About RMDS
RMDS Faculty and Staff |
Dorie Akka is teaching in the 3rd /4th grade classroom. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications for the University of California at Santa Barbara and holds a multiple subject credential from Sonoma State University. Dorie brings eleven years of professional experience in elementary classrooms to RMDS this year. Her previous teaching assignment was at Marin Primary and Middle School. Dorie is also a swimming coach for the Scott Valley Swim and Tennis Club, and children’s cooking instructor for “What’s Cooking”.
Suzanne Alpert is our high school counselor and the Director of Development. She has her B.A. from Bowdoin College in Biology and Environmental Studies, and a M.A. from Stanford University in Educational Policy Analysis and Evaluation. Suzanne has taught at Lick Wilmerding High School and Marin Academy, and at Santa Catalina School and the American School of The Hague. She was a Klingenstein Fellow at Columbia University’s Summer Institute in 1996. Suzanne joined Ring Mountain in 2001.
David Beitchman teaches 7th/8th Grade Social Studies and Middle School P.E. and Nutrition. He has his B.A. in Social Studies with honors from Harvard University, and his M.A from UC Santa Barbara in Education, with an emphasis in Teaching and Learning. Dave is a current member of Screen Actors’ Guild, and is interested in using film in classroom interdisciplinary study. He has taught in Prague, Czech Republic and is the co-founder of Operation C.H.E.F., a nutrition based cooking camp in Marin. Dave attended the Exeter Humanities Institute at Phillips Exeter Academy in June, 2008. He began teaching at RMDS in 2004.
Terry Bonn returns to Ring Mountain Day School as Elementary/Middle School Director. She has an M.A. in Education from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Terry has her Ed.D. from the University of Minnesota in Educational Administration. She has many years of teaching and administrative experience in both US and international and schools. Terry attended the Exeter Humanities Institute training at Phillips Exeter Academy in June, 2008.
Liza Butler is returning for her sixth year, teaching third and fourth grades. She has her B.A. First Class Honors, from the University of Birmingham, England, and was in the Education Abroad Program at the University of California, Berkeley. Liza taught at the Nueva School in Hillsborough, and was a volunteer Science Teacher at Trinity Grammar and Preparatory School, a Senior Field Staff, Naturalists At Large, and Literacy Project Coordinator, East Bay Conservation Corps, Oakland.
Daisy Cassidy begins her fourth year at RMDS in Kindergarten. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in English from University of Oregon and her multi-subject credential with an emphasis on Early Childhood from San Francisco State University. Daisy taught Kindergarten at Alvarado Elementary School in San Francisco and co-taught 1st Grade at The Nueva School. While at Nueva, she assisted in the planning and teaching of the Social/Emotional Learning classes for Grades 1, 4, and 7 and assisted in the Kindergarten and 1st Grade admissions process. Daisy also worked as a clinician at Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes in Burlingame. Daisy attended additional hours in Responsive Classroom training during the summer of 2007.
Amy Copland came to Ring Mountain mid-year 2006-2007. She is beginning her third year of teaching. Amy earned a BA in Liberal Studies from Chico State University in 2001 and Early Childhood Credential from San Francisco State University in 2003 and her multi-subject credential in 2004. Amy is trained in both Readers’ and Writers’ Workshop and Responsive Classroom.
AJ Diamonti joined RMDS in 2002 He spent four years at Cornell University, majoring in Microbiology before moving on to Harvard Medical School where he worked as a researcher in biochemistry until 2001. He published 8 papers stemming from his work on breast cancer before turning his attentions to technology and its uses in education. AJ teaches 7th and 8th Grade English and Writers’ Workshop. He designed and manages the Website and Informational Technology program, and is the school photographer. He has completed both the Shakespeare and Humanities Institutes at Philips Exeter Academy in 2005 and 2007.
Nancy Diamonti has been Head of School since 1999. She has her Ph.D. in Child and Adolescent Psychology and Educational Leadership from Boston College. Nancy has also completed her doctoral coursework in Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Policy Studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Her M.A. is also from UW- Madison in Reading and Learning Differences. Her B.A. is from Caldwell College, Caldwell, New Jersey in History and Elementary Education. She has over 40 years in education, .24 in public and private schools as a Principal/Head of School.
