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Dr. Patrick Gaffney, the Head of School at Marin Preparatory School is very excited about becoming part of the MPS community and taking on this most important responsibility.   A native of Los Angeles, Dr. Gaffney spent the last three years as the Secondary School Director at Colegio Karl C Parrish American International School in Barranquilla, Colombia-South America.  A top rated bicultural, bilingual  international school, Patrick had the responsibilities of the daily operations of the of the secondary educational program, curriculum implementation, faculty development, master schedule, Advanced Placement program as well as recruiting and hiring local and international  faculty. Dr. Gaffney received his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from UCLA, a Master of Science in Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from California State University, Northridge.  He started his varied and interesting education career as a teacher and school counselor which eventually led to many leadership roles in a number of schools in California, including Principal of a K-8th Grade school within the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. Dr. Gaffney also has experience as an evaluator for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Patrick took a year off with his family and lived in Spain before taking the Secondary School Director post in Barranquilla, Colombia. His wife Laura, and the “light of their life”, 5 year old son Dakota, are also excited to return to California. “Senor Patrick”, as he will be called  has amazing ideas to lead the children, families and faculty of Marin Preparatory School to even greater heights.

Dr. Dayna West is Director of School Services at Marin Preparatory School, and is delighted to be a part of the school community. “Señora Dayna” has her undergraduate degree in psychology and Spanish from Pomona College and her M.Ed. and bilingual teaching credential from UCLA.  She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Alliant International University with an emphasis in child, family, and multicultural studies. Dayna is passionate about children, learning, and exploration of all kinds. She has visited every continent and has held numerous teaching positions from preschool through high school, in the United States, South America, and Europe.  She was the Assistant Principal and Elementary School Counselor at Asociación Escuelas Lincoln, the International School in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Dayna was a Staff Psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at Children’s Hospital Oakland, where she did much of her clinical training, and where she also held the position of Assistant Director of Training. In her multifaceted administrative role, Dayna will draw on her broad background in her work with the faculty, students and families of Marin Preparatory School, as well as in the greater SF Bay Area community. Dayna lives in Marin County with her husband, daughter, stepson, and mini-goldendoodle puppy.

Señora Cameron Story is the Director of Admissions and proudly one of the founding faculty members at Marin Preparatory School. She grew up in Marin County and has spent her life enjoying the many resources that the bay area provides to families and children. She graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Language and Literature and continued her graduate studies in the Language Immersion Program at Middlebury College in Vermont. Señora Cameron has 20 years of fluency in the Spanish language, a passion for which was ignited while traveling abroad in Spain and later, living and working in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Señora Cameron’s teaching experience includes being the founder of ¡SABOR! Summer Camp and Spanish Enrichment Program, Assistant Teacher at The San Francisco School, Bay Area Camp Director of KISS (Kids Into Speaking Spanish), and Bilingual Instructional Aide at King’s Beach Elementary School. Señora Cameron lives in Mill Valley with her husband, Jeff, and their three young children, who love to come and visit Escuela Marin Prep.

Señorita Jess Sill is a Bay Area native with global dreams for her students. She is the founding kindergarten teacher at Marin Preparatory School and had tremendous input into the development of the curriculum. She fell in love with Spanish in high school and has traveled to Spain and Mexico to experience different Spanish speaking cultures. She earned her B.A. in Communications at Boston University. She was credentialed as a teacher while getting a M.A. in Early Childhood Education at Dominican University. She minored in Art History in Boston and worked on a Single Subject Art Credential at Dominican. Señorita Jess believes that it is very important to incorporate creative thinking and the arts into every aspect of each child’s curriculum. Students will be encouraged to explore and experiment creatively and freely. The students will also engage in structured art activities to reinforce lessons and create memories of lessons learned. The students will be welcomed into a warm, respectful, and community-oriented environment. They will consistently be given opportunities to succeed and make good choices. Señorita Jess believes in encouraging the development of the whole Kindergartener by teaching life’s lessons in a nurturing environment. She is the lead teacher in our Kindergarten K2 classroom.

