Kindergarten
When I found Blue Oak, I was delighted to find a school that truly embraces the progressive philosophy. What a wonderful place! I love that our kindergarten is a real kindergarten. Our youngest students are engaged with meaningful work but we also make plenty of time for learning through play and creating a caring classroom community.
Education:
BA, St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM
MS, Bank Street College, New York, NY
Teach for America, NC
Early Childhood and Childhood General Education Dual Certification, Bank Street College, New York, NY
Prior Experience:
Warren County Middle School, Warrenton, NC
Ethical Culture School, New York, NY
Windrush School, El Cerrito, CA
First Grade
I love teaching at Blue Oak School because of the sense of community. Every teacher feels responsible for every child.
Education:
BS, UC Davis
Credential, Dominican College
Prior Experience:
Petaluma Public Schools
Second Grade
The Blue Oak School community is a place where children love learning, teachers love teaching and parents support the ideals of progressive education. From the moment I set foot in Blue Oak School, I knew I found home.
Education:
BA, Ohio State University
MA, San Francisco State University
Prior Experience:
San Francisco public and independent schools
Third Grade
Students at Blue Oak School are curious by nature. They become excited by exploring their own wonderings and interests. The children discover knowledge through hands-on activities and pass on their knowledge to the other members of their class. The parents are dedicated to their children’s education and are an important part of our class and school community.
Education:
BA, UC Berkeley, Credential, Cal Poly Ponoma
MA, St. Mary’s College
Prior Experience:
California public schools
Fourth Grade
It is rewarding to work in an environment in which students, as a result of being actively engaged in the learning process, are developing both a sense of independence and the ability to work in collaboration with others.
Education:
BA, UCLA
Credential, UCLA
MEd, UCLA
Crosscultural Language and Academic Development Certificate (CLAD)
Certificat de Langue Française, Univeristy of Paris, Sorbonne
Prior Experience:
Supervising Teacher Short-Term Field Experience, Pacific Union College Teacher Education Program
St. Helena Elementary School
Greenhills Elementary School
Fifth Grade
It is exciting to be in a school where curiosity is highly regarded and thoughtful questions are encouraged. I relish the challenge of working with creative and analytical thinkers of all ages.
Education:
BA, Belmont University
MEd, Elementary Education, Peabody College at Vanderbilt University
Prior Experience:
American International School Academia Cotopaxi, Quito, Ecuador
Nido de Aguilas International School, Santiago, Chile
Eakin Public School, Nashville, TN
Lower School Spanish
Having small class sizes allows students to be a part of a unique range of proficiency, setting the groundwork for group learning, individual participation and a well-rounded base.
Education:
BA, Purdue University
MA, Indiana University
Prior Experience:
Park Tudor School, Indianapolis, IN
Learning Specialist
During my time at Blue Oak School, I have been consistently pleased and excited to see the most enthusiastic teachers using best practices in the classroom every day.
Education:
BA, University of Colorado
MA, University of San Francisco
Credential:
Multiple Subjects
Learning Disabled, Mild to Moderate
Culture & Language Acquisition & Diversity (CLAD)
Prior Experience:
Porter-Gaud School, Charleston, NC
Stuart Hall for Boys, San Francisco, CA
Elmhurst Middle School, Oakland, CA
Mission Hill Junior High School, Santa Cruz, CA
Megan is also the Middle School Learning Specialist.
Lower School Librarian
Education:
BA, UC Berkeley
Master of Library and Information Science, San Jose State University (in progress)
Credentials:
Elementary Teaching, California State University, Hayward
Primary Teaching, Somerset Education Authority (England)
Prior Experience:
Children's Services Napa City-County Library - Library Associate
Sleepy Hollow School, Orinda, CA - Literacy Specialist
Elementary Teacher Grades 108 (CA and England)
Mary is also the Middle School Librarian.
Lower School Art
It’s exciting to build a curriculum that honors the passions of both the educators and the students. WE all grow and thrive in this environment.
Prior Experience:
Private art studio
Summer art camps
Lower School Drama
In working with children, I strive to create an atmosphere of collaboration and creativity. Although performance is the natural result, the process of getting to that point is the focus as we work on building confidence, cooperative learning, reading comprehension with a script and public speaking skills, which all establish a foundation for manifesting a child’s highest potential.
Education:
BA, Literature, SUNY Purchase
MFA, Acting, UC San Diego
Prior Teaching Experience:
Berkeley Rep Theatre
TheatreWorks
Resident Teaching Artist for TheatreWorks’ Children’s Healing Project at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA
Other Experience:
Actor in television, film and theatre in New York, Chicago, San Francisco
Aimée also teaches Drama in the Middle School.
Lower School Music
It is rewarding to see how music has become ingrained in my students; how it is a natural part of their everyday lives and how they think of themselves as musicians.
Education:
BME, University of Northern Colorado
MM, West Virginia University
Prior Experience:
Kindergarten, First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Grade, Phillips-Edison Charter School, Napa, CA
Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelth Grade, Ygnacio Valley High School, Concord, CA
Napa Valley College
Kim also teaches Music in the Middle School.
Lower School Physical Education
At Blue Oak School we strive to provide excellence in all aspects of school life, including athletics and after-school programs, to extend student learning in meaningful ways. Second languages, arts, music, drama and athletics are an integral part of each student’s whole development.
Education:
BA, Indiana University
MA, University of Illinois
Prior Experience:
Taipei American School
Tianjin International School
International School of Luxembourg
Shanghai Singapore International School
McFarland Middle School, Indianapolis, IN
Douglas is also Director of Blue Oak School’s After-School Program.
Lower School Teaching Assistants & After-School Neighborhood
I love to see how children blossom into readers and writers. It’s wonderful to help make that happen, and to see them shine when it finally comes together.
Education:
BA, Psychology, UC Berkeley
California Culinary Academy
Prior Experience:
Bakeries and restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area
I am proud to be at Blue Oak School because of the School's philosophy and quality of education.
Education:
AAS, Fine Arts, Chamberlain School of Design
Early Childhood Education, City College, San Francisco
BA, Humanities, New College, San Francisco
Prior Experience:
Adventures Preschool, Belmont, MA
Cross Cultural Family Center, San Francisco, CA
Escola Desportivea, Mozambique
Education:
BA, University of California, Santa Barbara
Prior Experience:
St. John's Lutheran, TA, Choreographer, Dance Coach