to learn.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Kyle Houston<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Physical Education & Associate Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Born and raised in San Jose, California, Kyle\u2019s philosophy is that all children\u2014no matter their age or circumstance\u2014have genius within them and should be respected as such. Kyle has been instrumental in the launches of several schools. Along the way he taught multiple subjects at the middle school level, and has coached youth gymnastics and motor skill development for over a decade. This honed his abilities as a mentor, and helped hundreds of kids realize their potential physically and academically as more confident, capable movers. Kyle pursues a calling to help children develop healthy lifestyles when they\u2019re young that lead to healthy lives as adults. He believes physical and mental health are deeply connected, and that creating a healthy, supportive environment is key to both. In his free time he enjoys reading novels, cooking, and turning his music up really loud.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Teddy Hulsker<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Resident Dungeon Master \/ Drama Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTeddy Hulsker is an Oakland-based Bay Area native and Game Master for hire, as well as resident Dungeon Master for Tessellations School. A lifetime nerd, Teddy decided to make a career of his passion when the pandemic hit in 2020. Since then Teddy has run camps and campaigns for all ages. As a DM Teddy creates a fun environment for play that rewards players for creativity and ingenuity. He loves games that feature a blend of humor, excitement, danger and collaborative problem solving. In addition to his work as a dungeon master, Teddy is an award-winning theatrical sound and projection designer. His work has been seen and heard at local venues like TheaterWorks, Marin Theater Company, San Francisco Playhouse and Aurora Theater Company. He was also the founder and artistic director of Klanghaus, an East Bay artists’ ensemble that produced monthly happenings in an eclectic range of venues between 2014 and 2019. He is immensely grateful for this opportunity to share his passion with the students of Tessellations.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Naomi Keith<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Relief & Support Educator<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Naomi is a dynamic educator who is excited to be a part of the Tessellations community! With a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Communication Studies from San Jose State University and five years of experience in the education field, Naomi is passionate about fostering a safe and creative learning environment where every student can thrive. She spent three years as an extended day teacher and teacher assistant, followed by two years as a kindergarten STEM teacher, during which her students experienced an impressive 1.5 years of growth as they transitioned into first grade. Inspired by the educators who shaped her journey, Naomi is dedicated to making a positive impact on students\u2019 lives. Outside of the classroom, she loves to visit Disneyland, unleash her creativity on Canva, craft festive decorations, sing, and enjoy quality time with her family and her adorable corgi. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Kelly Li<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKelly is passionate about providing a nurturing, supportive, and enriching learning environment for children. Her educational and professional background reflects a deep commitment to progressive and child-centered education. Along with her Master of Arts in Education from Heidelberg University (signifying a strong foundation in educational theories and practices), her Montessori credential highlights her training in a respected, widely recognized approach to early childhood education. In this spirit, she ensures the environment is carefully prepared to meet the developmental needs of each child. As a teacher, Kelly enjoys observing each individual child, tailoring the environment to nurture these unique needs. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and jogging in the woods, spending time with her cat, and helping friends by walking their dogs.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Matt Linden<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Co-Director of Preschool<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Matt has worked in early childhood education in the Bay Area for more than 25 years. With a B.A. from Stanford and an M.A. from U.C. Berkeley, he completed his foundational training at Stanford’s Bing Nursery School. Matt went on to work as a teacher at Bing and One Fifty Parker Avenue School in San Francisco, where he took on his first full-time administrative role. Matt later served as the Executive Director at The Little School in San Francisco, where he furthered the school’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment and putting relationships at the center of social-emotional learning. After joining Avenues Silicon Valley in 2019, Matt helped to develop and lead the Avenues@Home program during the pandemic, supporting and overseeing teachers, students and families worldwide. Most recently, he helped to build, sustain, and infuse hefty doses of fun into Avenues\u2019 Founding Class Program. <\/span><\/p>\n

Matt lives in San Carlos with his wife Amanda, their two children Oli & Cal, their cats Stormy & Sammy, and Zelda the Shiba Inu. Matt enjoys playing music with friends, hip openers in yoga, hiking in nearby Eaton Park with Zelda, and reading the latest Stephen King novel.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Phyllis Lopez<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Intermediate School Humanities Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhyllis\u2019s love of education has taken her on a global journey teaching in Nicaragua, Taiwan, Myanmar, and now California. She holds a BA in Linguistic Education from Universidad CentroAmericana. She has a strong background in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program and a passion for languages and art, which she hopes to instill in all her students. In addition, Phyllis is an active advocate for Education for All, an international initiative to raise primary education standards worldwide, and volunteered to teach English and math to low income, rural communities in developing countries. Her teaching philosophy is that an ideal student outcome is a balance between academic progress and emotional growth through meaningful experiences. She actively integrates her lessons with mindfulness practice, connection to nature and fostering the empathy of her students toward others. She was thrilled to join the Tessellations family as a lower school teacher and continue to learn alongside her students.