Sarah Eisenhsrdt joins the faculty at RMDS for the 2008-2009 school year in the 1st/2nd grade. Sarah holds a B.A. in Psychology from Scripps College and a M.A. in Education from the University of California at Berkeley. Sarah has teaching experience with the Slingerland Multi-Sensory Education Program and three years as a Summerbridge Teacher. She is fluent in Spanish.
Suzanne Geller is the K-8 Librarian. She is originally from Curacao, Netherlands Antilles where she learned to speak Dutch, Spanish, and Papiamentu. She received her BA in Theatre from Smith College and did her graduate studies in Early Childhood and Elementary Education at Bank Street College in New York City. She taught at Corlears School and Ethical Culture in New York City, Santa Catalina School in Monterey, CA, and most recently at The Nueva School in Hillsborough, CA. Suzanne also served as the Service Learning Liaison at The Nueva School and has spent summers leading service trips for middle and high school students in Ecuador, Fiji, Thailand, and Mongolia. Suzanne has been at Ring Mountain for four years.
Andrea Gough returns to RMDS this year, teaching 5th and 6th Grade Humanities. Andrea has a BS in Conservation and Resource Studies from UC-Berkeley and her multiple subject credential from San Francisco State. She brings a background of six years classroom teaching experience in preschool and grades 3, 4 and 5; educational leadership and team work; integrated science experiences; yoga and dance instruction. Andrea completed the Exeter Humanities Institute for both English and History at Phillips Exeter Academy in June, 2008.
Thorsten Gritzan joined RMDS in 2005, teaching Mathematics in the Middle School. He is from Canada, and has a BA in Statistics and a diploma in Honors Standing in History for the University of Western Ontario. He also has a Bachelor of Ed. from Althouse College. Thorsten’s previous experience includes six years in the San Francisco Unified School District, teaching Middle School Honors Math and Algebra.
Iris Heusler teaches Physical Education in grades K-4, and has been a teacher at Ring Mountain since 1990. She was born in Cologne, Germany where she earned her B.A. equivalent and Certification in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Afterschool Programs and Recreation at the College of Education in Cologne. Iris is an active member of CAHPERD (California Association for Health, Physical Education Recreation and Dance). Iris received certification as a Nutrition Educator from Bauman College of Holistic Nutrition and Culinary Arts in Berkeley in 2004.
Heidi Holmoe is beginning her teaching at RMDS in 2008 in Preschool –Grade 2, Spanish. Heidi has a B.A. in Liberal Studies from San Francisco State University. She also has an M.A. in Education and a multiple subject credential from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Heidi previously taught at Stonehurst Elementary/Fred Korematsu Discovery Academy for eight years.
Julio Leon is teaching Spanish in grades 3-8. He has his B.A. in Performance and Choreography and an M.A. in Spanish and Dance from San Francisco State University. He has his single subject credential in Spanish and Dance. Julio previously taught Spanish at Marin Country Day School for ten years, and Marin Horizons for two years. Senor Leon is a nationally licensed soccer coach and was a professional dancer.
Jocelyn Lee is teaching Science in Grades 5-8. She joined us in 2007-8. Her background includes four years of science instruction in chemistry, biology and earth science for both elementary and middle school students in San Francisco. She reads, speaks and writes both Cantonese and Mandarin dialects. Jocelyn earned her B.A. in Integrative Biology from UC-Berkeley in 2004. She received her CLAD certification in Biological Science from San Francisco State University in 2007. Jocelyn completed the Exeter Institute Training in Science at Philips Exeter Academy in June, 2008.
Mark Mabry returns to RMDS as the Director of Admissions. He has been working as a teacher and administrator in educational programs in the Bay Area for over 20 years. He earned an M.A. in Elementary Education from San Francisco State University and a B.S. in Information and Computer Science from UC Irvine. Mark presents workshops for both educators and parents at the local, state and national levels on a variety of topics including literacy development, children’s play, and documentation of children’s learning.
