Sandra Luna: Head of School

Sandra was the founding Head of School at the Children’s Day School in San Francisco. She oversaw all aspects of the pre-K through 8th grade school’s development. Her work included establishing a Board of Trustees, hiring and evaluating teachers, curriculum development, and day-to-day operations. Sandra received her B.A. and her Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco. Prior to her role as Head of School at JMSG, Sandra worked for three years as the School's Academic Dean.

Corinne Allen: Science

Corinne has a B.A. in Computer Science. Before completing her degree at Mills College, she also studied disciplines ranging from music and massage therapy to truck driving. She has ten years experience teaching self-defense and empowerment courses to teen girls and women through Impact Bay Area, a local nonprofit organization. While at JMSG, she has taught 6th and 7th grade technology courses and 7th/8th grade P.E. electives, including cross country and self-defense, and provided general tech support including her role as the School's web page administrator and yearbook advisor.

Jenifer Anderson: Art

Jeni is an avid traveler who marvels at the art and architecture of the world. She received her B.A. from Dartmouth College in French and Women’s Studies, and her M.A. and teaching credential from UC Berkeley’s Developmental Teacher Education Program. She has directed after school arts and recreation programs in Brooklyn, NY and El Cerrito, CA, taught middle school journalism at Windrush School and elementary school in San Leandro. She has spent more than 12 years living overseas, in Europe and Southeast Asia, most recently as a K-5 art teacher at the Singapore American School. Before joining the Julia Morgan faculty, Jeni worked as a lecturer at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Education, supervising student teachers and integrating the arts into the teacher credential program. Her favorite pursuits include photography, triathlons, and creating sculpture from a multiplicity of materials.

Marcia Bedford: Assistant Head of School/Admission Director

Marcia, a graduate of Simmons College with a Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Wheelock College, brings a wealth of experience to the position. Before coming to JMSG, she was the Director of Admissions at Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco for five years. Prior to this, she was the Director of Admissions and Public Relations at St. Mary's College High School in Berkeley. Earlier in her career, she served as the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid for Simmons College School of Social Work. Marcia also worked in San Francisco at Public Affairs Management, an environmental and public relations consulting firm from 1990 to 1994. Marcia is quite familiar with JMSG, having served on the board since the "founding days." She has been committed to our mission from the beginning and was very helpful in creating admission and financial aid practices for us before the school opened. Her extensive background in admissions and administration are invaluable as we build our community.

Darlene Bell-Carson: Associate Admission Director

Darlene works with the Admission and Finance offices and was a Marketing Associate for Developmental Studies Center (DSC), a nonprofit educational organization. Working in Oakland, her teaching and nonprofit experience has included that of a K-12 substitute teacher, Parent and Outreach Coordinator, Community and Outreach Health Educator, and interim board member of New Village Community Charter School. In Berkeley, she has taught preschool and served as a member of the Berkwood Hedge School board. Darlene received her B.A. in Legal Studies from UC Berkeley. She has served on the JMSG Board of Trustees and her JMSG alumnae daughters Sydney graduated in 2006 and Raven in 2008.

Laura Cartwright: Athletic Director

Laura graduated from Michigan State University where she studied English, History, and Education. For the past 15 years, her passion for sports as a vehicle for empowerment has led her to work with girls and young women in athletics. She has experience directing residential camps and coaching multiple sports at the middle school, high school, and club level. Before moving to California, Laura worked at an organization in Detroit serving girls and supporting families to make positive choices. There she facilitated workshops in poetry, leadership, conflict resolution, relationships, performance, and many other topics that help foster self esteem and community building. Most recently she spent five years working to empower athletes of all abilities as the Vice President of Regional Sports for Special Olympics Northern California.

Monika Chin: Publications Director

Mika Court: Language Arts

Mika holds a B.A. magna cum laude, in Anthropology from Amherst College and an M.A. in Cultural Anthropology from the UC Santa Cruz.  She has also studied French literature at New York University in Paris, France and la Sorbonne in Paris.  Mika taught Humanities at Sonoma Academy, 10th grade English at Holyoke High School in Massachusetts, and French at The Bentley School in Lafayette and at St. Andrew’s School in Delaware.  A woman of many interests and talents, Mika received a National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship. 

