Kay Bachman is the K-5 Physical Education teacher and the Middle School Volleyball coach. Kay lives in Berkeley and has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Master of Transformative Arts from John F. Kennedy University. Kay is also a certified coach and massage therapist. Before coming to Windrush, Kay taught creative movement, yoga and gymnastics in several Bay Area schools to children ages three-12 and was also a junior varsity coach at Holy Names High School. Kay enjoys teaching as she is passionate about contributing to the physical and social well being of children. She appreciates teaching for its potential to enable her to continually grow and develop as an educator and person. She particularly enjoys seeing children having fun while learning new physical tasks. She also likes witnessing children’s creativity, ingenuity and spirit of friendship. Kay appreciates Windrush for the supportive work environment and the camaraderie among faculty. She returned to the Bay Area from New York City in 2000 because she missed the proximity to nature. In her free time she enjoys hiking in the East Bay Hills. Kay also has a passion for dance–both inner-directed movement practices, such as Soul Motion and Authentic Movement, as well as technical modalities, such as Contact Improvisation, Axis Syllabus, African, Hooping and Aerial dance.

Jenny Bond teaches kindergarten. She has taught kindergarten, 1^st Grade and 5^th Grade both in independent and public schools. Jenny also has a decade of experience instructing and mentoring new teachers at Mills College and San Francisco State University. Jenny grew up in Boulder, CO, and has a B.A. in Elementary Education and a multiple subjects teaching credential from the University of Northern Colorado. She also has an M.Ed. with a focus on urban education from San Francisco State University. She enjoys Windrush for its “strong community feeling” and focus on academic and socio-emotional care of every child. “I teach because I am inspired by the growing minds of my students,” Jenny said. “I strive to help young people make connections with the world around them and to provide my students with an education that will enrich their lives, open them up to limitless opportunities, and inspire them to follow their true passions as they navigate their way in this world.” She appreciates the Bay Area for its incredible diversity of people as well as the easy ocean and mountain access. “I find great joy in kayaking on Tomales Bay and hiking/camping in the Sierras,” Jenny said. She is also a proud mother of three children.

Iwei Chen Yun teaches 5^th Grade. Originally from Massachusetts, Iwei has a B.A. in History and International Relations from Tufts University. She also lived in New York City, where she obtained a Master of Elementary Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College. Iwei believes learning is a lifelong journey, and mistakes are an integral part of the learning curve.  Her biggest goal as a teacher is to affirm every child's unique learning style and help each student tackle academic challenges with resilience and grace. Iwei enjoys sharing good food and wine with friends and family. She also likes reading, working on her fitness, and traveling. Iwei loves living in San Francisco because it is the perfect balance of nature and urban living.

Amrit Chima is the Middle School Athletic Director and Wellness and Physical Education Instructor. Originally from Ventura, CA, Amrit has a B.A. in English from Stanford University and an M.S. in Sports Studies from Miami University.  Amrit has coached at the middle school, high school, collegiate, and Olympic development levels.  She also worked as an academic advisor and instructor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health on the Hamilton Campus of Miami University.  Amrit enjoys teaching and coaching as she believes in the transformational power of physical activity and sports.  “There is a distinct way of being, a freedom of expression that is available, and a unique experience to be had when a person gets the chance to ‘move,’” Amrit said.  The Bay Area offers Amrit much of what she loves: diversity of people and culture, accessibility to beautiful natural areas, great food and her three siblings.  Amrit’s love for adventure and exploring global citizenship through international travel has taken her around the world to destinations including Nepal, Peru, Australia and Costa Rica as well as to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, an experience she found emotionally and mentally challenging.

Jill Detweiler is the K-8 Library Media Specialist and the Technology teacher. Originally from Pennsylvania, Jill has a B.A. in Human Development/Education from Antioch College. After venturing out West, she obtained a Master of Library and Information Science from San Jose State University and a Master’s in Education with a focus on Education/Instructional Technologies from San Francisco State University. Jill views her job as a great fit to some of the strongest aspects of her personality–she is an intensely curious person who loves the challenge of seeking information, processing what she finds and digging deeper. She finds pleasure in helping students learn how to find, evaluate, and use information and believes that encouraging voluntary reading for pleasure is vital to developing a love of reading as well as increasing every aspect of literacy. She thinks a love of reading coupled with information competency skills helps foster a passion for life-long learning, and helping students get there is her goal. 

Maggie Jo Feldman is the Art teacher. A native Californian, she returned to the Bay Area from Chicago to teach art at a southern peninsula high school. While living in Chicago for seven years, Maggie obtained a B.F.A. in Studio Art and a teaching credential from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She also worked with inner-city youth there in a public art program called Gallery 37. Maggie has been a visiting artist at San Francisco Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago and the Evanston Art Center.   She loves sharing the experience of making and looking at art with her students. 

