Meet the Faculty + Staff « Faculty + Staff

Virginia has been at Live Oak since 2001 where she has held positions as third grade teacher and Lower School Director. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from Pomona College and an M.A. in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University. Virginia spent most of her nine years in the classroom as a kindergarten and preschool teacher. She has focused recent professional development experiences on Differentiating Instruction and Diversity.    

Scott MacBean received an undergraduate degree in History from Princeton University, and an MBA in Corporate Finance from the Wharton School. He has been the CFO of several small companies and has managed both commercial and residential real estate. Scott and his wife, Janet, have three children and two grandchildren. They are avid golfers and fitness advocates.   

Mary Kelley joined Live Oak as Director of Development in 2007. Prior to that, she served as Director of Development at the United Religions Initiative, a San Francisco-based NGO with operations on five continents. She has extensive experience in fundraising and communications. All of her work has been with nonprofits and public institutions.    

John Berliner studied Computer Science and Literature at Columbia University, and received a Master's degree in English Literature from Yale University in 1988. John worked as an independent software developer and IT consultant for 16 years before joining the Live Oak staff in 2004. His two children, Cole and Sasha, have been Live Oak students since kindergarten. John is an avid surfer and musician. He enjoys playing drums and guitar, watching impenetrable foreign-language films and breaking his wrist.    

Tracey Gersten earned her BA in Political Philosophy at the James Madison College of Michigan State University, immediately followed by a law degree at rival school the University of Michigan. After practicing law in San Francisco for several years, she earned a MA in Counseling Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies and received her MFT license. Tracey has worked as a counselor in public and private schools for 12 years prior to coming to Live Oak. When not at work, she tries to keep up with her four-year-old son. Tracey is a big fan of surfing, music of the 60s and 70s, and cooking shows.    

Sam joined Live Oak as the Dean of Student Life in 2007. Before joining Live Oak, Sam worked at Prospect Sierra School in El Cerrito as the middle school Admissions Coordinator and Dean of Students. Prior to that, he was an outdoor educator near Yosemite National Park. Sam received his BA in Public Policy from Syracuse University. In his free time he enjoys riding his bike, hiking, camping, listening to reggae and bluegrass, and enjoying just about anything else outdoors.    

Audrey earned her bachelor's degree in human development from UC Davis. Prior to joining Live Oak Audrey was an instructional assistant for children with developmental disabilities. For the past 3 years, she taught in Oakland at private and public schools for children in 1st through 3rd grade. Audrey is a first year BATTI student. She dances professionally and just recently ended a 6 year tenure with the NBA Golden State Warriors, where she was a dancer and captain of the warrior girl dance team.  

Holly Berg earned her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Early Childhood and Family Relations from East Carolina University and recently completed her Masters of Education in Literacy at Cambridge College. Holly has been teaching since 1997 in Maryland and San Francisco and has been a member of the Live Oak community since 2002. She has also participated in numerous workshops to support the work in her classroom, some of which include a week-long intensive Differentiated Instruction Workshop and an annual National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference.    

Sahar Bintamal has been teaching elementary school since 1998, when she relocated to Egypt to begin a new career. She provided one-on-one and small group instruction for children learning English as a Second Language and support for those with learning differences. Sahar moved to California in 2001 and has taught multi-age second and third grade at progressive charter schools in the Bay Area until moving to Live Oak in 2007. She is committed to educational equity and social justice and is dedicated to providing a safe learning community to enable students to reach their greatest potential..   

Valerie Breese earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology from U.C. Davis and a Montessori teaching credential for students ages six through nine from the San Francisco Bay Area Montessori Teacher Training Center. Prior to joining Live Oak, she worked at a Montessori elementary school in the East Bay for five years, head teaching the last two years. Valerie is currently a BATTI student. She enjoys hiking, yoga, dancing, museums, film, reading, and cooking tasty vegetarian food.   

