Faculty & Staff

 

DOLORES AGUILAR - ASSOCIATE TEACHER, LEVEL II

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Dolores is delighted to join Synapse as an associate teacher for Level II. She previously worked as a preschool teacher in San Jose and a research assistant at San Jose State University, where she received her Master's Degree in child and adolescent development. She volunteered at an elementary school, focusing on student's social and emotional development in her hometown of Fresno, during her undergraduate studies at Fresno State University. She currently lives in San Jose and enjoys spending time with her girlfriend and two cats (Meeko and Quesito), crafting, traveling, and reading. 

 

 

MICHELE "MICKEY" BARRY - TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN LEAD TEACHER

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Michele Barry (a.k.a Teacher Mickey) is looking forward to joining the Synapse Team as the Lead teacher for the new Transitional Kindergarten program. She has taught 4 and 5 year olds for the past 25 years and is excited to become part of a new team where she can help create and environment where learning is fun, exciting and immersive. During her free time, she loves cooking, traveling and spending time with her friends and son Liam and dog Snowflake. When one door closes another opens and she can't wait to see what lies beyond.

 

 

ZOE BURR - ASSOCIATE TEACHER, LEVEL III

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Zoe is thrilled to be returning as an Associate Teacher for her second year at Synapse - this time in LIII! After years working as a Marine Biologist and science educator, she is enjoying being in the classroom with students to build more meaningful relationships and help foster a love of inquiry. Zoe is currently continuing her education through the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute, and holds a BS in Marine Biology from University of California, Santa Cruz and an MS in Biological Oceanography from the University of Bergen, Norway. During her spare time you can usually find her with her dog, Moka, out in nature looking for birds. 

 

 

HOLLY CAMPBELL - LEVEL III LEAD TEACHER; CO-DIRECTOR OF ASSOCIATE TEACHER PROGRAM

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This is Holly's tenth year at Synapse, and she is excited for another year in Level III! Prior to teaching at Synapse, Holly received her BS in Interdisciplinary Studies K-8 at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee where she went on to teach fourth grade for five years at a Title I school. Holly spent two years teaching in Middle School but has enjoyed being back in Level III. She is also excited for another year as co-director of the Associate Teacher Program. In her free time, she enjoys painting, going to concerts, and is always up for a fun beach day! 

 

 

SARAH CARR-BERRY - LEVEL I LEAD TEACHER

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Sarah has been teaching students of all ages since 2005 and joined the Synapse community in 2012. Sarah LOVES teaching in Level I - this year marks year number ten! She is a native Californian and earned a BA in History with a Theatre Arts minor from University of California Santa Cruz and an MA in Education and a teaching credential from Pepperdine University. Sarah began her career in education as a middle school social studies teacher and advisor in downtown Los Angeles. She then ventured overseas, teaching in Tokyo, Japan, for nearly five years. While in Tokyo she taught English to students ranging from four to 80 years old and then taught Kindergarten at an international school. While at the international school, Sarah helped to develop curriculum for the school’s International Baccalaureate accreditation. Back home in the Bay Area, Sarah loves playing in her band, seeing live music, watching Liverpool FC win the Premier League, and being in the Redwoods.

 

 

HANNAH GALLAGHER - LEVEL III LEAD TEACHER

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After three years as an Associate Teacher in Level II and Level III, Hannah is excited to be returning for her fourth year in the role of Level III Lead Teacher. Prior to Synapse, Hannah taught Kindergarten for two years at Brandeis Hillel Day School in San Francisco. She studied English at University of California Santa Barbara and received her teaching credential at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles. She enjoys collaborating with her team and engaging her students. In her free time she does improv comedy, takes guitar lessons, sings whenever possible, and loves to explore Bay Area hiking and restaurants with family and friends.

 

ADAM HATFIELD - LEVEL I LEAD TEACHER

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Adam is excited to return to Level I as a Lead Teacher after working as an Associate in both Level I and Level III. Adam moved to the Bay Area from Florida where he taught middle and high school before discovering a love for working with younger learners. He is passionate about independent schools and aspires to create a positive and nurturing environment to foster a lifelong love for learning in his students. Adam earned a BA in Secondary Education from Florida Gulf Coast University and is currently completing a MEd in Independent School Leadership at George Mason University. Outside of school, you can find Adam working out at the Riekes Center, playing drums with the Constructivists, seeking out new titles to add to his ever-growing collection of picture books, or hiking with his wife and their two dogs. 

