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Sue Bechtel is the Second Grade Head teacher. Ms. Bechtel also serves as Deputy Head of Lower School. She graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Elementary Education from Miami University of Ohio. She later received a Master's Degree with honors from San Francisco State University, where, for her thesis, she created and directed an Early Childhood Education Program for a parent co-operative in El Cerrito. Her teaching career includes two years in Melbourne, Australia, three years in a rural New Hampshire town, where she was a researcher for a federal grant, vice-president of the local chapter of the National Education Association, school representative to the regional staff development committee, and served on the school committee to revise the language arts curriculum. After moving to San Francisco, she taught for one year at the Kittredge School and for three years at the Katherine Delmar Burke School, where she chaired the lower school math curriculum committee. She is the mother of two boys in college, both graduates of BPC. Mrs. Bechtel joined the BPC staff in September 1990.
Yolanda Ferguson is the First Grade Head teacher. She received her BA in Liberal Studies and California Professional Multiple Subject Credential from Cal State at Chico. She began her teaching career in 1987, teaching both 1st and 2nd grade as a bilingual teacher in both the Oakland and the Los Angeles Unified School Districts over a period of six years. She was also an Itinerant Aide for Special Education students at Chico for five years, during which time she also taught English as a Foreign Language in the Adult International Students program at Cal State University in Chico. Before working at BPC, she worked as Program Assistant for the Jewish Coalition for Literacy, helping to organize and facilitate their tutoring programs all over the Bay Area. She is fluent in Spanish and provides enrichment for her students in the Spanish language as well as aspects of Latino culture. Ms. Ferguson joined BPC in 2001.
Nicole Fitzhugh is the Fourth Grade Head teacher. A graduate of U.C. Berkeley with a B.A. in English, Nicole earned her Basic Multiple Subject Credential from the University of San Francisco. Prior to coming to BPC, she taught for five years in classrooms ranging from 1st-4th grade at Stuart Hall for Boys, Live Oak School, Notre Dame des Victoires, Convent of the Sacred Heart in San Francisco, and at Osaka International School in Japan. Among her other accomplishments, Nicole has a diploma in Anglo-Irish Literature, which she received at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Ms. Fitzhugh joined BPC in 1998. She will be on maternity leave until January 2007.
Tim Ogburn is the Fifth Grade Head Teacher. Mr. Ogburn graduated from the University of Colorado with a B.A. in English and History. He received his M.A. in Education from the University of Colorado. In 2006-2007 Tim taught Advanced Placement History at Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco. Prior to that, Mr. Ogburn served as BPC's Upper School Head and Upper School History Teacher, beginning his BPC tenure in 1999. Mr. Ogburn has also taught 7th-8th grade at St. Leo the Great School in Oakland and spent 6 years at Bridgemont High School, where he also served as Director of Student Relations and Athletic Director. In one of his more adventurous periods, Mr. Ogburn spent the summer of 1996 in Nebaj, Guatemala, where he worked with the Ixil Indians.
Romina Ronquillo (fomerly Hurst), is the Kindergarten Head Teacher. Ms. Ronquillo served as a full-time aide in first grade at BPC for four years before receiving her Multi-Subject Credential from Holy Names University. She received her B.A. in Liberal Studies with a minor in children's theater and dance from Cal State Hayward. Ms. Ronquillo was a teacher's assistant for three years at Calvary Christian School in Alameda in K, 1st, 4th and 5th grades and also taught at the Treehouse Preschool & Kindergarten in Oakland for two years. She has had training in both early childhood development and in theater and creative dance for children. Besides teaching, dancing is her passion in life and she's an active performer in various East Bay community theaters. She's also a choreographer for children's musical theater. Ms. Ronquillo joined the BPC faculty in 2000.
Kim Buckingham Kim Buckingham is the K-4th grade Art teacher. Miss Kim graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.A. in Fine Art. Her interests in early childhood education and the arts have taken her on a number of exciting adventures. She taught arts and crafts in an English day camp in Queretaro, Mexico and assisted a Waldorf 1st grade classroom in Christchurch, New Zealand. She taught clowning in a summer program for talented and gifted children in Eugene, Oregon as well as here at BPCŐs Summer School. Miss Kim was the Kindergarten assistant at BPC for 4 years before moving into the full-time role of Lower School art teacher. Miss Kim joined BPC in 2001.