Kristen Hawkinson is the Grades K-8 Learning Specialist. She has a B.A. in English Literature from George Washington University and a Master of Education and a Certificate in Educational Therapy from Holy Names University. Teaching as a Quaker volunteer in a Maryland jail sparked her interest in learning disabilities as a disproportionate number of incarcerated people have undiagnosed learning disabilities. Pursuing graduate training brought her to California, where she realized how much she enjoyed working with children. She appreciates the values and integrity of the Windrush community and its genuine warmth and respect. Originally from Maryland, Kristen feels fortunate to live in the Bay Area and enjoys it by taking her dogs for walks along the Bay, buying produce at farmers’ markets and interacting with a variety of people on a daily basis. She is proud of realizing in her forties she needed to change the focus of her life and did so. 

Lisa Hayle teaches Grades 6-7 English and Social Studies. She has taught Language Arts and Visual Arts to elementary and middle school students in a variety of settings, including Live Oak School, Sankofa Academy, and Antioch Charter Academy. A native of Long Island, NY, Lisa earned her B.F.A. in Visual Arts from the State University of New York, Purchase, and her M.Ed.  from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Her work with the Bay Area Writers Project further enhances her ability to elicit superb writing from students. Lisa has worked with students to publish several different school literature magazines. She is also an artist, musician, and owner of Harry the Dog, who is active in Therapy Pets, a non-profit group connecting dogs and people in assisted living facilities and hospitals. Windrush appeals to Lisa for its “warm community feeling” and because seems like a place “where individuals are encouraged and supported to be who they are.” One of the best moments in her life was writing a song about taking care of the planet with a group of elementary school kids, which aired on local radio.

Lisa Hensley is the Grades 6-8 Drama teacher, High School Liaison and Alumni Outreach Coordinator. She has a B.A. in English and Drama from St. Mary’s College where she also pursued her California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Lisa trained with the American Conservatory Theater Congress and with the Theater Arts Institute of the American Musical Theater in San Jose. From 1998 to 2001, she taught voice and directed performances for San Francisco summer camps. Lisa grew up in Walnut Creek and loves the Bay Area’s breathtaking views and landscapes. She can’t imagine anything motivating her more than teaching and she appreciates Windrush for enabling her to be creative and unique in her teaching. Lisa enjoys seeing students discovering their own passions and getting excited about projects. An avid actress, Lisa is a veteran of more than 35 performances in Bay Area theaters. She is passionate about musicals from the jazz age, dancing, swimming, the ocean and being outdoors. She has two sons, Julian and Austin.  

Kurt Kristensen is the Grade 8 Science teacher. Originally from New York, Kurt has a B.S. in Biology from Lewis & Clark College, an M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and an M.Ed. from the University of Alabama, Birmingham. Kurt has 13 years experience teaching advanced placement high school Biology and Environmental Science, and several years of teaching 6th Grade at the Altamont School in Alabama. Before diving into teaching, Kurt worked as a wildlife biologist for the Nature Conservancy, and also as a biologist in Rwanda. “I love working with kids because they are open to new ideas without too many pre-conceived notions,” Kurt said about teaching. “Also the fact that I am able to help guide and nurture someone towards a goal or passion that they have is very gratifying and a responsibility that I take seriously.” In his free time, Kurt likes to engage in the outdoors, permaculture, beekeeping, biking, hiking, and photography. He is most proud of “raising three healthy and generally well-behaved children.” Kurt holds a deep appreciation for the Bay Area’s “awesome natural beauty,” and the progressive values held by many people. “I really think that the future of our society will depend upon embracing many of the ideas that are found in this area such as the reduction of automobiles, urban gardening and community building,” he said. At Windrush, Kurt is interested in incorporating permaculture practices into the Learning Garden. Having led student trips to Belize, Kenya and domestic locations, he also aspires to lead more excursions abroad.

Jeannie McKenzie is the K-7 Music teacher. Previously, she was at Julia Morgan School for Girls where she directed the music program for six years. Three years prior, Jeannie taught music for Grades 1-5 at Charles Drew Elementary in San Francisco.  She has an Orff Music Teacher Certificate from Mills College and a B.A. from New College of California. Building Community Through Music Education was her thesis. Jeannie is a violinist and cellist, and performs with the Latin band Los Boleros. She is a multi-talented teacher whose resume includes teaching vocal technique, Orff instruments, Taiko Drumming, Yoga, Circus Arts, Mime, Modern Dance, Meditation and Song Writing. Jeannie also raises chickens, turkeys, goats and bees on her urban farm in Oakland’s Montclair District. 

Selma Quemada-Valenzuela teaches 1^st Grade. A native Californian, Selma was born and raised in East Los Angeles. She has a B.A. in Diversified Liberal Arts (a degree for undergraduates pursuing a profession in teaching) from St. Mary's College, where she also obtained her teaching credential. She completed the Maria Montessori program in early child education at Contra Costa College/St. Mary's College. Teaching has been a lifelong love for Selma–as a 1^st grader she admired her teacher and wanted to be just like her. As an eight year old, she started teaching her younger siblings as well as her younger nephews and nieces to read and write. Selma began her teaching career in the Oakland Public School District, but she has also taught at the Le Jardin Montessori and La Casita Billigue Montessori Preschools and Pacific Academy. Selma loves taking in the views from the Windrush campus and particularly enjoys the students and families! Selma is a passionate gardener and voracious reader. She is most proud of being a teacher and mother.