JUSTIN JOSEPH - ASSOCIATE TEACHER, LEVEL III

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Justin is excited to be returning to the Synapse community as an Associate Teacher in Level III! Born and raised in Chicago, he holds a BA in Psychology from Pomona College. Most recently, he worked as a behavioral instructor, providing individualized therapy for children within the autism spectrum via home visits and telehealth. He has also hosted educational workshops for elementary aged children, tutored high school students, and volunteered as a 2nd grade teacher’s aide in Southern California. In his free time, Justin enjoys dancing, choreographing, listening to music, and spending time with his cats.

 

DEVIN MACRAE - LEVEL II LEAD TEACHER

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Devin is thrilled to be coming back to Synapse for his fifth year in a Level II Lead Teacher position. He holds a degree in Biology from California State Monterey Bay. At the Marine Mammal Center, he educated the public on marine biology and conservation. During his summers he has worked with Camp Galileo as a science and outdoor instructor. There he continues to inspire innovation, design, and the power of play. Devin is also the proud parent of a 6-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son. Some personal passions of his are experimenting with cooking, gardening, playing the ukulele, and adventuring in the great outdoors with his family.

 

 

CORA POE - LEVEL III LEAD TEACHER

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Cora is thrilled to be starting her third year at Synapse and with the Level III team. Cora graduated from UC Davis with a double major in English and Cultural Anthropology. She loves to bring her interests in reading, writing, people and history into the classroom. Cora worked in public school in Davis, CA, then moved to the Bay and entered the independent school system at The Nueva School in 2015. She hopes to promote a pattern of lifelong learning in the students she teaches. Things that bring Cora joy outside of school include reading, playing board games, and hiking with her dog, Tommy.

 

 

STEPHANIE POO - LEVEL II LEAD TEACHER

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Stephanie is excited to be starting her fourth year at Synapse in the new role of Level II lead teacher. In the last few years, Stephanie has taught Level I, Level II, and children's art classes, exploring various mediums such as acrylic, watercolor, relief printing, and ceramics. She studied Art and History of Art and Visual Culture at University of California Santa Cruz and recently received her Masters in Education at Santa Clara University. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys gardening, collecting children books, and spending time with her family and dog, Nugget.

 

 

ELIZABETH ROSE - ASSOCIATE TEACHER, LEVEL I

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Elizabeth is looking forward to her first year as an Associate Teacher with Synapse. She came to the Bay Area from Mammoth Lakes, CA, as a BATTI graduate student after working as an elementary and middle school librarian. Elizabeth graduated from UC San Diego with a Literature/Writing degree and has worked in both the traditional classroom and outdoor education. She also led writing workshops for after school programming and is passionate about the craft of storytelling through writing, music, dance, theatre and visual arts. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys surfing, climbing, biking, exploring wild places and growing edible flowers. 

 

 

TORI SCHERBA - ASSOCIATE TEACHER, LEVEL I

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Tori will be entering Level I as an Associate Teacher this year. Tori graduated from the University of Arizona in 2018 with a degree in Psychology. She has tutored elementary-aged children in various subjects as well as volunteered at Brentwood school in East Palo Alto. She has always had a love of working with children and is excited to start her second full year at Synapse! Besides education, Tori's other passions include animals, cooking, and hiking! 

 

 

 

NATASHA SANCHEZ - TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN ASSOCIATE TEACHER

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Natasha is excited about joining the Synapse team alongside Teacher Mickey as an Associate teacher in the TK Program. She has worked with Mickey for the last 16 years. TK is a delightful age as the children are so excited to learn, it really is a gift of a year and has a tremendous impact on children's readiness for school. Natasha is married with two children Santiago and Sofia. She loves spending time with her family and friends, vacationing in the mountains and at the beaches, hiking with her dogs and listening to audio books. She is looking forwarding to this new adventure.