Barbara Banez is our 3rd and 4th grade Assistant. Ms. Banez, parent of a recently graduated BPC student, has been an assistant teacher as well as art teacher in grades K-4 at St. Theresa School in Oakland for the past 5 years. She will split her time between 3rd & 4th grades as the assistant teacher.
Kira Del Mar is new to BPC this year, and joins us as the 5th grade Assistant. Ms. Del Mar received her B.A. in History from Pomona College, and her Masters in Philosophy in Early Modern History from Cambridge University. She loves to read and paint, and is learning to play the Cello. Ms. Del Mar is new to the Bay Area this year, and she is excited to be joining the BPC community.
Michael Feferman is the Lower School Physical Education teacher. Mr. Feferman received his B.A. in Physical Education from the Belorussian University of Sports Education. In Belarus, he worked as a camp supervisor and coach for the Belorussian Sports Camp and served as Senior Wrestling Coach for the Belorussian Olympic School for Youth. Since coming to America, he worked for the YMCA in Oakland as a soccer coach and was an assistant coach at the Golden Gate Wrestling Club. He served for 4 years as P.E. teacher and Head Soccer Coach (K-12) in the Poplar Bluff Public School District, Missouri. Mr. Feferman joined BPC in 2000.
Valerie Fuller is part of the Extended Care staff. Ms. Fuller moved to the Bay Area from New York City about 21 years ago. She received her Bachelors Degree from San Francisco State University in Speech and Communications Studies and has a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She is happily married to Michael Fuller, a High School English teacher and the step-mother to three wonderful children who are attending various colleges. Ms. Fuller joined BPC in 2007.
Micaela (Mickie) Garcia joins us this year as part of the Extended Care staff. Ms. Garcia earned her B.A. in English and Minor in Education from the University of California, Berkeley in the summer of 2008. Garcia has worked with various students since 2004 as a tutor, literacy instructor, ESL and Childcare Assistant. Ms. Garcia aspires to continue her education in the near future and to ultimately become an English High School teacher.
Lesley Jones comes to us from England with a BA in English Language and Literature, and a Post Graduate Teaching Credential in English, with several years teaching English, Drama and Communication Studies to middle and high school children in Bristol UK. Prior to becoming a mom she worked in the East Bay for 10 years in the weekly alternative newspaper industry in sales, marketing and management, becoming Publisher of the East Bay Express in 2001 before its sale. She then became General Manager of Marin’s Pacific Sun newspaper in 2002. This past year Lesley worked with Frances Kandl and BPCi assisting on the editing and production of 3 new social studies publications written by our very own Nico Permantle. This year, we are delighted to have her as an Aide to the 4th grade class and assisting in the Lower School office. Her daughter Emily Rose is excited to be starting Kindergarten at BPC.
Madeleine King teaches Music for grades K-3 and presently serves as Music Coordinator for BPC's music program. Ms. King has 18 years of teaching experience, having taught Music and Art for Berkeley Montessori Pre- and Elementary Schools and Music for Garden Day, Hearts Leap and Heart of a Child preschools. Ms. King received her B.A. in fine arts and education from University of Indiana, where she gained a teaching certificate in K-12 art education. In addition to teaching music, Ms. King is also a performing singer/songwriter and released her first CD. Playing both guitar and mandolin, she has performed at numerous venues in the Bay Area. Madeleine joined the BPC music staff in 1997.Catalina Lacy teaches Spanish for grades 5-8. She is originally from Mexico, where she acquired her Elementary Teaching Credential and taught in several language schools. She is co-founder of a Spanish Language School in Cuernavaca, where she helped to develop the school's language program and instructor's manual. There she taught Spanish to students from American colleges as well as to groups of diplomats from embassies based in Mexico. Once a year, she leads a group from BPC's Upper School on a two-week language immersion trip to Mexico. She has taught Spanish to children of all ages at several schools in the Bay Area. Señora Lacy joined the BPC faculty in 1990.
