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. 

Rennea Couttenye is the Grades K-5 Spanish teacher. She brings almost 20 years of experience teaching Spanish, including working as a K-4 Spanish Specialist at the San Francisco Friends School. Originally from Venezuela, Rennea is also the founder and director of Español for Kids, which develops curriculum for children ages three-15. With a degree in Graphic Design, Rennea also worked for more than 15 years as a Textile Designer/ Illustrator. Five years ago, she stepped into the Bay Area music world establishing herself as a World-Jazz vocalist. While integrating her design and music talents into teaching, Rennea enjoys collaborating with faculty to support a Spanish-rich atmosphere, ensuring students not only learn grammar rules, but speak Spanish daily. Her curriculum includes cultural elements of Hispanic diversity, which encourages children to appreciate different cultures. When she’s not performing or teaching she can be found rock-climbing in Yosemite, snowboarding in Tahoe or traveling the world with her three children.

Jill Detweiler is the K-8 Library Media Specialist. 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.

Dianne Driscoll teaches 3^rd  grade and is the Elementary Academic Program Director. She obtained both her B.A. in Liberal Arts and teaching credential from San Francisco State University. Though Dianne grew up in New England–predominantly in Connecticut–she has lived in the Bay Area for many years and loves it for the cultural diversity, the array of activities, and its accessibility to the outdoors. Dianne likes teaching at Windrush for the encouragement she receives to grow and change in her profession as well as the strong community and teacher collaboration. Before coming to Windrush, Dianne taught 3^rd grade for 10 years at a public school in San Francisco and before that she taught at an alternative school there. In summer, she teaches art at a camp near Booneville for Project Avary, which supports young people whose parents are imprisoned. She has a passion for salsa dancing, running and art. Dianne said the most recent accomplishment she is proud of was her class’ work on Baxter Creek. Teaming up with the City of El Cerrito, they weeded non-native plants, monitored the water quality and observed changes over the year. Dianne saw it as a valuable lesson for students because they saw significant changes and felt they significantly contributed to making it happen. 

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.  

Jeff Grether teaches 4^th grade. A Berkeley native, Jeff has a B.A. in American Literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He earned his teaching credential from San Francisco State University. Before teaching at Windrush, Jeff had several other roles. He worked as an afterschool and summer camp director, a K-8 Art teacher and a K-5 Recreation teacher. For most of his life, Jeff has either worked with or taught children. He finds designing and implementing new ideas and curriculum very exciting–from games to art, to language arts and math–he thrives on the creative process. Jeff appreciates teaching at Windrush as he always feels supported in his creativity. He loves the Bay Area for its diversity, proximity to natural areas and the political climate. Jeff is passionate about being a father, sea kayaking, backpacking, nature, teaching, supporting environmental and animal rights, and sculpting in various forms.

David Haupert is the Grades 6-8 Spanish teacher. Previously, he was an adjunct professor of English at the Université de Sciences et Technologies in France. David speaks fluent Spanish, French and English. He has a History degree from Occidental College and has spent the past nine years working with young people. For three years, David taught language abroad, including serving as translator and English teacher in Spain and France. David is passionate about working with children, making music, learning foreign languages and the environment. By joining Windrush, David has returned to his Bay Area roots as he grew up in San Jose. The accomplishment he is most proud of is determining his passions and revolving his life–both work and play–around those interests.   

Kristen Hawkinson is the Grades K-5 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 is the 6^th grade Humanities teacher. 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 Middle School Drama teacher, 8^th Grade advisor, 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.   

Keith Karraker teaches Grades 7-8 Science. After earning a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois, Keith moved to the Bay Area to pursue his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. He took a left turn on his intended career path to academia by teaching middle school science, math, and technology in Santa Cruz for one year, where he fell in love with working in a classroom with 7th and 8th grade students. Keith then worked as a Web designer and programmer in Silicon Valley before returning to teaching. He appreciates the opportunity to be a positive influence on how students view science and feels it is “very important for all people to be scientifically literate in today’s world.” Besides dreaming up all kinds of fun, hands-on experiments in his classes, Keith is a kitchen scientist at home, and can often be found at farmers' markets buying ingredients for elaborate new dishes. He is also an avid knitter, creating piles of hats, scarves, socks, gloves, and almost anything else you can make with yarn.

Anne Malamud teaches 5^th grade. Anne grew up in Boston and initially attended Boston University before moving out West where she attended Laney College and the University of California, Berkeley. She has a B.S. in Conservation and Resource Studies, but has also taken many religion and philosophy classes. Anne found her love for teaching at Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science, a job that inspired her to get her teaching credential. Anne’s sense of exploration led her into all sorts of jobs before teaching, including working as a U.S. Forest Service firefighter, developing science curriculum, and managing a food concession in Berkeley. She loves teaching for the creativity it enables her and appreciates being able to change the way she teaches a unit to tailor it for each class. Anne enjoys the energy and passion of 10-year-olds and loves the Windrush community for its values and focus on the whole child. She is passionate about the environment, ecology, social justice, hiking in the mountains and just being outside. Anne appreciates the Bay Area for its tolerance and liberal ideas. She is most proud of raising her son Michael. 

Kai Marks teaches Grades 7-8 English and is the Middle School Academic Program Director. In addition to having a B.A. in English and Latin American Studies with a minor in Psychology, Kai has a Master's in Writing as well as one in Creative Writing. She has taught middle school students for more than a decade and had the opportunity to teach college courses at the University of San Francisco. Kai also has taught courses in study skills and conflict resolution. 

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.

Danielle Roberts is the Grades 6-8 Learning Specialist. She has a B.S. in Psychobiology and a B.A. in Professional Communication Studies. In 2000, Danielle completed her Master of Special Education with a concentration in moderate to severe disabilities. For the past 10 years, she has worked with adolescents and young adults with learning and developmental challenges in both educational and vocational settings. Danielle’s career history includes working with such organizations as Santa Monica City College, Department of Rehabilitation, the Jewish Federation and the Regional Center of Los Angeles. Prior to working at Windrush she worked as the Coordinator of Learning Services and Learning Specialist at Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco.

Dana Rosenberg is the Health and Human Development Educator. She has a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she double-majored in History and Women’s Studies with an emphasis on South African Women’s movements against apartheid and African History. She earned both her Master of Education and teaching credential from Mills College and she has an administrative credential from California State, Hayward. Dana enjoys helping young people work through their problems. Windrush appeals to her for its tight-knit community that cares a lot about each other and believes in the wholeness of young people. She admires Windrush for its focus on the minds and hearts and spirits of the students. Dana is passionate about her family and friends, justice, spirituality, swimming, good meals and provocative books. She also loves good storytelling (telling and listening). Dana is most proud of her individuality, her son and all the students she has helped graduate and find their passions.  

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.

Aimee Van Dragt is the 6^th Grade 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. 

Bobby Young is the Grades 7-8 Math and Science 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.

Annie Zesiger teaches kindergarten. She finds her work to inspire young children to embrace their curiosity and become their best selves extremely satisfying and heartwarming. Annie enjoys Windrush especially for its small class size and the creativity it allows in her teaching. She has a B.A. in Music and her teaching credential from San Francisco State. Annie–who is an award-winning musician and songwriter–considers her family her greatest accomplishment.