• Welcome
• Fast Facts
• Our Mission & History
• Charter School FAQ
• Our Charter (pdf)
• Staff
• Employment
• Board of Directors
• Partnerships

Staff

Fernando Aguilar, 6th Grade
Barbara Ashley-Di Grande, Special Education Resource Specialist
Stephanie Boyce, Operations Manager
Ron Buchanan, 1st Grade
Erin Carder, Kindergarten
Amy Clark, 5th Grade
Katie Clay, 2nd Grade
Seanessy Gavin, Afterschool
Tiffany Graham, Arts Coordinator and K - 3rd Grade Visual Arts
Trudy Hamm, K - 2nd Grade Reading Specialist
Michael Heintz, 7th - 8th Grade Math
Ellen Hintz-Shimabukuro, Lunch Program Coordinator and Afterschool
Liz Jaroslow, School Director
Maria Jenerik, Middle School Language Arts, Social Studies, and Afterschool Sports Director
Leslie Keir, 4th - 8th Grade Visual Arts
Hayden Lilien, CACS Business Manager
Isabelle McDaniel, 2nd Grade
David Morrison, 4th Grade
Corrine Nagata, K - 8th Grade Dance
Brooke Nagel, Kingergarten
José Otero, 7th - 8th Grade Math and Physical Education
Summer Sanders, Counselor
Kate Sherwood, Afterschool Director
Scott Stone, K - 8th Grade Music
Mike Sturgis, Afterschool
Gaby Vovsi, 4th Grade
Ivy Young, 3rd Grade

 

Fernando Aguilar, 6th Grade
Fernando earned a BA at Humboldt State University and an MA in education at the University of San Francisco. His 10 years of teaching experience include work at the Hawthorne School in Oakland; the River East School in East Harlem, NY; and Ryder Elementary School in Brooklyn, NY. A native of Los Angeles, Fernando is excited to have returned to California with his young family.

Barbara Ashley-Di Grande, Special Education Resource Specialist
Barbara earned her BA in liberal arts with a minor in counseling at San Francisco State University. She began teaching and joined the staff of Creative Arts in 2004. Barbara incorporates her training in Lindamood-Bell® reading instruction into her work with students, and she is committed to helping all children reach their full potential. In her free time, Barbara enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

Stephanie Boyce, Operations Manager
Stephanie has 25 years of administrative experience, including work in the fields of electronics, insurance, hospitality, and law. In 1994 she earned her BA in business after attending night school for several years. Stephanie developed a passion for charter schools after becoming a Creative Arts parent in 1996, and for several years she volunteered in the classroom and on the Board of Directors. Stephanie joined the staff of Creative Arts in 2002 to expand the administrative team. Outside of school she loves cooking, travel, and “a good movie.”

Ron Buchanan, 1st Grade
Ron earned a BA and MA in English literature and later a teaching credential at San Francisco State University. In 2000 he joined the staff of Creative Arts, where he has taught Kindergarten and 1st grade. Ron is committed to fostering a learning environment that grows the whole child, taking into account social, emotional, and academic needs. Ron and his wife Barbra have two children at Creative Arts. In his spare time, Ron reads The New Yorker, downloads music from iTunes, and plays basketball.

Erin Carder, Kindergarten
Erin earned undergraduate degrees in psychology and communications at Virginia Tech and worked for eight years as a corporate event planner before returning to school to follow her heart and become a teacher. She graduated from the teacher credential program at New College of California in 2006, after completing student teaching positions at Tenderloin Community School, Lawton Elementary, Marshall Elementary, and Creative Arts. She began teaching full time at Creative Arts in 2007. Erin spends her time outside of school hiking, biking, reading, raising orchids, and making stained glass windows.

Amy Clark, 5th Grade
Amy earned her MA in teaching from Mills College and has taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grade since coming to Creative Arts in 2000. She has a special interest in teaching critical thinking, language arts, history, outdoor education, and science. Amy served on the Board of Directors for three years and particularly enjoys the school's collaborative teaching model. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and singing jazz and funk.

Katie Clay, 2nd Grade
Katie holds a BA in English and a BFA in dance from the University of Michigan, and she has taught both subjects to a range of students. Currently working on an MA in education at Mills College, Katie served as a student teacher and volunteer at CACS prior to joining the staff. She is passionate about the arts in public schools and educational equity. Outside of school, she makes movies, performs music, and tap dances. Her other interests include reading, cooking, forest walks, and silent film.

Seanessy Gavin, Afterschool
Seanessy earned a BA in philosophy and political science from Humboldt State University. Before joining the staff at Creative Arts in 2006, she worked for AmeriCorps as a tutor, afterschool teacher, mentor, and teaching assistant in a K-8 environment. Her experience includes leading science and outdoor adventure classes at the Bay Area Discovery Museum's summer camp. Seanessy brings her passion for literacy, art and science education to her work in the CACS afterschool program. During winter, spring, and summer breaks, she runs her own camp, taking Creative Arts students on outings around the city. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, camping, and reading.