Christopher Medeiros is the Second Grade Teacher's Assistant and Extended Care providor. Chris has been a children's program aide and recreation leader for summer programs as well as before and after school programs for nine years. He has been a playground supervisor and a teacher's assistant in the West Contra Costa Unified School District. He is pursuing his Bachelor's degree. Chris joined the staff at BPC in 2003.
Christine Mytko is the Upper School 6th and 7th grade Technology teacher and Lower School K-5th Science specialist. Ms. Mytko has a B.S. in the Teaching of Biology from the University of Illinois, and an M.S. in Advanced Education with a focus in science and technology from Northwestern University. After a year of teaching High School science, she moved to Middle School, where she happily taught science and dabbled in technology projects for 8 more years. During that time, Ms. Mytko spent summers as a site director at an arts day camp for grades K - 5. In her free time, she enjoys music and performing improvisational comedy, which she often finds to be rather similar to teaching adolescents.
Mary Ann Opet is the full-time Kindergarten Teacher's Assistant. Ms. Opet is a fully qualified teacher with more than 20 years of teaching experience in the classroom. Fourteen of these years have been with BPC as an assistant in Kindergarten. Her teaching career has spanned Kindergarten through 3rd grade having taught in Maryland, Hawaii, and California. She received her BS degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Social Studies from College Misericordia in Dallas, Pennsylvania.
Menna Stern is technology coordinator for BPC and tech teacher K-5. Please see Administrative pages...
Gretchen Treuting: is the K-8 Math Specialist. Ms. Treuting earned her B.A. and Teaching Credential in Mathematics at Mills College in Oakland. She has taught math to elementary, middle and high school students. In addition, Gretchen spent two years as a math specialist for Project SEED, a math enrichment program based on the Socratic method, which allows students to discover math concepts for themselves. Before entering education, she was a graphic designer. She is currently in the educational therapy program at Holy Names University. Ms. Treuting joined BPC in 2007.
Rebekah Werth is the full-time 1st grade Teacher's Assistant. She received her B.A. in Literature with a Creative Writing Concentration from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her studies included a year abroad at the University of Cordoba and the University of Juan Carlos III in Madrid, Spain. Her experience includes serving as a Counselor for the Mills College Summer Arts Program for elementary and middle school children, and the After School Activity Leader at Redwood Day School. Ms. Werth joined the BPC staff in 2004.
Cheryl Zoerheide Ms. Zoerheide is the Kindergarten through 4th grade Spanish teacher. Ms. Zorheide (Ms. Z) honed her language skills while living in Peru. In her previous three-year career at BPC, she served as librarian, Upper School Athletic Director, a classroom aide, Girl's Basketball Coach and Coach of the Volley Ball Team. Ms. Zoerheide, received her BS in Communication Disorders, with a minor in Spanish and Linguistics from the University of New Hampshire. Before coming to BPC she worked as a volunteer Literacy Advocate with the Seacoast Reads Literacy Program and as a Best of America participant, directing discussions on social issues with students in junior-high classrooms. She also gave presentations on Spain's history and language to first-graders and intensively studied child development and language acquisition throughout college. Ms. Z has taught Spanish at BPC, both upper and lower, since 2005.
Vince Apple-Chiarella joins us this year as the Upper School P.E. Teacher. Coach Vince, as his players and students through the years have called him, has extensive experience in youth athletics. While in college, Vince was a fully involved coach for children at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco. He later held the position of Youth Athletic Coordinator which gave him the opportunity to teach sport specific classes to children ages 4 to 14. Vince earned his BA in Communications and a minor in Japanese Language and Culture from the University of San Francisco in 2005.
Christine Chun teaches English to 7th & 8th grades. Ms. Chun is the advisor for student literaty magazine and the Students of Color Affinity Group. After receiving her B.A. in English and certification in secondary education at the University of Maryland, Ms. Chun entered the Ph.D program in English at U.C. Berkeley and received her M.A. in 2004. She has spent summers teaching writing for the Academic Talent and Development Program through U.C. Berkeley's Education department. She has also enjoyed instructing young people in arts, crafts, and ceramics. One of Ms. Chun's favorite hobbies is watching films. Ms. Chun joined the BPC staff in 2004.
