Enrichment Teacher Bios

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Enrichment Teacher Bios

Alphabetical by subject Academic Support Stephanie Lamb [email protected] Years of teaching experience: 20

Credentials: BA from College of Notre Dame; Masters in Education from College of Notre Dame; Early Childhood (3-6) AMS Montessori Certified; Lower Elementary (6-9) AMS Montessori Certified

At the age of five, Stephanie knew that she wanted to be a teacher. Since then she has taken great pleasure in teaching children how to read and write. When she was in high school, Stephanie helped in special education classes and taught Sunday school. In 1998, she joined Bowman and had the opportunity to work with and learn from Mary Beth, Nancy and Alex. Through this experience she discovered how a truly authentic Montessori classroom needed to be run. She enjoys spending my free time with family and she likes baking cookies with my daughter and working on our scrapbooks.

Library Pam Evans

[email protected] Years of teaching experience: 4

Credentials: Master Library and Information Science, San Jose State University

I have always loved reading and books. My first job, when I was 13 years old, was working in the local public library. When I went to Library School I intended to work as a children's librarian. While in school I discovered I also enjoyed the challenge of online research and spent a number of years working in law firms as a law librarian. When my children were born I left the legal field and returned to children's libraries. 6 years later I started at Bowman and discovered I was always meant to be a school librarian. I love being part of the community and working with the students through their developing interests and abilities.

Ann Dawson

[email protected]

Years of teaching experience: 4 (children), 20+ (adults)

Credentials: BS - Psychology, California State University, Hayward; BA, Art History - University of California, Berkeley; MS Education (focus Educational Psychology;

University of California extension certificates: Independent Educational Consultant, Career and College Advising

Ann has spent most of her career working in the area of education. She has over 20 years of experience developing and directing corporate education programs. Additionally, she had her own education

consulting business, tutoring elementary age students primarily in reading and writing, as well as academic advising. Prior to joining Bowman in January 2015, Ann worked as a substitute teacher in local public and private schools (grades K – 4) while continuing her freelance work.In her free time, Ann enjoys spending time with her family and friends, working with various art museums and local art organizations, traveling, photography, and spending time outdoors.

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Enrichment Teacher Bios

Mandarin Kate Chen

Credentials: M.A. from Barcelona University; AMI certified 3-6

Kate was born and raised in Taiwan. She started to work at Bowman in 2007 as a Junior Level classroom teacher. One of the many things she has always enjoyed about working with children is seeing their enthusiasm for learning and watching them grow throughout the year. Kate believes that each child is unique and it is important to cater the learning experiences to their individual needs. In 2012, she was given the opportunity to teach Mandarin Chinese to the entire school. Teaching and learning foreign languages has always been one of her passions. Kate had the privilege to live in Barcelona, Spain for her graduate studies for 3 years. While I was in Spain, she taught both Spanish and Mandarin Chinese as second languages in her spare time. She enjoys exploring new cultures and appreciates how they enrich our lives. This year, the chance to explore her own language and culture with the students of Bowman will again be a fulfilling experience. Let the journey begin!

Music Steve Escher

Credentials: B.A. Luther College, Decorah, IA; Orff-Schulwerk Music training certification, San Francisco, CA.

Steve began teaching at Bowman in 2002 and the 2015-2016 school year will be his 14th year. He graduated from Luther College with a B.A. in English and Political Science in 1973, followed by post-graduate work in music at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. Before Bowman, he worked for 15 years in Music Acquisitions at the Stanford University Music Library. While at Bowman he graduated from a 3 level program of training in Orff-Schulwerk music education at Mills College and the San Francisco School. Steve has a special interest in Renaissance and Baroque music and he performs regularly with many ensembles across the U.S. and Canada. Steve started and is responsible for the band, orchestra and choir programs found here at Bowman. In his spare time he enjoys gardening and cooking.

Shawn Briggs

Credentials: Bachelor of Arts, California State University, East Bay.

Shawn joined the Bowman community in 2014 as part of the enrichment staff to teach music to juniors and middle school. He was born and raised in the Silicon Valley and began studying music in his early teens. At CSU East Bay he studied United States history and began giving private lessons for piano and guitar in 2008. In his spare time Shawn likes to perform and record bass with his musical projects, read, and garden.

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Enrichment Teacher Bios

Peace and Play Jenny Ward

Credentials: MFA from New York University; Licensed court mediator; Yoga Therapist

Jenny has been seen across the country bringing play, work/life balance and parent workshops to Visa, You Tube, Merrill Lynch, Girl Scouts, YMCA, Stanford and numerous other corporations and non profits. She has over 20 years of experience in Mindfulness techniques through her curriculum Peace and Play, and has worked with schools across the country implementing them. Her individual clients have enjoyed working with Jenny on mindful parenting, play, stress eradication and play based parenting for over 13 years. Jenny’s work can be seen on DOVE, San Francisco Times, Today’s MAMA, Nick for Kids, and numerous other publications. Jenny has written three books and is a proud mother of an amazing daughter, two cats and a dog.

Physical Education Jaclyn Pieper

Credentials: B.L.S. in Liberal Studies, Iowa State University; B.S. Exercise Sport Science from Iowa State University, California teaching credential in K-12 Physical Education; Iowa teaching credential in K-12 Physical Education and Coaching.