Tiffany Graham, Arts Coordinator and K - 3rd Grade Visual Arts
After graduating from Pomona College, Tiffany studied at the Arts Student League in New York City. A working artist, Tiffany maintains a studio in San Francisco and regularly shows her paintings in galleries across the country. Samples of her work can be viewed on her web site. Tiffany's teaching experience includes serving as an artist in residence at Live Oak School, Grattan Elementary, and Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy. In 2007, she was commissioned to work with 25 male orphans, ages 5 to 15, at Casa Hogar Orphanage in Patzcuaro, Mexico. Together, they created a panoramic mural, Leyenda de Las Garzas, inspired by local history and folklore. Tiffany also received a California Arts Council artist grant and used the opportunity to create three year-long mural projects in collaboration with over 250 students in urban schools.

Trudy Hamm, K - 2nd Grade Reading Specialist
Trudy earned special education and multiple subject teaching credentials and completed an MA in special education at San Francisco State University. She has taught at Commodore Sloat Elementary and worked for many years at the San Francisco Special Infant Service for children from birth to five years old with various special needs. Trudy completed a two-year internship at the Langley Porter Pediatric Diagnostic Clinic assessing children with autism, Asperger's Syndrome, ADHD, and other learning differences. She has been trained in Lindamood-Bell® reading instruction and now serves as a mentor teacher for SFUSD's beginning teacher support and assessment program.

Michael Heintz, 7th - 8th Math
Michael earned a BA in environmental studies and geology at Sacramento State University and has taught math and science at public middle schools in Oakland, Hayward, and San Mateo. Just prior to joining the CACS staff, he served as director of science education at Alsion Montessori School in Fremont, where he organized an annual student exploration trip to Death Valley. Outside of school, Michael enjoys hiking and performing as DJ.

Ellen Hintz-Shimabukuro, Lunch Program Coordinator and Afterschool
Ellen received her BA in art from San Francisco State University. Her work with Creative Arts began as a founding parent and office volunteer. Ellen currently serves on the CACS Diversity Committee and acts as volunteer coordinator for the Family Association. She instituted the Food-to-Flowers composting program and coordinates the middle school's participation in the Unity Dance each year. In her spare time, Ellen visits farmers markets, gardens, reads, bikes, and knits.

Liz Jaroslow, School Director
Liz trained at Bank Street College of Education, where she earned an MS in child development and an Ed.M in special education. Before moving to San Francisco, she taught in New York City public schools for 10 years. Liz discovered Creative Arts while touring Kindergartens for her oldest son and recognized it as a unique educational setting that matched her beliefs about innovation in public schools. After volunteering in the classroom and as an advisor to the Board of Directors, Liz joined the staff as assistant director of curriculum and staff development in 2006. She became the school's director in 2008 and embraces the opportunity to steward such a thriving community. Outside of school she is active in her neighborhood, Bernal Heights, and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Maria Jenerik, Middle School Language Arts, Social Studies, and Afterschool Sports Director
Maria is working on her MA in education at the University of San Francisco, where her thesis focuses on designing an outdoor education program for urban public schools. After 20 years in the radio business, she pursued her dream of becoming a teacher, working first as a paraprofessional and later teaching 3rd, 6th, and 7th/8th grades at Creative Arts. Maria serves as coach of five CACS sports teams, and in her classroom, she employs project-based learning that draws on her passion for theater, social and environmental justice, outdoor education, and service learning. Maria is the parent of two CACS alumni, and in her free time, she enjoys gardening, biking, running, eating out, and reading.

Leslie Keir, 4th - 8th Grade Visual Arts
Leslie earned her BA in art from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 1985, with an emphasis on printmaking and painting. She earned an MA in creativity from the Inter-Arts Center at San Francisco State University in 2002 and two years later completed her teaching credential, also at SFSU. Leslie fell in love with teaching through her work for several years as a visiting artist at Bay Area public schools. Along with many other ingredients, her curriculum integrates ideas generated from the classroom as a mode of inquiry into the tools and strategies used by artists. She is committed to social justice and equity in education.

Hayden Lilien, Business Manager
Hayden oversees budgeting, forecasting, fiscal reporting, compliance, and payroll. She received her BS in finance from the University of Florida and her JD and MBA from Stetson University. Prior to joining CACS, Hayden worked for a consulting firm that provides back office business support to charter schools throughout California. Hayden enjoys hiking with her husband and dog, cooking, yoga, and dancing.

Isabelle McDaniel, 2nd Grade
Isabelle received her MA in education and her teaching credential from Mills College and has taught in several urban charter schools. She is interested in building partnerships with higher education institutions and community organizations focused on supporting the arts in education. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer with the Golden Gate Women's Soccer League, cycling, swimming, and water color painting.