Kieren Dutcher teaches Art to 5th through 8th grade. She has taught art at the Bentley School, East Bay School of the Arts, and Berkeley Arts Magnet School. She has a BFA in Design from the California College of Arts and Crafts and a teaching credential from San Francisco State University. Ms. Dutcher joined the BPC staff in 1997.
Rebecca Greco Head of Upper School and 8th grade History Teacher. Please see Administrative pages...
Anatoliy Gulimovskiy teaches 7th and 8th grade Math and coaches BPC's championship Math Teams. Mr. Gulimovskiy was Senior Math Teacher for 10 years at Vinnitsa University and Vice Principal for nine years at Vinnitsa High School in the Ukraine. Overall, Mr. Gulimovskiy has 27 years experience teaching Junior High Math in the U.S., the Ukraine, and in Zambia, where he was Head of Kambule Secondary School's Math Department. He has an M.S. in Mathematics with a minor in Physics from Vinnitsa State Pedagogical University and has completed his requirements for a doctorate. He is assisted by his wife, Zina, who also holds a degree in Math. Mr. Gulimovskiy joined the BPC faculty in 1996.
Josefina Jacquin teaches Spanish. She has taught Spanish K through 8th grade at Presidio Hill School for eight years and has twelve years of language instruction experience. She has also taught visual arts to students of all ages. A native from Santa Marta, Colombia, her family moved to Cartagena, a beautiful colonial town also located on the Caribbean coast. Josefina went to Gainesville, Florida, and attended University of Florida. Later, she moved to Italy and lived in the cities of Florence and Padua for four years. She has also traveled extensively in Europe, Africa and the Americas. For the last 18 years she has lived in San Francisco. Josefina obtained a M.F.A. at the San Francisco Art Institute and is also an accomplished printmaking artist who has exhibited her work in the city and abroad. She spent a sabbatical year in Cartagena, Colombia with her sons Felipe and Sebastian who attended school there. It was a time to reconnect with her immediate family and her culture. Josefina enjoys working on her art, cooking, dancing, reading good books,watching movies at home and mastering the art of chilling.
Catalina Lacy teaches Spanish to 5th through 8th grade. She is originally from Mexico, where she acquired her elementary teaching credential and taught in several language schools. She is co-founder of a Spanish Language School in Cuernavaca, where she helped to develop the school's language program and instructor's manual. There she taught Spanish to students from American colleges as well as to groups of diplomats from embassies based in Mexico. Once a year, she leads an 8th grade group on a two-week language immersion trip to Mexico. She has taught Spanish to children of all ages at several schools in the Bay Area. Señora Lacy joined the BPC faculty in 1990.
Andra Marziano is the Upper School Drama teacher. Until 1999, when she became head of the Upper School drama program, Ms. Marziano had been with BPC for seven years as Extended Day Director and after-school Drama teacher for grades 2-5. She received her B.A. in Political Science from U.C., Berkeley, and while attending the University she worked with several youth theater organizations for children of ages 5-17. She is a nationally certified personal trainer and worked at U.C. with intercollegiate athletic teams and individual clients. Ms. Marziano joined the BPC faculty in 1994.
Kathleen McNulty is our Upper School Librarian. A native of Toronto, Canada, Kathleen received her B.A. in English and History from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. She received both her M.A. in English and her M.L.S. from the University of Toronto. Ms. McNulty has worked in book publishing for many years and is a librarian at Chabot Elementary School in Oakland. Ms. McNulty is the mother of a recent BPC graduate. Ms. McNulty joined BPC in 2008.
Alyson Mitchell is the 7th grade World History Teacher. After receiving her Multiple Subject teaching credential from California State University at Chico, Ms. Mitchell worked for eight years as a teacher in the Cambrian School District in San Jose. During her last two years at Cambrian, she served on special assignment as a literacy and math coach and mentor teacher. Alyson lived in Tokyo for four years during which time she earned a Peace Education Certificate from Columbia University. Ms. Mitchell received her BS in Human Development from the University of California at Davis. Ms. Mitchell joined the BPC faculty in 2008.