Jessica Dang: English

Jessica graduated from an all girls’ school, The Marlborough School in Los Angeles. She received her B.A. degree in English from Brown University where she also completed a teacher education program.  Prior to coming to JMSG, Jessica taught seventh and eighth grade English for two years at Dwight Englewood School in New Jersey.  She also has teaching experience at Nathanael Greene Middle School in Providence, Rhode Island and volunteered there in an arts based after school program for children of parents in ESL classes.  

Eileen Duncan: Math

Eileen is a Berkeley native and graduate of Santa Catalina School for girls in Monterey, CA, UC Davis, and San Francisco State University. Eileen holds a B.S. in Human Development and a CA Multiple Subject Teaching Credential: Middle Level Emphasis. Before joining JMSG, Eileen worked in middle schools in the South Bay and taught upper elementary grades in Oakland for seven years. During her five years at Chabot Elementary School, Eileen served as grade level team leader and prepared many fifth graders for success at JMSG. Eileen is an avid runner, leads volunteer trips maintaining trails and protecting the Sierra Nevada, is learning to paint, and loves (teaching) math!

Maria Fay: Science

Maria received a B.A. in Architecture and a B.A. in German at UC Berkeley.  She went on to study German Folklore at Philips Universität Marburg in Germany and Italian at the Università degli studi di Firenzè.  Maria also studied Hindi, kathak, and tabla in Kanpur, India.  She received her Multiple Subject Credential at Holy Names University and after having the opportunity to teach middle school science, decided to return to school once again to get her Single Subject Credential in Science.  Maria enjoys different forms of dance, surfing, taking long walks, and doing puzzles.

Melody Ferris: Development & Finance Assistant

Melody, a Seattle native, made the trek to California to earn her B.A. in Music at Mills College. Before coming to JMSG, she spent two summers working as a counselor at the Mills College Summer Arts Camp. Melody also worked as the Arts & Culture Department Consultant for the East Bay Community Foundation, providing outreach and database management for the East Bay Fund for Artists and the Fund for Artists Arts Teacher Fellowship programs. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, seeing live performances, running, singing, and composing.  Melody’s free time is dedicated to rehearsing and performing in her latest musical collaborations, Killbossa, Thorny Brocky, Wee The Band, and Inner Ear Brigade.

Chubasco Gaite: System Administrator

Chubasco holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Ateneo de Davao University. Recently he was a senior computer operator at UC Berkeley providing support for the operation of the University’s mainframe computer and its peripherals.  Chubasco has provided tech assistance for a small law firm in San Francisco and was also tester of software. 

Liz Gibbs Campbell: Mathematics

Liz is a graduate of Marlborough School for Girls in Los Angeles where she later taught mathematics for three years. She has her Bachelor’s Degree from the UC Berkeley and her Masters of Education from UCLA. Before coming to JMSG, Liz taught Math 6, Pre Algebra, and Algebra I at the Athenian School in Danville for three years. She was the seventh grade team leader and coordinated the Middle School Community Service Program. In addition, Liz organized the Math and Science Institute for Girls at The Athenian School in Danville. During her career, Liz also taught at the American School of Madrid.

Phil Gorman: Music

Phil is a Berkeley native, composer, performer, studio musician, and music teacher. He received his B.A. in music composition from Yale University and has since composed and musically directed shows for the Young Actor’s Workshop, Berkeley High School, and the Berkeley Playhouse. Phil taught the band class at Park Day's Community Campus for several years. Previously, he worked at Berkeley's Camp Kee Tov for a total of twelve years, starting as a Junior Counselor, finishing as Camp Director.  When not creating or teaching music, Phil might be found at the A's game, on the frisbee field, camping in the mountains, or maybe in the kitchen cooking some vegetarian delights! 

Rachel Halliday: Environmental Science

Rachel graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine with a degree in Geology and Environmental Studies and has a M.S. in Education from California State University, East Bay. Before coming to JMSG she taught at the Teton Science School in Jackson, Wyoming where she completed a Professional Residency in Environmental Education. Her interest in working with adolescent girls comes from many years of experience at all-girls summer camps and adventure programs.