Señorita Elizabeth Teasdale is a multifaceted educator with a passion for life, a love of learning, and a desire to instill that love and passion into her students through creative lessons and hands on interactions.  She graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Liberal Studies and a specialization in Studio Art.  At San Diego State, she was the team captain and social chair of the Women's Lacrosse Team. She earned two teaching credentials from SDSU in Art and Multiple Subjects. Señorita Elizabeth has volunteered at Father Joe's Village, along-term homeless shelter and as a coach for Girls On the Run.  She currently volunteers at Full Circle Fund and A Good Idea. Señorita Elizabeth has a passion for sustainability and helping to create a better world. She is part of the Marin Green Schools Alliance and she is helping to create the Green School Initiative through her work at FCF. For the past two years she has been a first grade teacher at Marin Country Day School, as well as the Redwood High School Varsity Lacrosse Coach. Señorita Elizabeth has a passion for being active outdoors with running, swimming, hiking, biking, and exploring the many trails around Marin. In addition to becoming the first grade teacher at Marin Prep, Señorita Elizabeth will be our Physical Education coordinator. 

David Burge is the 2nd grade teacher at Marin Preparatory School. He was born and raised in Oakland, where he attended Redwood Day School and then Urban High School in SF.  David  once again lives in Oakland, and after much travel, he never wants to move away from the Bay Area again! David received ha BA in Religion from Whitman College and his teaching credential from Cal State East Bay. He has taught in schools in Richmond and Oakland, CA, and at an international school in Sosua, Dominican Republic, as well as preschools in Walla Walla, WA and Beersheva, Israel. He enjoys reading all kinds of literature and arts & crafts, especially as they relate to creative reuse of household materials. He also loves listening to and making music, and has been favoring his ukulele as his instrument of choice. David is very excited to be a member of the  faculty at Marin Prep and to help create a classroom environment that emphasizes respect, equality, global citizenship and strong environmental stewardship. Come by and say "hola" to him upstairs in the 2nd grade classroom!

Señor John Irwin is a San Francisco native and  this is his first year as a member of the Marin Preparatory School faculty.  His elementary education was at San Francisco Day School and he graduated from Urban High School. John received a  degree in Sociology from UC Santa Cruz in 2006. After college he worked at the Jewish Community Center as an athletic coach, where he discovered his passion for working with today's youth. In 2009 he completed his multiple subject teaching credential with a Bilingual Certification (BCLAD) from USF. Having mastered Spanish while living abroad in college, John moved to Nicaragua to teach English to children in an elementary school in an impoverished area. John has also spent a great deal  of time in Mexico for two reasons-to elevate his Spanish and, being a dedicated surfer, to enjoy the waves.   For the 2010-2011 school year, John worked as a substitute teacher at Alvarado Elementary in SF and also taught Spanish at San Quentin Prison.  John is excited to work in the JK classroom this year, and looking forward to getting to know all the children at Marin Prep.

Gonzalo de Sepulveda is a Chilean artist and art educator.   He has been creating art (his expertise is two dimensional paintings and drawings) since his early childhood. He specializes in photorealism.  Gonzalo studied at the University of Chile and graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute.  His work has been displayed in several art shows. Gonzalo volunteers as a Muralist for Precita Eyes and has a passion for making art a part of the beautiful city of San Francisco. Gonzalo also works as an art educator and spends time teaching art in the Monroe Bilingual School of the Excelsior School District and of course at Marin Preparatory School. Gonzalo believes deeply that one of the most important responsibilities of his life is to share his passion for art with children. He is very excited to work at Marin Preparatory School as an art teacher, teacher assistant and to support our Spanish Infusion program. He is proud of be part of this amazing community of educators, parents, and students who believe that education is one of the most beautiful gifts that we can give to new generations.

Elsa Calvillo was born and raised in Central Mexico and Southern California. She is fluent in both English and Spanish. Elsa received her B.A. in Environmental Studies from SF State University. She immediately put her education and passion into action working with Literacy for Environmental Justice. Elsa ran the educational program at the restored wetland-Heron’s Head Park, and eventually became the Youth Development Coordinator. She then spent two years creating and integrating environmental service learning curriculum for SFUSD High Schools. In this capacity she designed and taught the Permaculture Education for Hayes Valley Farm. It was here she discovered her passion for educating world- minded youth. After traveling and teaching in Spain and Ecuador, Elsa is now pursuing a Masters of Arts in International Education (an on line program) from School for International Training in Vermont. Elsa is excited to continue to grow as an educator in her roles as an assistant teacher and Además educator at Marin Preparatory School.