Christine Mytko is the Upper School 6th and 7th grade Technology teacher and Lower School K-5th Science specialist. Ms. Mytko has a B.S. in the Teaching of Biology from the University of Illinois, and a M.S. in Advanced Education with a focus in science and technology from Northwestern University. After a year of teaching High School science, she moved to Middle School, where she happily taught science and dabbled in technology projects for 8 more years. During that time, Ms. Mytko spent summers as a site director at an arts day camp for grades K - 5. In her free time, she enjoys music and performing improvisational comedy, which she often finds to be rather similar to teaching adolescents.
Maria Palmer teaches 6th grade Humanities. Ms. Palmer received her B.A. in English Literature and her Elementary Teaching Credential at U.C. Berkeley, completed all coursework for the MA in Design at U.C. Berkeley, and has studied painting at the California College of Arts and Crafts and Ceramics at Mills College. Prior to coming to BPC, Ms. Palmer taught 6th grade at Franklin Elementary and Altadena School. An artist in her own right, Ms. Palmer's accomplishments include designing invitations for the 1973 Grammy Awards! Ms. Palmer joined the BPC faculty in 1994.
Nico Pemantle Communications Teacher and Upper School Counselor (Please see the "BPC Administration & Support Staff" Page.)
Barbara Stebbins, Ph.D. began teaching science at BPC in 1996. She received her B.A. in Humanities from U.C. Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology, also from U.C. Berkeley. Ms. Stebbins held postdoctoral positions at U.C.S.F. where she investigated the interaction of a cell protein with an HIV protein, and at U.C. Berkeley working on the mechanisms of a caterpillar virus. Before entering research science, Ms. Stebbins taught at Magic Mountain Middle School in Berkeley for six years.
Cheryl Sumsion teaches 4th - 8th grade Music. She also conducts Cantiamo (the middle school chorus) and the Lower School Chorus. Ms. Sumsion received her Bachelor of Education from the University of Western Ontario in Junior/Intermediate Vocal Music and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo in Honors Music/Personality and Religious Studies. Her graduate work includes baroque vocal technique and performance practice as well as work in vocal pedagogy and the science of voice production. For seven years she taught many 6-8th grade subjects in Toronto with a special emphasis on Vocal Music and Drama. While there, she conducted an award-winning Chamber Choir and directed three musicals with over 100 students performing in each. As a soprano, Cheryl has sung on eleven commercial CD releases of choral and children's music, and has performed in 15 musicals. She has also performed throughout England during three Cathedral Choir Tours, performed and recorded with the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir in Toronto, and has sung with other professional choirs in Canada. Since she moved to California in 2002, she has been thrilled to be the soprano soloist in the Redwood Empire Sing-a-long Messiah and is excited to now be performing frequently with the American Bach Soloists. Ms. Sumsion joined the BPC faculty in 2003.
Megan Lehua Wood teaches 6th grade Math and Science. Ms.Wood completed her undergraduate work at Brown in Geophysics in 2003 and is currently completing her teaching credential through San Francisco State. She has worked as a field biologist and naturalist for the Headlands Institute in Marin and most recently as a Second Grade assistant at the Hamlin School in San Francisco. Megan, who grew up in the East Bay, joined BPC in 2006.
John Carlstroem is the Director of BPC. Mr. Carlstroem has more than twenty years of experience in a variety of education environments, most recently as the Assistant Head of School and Middle School Head of the Hamlin School in San Francisco. Mr. Carlstroem has consulted with the National Park Service, East Bay Regional Parks, The San Francisco Education Fund, The Moore Foundation, and others on the subjects of teacher training, curricular design, and management in the environmental and education sectors. He served as Director of Education and Outreach, and later Executive Director for the Headlands Institute, as well as Executive Vice President for Yosemite National Institute, and Chair of the Board for Save the Bay. He remains deeply committed to environmental causes. Mr. Carlstroem's educational background includes a BA in Marine Biology from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and a Masters of Non-profit Administration from the University of San Francisco. He lives with his wife, Natasha, and daughter, Marina, in El Cerrito. Mr. Carlstroem joined BPC in 2005.