Bobbi Perez is the Administrative Assistant to the Head of School and Elementary/Middle School Director. She has previous administrative support experience in medicine, multiple financial fields and design. She has a BA in Humanities from California State University, AA degrees from Sierra College in both Humanities and Liberal Studies and General Education coursework at San Francisco State University. Bobbi also earned a certificate in Medical Assisting from Bryman College. She joined RMDS in 2007-8.
Sarita Pockell is beginning her fourth year teaching music and performing arts. Sarita came to Ring Mountain in 2004, with an extensive background as a performer and educator. She has performed for over 20 years with both academic and community choral and music ensembles that have won statewide and international awards. Sarita is a composer, producer and recording artist and uses many of her own compositions in her classes. She has taught in many public and private schools in the Bay Area. She attended Northern Arizona University and has done coursework at several local colleges.
Shane Sahadi returns to RMDS for a second year, teaching K-8 Visual Arts. He has taught in California public schools, and a private museum in Toledo, Ohio. His expertise includes two and three dimensional art, photography and video production. Shane’s B.A.in Communication is from Ohio State University and his M.A. is in Fine Arts is from the University of Toledo.
Rita Voss has been the Business Manager at Ring Mountain since 2003. She earned an MBA from Dominican University after completing a B.S. in Accounting from San Francisco State University. Rita grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and has lived in Marin County for over twenty years. Rita has many years of business experience; she opened her first restaurant when she was just twenty-years-old. Rita has experience in both finance and human resources at for profit businesses and at not-for-profits.
RMDS Preschool Staff Bios |
Cecilia Chan is the Preschool Teacher in the Savanna Room. Cecilia has her BA in Liberal Studies from San Francisco State University as well as a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. She obtained her Early Childhood Credentials from City College of San Francisco and holds a Site Supervisor Permit. Cecilia has worked with infants through PreK-aged children at Marin Day Schools and at the Imagination Station in Daly City.
Sandra Gutierrez is the Lead Teacher in the Savanna Room. This is her fifth year at Ring Mountain, working with our youngest children. Sandra has completed over 36 units of ECE courses at City College of San Francisco. She has been teaching young children for ten years in various programs throughout the Bay Area. She holds her Child Development Associate Teacher Permit from the State of California.
Brandy Hudkins is the Lead Teacher in the Jungle Classroom. She is also our Aftercare Teacher. She has a BS in Communications from the University of Arkansas, along with completing an Early Childhood Education Certification from Northeastern State University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She did her student teaching in a private school PreK program as well as a public school teaching in Kindergarten, First and Second grades. Brandy is beginning her second year at RMDS.
Vanessa Jerez is the Site Supervisor for the Preschool Campus, and is also the Lead Teacher of the Rainforest room. Vanessa has her BS in Global Business Management from Arizona State University. She has taken 32 units in Early Childhood Education courses at San Francisco City College and has her Child Development Site Supervisor’s permit. This is Vanessa’s fifth year at Ring Mountain.
Olga Maltez joins us in 2008-9 as the teaching assistant for the Preschool. She has 12 ECE classes completed from the College of Marin. Previously, Olga was a teaching assistant from three years at the Canal Children Center in San Rafael, and for a year at San Dominico School.
Bernadette McCarthy joined RMDS three years ago as a preschool teacher. Two years ago, she became a Pre-K Teacher and is returning to the Rain Forest Room to teach Pre-K this year with Vanessa. She has 25 years of experience working with young children in American schools in the Middle East and Africa. She has a Bachelor of Education degree from Manchester University, England.
Elizabeth Tapia is a teacher in the Jungle classroom, joining RMDS this year. She has over 25 years of experience teaching preschool and over 25 units of early childhood education units. Elizabeth's experience includes being a director and teaching in other preschool programs in the Bay Area. Elizabeth speaks French fluently. She plans to enroll at Dominican University to finish her degree.
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