Originally from Connecticut, Karen studied human biology at Stanford University, then worked as a teaching assistant for six years with students with severe emotional problems. She studied science education at UC Berkeley, earning her master's degree and credential in 1996. Karen worked for ten years in Berkeley public schools as a middle school science teacher, many of those years at an arts and technology magnet school. Her son, Chase, entered kindergarten at Live Oak in Fall 2007. Karen likes to garden and read, and traveling to warm tropical places during the summer!   

Liz Caffrey earned her bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Pennsylvania. In 2003, she was a member of the Klingenstein Summer Institute through Columbia Teachers College. In her free time, Liz enjoys running, hiking, yoga, and knitting. She also loves to travel; she spent a year in Asia in 2004. Liz has been teaching since 2000 and is excited to join the Live Oak community as the 7th and 8th grade mathematics teacher.    

Malika Carter graduated from Carleton College in Minnesota in 1996 with a B.A. in Political Science. She spent her twenties teaching in independent schools in California and Arizona, staffing President Clinton and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and working for high tech in Colorado. Malika received her California credential in 2003 from Mills College. She spent three years teaching fourth grade in San Leandro before joining the Live Oak faculty this fall. In her spare time Malika enjoys running, swimming, yoga, snowboarding, camping, reading and writing. Malika has participated in professional development opportunities such as Project Zero, Write Traits, Project Motivate and Family Math training.    

Damian Canny grew up in Connecticut, where he was an all-state high school athlete. He discovered what would become a lifelong passion for surfing while completing his master's degree at Humboldt State University in Northern California. Damian has been instrumental in growing Live Oak's physical education and athletics programs over the past four years. Prior to joining Live Oak, Damian taught physical education at schools in Connecticut, Palos Verdes and Oakland.   

Gina Centanni studied theatre arts at San Francisco State University and received her B.A. in 1981 and her teaching credential in 1982. She taught Drama and French at the middle school level in Vallejo for nine years, while continuing her studies at U.C. Berkeley, San Francisco State and the Sorbonne University in Paris. Drawing on her theatrical background, Gina helps kindergartners seek avenues of self expression, creative thinking and imaginative play, and conducts weekly creative dramatics classes with them. Through Gina, kindergartners at Live Oak School also gain some exposure to French and Spanish. She has two sons, both of whom have attended Live Oak School since kindergarten.   

Mary Ann Chin Ng earned her bachelor's degree from San Francisco State University where she went on to further her understanding of the learning needs of children by completing her master's degree in Special Education. She holds credentials in Elementary and Special Education and holds a Certificate in Educational Therapy from San Francisco State. She is a regular attendee at Association of Educational Therapy and International Dyslexia Association conferences and workshops. Mary Ann has also attended Mel Levine's "School's Attuned" teacher training program and is a participant in the Bay Area Teacher Development Collaborative's Teacher-Leader Program. Away from school, Mary Ann enjoys traveling knitting, beading, and working on arts and crafts projects. Mary Ann started working at Live Oak School in 1978 as the Third and Fourth Grade teacher. She has been the school's full-time learning specialist since it moved to the Mariposa campus in 2001.   

Camilo Coelho was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He obtained a bachelor's degree in Spanish from the University of Buenos Aires and an ESL teaching diploma from Instituto Lenguas Vivas. He has lived in the Bay Area for the past eight years, where he has taught Spanish, and coordinated sports and academic intervention programs for bilingual elementary school students. He has traveled extensively throughout South and Central America, the western United States and French Polynesia. Camilo's passion for learning and appreciation for native languages and cultures has allowed him to make many friends, play countless soccer games and surf some beautiful breaks.   

Shirley graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in English and is currently working toward her teaching credential through the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute (BATTI). Prior to joining Live Oak, Shirley worked for Summer Bridge and Upward Bound, both national education programs supporting at risk youth. She also interned at Summer Search Silicon Valley, playing a key role in connecting the youth development non-profit to schools along the Peninsula and in San Jose. Born and raised in San Francisco, Shirley is an active member of the Summer Search Alumni Association and enjoys giving back to the community she grew up in.   

