Our Teachers

How long have you been at Calvary?
I’ve been Director of Calvary since 1999.

How did you get into the field of early childhood education?
I began my career as an elementary teacher and then went back to school to earn my credential in Special Education. After teaching special education for 10 years in public and private settings, I took a year off to have my first child. Once she was in preschool I decided to open up my own preschool to stay home with her. So I took some classes in early child education. After eight years of running my own program I closed it to come to Calvary. In 2015 I earned my MA in Human Development with an emphasis in Leadership in Early Childhood Education.

What do you like most about teaching?
I love seeing the children’s faces as they discover and learn new things about the world around them.  Working with teachers who are passionate about helping children with these discoveries by following their curiosities is very rewarding.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love to travel and read about the places where I will be going. On weekends, I enjoy taking long walks or hikes with my husband and spending time with family and friends.

What is your favorite children’s book?
My favorite children’s book is “Owl Babies” by Martin Waddell, which I use to read to my three children. The three owls in the story, Sarah, Percy and Bill, remind me of them.

How did you get into the field of early childhood education?
I have always loved working with young children. My experience has been raising four children and teaching Kindergarten Sunday School. I am thrilled to be part of the Calvary team!

What do you like most about teaching?
I am an assistant teacher so am learning a lot by observing and helping other teachers. Watching and interacting with these joyful, curious children is a blessing. It is fascinating to see how much they develop socially, emotionally , physically and intellectually each day.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time, I love spending time with family and friends, yoga, hiking, flower arranging, bridge and reading.

What is your favorite children’s book?
The Very Bad Bunny, Cordurory Bear, Good Dog Carl and Eloise.

How long have you been at Calvary?
While I have known Calvary well for many years, I am very excited to be starting my third official year here.

How did you get into the field of early childhood education?
​My interest in early childhood education began with summers spent working for my mom at Calvary!  Seeing the passion my mom has for this field and being able to share daily stories about school with her over dinner is really what drew me into this work.  I spent my first three years out of college in a preschool setting and am looking forward to returning to the place where my love for teaching began!

What do you like most about teaching?
I love the candor that comes with early childhood, the unique student-teacher bonds that form in the classroom, and watching each child grow over the course of the year.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time I love scouring FunCheapSF for exciting new events in the city, crocheting and, as of this summer, roller skating with a rookie roller derby team!  I am also active in San Francisco’s doula community when I am not at work.
​
What is your favorite children’s book?
My favorite children’s book is Mo Willems’ Knuffle Bunny Free: it gets me every time!  I also love Willems’ entire Pigeon Series.

While I have known Calvary well for many years, I am very excited to be starting my second official year here.

How did you get into the field of early childhood education?
​I’ve worked with kids as a swim instructor, museum educator, nanny, and art teacher, so it’s always been my path!
​
What do you like most about teaching?
My favorite thing about teaching is my students’ curiosity and enthusiasm for learning new things.
​
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? 
​In my free time, I like to collect sea glass with my family at the beach.

What is your favorite children’s book?
My favorite children’s book is “My Father’s Dragon”

How did you get into the field of early childhood education?
I have worked with children as a surf camp instructor and as a nanny for five years. It was through these experiences, where my passion for working with children developed.

What do you like most about teaching?
There is nothing I enjoy more than interacting with a child as they insightfully work to understand the world around them. Their curiosity and energy is both inspiring and contagious. There is never a dull moment with them!

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love any activity that involves being outdoors. Specifically, I enjoy rollerblading, swimming and riding my bike to Golden Park and China Beach.

What is your favorite children’s book?
My all time favorite Children’s book is Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by Willam Steig.

How did you get into the field of early childhood education?
After having my two children and seeing the patience and dedication required to raise them, I developed the passion for being a teacher.

What do you like most about teaching?
I love children, and love to aid in their growth and be a part of their development. I also love that everyday brings something new.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I enjoy playing tennis, walking and hiking.

What is your favorite children’s book?
I have a few but “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” is my favorite

How did you get into the field of early childhood education?
I came to early childhood education after a career in human resources. I knew that I wanted to work in education and have an impact. After reflecting on how critical the ages of 3 to 5 years are in the development of a child and how much I enjoyed this time with my daughters, I thought this might be the field for me. After volunteering in a preschool for a year, I was hooked. I took early childhood classes at CCSF and started teaching. I feel fortunate that I have found a career that gives me such joy, satisfaction and intellectual challenge.

What do you like most about teaching?
I love getting to know each of my students and finding ways to present information and work with them that pique their interest, support their unique learning style, and create excitement about learning. And best of all we have fun doing it.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love to be outdoors. I like to hike, camp, swim in the ocean, and work in my garden. I practice yoga every day. I also enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends especially listening to live music.

What is your favorite children’s book?
It is really difficult for me to pick just one. My daughters and I read Good Night Moon so often when they were young that we memorized it. My three current favorites are The Book with No Pictures because it gives children such joy, Grandfather Twilight and On the Day that You Were Born.

How long have you been at Calvary?
I started working at Calvary with a three month maternity leave replacement. That was in 1992! I was hired full time the following year and worked as the Shark teacher for 5 years. I was hired as the art teacher in 1999.

How did you get into the field of early childhood education?
I got into the field because of my love for children and my work as a nanny. I was an art major in college but because of my experience working with children I was hired at Calvary as a part time teacher’s assistant and then a full time teacher.

What do you like most about teaching?
My favorite part of teaching is the delight I take in really getting to know the children. I love coming to work everyday!

What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my free time I like to paint, work in the garden, go to the beach, drink coffee and hang out with Ms. Stefanie.

​What is your favorite children’s book?
Pelle’s New Suit by Elsa Beskow.

How did you get into the field of early childhood education?
I got into early childhood education unexpectedly. I worked as a nanny each summer during college while working on my B.A. degree in art history. I enjoyed working with children so much that I continued as a nanny after college, and started taking classes in early childhood development and volunteering in preschools.

What do you like most about teaching?
My favorite thing about teaching is making connections with the children. And their enthusiasm!

What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time I enjoy walking all over the city with our corgi, eating out with friends, practicing yoga, and spending time with family.

What is your favorite children’s book?
My favorite children’s book is A Time to Keep by Tasha Tudor.