Frances Kandl, co-founder of the school in 1967, is presently Director of the Black Pine Curriculum Institute and administrative consultant to the School. Creator of BPC's Music Program, Ms. Kandl received a B.A. in English and, later, in Music from U.C. Berkeley. She studied music in Los Angeles, Berekely and Paris, where she attended the Sorbonne. She did her graduate work in Music Education in the Masters program at Holy Names College in Oakland. She created the Music Arts Workshops in Berkeley and was co-founder of the Arts & Sciences Workshops for children. Ms. Kandl taught music at all grade levels at BPC, created the special instrumental and choral program, and later became Director of Music for BPC. She served for 22 years as Assistant Director for the school until 1995 when she served for several years as Director. Ms. Kandl is author of Cantabile, a theory and sight-singing book based on the Kodaly method. She has also written a full-length musical, Myoptika, which made its debut in Berkeley in 1996. Her compositions also include a collection of rounds and canons based on English and American proverbs called Musical Maxims, and a series of 4-part choral works based on Hungarian Gypsy songs. She has recently produced a CD, 7 Songs of WomenŐs Lives, performed by the Crones Kwartet, which is included in the book Aging Artfully by Amy Gorman and used in the documentary Still Kicking directed by Greg Young.
Laura Wolff is the Assistant Director and Head of Lower School. Before becoming the Head of Lower School, she taught second and third grade at BPC. Her 25-year career in education includes five years as 3rd grade teacher at Bentley and five years at The Academy, where she was also Dean of the Lower School. She also served as Principal of Camelot School (K-6) in Castro Valley. Ms. Wolff graduated from U.C. Berkeley in English Literature, with a minor in History, and received her teaching credential after working at the preschool level as Head of the Oakland branch of the Claremont Day Nursery. She completed her Masters of Education at Holy Names University in Oakland. Ms. Wolff also organizes and often teaches in BPC's Summer Day Camp. A fourth generation Californian, she lives in Oakland with her husband, Steve, who is a partner at Pacific Coast Brewing Company. Ms. Wolff joined the BPC staff in 1990.
Rebecca Greco is the Upper School Head and 8th Grade History Teacher. Rebecca Greco grew up in Wisconsin and has a BA in English from Bryn Mawr College and a Master's degree in Secondary Education from the University of Pennsylvania. She worked as an Outward Bound instructor and a public High School teacher before moving to the Bay Area and teaching Humanities for seven years at The San Francisco Day School, where she also served as the Dean of Students. She reads, gardens, and goes backpacking whenever she can. Ms. Greco joins BPC this year.
Faye-Lynn Wu is Director of Admissions and Outreach Coordinator. Ms. Wu has a B.A. in Mass Communications from Fu Jen University in Taiwan and an M.S. in Education, Curriculum, and Instruction from Southern Illinois University. She taught ESL in Taiwan and trained ESL teachers at various language schools in Taiwan. After completing her graduate work, she worked for a couple of non-profit organizations: Art, Research & Curriculum in Oakland and the Educational Guidance Center in Berkeley where she worked as an administrative assistant and college advisor to assist low-income and second generation students in gaining admission to college. Ms Wu joined the BPC staff in 1993.
Paula Eidson is our Development Coordinatior. Paula has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies and a B.A. in Economics both from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Prior to coming to BPC, she taught English as a Foreign Language in Taiwan and worked in Washington, D.C., for a public interest group promoting renewable energy alternatives to utilities and Congress members. In her spare time she plays flute and practices her photography. Paula joined the BPC administrative support staff in January 2000
Menna Stern is the BPC Technology Coordinator, Webmaster, KBPC podcast studio coordinator and Tech Teacher for K-5. Ms. Stern received her B.A. in Liberal Studies from Holy Names College, after doing undergraduate studies at both Michigan State and U.C., Berkeley. She has taught extensively in computers, communications technologies and multimedia development. She served as Technology Mentor for The Bay Area Science and Technology Education Collaboration (BASTEC), was On-Site Technology Coach for the Oakland Unified School District for 10 years and undergraduate computer science Instructor at Holy Names University. Most recently she served for 6 years as Site Technologist and teacher for grades K-8 at Arts Magnet in Oakland and as teacher and technology coordinator for 9 years for grades K-8 at Hillcrest School. Menna joined the BPC faculty in 2000.
