Colleen Darling, Seventh & Eighth Grade Spanish Teacher
Colleen Darling graduated with a B.A. in Spanish from Wellesley College and spent her junior year studying abroad in Cordoba, Spain. Colleen received both her M.S. in math education and her teaching credential from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (her home state). Dual certified in Spanish and math, she has taught all levels of math at Berkeley High School, and both Pre-calculus and Spanish at San Ramon Valley High School in Danville. In her previous life before she was called to teach, Colleen worked at the Care Management Institute of Kaiser Permanente as a consultant. Colleen is an avid swimmer and might brave the Bay waters sans wetsuit this year.
Vanessa Alexander, Director of Alumni Relations
Vanessa Alexander graduated from Yale with a BA in Latin American Studies and History of Art. She also completed an MA and MPhil in History of Art at Yale. Vanessa most recently worked at Barnard College in Alumnae Affairs. She has also worked in the development offices of Town School for Boys and Yale.
Michelle Phillips, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Michelle Phillips graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Business Administration and a concentration in Marketing. Most recently Michelle focused on client services and brand management for Best Western and Dun & Bradstreet. As an advertising Account Director, she has managed several well-known brands ranging from Acura to Barbie and Sprint. Currently, she is transitioning her marketing and communications skills to the academic field as she looks forward to a career in education.
Catherine Aragon, Second Grade Lead Teacher
Catherine Aragon graduated with a B.A. in history from Harvard University and received her elementary education teaching credential from San Francisco State University. She has worked as a third grade teacher at Leonard R. Flynn Elementary School, and an associate teacher at Live Oak School. Catherine is committed to life-long learning, building community, and inspiring self-discovery in young students.
Lauren Basham, Second Grade Associate
Lauren Basham graduated with a B.S. in journalism from the Boston University College of Communication and is currently working on her multiple subject teaching credential from the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute (BATTI). She has worked as a kindergarten associate teacher at Bentley School in Oakland, and served as a volunteer teacher in fourth and fifth grade classrooms at Cragmont Elementary School in Berkeley and a third grade bilingual classroom at Bel Air Elementary School in Pittsburg. Lauren’s interests include travel, sports, literature, and the outdoors.
Caitlin Dobson, Fifth Grade Associate Teacher
Caitlin Dobson earned a B.A in environmental studies from the University of Colorado, and received both her M.A. in education (with an environmental emphasis) and her multiple subject teaching credential from California State University, San Bernardino. Caitlin has worked as a fourth grade associate teacher at the Willows Community School in Culver City, CA, and as a camp director and science instructor at Astrocamp in Idyllwild, CA. Caitlin has also worked as a volunteer at the Women’s Wilderness Institute in Boulder, CO and the University of Colorado Environmental Center.
Lindsay Gardner, Fourth Grade Associate Teacher
Lindsay graduated with a B.A. in American literature from Middlebury College and is a candidate for a Masters of Fine Arts in painting from San Francisco Arts Institute. Lindsday has worked as a teaching artist at the de Young Museum, an intern working with elementary school groups at Visual Thinking Strategies, and an Arts Education Program Assistant at the San Francisco Arts Commission. Lindsay has also exhibited locally at the Diego Rivera Gallery, the Swell Gallery, and Root Division.
Joanna Milligan, Fifth Grade Associate Teacher
Joanna Milligan graduated with a B.S. in elementary education, with an emphasis on English and psychology, from the University of Vermont. She has worked as a substitute teacher at Pacific Primary School, a third grade teaching intern at Thatcher Brook Primary School in Waterbury, VT, a fifth grade intern at Milton Elementary School in Milton, VT, and a second grade intern at JFK Elementary School in Winooski, VT.
Gin Saepharn, Upper School Science Associate Teacher
Gin Saepharn graduated with a B.S. in molecular cell development biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Before coming to SFDS, she worked as an intern teacher Town School for Boys, teaching earth science and physical science to seventh and eighth graders, and life science and human biology to fifth and sixth graders. Gin is excited to be a part of the SFDS community, particularly because of its focus on diversity and its commitment to co-education.
Alexandra Tobin, Fourth Grade Associate
Alexandra Tobin graduated with a B.A. in Japanese from Georgetown University. She has worked as a site director with Steve and Kate’s Camp, a volunteer with Refugee Transitions in San Francisco, and an assistant language teacher in the JET Program in Japan. Alexandra plans on beginning a Master’s program in Special Education in Fall 2011.
Rosa Wang-McClung, Kindergarten Co-Teacher
Rosa Wang-McClung graduated with a BA in psychology from University of California, San Diego, received her teaching credential from Stanley British Primary School Teacher Preparation Program, and is working towards a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of Colorado, Denver. Rosa has worked as an associate teacher at Aurora School in Oakland and Ivy Academy in Beijing, China, an early childhood teacher at Florence Crittenton School in Denver, CO, and a behavior interventionist/ tutor with ACES (Autism and Special Needs Service Provider) in San Diego, CA.
Justin Wiener, Associate Teacher in 2nd Grade
Justin Wiener graduated with a B.A. in psychology from Boston College. Justin also spent a year studying abnormal psychology at Oxford University in England. Justin has worked as a garden educator at Collective Roots developing garden-based education for elementary schools, a volunteer reading and science teacher for second graders at Cleveland Elementary School, and was on the therapeutic staff support team at Pressley Ridge Schools.
Returning Faculty in New Positions
Beth Hatem is returning as 4th Grade Lead Teacher
Daniel DeLuca, our long-term sub, will be returning full-time in Learning Resources and Homework Cafe.
Katrina Madsen returning as Co-Teacher in 1st Grade
Aaron Brill is returning as Co-Teacher in Technology and Service Learning as well as coordinating Homework Cafe.
