Meet Us: Faculty & Staff

Susan Adams

Human Resources Manager
Perhaps Susan was destined for this career: her first job was working after school in the HR department... Learn More

Lupe Barragan

Assistant to the Head of School
"I love overhearing the kids at the end of the day, sharing how awesome their classes were and how much they like their teachers." Learn More

Cassidy Brown

STEM Teacher
"This place is so different from other places I've worked—I love the mutual respect between students and teachers, the willingness to take risks..."Learn More

Rebecca Brown

Chief Operating Officer
"The accounting side of the position can be taught, but understanding the culture of schools is much more important."Learn More

Kelly Castañeda

Dean of Curriculum
Kelly knows a thing or two about design thinking, and not just because she is deeply engaged with current educational theory. Learn More

Kevin Christensen

Associate Director of Ahtletics & Physical Education
Girls Varsity Basketball Coach

Kevin was hesitant to coach high school until...Learn More

Alissa Coenen

Spanish Teacher
"Our goal in the language department is to create, provide, and encourage the chance for students to use the language learned in the classroom outside in the real world."Learn More

Jen Coté

Theater Director
Jen believes that theater should make you think about the world and question humanity.Learn More

Danielle Delario

Spanish Teacher
Danielle might be found teaching Spanish, leading a yoga class, creating art, spending time with her two sons, or flying through the air on a trapeze.Learn More

Darren Duarte

Dean of Student Life
Darren loves the passing period between classes. He describes it as a "constant feeling of camaraderie."Learn More

Caitlin Duffy

STEM Teacher
"I love to look up and see my windows and whiteboards full of figures, all the students working, debating, reasoning, and laughing together."Learn More

Ellie Dwight

Assistant Head of School
“SA is a school with genuine trust and affection between students, staff, and parents...”.Learn More

Kim Eber

Director of Advancement
“I am blown away by the amazing level of respect everyone has for one another...”Learn More

Maitane Elorza

World Languages Dept. Chair & Spanish Teacher
"There is a deep sense of trust, compassion, and respect in the SA community."Learn More

Rodney Fierce

Humanities Teacher
"I want my students to develop their own voices, to engage with the voices in the text and find similarities. My goal is to get us to see history from different perspectives."Learn More

Lani Frazer

Speech & Debate Coach
Speech and Debate helps competitors develop critical thinking skills that allow them to grapple with and advocate for complex topics.Learn More

Sean Freese

Director of Technology
Sean employs a philosophy that goes far beyond practical instruction, encouraging students to take a human-centered view of technology...Learn More

Rachel Glitz

Annual Fund & Alumni Relations Manager
The best part of my job is all the crackerjack people I get to work with—so smart, so kind, and so welcoming.Learn More

Drew Gloger

Humanities Dept. Chair & Teacher; Honor Dean
I didn’t want to be pigeonholed as an English or History teacher. I wanted that real spectrum of all sorts of things...Learn More

Rebecca Gordon

STEM Teacher
Both students and staff are able to have a lot of autonomy. I also really appreciate that I have chances here to show others about what I know, beyond math.Learn More

Amber Greer

STEM Teacher
Math and Art are my yin-yang balance. I guess the lesson is that you're allowed to change your mind. My college major and my graduate degree are very different...Learn More

Kerry Hanlon

Humanities Teacher
"At SA, I can teach material that I'm actually excited about, rather than having to manufacture excitement."Learn More

Matthew Hart

Director of Facilities Learn More

Changa Imara

STEM Teacher; Tech Help Desk
Changa came to Sonoma Academy after working in programming for years, but teaching wasn’t entirely new to him.Learn More

Daniel Karbousky

STEM Teacher
Dan’s favorite class to teach is Calculus because it is the pinnacle of mathematics; it requires students to use everything they have learned...Learn More

Kiska Kosakowski

Experiential Curriculum Coordinator
"When I came to SA, I realized what schools could be. We take young people’s aspirations and turn them into reality."Learn More

Dot Kowal

Director of College Counseling
"We give students a lot of freedom, and I think it makes for responsible students who can think for themselves."Learn More

Bruce Lakovic

Shop Steward
“I love introducing kids to the process of imagining, planning, and problem solving.”Learn More

Tricia Line

Controller
Tricia found her way to us after spending years managing finances for large companies. "Our small but mighty team is a change!”Learn More

David Mahlaku

A/V Technician
"I didn’t know that a high school experience like this existed. Students here are given freedom to explore, and it’s okay to make mistakes. I love that!"Learn More

Megan Malone

Communications Associate
"Community Meeting is often an almost spiritual experience. We all come together to laugh, cry, applaud, and be inspired."Learn More