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Elle Lyu<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mandarin Language Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Elle is an advocate for project-based language learning. During her time at Presidio Knolls School and more recently at Avenues Silicon Valley, she designed project-based curricula that fostered meaningful real-world skills. She received her M.Ed. from SUNY Buffalo where she explored second language acquisition and pedagogies. Elle is dedicated to extending her classes way beyond language proficiency to include relevant social-emotional learning and meaningful cross-disciplinary practice. She also deeply believes that learning language encourages global citizens with intercultural understanding. The alignment between Elle\u2019s educational philosophy and Tessellations\u2019s mission is embodied in her commitment to blending a conversational approach to language acquisition with authentic experiences inside and beyond the classroom. In her spare time, Elle finds joy in mountain biking, camping, backpacking, exploring museums, and experimenting with various Sichuan cuisine recipes in her kitchen.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sylvia Major<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Outdoor Educator (Naturalist)<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSylvia is dedicated to sharing her love and knowledge of the natural world with others and is inspired by the diversity of perspective and experience of gifted learners. She was a nature immersion instructor at Riekes Nature Awareness and other programs, and as a homeschooling parent, she founded an outdoor program to create community for her son and other gifted learners in the Bay Area. Sylvia has a BS in Biology from Cornell and an MS in Ecology & Evolution from UCLA. Travel and living abroad have also been integral parts of her education. She hopes to pass on her love of learning and a commitment to leave things better than we found them.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Adrienne Marquette<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Drama and Theater Arts Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAdrienne was born and raised in the Bay Area. She began acting in first grade, and has had a passion for the performing arts ever since. She started teaching and directing her original theater curriculum at age 20 at a small private school in Campbell, CA, where she developed and ran performing arts programs and summer arts camps for TK-8 students for 16 years. In 2011 she began teaching and directing theater classes and productions all over the Bay Area for K-12 students through a non-profit arts education organization. She created a Healing Arts program for the Pediatric ICU at Kaiser Santa Clara, and created and developed Starting Arts Studios Productions, where she directed up to twelve productions each year, including musicals, comedies, murder mysteries and melodramas. Adrienne has touched thousands of students through theater and performing arts over her career and feels incredibly lucky to do what she loves every day. She is very excited to put down roots at Tessellations and create an inclusive, creative theater arts program for our students and community.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Thomas Marquette<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Safety Specialist<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGrowing up in Willow Glen, Thomas saw the joy that the arts and working with children brought to his parents. He has worked with kids of all ages backstage in theater productions, taught drums at School of Rock, and performed in the School of Rock House Band at festivals and events throughout the Bay Area. Prior to teaching drums, Thomas played quad and snare in his high school marching band, played in the wind ensemble, and also studied drum, bass, and guitar at School of Rock for 6 years in their Performance Band program. He graduated from Willow Glen High School and Silicon Valley Career Technical Education in Metals Technology (SVCTE) in 2022. He loves bouldering, exploring, camping, working out, and fast cars!\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Tais Martorano<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Middle School Science Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Tais is an environmental enthusiast with a passion for botany, ecology, and marine organisms. Growing up in Brazil, she developed a deep connection with nature early on, which fueled her lifelong commitment to environmental wellness. Her entire life, she has cared for a variety of plants and animals, including moon jellies (one of her favorites).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

While pursuing her bachelor\u2019s degree in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution at the University of California, San Diego, Tais conducted extensive research on benthic fish and the diets of baleen whales. Her academic journey prepared her with a broad understanding of marine organisms and the intricate balance within natural ecosystems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

She unexpectedly discovered her love for teaching during what she thought would be a temporary summer job. Teaching sparked her desire to educate and inspire young minds, teaching them to love and protect the natural treasures of planet earth. Today, after six years of science teaching experience, <\/span>she combines her scientific background with her passion for education, dedicating herself to shaping future generations of environmental stewards.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Tristan Matlock<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Director of 4th-8th Grades<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTristan’s progressive education journey has led him through public, private, charter, and international school models as a humanities teacher, school leader, and teacher trainer, eventually inspiring him to create his own NPO. His camps and workshops for teens focused on rite of passage experiences, restorative and social justice, SEL and creative arts, community building, leadership development, vocational empowerment, and wellness. He also led service and adventure trips for teens across U.S. national parks and internationally in Mexico, Costa Rica, Italy, Hong Kong, India, and Nepal. He has a BA in English literature, an English teaching credential, is a yoga and meditation teacher, and is working toward an MA in transpersonal psychology. Tristan lived in a yoga monastery for ten years, where he learned to meditate. In his free time he enjoys hiking, free diving, hot yoga, soccer, gardening, studying philosophy and psychology, and traveling to new places.