The 2015- 2016 school year will be Jaclyn’s sixth year teaching at Bowman and her thirteenth year teaching overall. She is a member of CAHPERD (The California Association for Health, Physical

Education, Recreation and Dance) and SHAPE (Society of Health and Physical Educators). She teaches the entire school Physical Education and she is also the Bowman Athletics Director. For Jaclyn, it continues to be a privilege working day in and day out with the Bowman students and seeing them improve their physical fitness and achieve their individual and team goals. In her spare time, you can usually find her watching a variety of sporting events and cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones, St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers. She also enjoys spending time with her husband Jon, and their two children, Samantha and Scott. She is looking forward to another exciting year. Go Bees!!!

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Enrichment Teacher Bios

STEAM - STEM Ryan Knight

Credentials: BA California State University – Chico; CA Preliminary Teaching; Credential Santa Clara University; AMS Certification ages 6-12; NAMTA/AMI; Certification ages 12-18

The 2015-2016 school year will be his thirteenth year teaching at Bowman. During his tenure at Bowman, he has accomplished several goals. He has completed Montessori training for Elementary Levels I and II, received AMS (American Montessori Association) credentials as a fully qualified (ages 6 -12 year olds) Guide. In 2007, Ryan K. was selected to represent Upper Elementary teachers in the “Glass Classroom” as part of the Montessori Centennial celebration. The 2010-2011 school year, he started on a new path, as he transitioned out of Upper Elementary and took on the new challenges of teaching at the Middle School level. He spent most of the summer participating in the NAMTA (North American Montessori Teacher Association) Adolescent program. Ryan K. also believes deeply in getting the students involved in working with their hands. He helps the students build projects in the Bowman wood shop. In his spare time, he likes to read, play strategy games, build models, cook, and spend time with his family.

STEAM - UEL and MS Art Kristin Silver

Credentials: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Santa Clara University.

Working at Bowman for the past five years has allowed Kristin to fulfill her dream of continuous learning and exploration. She was fortunate enough to pursue her passion in for art at Santa Clara University, where she toiled away for many hours in the darkroom as a photography major. As an educator, Kristin teaches Upper Elementary and Middle School Art, as well as Stagecraft to both levels. As an artist, Kristin has always appreciated the strange and unfamiliar, often seeking out new experiences and techniques. Tending to favor physically-involved art, Kristin believes the process of creating art carries as much value as the end result. She has studied such varying art forms as drawing, alternative-process photography, ceramics, painting, welding, stained glass, and woodworking. Outside of Bowman, Kristin loves to fill her free time with the "Four Cs": camping, cooking, cycling, and costuming.

STEAM - LEL Art Suzana Korff

Credentials: BA Art, Mackenzie University Sao Paulo, Brazil; Pre-School & Kindergarten Teaching Credential from Sonoma State - Ursula Thrush IMS; Lower El Credential from UC Berkeley - Ursula Thrush IMS

The study of art guided Suzana into the profession of teaching. She began her teaching career with the students of Sao Paulo in Brazil aged six to fifteen. After arriving in the United States in 1982, she expanded her knowledge of Montessori curriculum through certifications from Sonoma State and UC Berkeley. When teaching Montessori Suzana is mindful to expose the child to the elements of life for all things are connected with each other to form one whole world. This idea helps to focus the child as they become a part of the curriculum. Her love for the study of botany, zoology, astronomy, geography, and the history of mankind greatly influences her teaching methods. It is her hope to inspire children to love learning always.

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Enrichment Teacher Bios

STEAM - JL Art Seda Gokcen

[email protected]

Years of teaching experience: 14 years

Credentials: Bachelor of Arts and Education; Marmara University in Turkey

Seda became interested in the Montessori philosophy after she moved to the USA. Before she started working at Bowman School in 2000, she worked as a volunteer in Montessori schools in the area. After she had her first child, she took a few years off to raise her baby, but came back to join the Bowman teaching staff as soon as she was able. Seda is a teacher and a parent of 7th year student at Bowman. She was born in Paris, raised in Turkey, and now lives in California, going on 16 years. In her free time, she loves playing tennis, visiting art galleries and museums, reading decorating magazines, and getting together with her friends.

Theater - UEL and MS Amy Peisach

[email protected] Years of teaching experience: Credentials: 11

Credentials: M.A. in Education from John Hopkins University; B.A. in Psychology from Towson University

Amy was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and moved to the Bay Area in 2008 following the completion of her Master's in Education from Johns Hopkins University. Shortly after moving, Amy received her California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential as well as her Single Subject Teaching Credential in Secondary Language Arts. Amy's journey at Bowman began at 2009 as the middle school language arts teacher, and the following school year she implemented what is now the Bowman theater program. In 2013 Amy was given the exciting opportunity to pursue theater full time, and expanded to include productions across all age levels. As Amy embarks on her seventh year at Bowman, she is excited to continue building a theater program that integrates Montessori philosophies, and encourages students to be responsible, creative, and motivated life long learners.

Theater - JL and LEL Mindy van Rietschote

[email protected] Years of teaching experience: Credentials: 7

Credentials: B.A. University of Tulsa; AMS certification Ages 3-6

Mindy began her career as a Bowman teacher in the Junior Level, where she spent her first three years, after which she moved into the role of Junior Level and Lower Elementary Level Theater Teacher. Mindy currently directs the Lower Elementary and Junior Level play productions. She was born and raised in the Netherlands and moved to California at age ten. She is member of the very first graduating class of Bowman. She completed her degree in Musical Theatre at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma in 2009, and received her AMS certification locally in 2013. Mindy returned to Bowman as a teacher in 2011 and she is thrilled to be here alongside some of her former teachers! In her spare time she is an avid traveler; it is her personal goal to travel to all 7 continents. She is also an animal lover, sharing her home with her cat, Phoebe, and loves singing and listening to music.