 

 

KAREN SHIN - LEVEL II LEAD TEACHER

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Karen is thrilled to be returning to Synapse for her fifth year as a Lead Teacher in Level II. Karen grew up in the Bay Area and graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz with a BA in Psychology. Her first teaching assignment was a long-term substitute position, where she taught second grade. This experience ignited a passion for children and Karen spent the next eight years teaching in a Special Ed Transitional Kindergarten classroom. In addition to education, she has a love for the healing arts and is a certified Reiki Master and Ayurveda Health Counselor. She loves seasonal cooking, gardening, and spending time hiking with the love of her life, her dog, Maggie.

 

 

MISHA TOOFAN - LEVEL II LEAD TEACHER

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Misha is thrilled to be back for the second year at Synapse in her new role as the Level II Lead Teacher. She has a BA in Microbiology from Shiraz University, a Web Design degree from Foothill College, and a Medical Assistant Certificate from Boston Reed College. She has been in the educational field for more than 16 years working with students in Kindergarten to 5th grade, both within the Milpitas School District and private schools. She believes all children deserve to have an opportunity to receive a well-rounded education and she is committed to bringing that vision into her classroom every day. She enjoys traveling with her family and tasting food from all around the world. Her usual hobbies are reading, cooking and outdoor activities. 

 

JESSICA BEATTY - STEAM TEACHER

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This is Jessica’s third year teaching STEAM at Synapse and sixth year as a classroom teacher. Jessica has worked in education for over a decade through various opportunities including outdoor education and outreach where she brought her love of biology, zoology, and nature to local communities. Jessica holds two masters degrees; one in biology from the University of Bergen in Norway where she focused on ornithology and biodiversity, and one in education through the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute (BATTI) where she focused on social justice and collaborative learning. Along with spending time with her two cats Jack and Jane, Jessica enjoys baking delicious treats, traveling with her girlfriend, and crafting with repurposed materials.

CAROLINE BURD - SPANISH TEACHER

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Caroline is excited to be back at Synapse for her third year! Born and raised in San Francisco, Caroline earned her BA in French from Smith College, her MA in Basque Studies from the Université de Bordeaux III, and her PhD in French at the University of Colorado. After helping a Boulder-area charter school start up a French program for their middle and high school, she spent four years at Missouri Western State University as an assistant professor of French before returning to the Bay Area. Caroline has lived in France, Spain, and Germany, and loves traveling, languages, cooking, reading, and spending time with her family. 

 

MICHELLE CHANEY - LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER

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Michelle is excited to return for her sixth year at Synapse. Originally from the Bay Area, she moved across the country to earn her BA in Psychology from Princeton University and her MSEd in Elementary Education from the University of Pennsylvania. After graduation, Michelle moved to Sydney, Australia, where she taught first grade for three years. Michelle then returned to California in 2015 to work as a second grade associate teacher at The Nueva School. In addition to teaching, Michelle also enjoys coaching springboard diving at her local pool. Some of her greatest passions include traveling, hiking, and collecting beautifully illustrated picture books.

ANNE CHANG - STEAM SPECIALIST

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Anne is entering her eleventh year of teaching at Synapse and has experience teaching both lower and middle school classrooms from 3rd through 8th grade. Anne came from a sixteen-year career in health care operations and consulting prior to pursuing her passion for teaching. She received her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Notre Dame de Namur University, a Masters in Public Health from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Stanford University. In addition, she has a daughter in college and enjoys singing, photography, writing, and cheering on her daughter's sports teams.

 

 

JOHN GREGORY - LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER

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John is excited to return for his seventh year in the Synapse Middle School. Growing up in Portland, Oregon, John attended independent schools that instilled him with a lifelong curiosity and passion for education. Seeking to expand his horizons, he attended Vassar College, where he majored in English and Political Science, and enjoyed exploring the Northeast with the rowing team. After graduation, John worked in book publishing before he was accepted as a New York City Teaching Fellow, which allowed him to begin teaching in a new public middle school and earn an MEd in English Education from Fordham. After several years, John took a position teaching English at Columbia Prep and attended City College of New York for an MFA in Creative Writing. John enjoys spending time outdoors with his dogs and discovering all that the Bay Area has to offer.