Señor Amir (pronounced Amér) is the new science teacher/maestro de ciencias at Marin Preparatory School.  Amir, along with his five older siblings, was born and raised in San Francisco, while both his parents are from Pakistan and the Fiji Islands.  Before Marin Prep, Amir served two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in El Salvador; where he learned the Spanish language and taught environmental education to students (K thru 9) and teachers alike.  For nine summers, he was also a lead science teacher with the Aim High program, which directly caters to the academic and social needs of inner-city youth.  Amir earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Environmental Biology at UC Berkeley (GO BEARS!) and hopes to further his schooling towards a Master’s and PhD in Education.  Amir possesses a genuine passion for teaching science and is very excited to be part of the Marin Prep community.  

Señora Kate Offer, Music Specialist, is thrilled to be joining the community at Marin Preparatory School.  Ms. Offer holds a Master's degree in Music Education from Holy Names University.  When she is not at Marin Prep, Ms. Offer works as a conductor and music teacher at the Nea Community Learning Center in Alameda and directs the Apprentice Chorus Division II at the San Francisco Boys Chorus.  She also serves on the board of the Northern California Association of Kodaly Educators.  In her free time, Ms. Offer performs comic classical repertoire as the Bay Area's only "melodramatic soprano" in her show "Aria Kidding?" with baritone and pianist, Eric Howe.

Señorita Alice Spencer-Davies is proud to be one of the founding faculty members of Marin Preparatory School, as an Además teacher and classroom assistant.  She was born and raised in San Francisco, and was educated through the Spanish immersion public school system, first attending Buena Vista Alternative Elementary School and then Horace Mann Academic Middle School.  She graduated from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, CA with a double BA in Psychology and History. Señorita Alice's affinity and passion for working with children began at an early age, as a former student for the Aim High Summer Program in SanFrancisco, Alice began teaching middle school summer school students through the same program and fell in love with this field. While completing her education, she operated the Play Club, the childcare department for the Bay Club Marin in Corte Madera. Señorita Alice ultimately found herself incorporating her love for Spanish and children at Marin Prep!  She lives in San Francisco, is an avid reader, enjoys spending time with friends and family, and one of her favorite activities is being outdoors and hiking.

Señorita Paula Gil is originally from Spain, where she earned an M.A. in Journalism and Communications at Universidad Complutense in Madrid. She spent 6 years in Berlin and Frankfurt working as a foreign correspondent for the Spanish newsagency EFE. When she moved to San Francisco in 2005 she kept freelancing for EFE another Spanish language media.  It was after the birth of her daughter, today a 3-year-old bilingual child, when Señorita Paula discovered her passion for teaching and working with children.  Señorita Paula is a firm believer in bilingual education as a way to expand the mind, promote tolerance and boost creativity. She has worked as a Spanish instructor at Lango Kids and has been head of the Spanish program at Beresford Montessori Preschoolin San Mateo. When not at Además or with the students, Señorita Paula loves spending time with her husband Maex and her daughter Vega, reading and discovering new places around the Bay Area. At Marin Preparatory School Señorita Paula will be in charge of Además and also participate in the classrooms as an assistant teacher. 

Señora Melinda (Lynn) Kanter-Levy is proud to be one of the “founding mothers” of Marin Day Schools, which, this year, celebrates 30 years of high quality childcare and innovative developmentally appropriate early childhood education in the San Francisco Bay Area. Melinda graduated from New York University with a degree in early childhood education and a specialization in learning disabilities. She taught special education in New York City prior to moving to California. Lynn taught preschool and pre-kindergarten before becoming a Preschool Director.  Currently Lynn is the Director of External Affairs for Marin Day Schools and Bright Horizons. Her responsibilities include being the liaison to public agencies for the City of San Francisco and the State of California, helping families with decisions about public and private school kindergarten placement, working with the families of special needs children, fundraising, writing articles and providing workshops for faculty and families on issues relating to children, families and education, being an active consultant to Marin Preparatory School, and being a member of SF Childcare Planning Advisory Council and the Marin Child Care Commission. Lynn is very excited to see the realization of a long-term dream and goal that she has had since 1989 with the creation of Marin Preparatory School, the first independent Spanish infusion school in San Francisco. Melinda currently lives in Marin County with her husband, Roger Levy. When she isn't working, she spends time playing with her 5 “practically perfect” grandchildren.