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Myla McLain<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Born and raised on the Maine coast, Myla is a third-generation educator. She holds a BA in Environmental Studies from Wellesley College. She has experience conducting geochemistry research on urban farms in Boston and lagoon fluctuation trends on ranches in Chilean Patagonia. She has taught K-12 outdoor education at farms, land trusts, and Audubon sanctuaries. Her passion for outdoor environmental education stems from her unique nature-based Waldorf education and deep curiosity for the earth systems around her. In her free time, Myla enjoys running, mountain biking, skiing, camping, and spending time with her family.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Mikki McMillion<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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High School History and Humanities Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Mikki is grateful to be a part of the founding High School Team at Tessellations.\u00a0 As an Educator who has volunteered and worked in the Bay Area for almost 30 years, serving as Teacher, Advisor, Administrator, Teacher Development Specialist, and Curriculum Codifier in public, independent and charter schools, she is excited to continue learning with students as they discover their authentic voices while building the community. Mikki enjoys working with all ages, and brings experience of teaching elementary, middle and high school students. She has a BA in English and a Secondary Teaching Credential from San Jose State University. Mikki is a lifelong learner who is currently working on her MA in Consciousness and Human Potential at Maharishi International University. In her free time, she loves to laugh with her children, rollerskate, and gaze at trees.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Elizabeth Miramontes<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Math Specialist<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Elizabeth\u2019s mission as a teacher goes beyond delivering required knowledge; it\u2019s about creating a non-judgmental classroom environment so the learning process becomes a smooth (although not necessarily effortless) path. In this environment, the students freely explore the subject with curiosity and beginner\u2019s minds, strengthening their learning capacity and self-confidence. Elizabeth developed the skills to create this warm space during her masters degree studies. She has twelve years of experience facilitating learning in areas such as Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Discrete Mathematics, Financial Mathematics, Programming, Mindfulness, Yoga, and Human Development. She received a Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Computer Engineering and a Master\u2019s Degree in Human Development from the Western Institute of Technology and Higher Studies in Mexico (on the same network as Santa Clara University). She enjoys spending time with her two kids and husband, going for walks, practicing mindfulness, or\u00a0 just enjoying the sunset and nature.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Kris Morgan<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Kris\u2019 passion for working in a school environment took shape seven years ago when he began as an assistant teacher at Westmont High School. Since then, he has taken his skills into administration, working in numerous fields across various schools. He strives to always be available to help where he can, be it with students, staff, or families. With a deep commitment to learning new skills and strategies, Kris has consistently sought innovative ways to meet the diverse needs of his workplace and contribute positively to its growth. He has a wide variety of hobbies including movies and music, but mostly enjoys spending his time with his wife, their friends and family, and their cat Lulu. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Kristine Nakada<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Director of Outdoor Education<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKristine Nakada\u00a0was very<\/span><\/span>\u00a0excited to join Tessellations as a multidisciplinary teacher, teaching an upper level math course, PE, and serving as a member of the Nature Campus core team. After spending her younger years in the East Bay, she earned her BA in Mathematics from Williams College and her MS in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. While her teaching career started in a boarding school on the East Coast, she has most recently lived in Pasadena, CA, where she taught high school math, coached numerous sports, and led a variety of outdoor ed trips. In addition to having her Wilderness First Responder certification, Kristine has held various leadership positions in the world of diversity, equity, and inclusion. She loves the energy and intentionality of new schools and is excited to think about ways to design spaces that allow all students to feel like they belong.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Alejandro Navarro<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Outdoor Educator (Naturalist)<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBorn in Visalia, California, near Sequoia National Park, Alejandro developed a deep love for the outdoors from an early age through countless backpacking adventures with his sisters. After graduating from Cal State Long Beach, Alejandro found his calling and passion for outdoor education at the Clemmie Gill School of Science and Conservation (SCICON). He continued to hone his craft as an educator with the Santa Cruz County Outdoor Science School (SCCOSS). \u201cI just want my students to be sure that their voices can be heard and that school is a very fun and safe place to be for all,\u201d Alejandro says. \u201cI\u2019m always striving to learn as much as I can to help teach others.\u201d When Alejandro is not inspiring young minds in the great outdoors, he can be found exploring trails, hiking to breathtaking vistas, nurturing his garden, or enjoying quality time with his cherished rescue cats, Alexa and Thundercat.