 

Tsailin lai - Mandarin TEACHER

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Tsailin is excited to begin teaching Mandarin at Synapse School. Tsailin integrates cultural elements into her lessons to give students a deeper understanding of differences and traditions, and is passionate about helping students build confidence and apply their language skills through role-playing and real-life interactions. She believes education shapes both the mind and the heart and strives to make language learning fun and accessible. Tsailin holds an accounting degree from USC but changed careers after having her two daughters and delved into child development courses, later earning a Master's in Teaching Foreign Languages from Middlebury College. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, watching movies, spending time with friends over tea, traveling with family, and trying new cuisine with her husband.

 

 

EBEN LAPIER - SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER

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This is Eben's ninth year as a Synapse teacher. After three years as an Associate Teacher in Level III, Eben joined the middle school team as a math teacher and 7th/8th grade advisor. Eben graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 2010 with degrees in Mathematics and Medieval Literature and received his teaching credential from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont in 2012. Eben is happiest when teaching his students to not fear math, or running simulations and hands-on projects. When he is not teaching he enjoys riding his bike, playing tabletop games, and "marching" with his tuba in the Stanford Band.

 

MARK LEITCH - MATH TEACHER

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Mark has been in love with mathematics for quite a while now. He holds a BS in Energy Engineering from Penn State University with a focus on studying renewable energy. Toward the end of college, Mark discovered a passion for teaching. He moved to New Orleans and taught 7th/8th graders in math, science, and special education for 3 years. In his last year in New Orleans, he also enjoyed tutoring advanced mathematics to students up for a challenge. Mark’s favorite thing about Synapse is that he gets to explore mathematics through unique and exciting projects! In his free time, you can find him hiking, marathon-ing and playing Magic: The Gathering. He is incredibly excited for another year at Synapse!

 

Justin lenzi - language arts teacher

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Justin will be in the role of 5/6 Language Arts Teacher and serving as the advisor for Michelle’s advisees until she returns from maternity leave. Justin has been teaching K-8 students for 15 years and most recently helped develop curriculum for the Learning Design Group at U.C. Berkeley. He taught fifth grade at San Francisco Day School, where he served as the Grade 5 team lead, taught multiple subjects, designed curriculum, and served as a Grade 5 advisor. In addition, Justin is currently completing his Ed.D in Educational Leadership through San Francisco State University and is an Adjunct Professor with the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute (BATTI). In his spare time, Justin enjoys making music with a modular synthesizer, going on adventures with his dog, and playing board games with friends.

 

BEN MEISELES - MATH TEACHER

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This is Ben's fifth year as a Math Specialist and Middle School Advisor at Synapse. Earning his BS in Mathematics from Duke University, Ben went on to work in professional services at Red Hat for several years. Despite his foray in the tech world, Ben has always wanted to serve as an educator and role model for children. As a math teacher, Ben strives to enable students to embrace the skills and mindsets that create great mathematicians, lifelong learners, and intentional global citizens.

 

 

HALEY PALAMOS - ASSOCIATE TEACHER, MIDDLE SCHOOL STEAM

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Haley is happy to be back for her second year at Synapse as Middle School STEAM Associate Teacher. Haley earned her BS in physics from the University of San Francisco and her MS in astronomy from San Diego State University. After graduating, she served as Planetarium Director at Eugene Science Center where she presented live, interactive planetarium shows to hundreds of visiting school groups. Before joining the team at Synapse, she taught physics and astronomy at University Prep, and independent middle and high school in Seattle. In her free time, Haley enjoys baking and spending time outside skiing, hiking, stargazing, and playing disc golf. 

 

 

SHELLY WHITTET - SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER

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Shelly came to us from three years at Nueva, where she taught in third grade and Kindergarten. Shelly brings a range of diverse experiences and perspectives to the Synapse community, from managing playground builds with the nonprofit KaBOOM!, to working with Galileo Learning, to serving with the U.S. Peace Corps in Malawi and Niger, to working as a writer for Habitat for Humanity International. Shelly completed her Masters in Education and California teaching credential through BATTI, and she holds an BA in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Shelly loves reading, being outside, hanging out in her hammock, and embroidering. 

