About RMDS
RMDS Faculty and Staff |
AJ Diamonti joined RMDS in 2002. After completing his undergraduate studies in microbiology and psychology at Cornell University he moved on to Harvard Medical School & Beth Isreal-Deaconess Medical Center, where he was a research associate in biochemistry until 2001. He published 8 papers stemming from his work on breast cancer before being drawn in to the field of education. AJ teaches 7th and 8th Grade English and Writers' Workshop. He designed and manages the RMDS website and Informational Technology program, and is the school photographer. A graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy, AJ has completed both the Shakespeare and Humanities Institutes at Exeter in 2005 and 2007. He has taught math, science and English in the middle school during his tenure at Ring Mountain. AJ will take on the role of Assistant Head of School starting this year.
Andrea Gough returns to RMDS this year teaching 5th and 6th grade Humanities and seventh and eighth grade Social Studies. Andrea has a BS in Conservation and Resource Studies from UC-Berkeley and her multiple subject credential from San Francisco State University. 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; yoga and dance instruction. Andrea completed the Exeter Humanities Institute for both English and History at Phillips Exeter Academy in June, 2008. Andrea joined Ring Mountain in 2007.
Carolyn Corry is the grade 5-8 Spanish Teacher. This is her third year at RMDS, coming to us after 3 years of teaching 3rd grade at the American International School in Quito, Ecuador. While in Ecuador, Carolyn was very involved in the local community, playing on several soccer teams and hosting a workshop on second language acquisition for her colleagues. She has a Bachelor of Education from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and a Masters in Elementary Education from the University of Alabama. She also spent a semester abroad in Seville, Spain, focusing on Spanish and Arts Studies. In the summer of 2011, she took another trip to Spain and attended the Exeter Humanities Institute.
Cathy Bellanti teaches grade 1-2. She has been teaching students in grades 1-3 since 1997, in England and the United States. She has a B.A. from Manchester University in Human Communication and Communication Disorders, a Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Education from Brunel University, London, and a California Clear Credential. Cathy has experience designing curriculum and coordinating literacy programs. Her Professional Development has focused on supporting a wide range of students whether they need extra support or an extra challenge. She has been working as a Reading Specialist for the last few years and is very excited to be back in her own classroom again.
Daisy Cassidy has been at RMDS since 2005. She was our kindergarten teacher for six years, and is now the Director of Admissions. Daisy 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. While teaching at The Nueva School, Daisy 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. She is trained in Responsive Classroom, Readers' and Writers' Workshop, and completed the Phillips Exeter Humanities Institute in 2011.
Daniel Larson teaches grade 1- 2. He has a BS in Elementary Education and English from Central Michigan University and a Master's degree in Reading, Language and Literacy Education from Georgia State University. He has over 13 years of experience in elementary education. Prior to joining the Ring Mountain faculty, he taught for ten years at The Children's School in Atlanta, GA, in Kindergarten, First and Second grades. He has also worked as a private tutor since 1998 and directed afterschool and summer camp programs.
Dorie Akka teaches in the grade 3-4 classroom. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of California at Santa Barbara and holds a multiple subject credential from Sonoma State University. Dorie brings thirteen years of professional experience in elementary classrooms to RMDS. Dorie is trained in Responsive Classroom. She joined the Ring Mountain faculty in 2008.
Erin Tate Maxon teaches the K-4 integrated Art and Drama classes, Middle School Drama, and directs the annual school play. She has a BA in Anthropology with a minor in Theater and Performance Studies from UC Berkeley and a MA in Applied Drama: Theatre in Educational, Community, and Social Contexts, from Goldsmiths College, University of London. Erin was a teaching artist for two years with Word for Word Youth Arts of San Francisco and an arts educator at Fremont High School in Oakland, CA. She co-founded Act Out Science, a program that offers science theatre curriculum and workshops for children and their parents. Erin has numerous Bay Area and London acting and directing credits.
Joanna Mueller teaches grade 3-4 with Dorie Akka since 2010. Joanna has five years of teaching experience in both public and private schools in the US, Honduras and Ecuador. She has her BA and Michigan teacher certification from Grand Valley State University in Social Studies and Geography. She is trained in Responsive Classroom and has attended Science Education programs through the Headlands Institute.