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sarah Naylor<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Music Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWith a passion for empowering children to use their voice through creative arts, Sarah is delighted to be Tessellations\u2019 music teacher. She studied harp performance and musical theater at the Manhattan School of Music and the Boston Conservatory, as well as philosophy at Columbia University. Sarah has performed throughout the US as a soloist, with orchestras, chamber groups, and on Broadway in Wicked and Beauty and the Beast. Also drawn towards therapeutic arts, Sarah studied sound healing and meditation in Thailand and Laos, and has worked in children\u2019s hospitals and recovery centers, using music and sound to heal. Sarah discovered her deep love for working in education while teaching music and drama at the Ricardo School in Harlem. She went on to teach fine arts in private, independent schools and gifted programs in Boston, New York, Salt Lake City, and the Bay Area. She maintains a private studio for harp and voice. When not teaching or playing music, Sarah can be found writing, running, and hiking with her two children and dogs.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Jay Patel<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Early Childhood Associate Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Born in Lancashire, UK. Jay holds a BA in Graphic Design and a Foundation Degree in Art & Design. He worked at the award-winning Clitheroe Castle Museum for 10 years where he taught Arts & Craft activities to children of all ages. \u201cI love to bring a spark to a child\u2019s eye as they learn something new in fun, creative ways,\u201d he says. In 2018, Jay and his family moved to the US and joined Tessellations as an After School Teacher inspiring kids in the Maker Space & Art Clubs. Now an Early Childhood Associate Teacher, he\u2019s excited to be a part of every child\u2019s learning journey and help design a creative curriculum. He believes in a play-based, child-centered approach and understands that children learn best through hands-on experiences. A father of 3, in his spare time Jay enjoys many things including art, photography, exploring nature, vegetarian dining, visiting museums, reading books, cinema, collecting video-games, graphic designing and organizing free craft kits & workshops for his local community in Sunnyvale.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Nikki Perez<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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1st Grade Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Nikki is thrilled to share space with a community that is as excited as she is about teaching and learning. Nikki holds a degree in child development and psychology, and has 15 years of experience in education. For the past eight years, her recent endeavors have been in social work and mental health, specifically in foster care. Her time in foster care led her back to her  passion for teaching. During this time, she provided coaching and education for families, specifically in reparative parenting techniques and trauma-informed care. She has made a full circle during her career by coming back to the classroom (a place that she never truly left). <\/p>

Outside the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and loved ones. She  looks forward to creating rapport and building relationships, as a flourishing classroom is essential for every child’s overall success and well-being.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Ketki Pendse<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSince earning her Bachelor\u2019s in Child Development from California State University, Ketki has been working with children in different capacities for over a decade, including teaching first grade for about 6 years prior to joining Tessellations. Ever since she was in elementary school, her teachers were her heroes, and as an adult, teaching is where she finds her greatest peace and rewards. \u201cI have always loved working with children, especially the younger ones. Their innocence and zest for life is so refreshing! And the welcoming and calming environment at Tessellations makes it so wonderful to come to work every day,\u201d she says. When she is not in the classroom, Ketki loves to hike and read books.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Nathaniel Polussa \/ \u201cCoach Nate\u201d<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCoach Nate taught many subjects and every grade level K-12 over his fourteen years in education. He began coaching soccer seven years ago and now has two teams with Los Altos Red Star Academy, a premier soccer club in Silicon Valley. He holds a USSF D License in soccer coaching, a NCSAA Goalkeeping Diploma, and is a licensed referee for both youth and adult players. \u201cI believe the energy I bring to the field is reciprocated in the players I have the joy of working with,\u201d he says. \u201cMy prime directive is to provide a positive learning environment for youth as they begin to play. Soccer is a vehicle to help us develop life skills such as teamwork, sportsmanship, communication, and, above all else, respect \u2013 respect for the game, coaches, referees and players, but most importantly, respect for oneself.\u201d He looks forward to learning and growing from his experiences with everyone at Tessellations.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Michael Prater<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMichael believes that teaching is an act of moral courage, rooted in the individual dignity of each learner. He is focused on creating an innovative high school that will honor the Tessie mission and extend students’ meaningful educational journey beyond middle school. After earning an MA from Columbia University’s Teachers College, Michael worked with Independent Schools in New York City for more than 20 years as a teacher, division director, and interim head of school; his students have gone on to study at the most prestigious universities in the United States and Europe. Through extensive accreditation work, he acquired a deep understanding of dozens of educational systems at some of the most renowned schools in the country. Michael is trilingual, a scholar of Shakespeare, and nourishes his heart and mind with big ideas from great books. He is a father of twin toddlers and enjoys cultivating his hobbies as an amateur musician, an adept potter, and an able chef.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Alyssa Puga<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Primary Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlyssa is passionate about creating unique learning opportunities for middle schoolers. She started her career as a substitute and discovered her love for teaching. Later, as a middle school teacher, she was enchanted by the curiosity and open-hearted nature of the age group. Alyssa is a first generation college graduate, earning a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Biomedical Science from Royal Holloway – University of London, and recently completed a Masters in Education. She is a California native who loves to travel, finds joy in sunshine, and spending time with her dogs and fianc\u00e9.