Beth Foote received her Bachelor of Science in Education as a Fine Arts major at Kent State University. She has undertaken continuing coursework in the fine arts including illustration, portraiture, printmaking and ceramics. She has taught summer programs at the Randall Junior Museum, Museum of Children's Art in Oakland, and at the Town School for Boys. She is also currently teaching art at Strawberry Point School in Mill Valley and at Woodside International High School in San Francisco. She has been teaching at Live Oak since 1995.   

Liza Gleason earned her BA in history and a minor in Spanish from Bates College in 1995. After two years as a classroom intern at the Hamlin School, Liza attended the Mills College Teacher Education program earning her multiple subject teaching credential in 1998 and a Masters in Education in 2000. After teaching second grade at Sanchez Elementary and third grade at Redwood Day School for the past several years, Liza recently took the 2006 - 2007 year off to write a children’s book that she hopes to someday publish. She is excited to be a part of the Live Oak community and looks forward to working with the eighth graders while Emma Peat takes her maternity leave.   

Cindy Holberg taught General Music and Choir for five years at Royle Elementary School in Darien, Connecticut before leaving to pursue her masters Masters in Kodaly Music Education from Holy Names University in Oakland. She also sang in Darien with St. Luke's Episcopal Parish Choir, which offered her the opportunity to sing in residence at Canterbury Cathedral and St. Alban's on a tour of the UK in the summer of 2004. Cindy has earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education, a Bachelor of Music in Music Theory and a Minor in English from the University of Connecticut. She has also studied the Alexander Technique since 1997 and incorporates this knowledge of posture and breathing into her music teaching. When she is not playing the piano or singing, Cindy enjoys being outdoors, being with friends, and traveling.   

Michelle's interest in education began during her three year employment as a student teaching assistant at her university's preschool, Kids on Campus. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Finance from Santa Clara University, she moved to Japan to teach conversational English for two years. She is currently working on obtaining her teaching credential at the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute. She is excited to join the faculty of Live Oak School after hearing about many great experiences her sister Melissa had while teaching middle school math at Live Oak for five years. Michelle enjoys cooking and traveling in her free time.   

Brad studied education, psychology, and philosophy at Kent State, Hunter College (CUNY), and John Carroll University, where he earned a BA in philosophy. After working for one year at a JCC preschool in San Francisco, Brad returned to school and earned an MA in philosophy from the University of Chicago. He has worked with children in various capacities throughout the past 8 years, and is excited to be back in the bay and teaching full-time again. When not serving as a provider of love to young people, Brad likes to read, write, travel, walk, bike, eat fruit, sit still for long periods of time, and smile, among other things.   

Christina Lloyd was born in Hong Kong, raised in the Philippines and educated in the Bay Area. She obtained a bachelor's degree in Spanish from the University of San Francisco and a master's degree in Hispanic Languages and Literatures from U.C. Berkeley. She has lived and worked as a teacher of English as a Foreign/Second language in Costa Rica, Japan and Ireland. After six years abroad she returned to San Francisco in August of 2005 to pursue teaching Spanish in the independent school setting. She enjoys traveling, reading and writing poetry, watching movies and hiking.   

John first came to Live Oak as an aftercare teacher in 1978. He completed his B.A. in History at University of San Francisco and received his California Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University. He taught preschool at Pacific Primary for three years before moving back to Live Oak. He taught 5th grade for a year and has been the kindergarten teacher since 1985. John has given workshops on Diversity and Families at the California Association of Independent Schools Northern California Conference. He has also given workshops at the California Kindergarten Conference on Thematic Units and Diversity. Since 1995 he has been a member of the faculty of the Retreat for Beginning Teachers. This group, through CAIS, mentors new teachers in a two-day workshop focusing on the unique experience of teaching in independent schools.   

Robyn Miyagawa earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with a minor in Education, from UC Berkeley in 2002.  She also received her Master of Arts degree in Education, with an emphasis in community-based programming, from San Francisco State University in 2007. For the past six years, Robyn has been the Assistant Director of a YMCA year round enrichment program in San Francisco, where she tutored and taught project-based enrichment classes to the K-5 youth who attended the program. Robyn is currently a BATTI student, and is excited about her first year with Live Oak School. In her spare time, she enjoys taking care of her dog, Remy, reading, and enjoying time with friends.   