Lucy Morris joined BPC as the Office Manager for the Lower School in October 2000. She has a B.A. in English and a minor in dance from the University of New Hampshire. Upon graduation she studied African dance in Boston and developed a private practice in Shiatsu. She moved to California in 1993 and worked in a homeopathic pharmacy in Marin. She has continued her studies in alternative healing, movement and music.
Sonam Gonsar joined BPC in 2001 as the Upper School Office Manager. Born and raised in the foothills of the Himalayas in India, Ms. Gonsar moved to California in 1992 as part of the 1,000 Tibetans Resettlement Project. She completed her BA in English with Honors in India and taught ESL for a year. Before coming to BPC, she worked as a Teacher's Assistant at Hillcrest School, Oakland. Ms. Gonsar is a sports fan enjoying field hockey, soccer, volleyball, and badminton. She also enjoys reading, collecting stamps, knitting, and reading to children.
Nico Pemantle, M.A., P.P.S., is the school Counselor and Communicatons teacher. Nico received his Master's Degree in Counseling, and his K-12 School Counseling credential, at St. Mary's College, where he currently teaches one class in the teacher credential program and conducts "continuing education" workshops for teachers. Nico's outside experience as a school Counselor includes individual and group counseling support for students at Cornell Elementary School in Albany, and individual counseling support for students at King Middle School in Berkeley. Prior to teaching, Nico's career was in radio broadcasting. He trained high school students in broadcast journalism as Producer for Youth News, a nationally syndicated teen news magazine, and for nine years he was the play-by-play voice for professional baseball games within the Oakland A's organization. Nico joined the BPC faculty in 1995. He began as Counselor in 2004.
Joanna Self, Ph.D. is joining BPC this year as a psychological consultant. Dr. Self has more than twenty years experience working with children, teachers and parents facing a broad range of challenges in a variety of educational and therapeutic settings. She is currently in private practice in Oakland. Dr. Self has worked previously at the California School for the Blind, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, the Center for Human Development and Disability at the University of Washington, the Adolescent Clinic at University of WashingtonŐs School of Medicine, and the Therapeutic Nursery School in Richmond. Dr. SelfŐs professional activities have included psycho-educational assessment, psychotherapy, research, consultation, and teaching. She has a special interest in the difficulties that affect childrenŐs learning and success at school. Dr. Self received her Ph.D. from the University of Washington and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. She also has a credential in school psychology from California State University, East Bay. Before training as a child psychologist Joanna attended California College of Arts in Oakland where she received her B.F.A. Joanna lives in Berkeley and when she has time, she enjoys drawing and oil painting.
Greta B. Wong Greta B. Wong is the Executive Assistant to Head of School. She has a BA in Economics and French from Hartwick College. Prior to BPC, Greta was employed in the advertising and retail industries. She was a Senior Account Executive for a pharmaceutical advertising company in San Francisco, and she was an Account Executive at a direct mail advertising agency in Boston. In addition, she worked in the merchandising departments at Smith & Hawkin and Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Greta is the mother of two children, both of whom are students at BPC.
Michael Bannister is the Director of BPC's Extended Day Program. He received his B.S. in Education and Teaching Credential from Southeast Missouri State University, and an M.A. in Education from Webster University in St. Louis. His teaching experience has included instruction in literature and writing at both the junior and senior high school levels. He moved to California in 1999 and joined the Extended Day staff of BPC that fall. He has been enjoying the beaches of the west coast, is an aficionado of museums, film, and the many varieties of cuisine that the Bay Area has to offer.
John Herbert has been BPC's Facility Manager since 1995. He is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley. He is an avid collector of Baudelaire first editions, an expert on Turkoman rugs, a talented guitar player and avant guard composer. He is also the proud father of Robin, a BPC graduate.