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Lise Quan<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Originally from beautiful British Columbia, Canada, Lise recently relocated from San Diego to join the Tessellations family. She holds a BSC in Psychology, as well as Montessori and ECE teaching credentials. With over 20 years of experience in a wide variety of learning environments, she looks forward to bringing her wealth of knowledge and passion for early childhood education to Tessellations. As a lifelong educator, she is particularly passionate about early literacy and creating a nurturing, hands-on, creative learning environment where all her students feel valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential. She\u2019s thrilled to be part of the Tessellations family and excited to contribute to such a unique and welcoming community!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Tiffani Quick<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Director of After School and Summer Programs<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTiffani finds joy and purpose supporting young people to overcome obstacles, spark curiosity, and build relationships with their peers. Even as a teen, she was determined to pursue a career in youth development. Tiffani earned a BS in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco. She has extensive experience providing high-quality, enriching, and engaging after school and summer programs to students of local independent schools and community-based programs. Tiffani is focused on meeting young people where they are and challenging them to develop the skills to become the best versions of themselves. She is a former youth athlete in soccer and basketball, and enjoyed coaching SF Bay Area youth and her two sons in both sports.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Frankie Ramirez<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Early Childhood Teacher (TCC)<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Frankie\u2019s passion for education stems from her early struggles in school; ultimately she was inspired to pursue education by a particular teacher who recognized her individual needs and promoted a growth mindset. Previously, Frankie coordinated non-profit literacy programs across the South Bay Area. She has experience working in non-profit, private, and co-op preschools throughout California and Washington, DC. As a preschool teacher, she developed and implemented a mindfulness-based curriculum; she is passionate about science, mindfulness learning, and incorporating multiple intelligences into her classroom. Frankie holds a BA in Life Science, Preparation for Teaching, and an MS in Child and Adolescent Development. Outside of work, Frankie is an avid yogi who is fueled by coffee, hiking, and live music events.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Kari Van Bebber Ramirez<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Gifted Specialist<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKari has a passion for the social and emotional well-being of others and always meets individuals where they are in their personal journey of growth. She started her teaching career after earning a BS in Child Development with a Psychology Minor and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential at California Polytechnic University, SLO. Soon after, Kari earned a MA in Counseling at San Francisco State University, which led to nearly 10 years as an elementary school counselor and MFT in private practice. As an administrator for the Knox School of Santa Barbara, she specialized in the academic and SEL needs of the gifted population. Kari also provides coaching, consulting, and counseling to all ages across a variety of needs, including specialized support for gifted students and their families.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Saba Rizvi<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Librarian \/ Media Specialist<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Saba is a dedicated educator with over 15 years of experience, complemented by diverse professional journeys in mental health and technology. Growing up in four different countries, she is fluent in five languages, which enriches her global perspective. Saba earned her BA from Middlebury College in Vermont, focusing on premedical studies with a minor in religion and French. She later pursued a Master\u2019s in French Education at Middlebury, specializing in Second Language Acquisition at the Sorbonne University in Paris. An avid traveler and reader, Saba finds inspiration in the beauty of diverse cultures, languages, cuisines, and experiences. As an educator, she is passionate about uncovering the unique gifts of each child and empowering them to reach their full potential. In her free time, Saba enjoys the outdoors as much as possible. Some of her favorite activities are camping, hiking, mountain biking, snowboarding, dancing and playing board games and DND with her friends.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sheena Rose<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Human Resources, Bookkeeper & Payroll Administrator<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSheena’s passion for people and principles surfaces in her focus on business integrity and transparency. She spent a decade in operations management fostering teamwork and guiding talent before transitioning to more administrative roles. She earned a degree in Accounting and Business Administration from De Anza College. Sheena regularly volunteers at supportive organizations, such as the YMCA, One Step Closer Therapeutic Riding, and CASA. In her free time she enjoys cooking, roller-blading, traveling, and practicing mindfulness at every step.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Dominic Ruggio<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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he\/him<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Primary School Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Dominic has always loved to teach ever since his 5th-grade teacher asked him to assist his classmates in math. While he got his Bachelor\u2019s degree in English from San Francisco State University, he worked as an after-school teacher for Elementary School students. That experience helped him realize that he wanted to pursue teaching and inspired him to acquire his Master\u2019s in Education at Santa Clara University. After 5 years in Public Schools, he was drawn to Tessellations because of its many offerings in the Arts and its focus on SEL. He loves to be a part of the community and build strong relationships with students and their families. Academically, he loves to create impactful, memorable, and interactive lessons, where students can solve problems and collaborate. Outside of School, he loves playing sports (including soccer, golf, and basketball), walking his two dogs, and playing video games.