 

REBECCA ARNOW - LITERACY SPECIALIST

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Rebecca is thrilled to be joining the Synapse Learning Center as a Literacy Specialist. She began her teaching career in public schools in Durham, NC, where she earned her K-6 teaching credential from Duke University. She then spent 10 years overseas teaching grades K, 2, 3 and 5 in International Baccalaureate schools in Singapore and Vienna, Austria, where she gained a passion for teaching through inquiry. She is a Palo Alto native, and moved back to her hometown with her husband and young children to be closer to family. She is about to graduate with a Masters in Language and Literacy from Lesley University, and is excited to put all she has learned into practice in her new role at Synapse. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, hiking, cooking, playing with her kids, and of course, reading!

 

JULIE ANTUPIT - LEARNING SPECIALIST

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Julie is thrilled to join the Synapse Community as a Learning Specialist this year! She started her teaching career in the Boston area at Landmark, a school for dyslexic students, where she was trained in multi-sensory structured literacy methods and pursued her Masters in Elementary Education at Lesley College. She enjoyed teaching fourth grade at Shady Hill and Park School and being a learning specialist at Park and Brookwood before completing her training as a reading specialist at MGH in Boston. Julie moved to the Bay Area in 2012 and has enjoyed being a learning specialist at the Carey School for the last ten years. Julie is passionate about supporting children in developing the skills to thrive as independent learned in school and beyond! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and college-age son, traveling, and exploring new places and cultures.

 

PAIGE CAREY - LEARNING SPECIALIST

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For her tenth year at Synapse, Paige is thrilled to be back as a Learning Specialist. After attending the University of San Diego and receiving a BA in Marine Science, Paige moved back to the Bay Area to pursue a career that intertwines both education and marine life. She completed her Masters in Education - Curriculum and Instruction at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont. She has worked with Galileo Learning Inc. and has been a Team Leader, Lead Instructor in Art, and Lead Instructor in Science for a variety of ages. She is also developing a new business, Little's Athletics & Education, working with children in After School programs, enrichment, school breaks and summer camps. Paige is passionate about instilling a sense of creativity and confidence in children in all aspects of life and learning, as well as having loads of fun. She possesses many talents and passions such as singing, playing piano and ukulele, dancing, swimming, kayaking, painting and crafting, cooking, and spouting off fun facts about sea life.

 

BERNIE CASTRO - PHYSICAL EDUCATION SPECIALIST

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Bernie has been teaching at Synapse for 6 years and has been coaching kids in sports since the age of 19. He is a multi-sport athlete born and raised in the Bay Area. His devotion for coaching and thoughtfulness for kids developed from being the oldest of 6 siblings. He is passionate about teaching the youth world life skills through sports. He is excited to start the school year and motivated to be a role model for the Change Makers here at Synapse.

 

 

CORINNE CRISTIANI - GARDEN SCIENCE SPECIALIST

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Corinne is absolutely thrilled to be joining the Synapse community as a Garden Science Specialist.  Corinne was previously a middle- and high-school math teacher, and while taking some time to raise her two young kids, she deepened her love of gardening.  Returning to working in schools, she is envisioning the garden as a multi-disciplinary classroom filled with opportunities to explore curricular connections and cultivate joy in nature.  Corinne holds an MA from San Francisco State in Math Education, and a BS from the University of Maryland in Aerospace Engineering.  In her free time, she likes tinkering and doing crafty projects, hiking, playing games, and relaxing with her kids, husband, dog, and friends.  

 

 

NATALIE EINHORN - DIRECTOR OF FINE ARTS; PERFORMING ARTS SPECIALIST

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Natalie is thrilled to return for her eleventh year at Synapse as the Director of Fine Arts. She has a deep passion for guiding students through the world of music and performance. She uses an interactive approach that specializes in integrating performance curriculum with social studies, language arts, STEAM, and design thinking. Natalie has taught in private schools on the peninsula since 2001. She also taught for four years at Cantabile Youth Singers of Silicon Valley. Natalie received her BA in music from University of California Santa Cruz and her Masters in Vocal Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She has completed the three levels of Orff Schulwerk training at Mills College along with other Orff specialty courses. When not teaching, Natalie enjoys spending time with her husband and two children: a Synapse Middle Schooler and a recent Synapse graduate.