Kristy Marksbury

Administrative Support
"Our students are just so inspiring. It's amazing to see how much they grow during their time here."Learn More

Luc Martin

Associate Director of Admissions, Director of Summer Programs, Boys Basketball Head Coach
The story of Luc finding his way to us is almost like a fairy tale.Learn More

Michele Martin

Librarian; Director of Information Science
Michele’s career path wound through some unexpected places on the way to the library.  Learn More

Carolyn McAleavy

Director of Counseling
When asked how her degrees in geology and counseling relate, Carolyn says "it's simply an interest in understanding why things are the way they are.”Learn More

Laila McClay

Humanities Teacher
“There is nothing more rewarding in education than seeing the ‘light bulb’ turn on in the middle of a lesson.”Learn More

Amanda McFadden

Music Director
Amanda has been teaching music for her entire professional life. She holds a teaching credential in music education...Learn More

Oona McKnight

Director of Academic Services; Registrar
Oona taught everything from Pre-Calc to AP Statistics, as well as Intro to Engineering, Applied Math, and Chemistry...Learn More

Cassandra McNally

Front Office & Attendance Coordinator
“I love to see how well the school is working for our students, and how our mission permeates everything we do.”Learn More

Nancy Metzger-Carter

Garden Educator & Sustainability Curriculum Coordinator
"We're encouraged to be bold, think big, and teach from the heart.”Learn More

Eric Moes

STEM & Visual Arts Teacher
“Teaching is the hardest job, but it’s also the most rewarding. It’s 90 percent planning and 100 percent improv!”Learn More

Marco Morrone

Humanities Teacher
Using a system called “Disco Writing,” Marco helps students get their ideas down in notebooks to then develop them into essays....Learn More

Jamie Murray

Humanities Teacher
“Every new teacher who has stepped in has interpreted Humanities in their own way. It feels like a living, breathing entity, always adapting.”Learn More

Ramsey Musallam

STEM Teacher, Director of Summer Programs, Robotics Coach 
"I am constantly amazed by how respectful, insightful and curious SA students are in all areas of community life."Learn More

Spencer Nilsen

Digital Media CoordinatorAfter running his own music production company for several years, Spencer pivoted into education...Learn More

Nichelle Passanisi

Associate Director of College Counseling
"Being a tiny piece of these students’ futures is very fulfilling."Learn More

Margie Pugh

Director of Student Support
"No one can predict where your potential will take you."Learn More

Daniel Reiter

Music Teacher
From learning to play the drums as a child, to guitar, bass and keyboard as a teenager, Daniel has had a lifelong passion for music...
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Florence Rink

French Teacher
Educated first at the Sorbonne and the British Institute in Paris, then at Oxford for English and American Literature, Florence joined us as a French teacher in 2004.  Learn More

Brandon Spars

Humanities Teacher Brandon is our resident storyteller, and many of his stories first took shape in our classrooms as he taught about the places where he has lived and loved...
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Irma Spars

Academic Services Associate
Beyond her administrative work, Irma is one of those staffulty who shares her interests and hobbies with the student community.
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Sandy Stack

Director of Enrollment, Financial Aid, & Institutional Research
"I am inspired by our students."
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Jim Sweeney

STEM Teacher
Jim's Applied Math students do interdisciplinary projects to gain insight into how mathematics affects their everyday lives.
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Lily Thompson

Director of Marketing & Communications
"The teenage mind is sharp, curious, questioning, and ready to engage with challenging concepts and ideas, and yet also fresh, new..."
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Roy Vega

Admissions Associate
"What sets us apart from other schools is the people here; there are so many talented students and teachers."
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Pam Vincent

Mandarin Teacher
"I love the entire day! Especially teaching my fun and creative students."
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Suzanna Wash

Humanities Teacher
Suzanna is always on the move: between campuses, between countries, and on the dance floor...Learn More

Ashley Wolfe

Advancement Associate
"SA is special, because it really encourages the growth of the whole person."
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Lin Yeu

STEM Teacher
Lin loves to travel (she’s been to 28 countries and counting) and she is a fierce competitor on the volleyball court....
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Hillary Younglove

Art Department Chair & Teacher
"...the arts are embraced here in a way that allows each student—and the community as a whole—to creatively evolve and try new things.”
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Lisa Zavieh, PhD

STEM Dept. Chair & teacher
Lisa’s career has prepared her to teach many things: physics, engineering, mathematics, karate, and figure skating...
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Chris Ziemer

Director of Athletics & PE; Girls Soccer Head Coach
"There is nothing I look forward to more tthan being on the field, coaching..."
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