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David \u201cBear\u201d Saulet<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Middle School Humanities Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A proud product of California\u2019s Community College system, David\u2019s love for learning was sparked by his introduction to the world of competitive speech and debate. After a strong competitive tenure of his own, David went on to direct and coach some of the nation\u2019s most successful debate programs. Most notably, as Assistant Director of Debate, he helped lead Concordia University Irvine to a 1st place finish at the 2015 NPDA National Championship Tournament where the team faced off against more than 50 colleges and universities nationwide. David has also directed highly successful speech and debate programs at the high school level, such as Oxford Academy and Bishop O’Dowd High School, where his students consistently excelled both academically and competitively. David takes immense delight in helping students become better critical thinkers and more effective social advocates. In his free time, you can find David catching airtime on one of his favorite roller coasters, including The Voyage or Velocicoaster. And when the theme parks are closed for the offseason, David can be found movie hopping at his favorite film festivals such as the Seattle International Film Festival or making a pot of his deliciously renowned Cajun gumbo! David holds a BA in Communication Studies from Concordia Irvine as well as an MA in Communication Studies from Long Beach State University. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Hana Sanchez<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Born and raised in the Bay Area, Hana holds a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with a teaching emphasis and a minor in Child and Adolescent Development. After graduating, she began her career in education, passionate about fostering a safe and nurturing learning environment. With experience teaching grades Pre-K to 4th in private schools throughout the Bay Area, she enjoys connecting with her students and learning about their unique personalities, making her classroom feel like a second home. She is a proud Disney adult who takes annual trips to the parks with her husband. In her free time, she loves spending time with her two dogs, playing board and puzzle games, reading, attending live music performances, cooking, and trying new restaurants.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Niloufar Shir<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Bringing in 9 wonderful and fulfilling years of experience in the field of Education, Niloufar has had the opportunity to contribute to two private, and non-profit independent schools in the Bay Area. Niloufar approaches education with the vision that every child has an innate gift inside them, and that it is with care and joy for learning that children find a sense of belonging and flourish to become confident contributors to their community. Niloufar has gained tremendous training in Responsive Classroom pedagogy, and her focus has always been \u201cconnection before correction\u201d. She has also lived in 3 different countries with various cultures since she was a teenager; born in Iran, she has traveled and lived in France and Canada before arriving at her final destination here in the USA. <\/p>

After pursuing her passion for Chemistry at Humber College, she began her new chapter of married life in Texas, where she attended UNT, as a Canadian student studying General Arts & Science. She has obtained a certificate of achievement in E.C.E, and is in the process of obtaining her Dual-Online M.S. in Learning and Development at UNT. Niloufar enjoys the company of her family along with eating delicious meals.<\/span>
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLacee grew up in Silicon Valley, where she was introduced to project-based learning as part of her school’s GATE program. She began her career in education by teaching students with special needs at a nonprofit organization. Over time, her passion for teaching and love for learning inspired her to specialize in teaching gifted kindergartners. \u201cI look forward to facilitating the development of creativity and curiosity in a secure and supportive setting,\u201d she says. \u201cI am thrilled to find myself in an environment that fosters student autonomy and empowerment, while providing the necessary guidance and support to facilitate a fruitful learning journey.\u201d As part of her passion for teaching, Lacee believes in continuous learning and professional development, and regularly attends workshops and conferences to stay up-to-date on the latest teaching techniques and research.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sara Spiegel<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Director of Systems & Logistics<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSara came to Tessellations after more than 20 years as an administrator at small- to medium-sized education-focused nonprofits. Her work has encompassed public education reform, grantmaking in support of math and science education, and providing technical assistance and curricula for public school systems. Sara helps establish systems, tools, and routines both to serve Tessellations’ immediate needs and to ensure efficient operation long into the future. She was initially drawn to the school by “the staff’s dedication to student experiences as much as their depth of knowledge and skill,” she says. “I’m inspired by this professional team that is so focused on student culture, and what they have accomplished in such a short period of time.\u201d Sara earned her BA in Linguistics with a concentration on Education & Society from Stanford University. When she\u2019s not working, Sara loves puzzles, even unsolvable ones. She is an avid reader of fiction and supporter of public libraries everywhere.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Susan Stanat<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Director of Admissions<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSusan is passionate about helping new families find their way to Tessellations, having experienced the positive impact of a strong peer community for students and their families. She is excited to be an Admissions Director again after 10 years serving the broader gifted community as PTA co-chair, board member, Admissions Director (Helios), and founding family at Tessellations. Following a first career in tech, she searched for the best path for her gifted children leading to a life-changing meeting with Anne Beneventi. Joining a school focused on serving gifted students, Susan’s children blossomed, forming strong friendships with peers with whom they clicked easily in an environment where they were respected, nurtured, and challenged. As a bonus, she and her husband also found community for themselves. Susan holds a BA in Psychology from UC Berkeley.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Juliana Steinert <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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1st Grade Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Juliana was born in Brazil and recently moved to the United States. To be in California and be able to explore its different landscapes and biomes – from the beach to the mountains to the desert – has been a great highlight of Juliana’s transition to the US.<\/span><\/p>