David Morrison, 4th Grade
David earned a BS at SUNY Albany and an MBA at the University of California, Berkeley. An active volunteer during his daughters' years at Lakeshore Elementary, David developed a love for the classroom and decided to leave his career as an information technology manager in Silicon Valley to pursue a teaching credential. Since making the jump, he has taught in public elementary and middle schools in Daly City and San Francisco. David is passionate about math, history, and the project-based learning model. His wife, Vicki Symonds, works for Parents for Public Schools of San Francisco, and they live in the city with their two daughters and a dog. When not working, David enjoys hiking, travel, and music.

Corrine Nagata, K - 8th Grade Dance
For eight years, Corrine taught and choreographed for New York City Ballet's Jacques D'Amboise. She also developed the 3- to 6-year-old pre-ballet curriculum for Dance Theatre of Harlem and taught aspiring dancers at The Ailey School. Corinne is currently on the faculty of the LINES/Dominican BFA program and serves as chair of fundraising on the Isadora Duncan Dance Awards Committee. She teaches dance to all grade levels at Creative Arts. Learn more about Corinne and her teaching style at nagatadance.com.

Brooke Nagel, Kindergarten
Brooke came to Creative Arts after five years of teaching bilingual students in San Jose. She earned her BA in English and BS in elementary education at Boston University and is currently working on her MA in art and art education at Columbia University Teachers College. She ran an afterschool visual arts program while teaching in San Jose and is committed to advocating for the arts in public education. Brooke also enjoys traveling, visiting museums, and biking.

José Otero, 7th - 8th Grade Math and Physical Education

Summer Sanders, Counselor
Summer earned both a BS and MS in counseling from California State University, Fullerton. Her degrees focused on human services and child and adolescent counseling. While working as a support specialist in an alternative high school, Summer earned her pupil personnel services credential and began pursuing a marriage and family therapy license. She served as a high school intervention counselor and academic counselor in Tustin, California. Summer has traveled extensively and enjoys music, reading, yoga, and cycling.

Kate Sherwood, Afterschool Director
After earning her BA at Pitzer College, Kate received a Fulbright Fellowship to teach middle and high school English in Northern Thailand. Once back in the U.S., she served as the student advisor at an international school in Berkeley, running outreach programs with local Berkeley elementary schools. Kate next returned to Thailand to teach in a rural women's shelter and provide on-site counseling. In her last job before joining the CACS staff, she worked with the afterschool enrichment program at Jean Parker Elementary School. In her free time, Kate enjoys cycling, gardening, and caring for three backyard chickens.

Scott Stone, K - 8th Grade Music
Scott Stone received his BA in music from Claremont Men’s College in 1975 and his teaching credential from San Francisco State University in 1986. Since starting his teaching career in 1978, Scott has been a classroom teacher, music specialist, principal, summer school coordinator, and teacher mentor. After joining the staff of Creative Arts in 2000, he taught 2nd, 3rd, and 7th grade. In 2005 Scott took on the role of music specialist, overseeing the school's music program while teaching daily to the lower grades. He now teaches music to all grades at CACS.

Mike Sturgis, Afterschool
After graduating with a BA in philosophy from Temple University in 2003, Mike drove across the country to begin his life in the Bay Area. Prior to joining the staff at Creative Arts, Mike worked for three years as the aftercare director at the Waldorf School of the Peninsula, an experience that inspired his love of teaching. Mike also cofounded and leads One Wilderness School, offering backpacking and camping trips that help teach children the wisdom of living close to the Earth.

Gaby Vovsi, 4th Grade
Gaby studied broadcast journalism at Boston University and originally dreamed of anchoring the news in Spanish. Her first job was on Court TV's child-centered show Choices and Consequences. The experience inspired her to pursue a MA in elementary education at Bank Street College of Education. Gaby's professional experience includes teaching 2nd and 6th grade in a two-way Spanish/English immersion program at Enders-Salk Elementary School outside of Chicago and 3rd and 4th grade at a progressive independent school on the East Coast. Gaby views life-learning through a constructivist lens and is passionate about the project-based approach and arts integration.

Ivy Young, 3rd Grade
Ivy's love of teaching began when she was a high school intern at the California Center for the Arts. She earned her BA in art and education through the Friends World Program at Long Island University, and she has taught art in programs at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City and Al-Wasiti, a Palestinian art gallery in Jerusalem. While living in Dharamsala, India, Ivy offered free workshops in her studio. After a brief stint as an organic farmer in upstate New York, she earned her teaching credential at the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute. Prior to joining the staff of Creative Arts in 2008, Ivy taught at the Nueva School and the San Carlos Charter Learning Center, California's first charter school. In the summer she enjoys traveling to see her family in France, hiking, cooking, and photography.