Jennifer Blackburn Thompson holds a Master's of Arts in Education as well as Teaching Credentials in Biological Sciences, Chemistry & Geosciences from Stanford University. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and Marine Sciences from the University of Miami. Jennifer worked as a Curriculum Development Specialist & Naturalist Education Lead at the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco. She also has four years teaching experience as a science teacher at Fremont High School in Sunnyvale where she created the District's first Biotechnology program and taught Sheltered Chemistry to non-native English speakers. She joined Ring Mountain in 2009. Jennifer attended the Exeter Science Institute in 2011.
Karina Diaz is the K-4 Spanish teacher. She started her teaching career in 1995 as a pre-school teacher in Lima, Peru. In 2002 she began teaching Spanish as a second language to children and adults in the Minneapolis public schools. For the past 4 years she has been a First Grade classroom teacher at a Spanish Immersion school in Minnesota. Karina incorporates games, movement, and music in her classes, and has extensive experience using the total Physical Response method of teaching language. She will also be in charge ofr the aftercare program.
Kim Holland is the K-8 music teacher. She has her degree in Music Education from Augustana College, IL and is trained in Orff Schulwerk and World Music Drumming. Her teaching incorporates movement, singing, playing instruments, listening and analyzing. Before coming to Ring Mountain, Kim taught general music, conducted the choir and created middle school music electives at the Prairie School in Wisconsin. Outside of school, Kim has experience as a musician and singer in a variety of choruses and performances.
Lindsay Dunn is the 5-6 grades science teacher. She earned a BS in Physical Geography and Secondary Science Education Certificate at the University of Georgia, in Athens. She received her CLAD certificate through Stanford University. Lindsay brings her experience teaching sixth grade science in Winder, Georgia, as well as Montessori experience teaching at Waseca Learning Environment in Athens, Georgia and at Montessori Family School in Berkeley. Lindsay also expanded the science curriculum at the Bay Area Discovery Museum as the science program coordinator, where she developed an outdoor learning lab, including an organic garden, composting, and a worm bin.
Lori Spooner joined RMDS in 2010 teaching Kindergarten. She has two BA degrees from the University of California, Santa Barbara in Psychology and in Spanish, and her MA and Multiple Subjects Credential from San Francisco State University. Lori has previously taught at Pacific Primary School in San Francisco and San Domenico School in San Anselmo. Lori is trained in Responsive Classroom.
Luciano Sponza is an aftercare teacher and bus driver. He has worked at Ring Mountain for six years while earning his AA degree from College of Marin including units in early childhood education. Luciano has experience overseeing summer programs for mountain biking for middle school students and has completed training in Responsive Classroom.
Lynda Buckley joined RMDS in February 2011 as the Administrative Assistant. She has many years of experience working as an administrative assistant in educational environments. Her background includes working at the elementary school, junior high school and college levels.
Nancy Diamonti has been Head of School since 1998. 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, 26 in public and private schools as a Principal/Head of School.
Orlando Wiggins is the K-8 Physical Education teacher. Orlando has been a head coach for nine years. He was worked with the SMLYouth Basketball Club, The Marin School basketball team, Saint Rafael's Girls basketball team, the Sausalito/Marin City Little League, and the RMDS basketball team in 2010. His coaching and teaching focus on skill development and encouraging children to grow individually and as a group. He is currently studying Behavioral Science at the College of Marin.
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 experience in both finance and human resources at for profit businesses and at not-for-profits and has served on the board of Marin Amigos de las America for the past five years.
Robert Hoang is the middle school Art teacher and Technology Integration Specialist. He has BA in Art History and a BBA in Marketing from Emory College and a Pre-K through 12th-Grade Art Education Certification from the Georgia State University School of Art and Design. Robert has been teaching art to kids in K-12 for nine years. Most recently, he worked for the San Francisco Unified School District for four years as an art instructor, department chair and Technology Coordinator. He specializes in graphic design, art history, drawing/painting and three-dimensional art.
Steve Voss drives the bus and helped to establish the school bus program in 2008. A graduate of UC Davis, Steve has been a professional pilot for twenty eight years, having flown for a major airline. He has completed training in Responsive Classroom.
Theresa Bain is the Director of Development. She has a B.A from the University of Cincinnati in Spanish Studies and attended the University of Madrid and University of Guadalajara. She worked as a senior development volunteer at the Athenian School, chairing the auctions and annual campaigns from 2000-2009. Most recently, she was the interim Annual Fund Coordinator at the Head Royce School in Oakland. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
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. He attended the Phillips Exeter Academy Math Institute in 2011.
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