Teru Hirano: After School Study Hall and Substitute Coordinator

Teru Hirano joins JMSG after retiring from a long administrative career at UCSF Medical Center.  She was born in an internment camp in Amache, Colorado, grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Santa Cruz, California.  She attended college at San Francisco State, married, raised her children, and considers San Francisco (Japantown) her home until moving to Berkeley in 1993. Teru studied Education and Art; and later, while working at UCSF Medical Center, she studied Health Services Administration at St. Mary’s College at night.  After all these years, happily, she is revisiting her dream of a career in education as After School Study Hall supervisor and substitute teacher at JMSG.

Kim Hubner: Development Director

Kim graduated from Bishop's University with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Foreign Language. Before coming to JMSG, Kim was the Development Director at the Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont, and has experience in all aspects of development in an independent school including: Annual Fund Drive, Capital Campaign, alumnae association, special events, fundraisers, and publications. In addition to her work as a Development Director, Kim is an accomplished skier; she represented Canada in alpine skiing at the World University Games in Korea in 1997 and again in 1999 in Slovakia. She also attended an all-girl school and is very articulate about how this experience impacted her life.

Jodi Jusiak: Mathematics

Jodi graduated with honors with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson University.  She holds a Master’s degree in Secondary Education, Mathematics from San Francisco State University. Her academic honors include Pi Tau Sigma (ME Honors Fraternity) and Phi Theta Kappa (Honor Society). Since 2002 Jodi has been teaching 9th-12th grade math at El Camino High School in San Francisco where she co-chaired the mathematics department.  From 1999 to 2002 she taught seventh and eighth grade math at Parkway Height Middle School.  Prior to her teaching profession, Jodi was a design engineer for Pratt Whitney and for Fisher Price. 

Lauren Kahn: Physical Education & Facilities/Events Coordinator

Lauren graduated from the UC Berkeley with a B.A. in psychology and a minor in anthropology.  Before coming to JMSG, Lauren worked as a manager in a cafe in Berkeley.  Her passion is skiing and snowboarding and she was a leader of the Cal Ski and Snowboard Club in college. She also has experience coaching and working in children’s camps.

Kerryn La Duc: Dean

Kerryn graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in World Arts and Cultures; she holds a Master's degree in Education from Harvard University. She last worked as the Middle School Program Coordinator at Oakland Hebrew Day School and was responsible for leading the faculty, administration and staff through the school's first California Association of Independent Schools' accreditation process.  She also created a Service Learning program and life skills curriculum, helped to create a framework for student assessments, and the design of a global and multicultural awareness program.  Before her time at OHDS, Kerryn worked at Saklan Valley School for four years as the Humanities teacher for grades six and seven.  She introduced project-based instruction and developed a middle school social growth curriculum similar to the JMSG advising program. Kerryn lives in Oakland and enjoys spending time with her two children.

Pamela Maycroft: Director of Finance

Pam is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate in International Relations from James Madison College at Michigan State University. She also earned a Masters Degree in Computer Engineering from UC Santa Cruz. Before coming to JMSG, Pam worked in energy conservation for a non-profit community service agency in the Bay Area. She also spent several years working in the high tech industry as a software engineer and then as a project manager at Stanford University. Pam has been the Business Manager at JMSG since 2001. She enjoys reading, yoga, and cycling.

April Miller McMurtry: Spanish

April has been teaching Spanish at JMSG since the school moved into its beautiful present location. She has traveled, studied, and volunteered throughout the Spanish-speaking world in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, México, Puerto Rico, Spain, Ecuador, Cuba and Nicaragua. Over the summer she attended an amazing two-week language immersion course through the Oregon Writing Project. April completed her M.A. in Teaching Foreign Language from the SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, VT. She taught Spanish I and III at the Head Royce Upper School for a year and prior to that, she worked at the Cambridge Community Center on Monument Boulevard assisting low-income families to access social services. As the training director for the East Bay chapter of Amigos de las Americas for four years, April prepared high school students to facilitate community-based initiatives in Latin America. Outside of teaching April loves to sew, dance and spend time with her family.