With a BA degree in Pedagogy and over 14 years of experience teaching, Juliana hopes to support her students in building a creative, harmonic and respectful learning environment in which each one of their unique learning paths are valued, supported and celebrated. <\/span>Juliana\u2019s big question as an educator is, “What impact can my students\u2019 voices and ideas have in the world we live in?\u201d To her,\u00a0 teaching means creating opportunities for students to find and use their voices, to explore their wonders and questions about the world, and to understand that each of their actions matter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Juliana loves spending time outdoors, connecting with her surroundings and with herself, as well as learning new things! Her favorite activities have been practicing yoga, watercolor painting, gardening, reading and journaling. Nevertheless, for her a perfect day is a day spent near the water. It doesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s a beach, a lake or a waterfall, being in the water is her favorite way to recharge! <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Isaac Strong<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Director of Competency-Based Education<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAfter earning a PhD in Cellular Biology from UCSF, Isaac taught biology at St Ignatius Preparatory School and volunteered as chief program officer of Minds Matter San Francisco, an education non-profit preparing low-income, high-achieving high school students for college success. He returned to UCSF as director of graduate faculty development, but says, \u201cI missed direct interactions with students and the opportunity to shift the way they think about science, away from memorizing facts and toward a process of asking questions, critical thinking, and making and learning from mistakes.\u201d Tessellations\u2019 appeal was twofold. \u201cI wanted to be part of a community that is excited about new ways of doing things. Project-based learning is where I think science education should be moving,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd second, the commitment to outdoor education. I grew up wandering forests, climbing trees, and observing wildlife, and I love that students here get to have that as part of their education.\u201d\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Aaron Tinker<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Middle School Science Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A child of science educators, Aaron was encouraged from a young age to explore, study, and care for the natural world.\u00a0 After his early years exploring the creeks, woods, and coasts of New England, he eventually steered towards the marine sciences at McGill University in Montreal, and a graduate degree from the University of Washington.\u00a0 After many years supporting marine conservation biology work along the west coast, he shifted towards teaching upon the arrival of his two children.\u00a0 He was fortunate to teach science to many bright young learners, including his own, as the lower school science teacher at Peninsula School for a decade.\u00a0 Outside of work, Aaron enjoys spending time with his family and friends, playing music & tennis, and connecting with nature.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Tess Tran<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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High School English Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Before teaching in the Bay Area, Tess taught in France, Spain, and Vietnam. Those experiences continue to influence her curriculum, which celebrates voices from around the globe and champions interdisciplinary approaches to addressing the world\u2019s most pressing problems. She loves teaching media literacy, rhetoric, and critical theory, empowering students to critically examine the narratives that surround them. In addition, she weaves creative writing into every unit, encouraging students to craft their own narratives in service of healing themselves and others. When she\u2019s not teaching, she enjoys going to underground pro wrestling matches, ax throwing, writing poems, and learning way more about Pokemon than she ever needed to know from her two young sons.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWatch Video<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Robin Trujillo<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Math Specialist \/ Special Projects<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRobin’s journey to Tessellations combines a breadth of skills and experiences acquired along a “non-linear career path”. Growing up in the East Bay as a science nerd with interests in theater and mock trials eventually led her to Caltech where she earned degrees in biology and literature. While pursuing PhD research on RNA silencing at Stanford, she developed an interest in teaching at the Tech Museum and Stanford’s Educational Program for Gifted Youth. She then worked as a high school tutor and COO of a laser-cut wood toy startup before having twins and shifting to be a stay-at-home parent. When her twins started at Tessellations, Robin got involved with the community, serving as a room parent and running board game activities for students and families. Outside of work, Robin enjoys knitting and pottery, losing to Grace at board games, and volunteering at the Oakland Zoo.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Bailey Ubellacker<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBailey aspires to support each student’s cognitive, emotional, and social development by fostering a growth mindset, encouraging engagement in a community of care, and working toward their individual academic goals. Her teaching journey began at the University of Kentucky, where she taught and supervised developmental mathematics after earning BAs in Elementary Education and Spanish with a minor in Psychology. She went on to earn a MA of Education in Teacher Leadership and a PhD in Educational Leadership Studies also from the University of Kentucky while working with elementary school communities in Kentucky and teaching multiple grade levels in Spain, Costa Rica, and New Zealand. She has served as an elementary mathematics and reading interventionist, taught graduate classes for current and aspiring K-12 teacher leaders, and was recognized with the 2022 Robert Kottkamp Outstanding Dissertation Award. Prior to Tessellations, Bailey taught 1st grade, 4th grade English, and 5th grade English at a first year school in Silicon Valley.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Shazia Usman<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Associate Art Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShazia is an artist at heart and the mother of three daughters. She was born and raised in Pakistan, where she received her Masters in English Literature and later went on to pursue art at Hunerkada College of Visual and Performing Arts. When she moved to California, she earned her early childhood teaching credentials from De Anza Community College, along with furthering her artistic education by taking classes in different art disciplines. Shazia has spent most of her professional career dedicated to teaching preschool-aged children while pursuing her passion for painting on her own time. The opportunity to bridge both interests, art and working with children, brought her to Tessellations. She is enthusiastic about interacting with students in the creative environment Tessellations provides and looks forward to helping them cultivate their artistic minds and talents.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Monica Vazquez<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Admissions Marketing and Communications Specialist<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Monica has over 15 years of experience in art direction, graphic design, and marketing. She earned her BS in Graphic Design and Visual Communication from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and is passionate about crafting visual narratives through design, photography, and video. In Mexico and the U.S., she has led marketing campaigns, developed creative concepts, and managed projects across various industries, including health, fashion, and aerospace.<\/p>