 

 

PIETRA ESCALANTE - LEARNING CENTER ASSOCIATE

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Pietra is thrilled to be returning for her second year at Synapse as a Math Specialist and to be part of the Learning Center team. She holds a BA and MA in Mathematics, and did research in Discrete Mathematics for several years before finding a passion for discovering how children learn, which led her to designing ludic activities in order to understand how children solve math problems. Pietra enjoys cooking (not that she is good at it!), reading, watching art house and international films and noticing every single detail in how her plants, as well as everything else in nature, grow and flourish.

 

 

AKEESHA GIDDINGS - LEARNING SPECIALIST

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Akeesha is excited to be returning for her second year at Synapse as a Learning Specialist. Prior to joining Synapse, Akeesha enjoyed a range of experiences from working in the non-profit sector in Youth Development to being a Literacy Specialist in the Peace Corps. Akeesha holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from The Ohio State University, and has been working with youth for 7+ years. Outside of teaching, Akeesha enjoys baking vegan cupcakes, reading, developing her new business Desiree's Lil Book Shop and learning about different cultures through her travels. 

 

 

BLAIR JOHNSON - MIDDLE SCHOOL SEL SPECIALIST

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Born and raised in Menlo Park, Blair attended the University of Vermont, where he earned a BS in Social Work from the College of Education and Social Services. After graduation, he moved back to California, where he began working for the Menlo Park City School District as a substitute teacher for grades K-8. More recently he worked at Encinal Elementary in Menlo Park as a long-term substitute within the severe/medical special needs classroom and as a resource teacher. In his free time he enjoys getting outdoors any way he can - snowboarding, fishing, sailing - or restoring vintage motorcycles in his garage. 

 

 

JOSH LEVIN - COMPUTING & ENGINEERING SPECIALIST

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Josh Levin is a mechanical engineer and educator from Sunnyvale, California. He completed his bachelor's at Northeastern University and earned a Master's in learning design, innovation and technology from Harvard University. As an undergraduate student, Josh interned at both Apple and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory working on the Mars Perseverance Rover. Prior to joining Synapse, Josh competed internationally for the US Climbing Team and is a four-time finalist on American Ninja Warrior. Josh is passionate about hands-on learning and working with students on projects to help them gain confidence and realize their potential. 

 

 

AMYTZA MASKATI - SPANISH SPECIALIST, LOWER SCHOOL

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This Teach for America alumnus began teaching Spanish in South Los Angeles, led American teenagers through Spain on a summer Experiment in International Living, managed an On-Location Education classroom behind-the-scenes of a Nickelodeon TV show in Miami, and collaborated with the creator of “Blue’s Clues'' to star in live-action, interactive educational theatre for kids! Amytza’s experience as a performing artist, public speaker, girls’ mentor program coordinator and traveling teacher for TV, film, and Broadway national tours inspires her to use Spanish as a tool to connect our Synapse students with our North Fair Oaks community and beyond. Amytza holds a BA in Spanish Translation/Interpretation and Journalism/Media Studies from Rutgers University - Douglass College, New Jersey, and MA in Urban Education: Language/Culture from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. Amytza studied Spanish in Spain, elementary Arabic in Oman, and enjoys practicing & instructing yoga, Zumba, Latin dance, and musical theatre as well as expanding her own personal growth/mindset coaching.

 

EARLY MCCALISTER - PERFORMING ARTS SPECIALIST

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Early has a unique combination of education and professional experience that allows him to teach with tremendous passion and enthusiasm that inspires his students to achieve their goals and enjoy playing music. He has earned a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Music Education with an emphasis in Social Justice. His education provides a solid foundation in a variety of teaching pedagogies and is well-versed in student-centered, project based teaching to students from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds and cultures. Early has an effective personalized approach to classroom and private instruction for Instrumental and Vocal Music, Improvisation, Composition, and Songwriting. In addition to teaching he has over 25 years of experience as a Performing Artist, Musician, and Musical Director/Bandleader for concerts, private events and television shows.