Ana Moreno: Spanish

An East Bay, California native, Ana has 14 years of classroom experience.  She graduated from Pomona College with a degree in sociology and then received her M.A. in Bilingual/Bicultural Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.  She has done extensive travel and lived and taught in Sao Paulo, Brazil for four years.  Ana worked for two years in Rio Grande Valley, Texas at Teach For America and also at the Harlem Educational Activities Fund where she planned academic support services for high school students. Ana is trilingual, with proficiencies in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.  

Rashad Pridgen: Dance

Rashad has worked at the Destiny Arts Youth Center as an instructor and choreographer. He has produced and choreographed numerous works in the Bay Area including the 2001-02 Hip-Hop Dance Fest and the 2002 Momentum Dance Video. Rashad brings his background in West African, modern, and creative dance to his 6th grade dance classes at JMSG.

Nancy Randall: Yoga

Nancy teaches yoga for seniors at the Piedmont Yoga Studio, as well as all the 6th graders, 7th & 8th graders in their PE elective at JMSG. She has been practicing yoga for over 40 years, having studied with numerous reputable teachers nationally and twice in India. Nancy is grateful for the opportunity to be introducing yoga to the young women and teachers at JMSG. She brings focus and grounding to the entire school, and her classes are filled with both her sense of calm and lively humor. She is studying Energy Medicine, kinesiology, and Bal-a Vis-X. Nancy volunteers for the Lighthouse for the Blind in San Francisco.

Lorraine Smith: U.S. History and Go Girl

Lorraine has over 18 years teaching experience and received her B.A. in History and Graduate School in African Studies from UCLA. She holds a secondary Social Studies credential from the University of Hawai’i at Hilo as well as a single subject California credential. She traveled to France in an intensive language study to perfect her French speaking skills in order to work in archaeological and historical research in Togo, West Africa. Lorraine taught U.S. history, world history, geography and psychology at the high school level on the Big Island in Hawai’i for eight years. In California she taught at High Tech High Bayshore, and was a co-administrator prior to this at Aurora Charter High School.

Carrie Spring: Spanish

"Caro" received her B.A. from Dartmouth College in history and her M.A. in Spanish from Middlebury. She has lived in Spain, Argentina, and Ecuador, and has traveled in México, Puerto Rico, Belize, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Uruguay. Before JMSG, she taught Spanish at Seton Hall Preparatory High School, a all-boys high school in New Jersey. Her work hisotry includes online ad sales, extra work on "Sesame Street" and being a National Park Ranger at the Statue of Liberty. At JMSG, Caro is a 6th grade advisor and also teaches STARS and Flamenco.

Gillian Thomas: Science

Gillian has her B.S. in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz.  She holds a teaching credential in Chemistry from Sacramento State University, and has taught Physical Science at Arlen Middle School in Sacramento. Gillian is an active volunteer in her community.  She volunteered as a health educator teaching sex education to middle and high school students and as a crisis and suicide counselor providing counseling on a 24-hour hotline to residents of Monterey County.

Katie Topper: Director of Technology

Katie received her B.A. from Trinity College and her California teaching credential from Chapman University. She also holds an M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Katie studied economic policy at American University and Italian at the Universita Italiana Per Stranieri in Italy. In addition to her teaching experience, Katie worked at the Associated Press in Rome, was the senior media planner for Western International Media, traded stock, and taught new brokers computer systems at Kidder, Peabody and Co. in Boston and was a founding member of the Media Guaranty software company.

Anne Wenstad: Registrar

Anne joined the Administrative team in 2005. While homeschooling her now three grown daughters, she earned an A.A. in Child Development and Pre-school Administration. For 25 years, she has worked in various capacities in both pre-schools and elementary schools, including Grand Lake Montessori in Oakland. An avid reader and gardener, Anne loves to travel, cook, and spend time with friends and family.

Angela Yokota: Humanities

Angela received her B.A. in Comparative Literature at UC Berkeley and her Master’s Degree from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She also has a Certificate in Counselling from UC Santa Cruz Extension. Prior to coming to JMSG, Angela taught writing and human development at St. Mary's College. As a former dancer and choreographer, Angela brings many talents and perspectives to JMSG. She is a sixth grade advisor and continues the tradition of a spring performance for the sixth graders.