Danny has been at Live Oak School since 1997. He began his work in the extended care program and taught movie making classes for Live Oak's Summer Oaks program. He then worked as a middle school teaching assistant and advanced Spanish teacher in 2000. He co-taught kindergarten the following year and ultimately became the first grade teacher in 2002. Danny holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (with an early childhood emphasis) from San Francisco State University. He volunteered in a K/1 ESL class at Cesar Chavez School for the first semester of the credential program, a fifth grade ELD class at Cesar Chavez School, and completed his student teaching at Cabrillo School in fall 2000. Danny has attended differentiated instruction conferences and writing workshops for professional development.   

After receiving her BA degree from Stanford University, Desiree Ong moved to the other coast to get her MA degree in English Education from Columbia University. She finds inspiration in poetry and musical theater. Her daughter, Ashley, is a member of Live Oak's Class of 2015.   

Emma Peat graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Ethnic Studies. After living in Washington, DC for a few years, she returned to UC Berkeley and earned a MA in education, along with a teaching credential. She changed from teaching 5th Grade at Live Oak School to 8th Grade Humanities, where she continues to bring in diverse perspectives to the curriculum. She is involved in supporting and implementing school-wide diversity initiatives, working with both the staff and the board. Emma enjoys traveling, hiking, and taking her dog to the beach. She has taught 5th grade since 2003, and 8th Grade Humanities since 2007..   

Kelly Reimer earned her bachelor's degree in theater arts/film from UC Santa Cruz, masters in communications from CSU Fullerton, and teaching certification from St. Mary's College. She has participated in workshops around Differentiated Instruction and best practices in reading and writing as part of her professional development. In her free time, Kelly enjoys traveling, reading, and film. She has been teaching since 2000 and is the 6th Grade Humanities teacher at Live Oak School.   

Jennifer Spaeth earned her bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of California at Santa Cruz and completed her master’s degree in environmental planning at the University of London at Wye. Having taught in the classroom since the early 1990’s, she has participated in a wide range of professional development experiences that include content such as differentiated instruction, critical thinking, hands-on math, and the use of technology in the classroom. In her free time, Jennifer likes to garden and do activities with her two sons. Jennifer started at Live Oak School in the fall of 2005.   

In addition to being Live Oak's indefatigable Drama teacher, Stephanie Temple is a playwright and actress who has worked closely with San Francisco's New Conservatory Theater Center for the last six years. Her one-woman show "Rhinestone Cowgirl" premiered at NCTC in September 2006.   

Kathy Taylor earned her bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and Health Sciences at York University, Canada before moving to England to earn her classroom teaching credential at the University of Oxford with a specialization in physical education. Kathy began her teaching career in Kuwait in 1998 and lived in France for a year before moving to the Bay Area, where she has been teaching for six years. During high school and college, Kathy competed as a figure skater at the regional and national levels with her ice dance partner. She enjoys music, photography, cycling, hiking, travel and speaking French.   

Emily Travis is a Live Oak graduate from the Class of 1998. While working towards her bachelor's degree at the University of Oregon, she taught classes for four years in Live Oak's summer program. Emily loves the outdoors and enjoys filmmaking with her friends and students.   

Tamara Weiss earned her Bachelor of Arts at Georgetown Unviersity and went on to complete her Masters of Arts in Curriculum & Teaching at Teachers College, Columbia University. She has studied under Lucy Calkins and attended numerous Teaching of Reading and Writing Workshop conferences. In addition, Tamara has attended the summer institute of Project Zero: Teaching for Understanding through Harvard Graduate School of Education. Through the Bay Area Teachers Collaborative and St. Mary's College of California, Tamara has participated in conferences on differentiation. She has been teaching since 2002, and has been working with youth of all ages in community development and environment work since 1995. Tamara continues to pursue her love for traveling, creating art, and running.   