 

PEGGY MCLEAN - MATH SPECIALIST, LOWER SCHOOL

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Peggy received her BA and MA from San Jose State University. For the past 45 years she has been training teachers across the nation in the use of manipulative math materials to foster greater understanding of math concepts presented in the elementary grades. Peggy trained pre-service teachers at Notre Dame de Namur University for 25 years and has had the joy of visiting their schools in the Bay Area and other sites across the nation. With Mary Laycock, she created the elementary math program at The Nueva School, where she was Math Specialist from 1975 - 2015. Peggy joined Synapse full time in 2016 and currently works with teachers in Levels I, II, and III. She is the co-author of several books on the use of various manipulative materials, many of which are currently used at Synapse School.

 

BRITNEI MERCKLE - VISUAL ARTS & DESIGN SPECIALIST

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Britnei received her MA in Art Education in 2012 from NYU Steinhardt in New York City. She also holds a BFA in Fine Art Photography from Ohio University with a minor in Theater Arts. Britnei is a New York State Certified Arts Educator and has taught art at a variety of private schools including the United Nations International School, where she designed and implemented lesson plans for a digital photography class. She has developed a theme-based curriculum for art classes and curated exhibitions of student work. She also has a great deal of studio experience. Britnei looks forward to her seventh year here at Synapse supporting the arts and innovation programs.

 

SARAH NAYLOR - PERFORMING ARTS SPECIALIST

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With a deep passion for empowering children to use their voice through the creative arts, Sarah is delighted to join Synapse as a Performing Arts Specialist! Sarah studied harp performance and musical theater at the Manhattan School of Music and Boston Conservatory, and then Philosophy at Columbia University. While in New York, Sarah worked as a harpist in Broadway and off broadway musicals - but found her calling in progressive education teaching music and drama to at-risk youth in Harlem, New York. Sarah has worked as a Fine Arts educator in private and independent schools in Boston, New York, Salt Lake City, and the Bay Area. When Sarah is not teaching or harping, she loves spending time writing, camping, running, and hiking with her two children and dogs.

 

CHRISTOPHER POPE - ENGINEERING & DESIGN SPECIALIST

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Christopher is a carpenter, educator, and artist. Since 2012, he has been practicing carpentry in one form or another. Christopher has an extensive history of teaching kids at the intersections of arts and carpentry. He received his BA from CSU East Bay in 2014 with a focus in Art History. In 2015 he joined the Project Ember team as their first staff hire, teaching kids creative arts and engineering. Also in 2015, Christopher joined the Stepping Stones Project to mentor and counsel young boys on their journey into young-adulthood. He is passionate about social justice education and has been involved in anti-racist and anti-sexist organizing for the past five years. He currently co-organizes a mutual aid project in El Cerrito, CA looking to serve at risk communities being impacted by COVID-19. At Synapse, Christopher loves tinkering and is dedicated to bringing the principles of justice and equity, as well as SEL, into the work he does with students in the Makerspace. When he isn’t working, Christopher can be found at home with his family and beautiful daughter, Salma, the love of his life!

 

LAUREN ROBERTSON - LEARNING SPECIALIST

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Lauren is an Educational Therapist from La Jolla, CA, specializing in learning and developmental differences. She has an extensive background in education and psychology and knowledge of learning differences. Lauren is passionate about reading intervention and the integration of mind, brain education into her work. She uses research-based reading methods like Orton-Gillingham to create a multisensory connection by using sight, hearing, touch, and movement to help students connect with language and phonetics. Lauren fosters a growth mindset in all her students and encourages development through student agency, and creating and implementing individualized learning plans. She enjoys connecting with her students and their families and collaborating with other professionals to ensure the reinforcement of a students' goals. Lauren works with multiple literacy-based nonprofit organizations providing reading services to students with developmental disabilities and at-risk youth. She is looking forward to getting to know the Synapse students and families. 