Joining Tessellations feels like a natural step for her, as she believes in the power of providing an enriching environment for gifted children and their families: \u201cTessellations’ mission to nurture gifted kids in an inclusive community really resonates with me. I\u2019m excited to contribute to a place where creativity and communication can inspire positive change.”<\/p>

When she\u2019s not working, Monica enjoys watching movies, creating artwork for loved ones, and imagining funny stories about her neighborhood animals to make her husband laugh. These hobbies help her find peace and purpose in a hectic world.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Annie Wait<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Intermediate School Humanities Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA fifth-generation educator, Annie Wait grew up enjoying the gifted programs in Pasadena\u2019s public schools and dreaming of becoming a teacher. She earned her BA in English and Comparative Literature and an MA in Education at Occidental College, and began her career by returning to the district in which she grew up. Annie, who has taught every grade K-12, has a special passion for teaching humanities and integrating academic subject areas to create immersive, multi-dimensional learning experiences that excite students. She is certified in Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) and has led groups of students and families on multi-day field trips to Colonial Williamsburg, Sacramento, and California\u2019s Gold Country. Throughout her career, she’s sought to bring out the best in each learner, no matter their abilities. She has lived with her husband in the Bay Area since 2017 and enjoys gardening, raising chickens, and visits from their four young-adult children.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Liz Wallach<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Director of Kindergarten - Third Grade<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Liz’s love of teaching began in the third grade, when she set up a classroom in the basement, complete with an overhead projector and a cup full of Vis-A-Vis pens. Technology might have changed, but her enthusiasm for colored pencils and a well-organized classroom library hasn’t waned. As a founding faculty member, Liz has delighted in witnessing Tessellations’ journey from a small online pod to a bustling campus of uniquely talented learners. With a master’s degree from Bank Street College of Education and a bachelor’s degree from Smith College, Liz has served as a teacher, instructional coach, and administrator in both public and private schools. Although each school differed in mission and demographics, one constant was each community’s commitment to supporting the whole child. As the Director of K-3, Liz collaborates with and coaches Tessie’s amazing team of all-star teachers, supports classroom instruction, and facilitates professional development opportunities. She spends her time learning alongside students, living out our overall culture of kindness, curiosity, courage, and integrity. A New Englander by birth, Liz has established herself as a Californian, settling on the beach in Santa Cruz. On the weekends, you can find her walking the beach with her dog, enjoying live music, and searching for treasures at local thrift stores.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Andrea Willcox<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Primary School Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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After earning her MA in Elementary Education, Andrea has served as a classroom teacher for more than a decade in 2nd through 6th grades throughout California. She has also taught garden and yoga and has enjoyed coaching new teachers during their credentialing process. She is trained in, and is especially passionate about, early literacy. She has a strong interest in connected and restorative school communities, nature-based education, and the power of play. She is delighted to find so many shared passions with the Tessellations community. When not teaching, she loves spending time outside, hiking on land, or sailing at sea with her family which includes two sons.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Carolyn Woulfe<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Middle School Humanities Teacher<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Carolyn began her teaching career in Queensland, Australia. Since moving overseas with her family in 2007, she has taught and held leadership positions at Hong Kong International School, The International School of Prague, The American School in London, and, most recently Avenues The World School in Silicon Valley, where she was an interdisciplinary project teacher. She earned her B.A. at the University of Queensland, a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching at Queensland University of Technology, and her M.A. in Creative Writing from Roehampton University in London, where she was awarded the Extended Dissertation prize. She enjoys adventure, whether it be embarking on a quest with students, exploring a new culture, getting scientific with her sourdough, or finding a book she can’t put down.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Interested in working with us?\u200b<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPlease see our Careers<\/a> page.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Staff Meet Our Staff The remarkable staff at Tessellations shares a passionate dedication to teaching gifted children. Our teachers\u2019 diversity of experience allows them to bring a deeper, richer worldview into the classroom, and their kindness, intelligence, and authenticity help set the tone for our whole community. Our teachers have diverse backgrounds and interests, hold …<\/p>\n

Staff<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3208","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Kimberly McGraw","author_link":"\/author\/kimberly\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Staff Meet Our Staff The remarkable staff at Tessellations shares a passionate dedication to teaching gifted children. Our teachers\u2019 diversity of experience allows them to bring a deeper, richer worldview into the classroom, and their kindness, intelligence, and authenticity help set the tone for our whole community. Our teachers have diverse backgrounds and interests, hold…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3208"}],"collection":[{"href":"\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3208"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3208\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10727,"href":"\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3208\/revisions\/10727"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}