Scott Wilber has been the Middle School Visual Arts teacher at Live Oak School since 1996. During four of those years he was also a Kindergarten assistant teacher. Scott has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in Visual Communications from the University of Oklahoma. Scott's professional development includes SF School-Art Conference, Palo Alto - Mosaic Instruction, Bentley School - For Art Teachers, and Project Zero San Francisco. In addition to his work at Live Oak, Scott is a professional freelance illustrator working for such clients as Target, Disney and Town Square Graphics. He also does set design for New Conservatory Theatre, and is a professional muralist and furniture designer. Scott's canvas paintings have been shown in various San Francisco galleries and shows. In his "spare" time, Scott enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, and frequenting flea markets and dumpsters in search of materials for his artwork and school projects.   

Jenny Andrus returned to Live Oak as the school librarian in 2007. Both of her children graduated from Live Oak (Nick in 2002 and Sasha in 1997), and she was a member of the Live Oak Board when the school purchased the Mariposa site. Before attending library school, Jenny worked as a freelance editor/writer. In her spare time, Jenny enjoys reading (of course!), taking walks, and spending time with her family.   

Omar was born and raised in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Omar received formal training and a degree in machine operation, working in Guatemala as a plant operator before coming to the United States. Eswin’s company “Omar’s Janitorial and Window Service” has provided service for Live Oak School for 14 years, and San Francisco Friends School since its founding. Omar's daughter Tanya daughter Tanya recently graduated from Live Oak.   

Gloria was born and raised in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. She joined her husband Omar in San Francisco five years ago and began helping him with his custodial work at Live Oak School and later at the San Francisco Friends School. Gloria loves children and works closely with them at her family’s spiritual home, Ministerio Cosecha. In her spare time, Gloria enjoys reading about spirituality and making original greeting cards. Gloria's daughter Tanya recently graduated from Live Oak.

Mikayla Cuyler is a happy San Francisco transplant from Brooklyn, New York. She received her BA from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY in Critical Writing and Film Studies. She is currently working towards completing her first book of critical thinking and is an avid tennis player, amateur chef and is looking forward to marrying her fiance Oliver, whom she lives with in San Francisco, next year.   

A Bay Area native, Kenyon joins Live Oak from New York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. He is a proud graduate of Macalester College and likes to spend his free time eating out, reading, discovering new music, and exploring the City.   

A parent of two Live Oak students, Stace brings a lifelong passion for computing and technology to his duties as Tech Lab Manager. Born and raised in San Francisco, Stace graduated from SF State University with a degree in Journalism. He spent the next 13 years in TV news, covering local issues as well as national and international events like the Tiananmen Square uprising, the Loma Prieta Earthquake, and presidential primaries. He then jumped to the dot-com world, producing a number of programs about computing and the then-fledgling internet (text ONLY web pages!). After volunteering at the school for a number of years, Stace was hired in 2006.   

Nancy grew up in Saint Louis, Missouri and moved to the Bay Area in 1967. She attended Mills College. She has been at Live Oak for fourteen years, where she has worked in administration. Her daughter graduated from Live Oak in 1998.   

Keith Hodge hails from Fresno, California, and is an alumnus of San Francisco State University. Keith has worked in property management for ten years. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and young daughter and listening to music. His iTunes library numbers more than 40,000 songs.   

Lynn Leefeldt loves horses; it's that simple. Lynn has served on Live Oak's Board of Trustees and was a major force in moving the school from its Diamond Street Campus to its current location. Her son Tyler graduated from Live Oak in 2004.   

Elena Valencia started her journey at Live Oak in 1994 and has worked in many capacities: as Extended Care teacher, First and Second Grade Assistant, and as the Director of the Summer Oaks, Roots & Branches, and Extended Care programs since 2003. Elena holds an Associate Degree in photography from San Francisco City College and a certificate in Early Childhood Education. She has been a guest speaker at City College, sharing her expertise on after-school programs. Her daughter Sierra is currently in the eighth grade at Live Oak.