 

JOSH ROTHHAAS - COORDINATOR OF ENGINEERING & DESIGN

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After four years as a consultant and co-designer for the Makerspace at Synapse, Josh is super excited to officially join the team full-time this year. Over the last decade, Josh helped found a school called Brightworks in San Francisco, was the Director of Tinkering School, and is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of Project Ember. He is passionate about empowering kids to use physical and mental tools to see themselves as agents of change in a malleable world. Whether he is teaching 9-year-olds how to use a miter saw to cut lumber, or 14-year-olds how to do critical path analysis to reach their goals, Josh has an innate talent for connecting with children on an individual level and helping them to engage with their projects from a place of authentic enthusiasm. He's committed to creating a failure-positive environment where ideation and experimentation thrive. Josh loves logic problems, magic tricks, surfing, and when kids give each other sincere and specific gratitude.

 

KEIKO SATO - SEL SPECIALIST, LOWER SCHOOL

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Keiko is delighted to be the Lower School SEL Specialist. These are magical and formative years of a child’s life! She has been a teacher since 1989 and has two Master of Arts degrees in Education: from Japan’s prestigious Keio University and from Stanford University. Early in her teaching career, Keiko became focused on a need to incorporate emotional well-being into the educational curriculum. To address this, she has complimented her advanced degrees with on-going professional education around specific social-emotional skills. This includes training in early childhood emotional development, adult-child connectedness and trauma-informed education with Hand in Hand Parenting; emotional intelligence with Six Seconds; and social justice in education with the Diversity Leadership Institute. Keiko works tirelessly to keep abreast of the latest research and training in each of these areas. She brings all this information to bear in crafting lessons and connecting with children to help them reach their full potential as intellectual, social, emotional beings. Keiko is ever-grateful for working with the team of incredible teachers and the brilliant, wonderful students at Synapse!

MACARENA SOSNIK - VISUAL ARTS & DESIGN SPECIALIST

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Maca is a graphic designer by training from the Universidad Finis Terrae in Chile who worked in marketing and corporate design for 20 years and a crafter/maker by passion. A native Spanish speaker, she seeks to inspire children to create the things they use, wear, and play with. Maca has been working with us for the past six years bringing together the worlds of design and SEL and creating another layer of constructivist learning by integrating art projects into the school curriculum. She also offers students empowering Maker opportunities during the school day and after school. Maca is a mom of two Synapse kids, second- and eight-graders, and she enjoys spending time outdoors.

 

ANNIE TURNER - GARDEN SCIENCE SPECIALIST

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Annie is thrilled to bring her passion for gardening to the students and community of Synapse. A love of the natural environment and deep appreciation of food and cooking has kept Annie in the garden throughout her life and this is the second school garden that Annie has helped to grow from seed. Annie believes school gardens are a rich resource for integrating project-base learning into core academic subjects like science and social studies, helping to connect our food choices to social, environmental, political and economic impacts. Mom to 6th and 3rd graders at Synapse, Annie hopes to inspire kids to feel the healing power of getting dirt under their fingernails, explore the garden dichotomy of control versus chaos, and discover the sheer delight of tasting a sweet juicy tomato grown from seed. Annie is from the Pacific Northwest, where she earned degrees in English and Fine Arts from Pacific Lutheran University.

 

PAULO VALENCIA - PHYSICAL EDUCATION SPECIALIST 

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Paulo is a graduate of San Jose State University and holds a BS in Kinesiology. He comes to Synapse after working with children under 2 in the Stanford community and over 10 years at the athletics department of the Boys and Girls Club of Redwood City. He enjoys teaching sports and motivating youth to develop an interest for staying active and healthy. Paulo is excited to be a part of the Synapse team and inspire students through Physical Education. He loves to spend time with his three year old at the park and watch him throw, shoot and kick a ball. He enjoys attending sporting events, barbecuing and spending time with family and friends.

 

 

 

LEADERSHIP TEAM: 

The Synapse Leadership Team moves our school’s strategic vision into every day practice. Members of Leadership hold diverse functions and areas of expertise but operate in the best interests of the school as a collaborative and supportive group. The Team proactively resolves issues, models empathy, and supports each other when making decisions. Our doors are always open!