Liza Malm joined the BPC staff in 1997 as BPC's Gardener. Through a grant she developed and directed the "Trashology" program (recycling and waste management). She also leads lessons in ecology and botany for both Upper and Lower Schools. She was born and raised in Sweden, received a degree in Business at Olofstrom, Sweden, then moved to London to study for her Cambridge Proficiency. After coming to America in 1970 she attended City College and later received a BFA in Photography from the California College of Arts & Crafts. She has volunteered as Docent for the U.C. Botanical Garden since 1996. Among her many hobbies and careers, one more must be noted: that of raising a daughter.
Sharon Taylor, our Head Librarian, joined BPC in 2006. She has a Master of Library and Information Science degree from San Jose State University and has many years of experience working in the Library at Hillcrest School, Oakland. After completing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Philosophy from U.C. Davis, Sharon worked for two years as a contracts and grants administrator, then ten years as a computer system administrator in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Department at U.C. Berkeley. Sharon loves reading (of course!), running, drinking tea, listening to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and spending time with her family and friends.
Rem Djemilev leads the BPC advanced orchestra at BPC. Originally from Russia, Mr. Djemilev has had a distinguished professional career in the Bay Area as well as his native country. He received his BA at the Music College of Moscow Conservatory and his Master's at the Conservatory of Music, also in Moscow. Before moving to the Bay Area, Mr. Djemilev performed for 12 years with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra and 17 years with the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra. He currently performs with the California Symphony Orchestra and The Arlekin String Quartet. Mr. Djemilev also teaches at The Crowden School and The Marin Academy. Mr. Djemilev joined the BPC staff in 2002
John Schott leads the mixed ensemble band. Mr. Schott grew up in Seattle, Washington where he attended Cornish College of the Arts, receiving a BFA in Music Composition. Since moving to the Bay Area in 1988 he has played at CBGB's and the Blue Note, been nominated for a Contemporary Instrument Jazz Grammy, performed in Finland, Spain, Norway, Ireland and the UK, toured the United States with the Paul Dresher Ensemble; released CDs on the Warner Bros., Knitting Factory, New World, Songlines, and Ropeadope labels; been a visiting lecturer at UC Berkeley, taught at the Jazzschool, taught private guitar lessons; contributed music to several theatre productions and films, recently the acclaimed documentary "Broadcast Cowboy", and had compositions commissioned by the Rova Sax Quartet, the Left Coast Ensemble and the Jewish Music Festival. He performs around the Bay Area with the instrumental Reggae ensemble Joseph's Bones, the French repertoire group Baguette Quartette, and his own jazz trio Dream Kitchen. Mr. Schott joined the BPC staff in 2007.
Rachel Durling teaches beginning and intermediate violin and is the conductor for our Lower School orchestra. Ms. Durling grew up in Berkeley and studied violin with Anne Crowden. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from Mannes College of Music in New York City and her M.A. from Stanford University. Since returning to the Bay Area in 1985 she has played professionally with many groups, including the Santa Rosa Symphony, California Symphony, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, the Bay Area Jazz Composers Orchestra, and the Cuban Danzon group "Orguesta La Moderna Tradicion". In addition to her work at BPC, she teaches at the Crowden School, gives private lessons and enjoys a successful concert schedule with her group "Baguette Quartette." Ms. Durling joined the BPC Music staff in 1992.
Dina Weinshelbaum received her B.A. in Music from U.C. Berkeley, where she also teaches cello in the Young Musicians Program. She has taught at the Crowden School and worked with beginning cellists at Malcolm X School. Besides teaching cello, she has performed with local orchestras and ensembles, among which are the California Symphony, Oakland Chamber Orchestra, Modesto Symphony and the Samaria String Quartet, a group she helped form and has continued to play with for the past 12 years. This group has given concerts and played for special events such as the California Shakespeare Festival, KKHI promotions and various social and festive occasions. Ms. Weinshelbaum joined the BPC music staff in 1996.
Sharon Wood teaches violin. She received her degree from Cal State Hayward and then continued her studies with Isadore Tinkleman and Zoya Leban. Ms. Wood currently plays with the California Symphony, Sacramento Philharmonic, Modesto Symphony and the Garden String Quartet. She loves teaching and especially enjoys working with young kids. Ms. Wood has a home studio and has been teaching since 1985. She is the mother of three children, loves to read and go to the beach.
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