Joanne Rubio teaches 2^nd Grade. Joanne has a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Simpson College and both her teaching and reading specialist credentials from San Francisco State University. Joanne appreciates many of Windrush’s attributes such as the encouragement of creativity among staff and students. She enjoys helping students realize what they can accomplish. She also appreciates being able to expand their thinking and ideas of the world as well as to help them increase their confidence as learners. Joanne enjoys the Bay Area for the sunsets, its surrounding areas for hiking and wildlife, music events and plays. Her travels have taken her to India, Mexico, Guatemala, Canada, France and England. She has also driven around the United States meeting folks from all walks of life.

Kate Stickel teaches Grades 7-8 English and Social Studies. Originally from Fullerton, CA, she has a B.A. in History with a minor in Education from University of California, Los Angeles, and her teaching credential from California State University, East Bay. She most recently taught at Making Waves Academy. Kate enjoys teaching for the opportunities it allows to share her love of learning. “I like to challenge kids to think critically, develop their passions, and push them to go places and try things that are new and different,” she said. Kate learned she adored working with children when she was a camp counselor at Skylake Yosemite Camp, where she led hiking, backpacking and rafting trips for three years. She then worked as an Outdoor Science School instructor in the San Bernardino Mountains teaching geology, ecology, and biology. Kate is a lover of the outdoors and jumps at the chance to go to her favorite places–Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Her passion for the outdoors took her to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro with her father and brother. Also, in college she studied in New Zealand, which she described as “one of the most gorgeous places in the world.” Kate loves dancing, particularly tap dance, and started a dance program at her former school. An avid runner, she has completed five marathons and is a volunteer mentor with Students Run Oakland. “I run every Saturday morning with high school students who are training to complete the Los Angeles marathon,” she said. Regarding Windrush, Kate said she appreciates the school’s community. “When I first stepped on campus at Windrush, I felt a great sense of community,” she said. “All of the kids were very warm and welcoming, and the teachers are dedicated to providing an outstanding learning environment.”

Aimee Van Dragt is the Grades 6-7 Math and Science teacher as well as the Yearbook advisor. Before coming to Windrush, Aimee spent 14 years working at Schools of the Sacred Heart. For four years, she taught 5^th Grade Social Studies and 6^th Grade Math at the Atherton, CA campus. Then she taught 6^th Grade Math and Science for ten years at Convent of the Sacred Heart in San Francisco. Originally from Michigan, Aimee earned her B.A. in Audiology with a minor in History from Michigan State University. She has her teaching credential from Notre Dame de Namur. She likes Windrush for its “welcoming atmosphere” as well as the school’s mission and core values, which “allow for strong academic growth while honoring identity through socio-emotional growth and development.” Aimee adores teaching young students. “There is nothing more inspiring than the ‘Aha’ moments for children, and there is a certain magic and energy that middle school kids bring to the classroom,” she said. “Children remind us to remember ‘The Joy of the Moment,’ which makes teaching irresistible.” When not teaching, she likes spending time with friends and family, taking photos, making movies, sailing and going to sport events. Aimee said one of her proudest moments was completing the Nike Women’s Marathon in honor of a friend.

Jessica Wong teaches 4^th Grade. An El Cerrito native, Jessica has a B.A. in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Education from California State University, Los Angeles, where she also earned her teaching credential. She has been in the education field since 2005 and worked at the North Oakland Community Charter School as an enrichment program instructor for Grades 2-5 before coming to Windrush. Previously, she taught in the San Gabriel Unified School District’s Grades 3-5 programs. Regarding why she likes teaching, Jessica said: “I have a great love of learning and a natural curiosity for life. It’s wonderful to be part of that experience with kids, to help them reach their potential, and to also be taught lessons alongside them.” She appreciates our school’s emphasis on readying whole children to participate in democracy. “Windrush believes in preparing students for life, both academically and as kids who are deciding who they are becoming and what they believe in. We are building a community together that includes future leaders and members of society.” When not working, Jessica enjoys exploring the Bay area, photography, singing, yoga, and engaging in arts & crafts.

Bobby Young is the Grades 7-8 Math teacher. With a degree in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics from Morehouse College, he has built upon more than 20 years of experience in information technology and program management to direct his energies to teaching math, science and technology. Bobby has taught at Longfellow and Sequoia Middle Schools, and most recently as the 6^th Grade Math and Science teacher at Redwood Day School. He also has certification training in Schools Attuned-All Kinds of Minds, which helps struggling students improve their success in school and life. “Focusing on the individual needs of each student is a core value of mine, one that I bring to every classroom in which I teach,” Bobby said. In his spare time, he likes to spend time with his granddaughter, gardening, reading and exploring the outdoors.