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Alexandra Ruiz
Transitional Kindergarten
Bachelor of Arts - California State University Chico
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Alexandra holds a BA in Liberal Studies with a minor in Child Development from the California State University at Chico, where she also later earned her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. She has served as a Reading Intervention Specialist at Sheppard Accelerated Elementary School and a long-term Substitute Teacher at Sheppard and Durham Elementary in first grade and kindergarten, respectively. Alexander wrote to us in the interview process that she “strives to teach each student so that they can achieve whatever they set their minds to."
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Taylor Terrell
Transitional Kindergarten
Bachelor of Arts - UC Santa Barbara
Master of Arts - University of San Francisco
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Anne Mauboussin
Kindergarten Teacher
Bachelor of Arts, Union College
Master of Arts, Cornell University
Master of Arts, Western Governor's University
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Anne has worked as a Mandarin instructor in New York, served as a paraeducator doing literacy intervention and special education in Washington state, and also taught fourth grade in the Rincon Valley School District prior to her arrival at SCDS in 2022. Anne brings her enthusiasm for learning, dedication to collaboration, and expertise with common learning differences like dyslexia to our first grade classroom this year.
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Amberlee Hannan
Kindergarten Associate Teacher
Bachelor of Arts - San Francisco State University
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Amberlee joined the SCDS kindergarten classroom in 2022 after working as a much sought-after substitute teacher in Sonoma County since 2008. Amberlee also has experience as a shift supervisor at Starbucks, meaning she's organized, team-oriented, and makes a mean cup of coffee - all critical educator skills. Amberlee lives in Santa Rosa with her husband and two children.
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Kelsey Kessner
First Grade
Lower School Learning Support Coordinator
Bachelor of Science - Montana State University
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Annie Engel
First Grade Associate Teacher
Bachelor of Arts, Tobe Coburn Institute
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Annie is an experienced independent school educator, having taught previously at Blue Oak in Napa, and Presidio Hills in San Francisco. Annie also has experience developing after school programming, summer programs, and has worked on marketing campaigns for schools before. We are thrilled to have Annie as part of the SCDS community and know our first graders will benefit from her broad expertise!
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Shane Spencer
Second Grade
Bachelor of Arts, St. Mary's College
Masters of Education, St. Mary's College
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Shane holds a MEd, Multiple Subject Credential, and a BA in Justice, Community, and Leadership, all from St. Mary's College of California. Prior to joining the SCDS community, Shane has worked as a Student Teacher and Substitute Teacher with Mt. Diablo Unified School District, a Counselor with Steve & Kate's Camps in Corte Madera, and a Coach for Lamorinda Water Polo Club.
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Wendy Ritter
2nd Grade Associate
Bachelor of Arts - CSU Sacramento
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Grace Williams
Third Grade
Bachelor of Arts, UC Santa Cruz
Master of Science, University of Edinburgh
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Grace, who began at SCDS in the Fall of 2021, has served as an English instructor in France, a substitute teacher for Santa Rosa City Schools with a long-term position at the Santa Rosa French-American Charter School, and as a private tutor in France, England, and the United States. Grace is completing a Master of Science in Linguistics from the University of Edinburgh and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from the University of California Santa Cruz. Grace’s warmth and her passion for nurturing curiosity and creativity are all readily evident in her teaching, and she brings a wonderful perspective to our third-grade class.
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Ally Moreno
3rd Grade Associate Teacher
Bachelor of Arts - CSU Chico
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Jessica Lawson
TK-8 SEL Teacher
Bachelor of Science - Brunel University, London
Master of Science - London School of Economics
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Amy Baer
Library and Media Specialist
Bachelor of Arts, Sonoma State University
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Amy is excited to take on the Library and Media role this year, supporting reading, writing, and research skills across the grade levels. Amy is a wordsmith with a deep interest in reading and a zeal for playing Scrabble. Amy’s favorite thing about teaching is watching students transition into independent learners, yet witnessing their youthful excitement and curiosity for learning. Her experiences with children, both personally and professionally, give her the confidence to guide students in a fun and engaging way.
Amy lives in Windsor with her husband and children. Her oldest son, Robbie, is an SCDS alum ('03), and her daughter Madi follows in mom’s footsteps with her passions for reading and soccer. Twins Gracie and Garrett keep up with the family on the soccer field, bike riding, playing games, and swimming.
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Monica Mann
Lower School Literacy Support Coordinator
Bachelor of Arts, Sonoma State University
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Monica has spent almost twenty years in education. She has always loved school and knew that she wanted to be an elementary teacher from a very early age. She started volunteering and working in education during her junior and senior years in high school and continued volunteering throughout college. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Sonoma State University and a minor in Biology. She received a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with a CLAD emphasis from Dominican University. She has taught kindergarten through fourth grade over the past fifteen years. Monica has taught drama, been part of Leadership Team, served as a reading coach, grade level team leader, and a master teacher for student teachers. She has attended many professional development workshops in writing and enjoys teaching the writing process to her students.
Monica enjoys spending time with daughter, who is a member of the Class of 2023, doing many outdoor activities together including mountain biking, hiking, camping, and trail riding in the jeep and on the dirt bike. She also enjoys baking, scrapbooking, and walking her dog.
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Wendy Gahagan
Lower School Visual Arts Teacher
7/8 PVC Visual Art Teacher
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Miami University
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Wendy has brought her experience and expertise with her to Sonoma Country Day School. She believes in nurturing the ever-evolving artist within each student while focusing upon individual skill, creativity, and discovery.
Wendy began her artistic journey in Ohio. She graduated cum laude from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a minor in art history. Soon after graduating, Wendy began teaching. She designed and taught classes for Common Space, a non-profit organization offering summer programs in the visual, performing, and literary arts. She then completed Montessori training and taught pre-primary art at Westside Montessori. Before relocating to Sonoma County, Wendy spent six years at the Toledo Museum of Art, teaching classes and workshops in pottery, drawing, painting, sculpture, and mixed media to students of all ages.
When not teaching at SCDS or working in her home studio, Wendy has her own business, Zala Studios. Her custom fine interior finishes are found in homes primarily in San Francisco and the Bay Area. She also shares a passion for tennis, hiking, skiing, travel, museums, and music. Wendy resides with her husband, dogs, and 1906 "fixer upper" in the quaint town of Geyserville.
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Kathy White
TK-2nd Grade Motor Skills Class
3-4 Grade Physical Education
Volleyball Coach
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Kathy White joined Sonoma Country Day School in 1999. Kathy loves teaching hands-on activities and believes that athletics is an avenue to learning life skills that children will use for the rest of their lives. As department head, one of Kathy’s goals is that students learn to love and appreciate lifelong fitness and see that it can be achieved many different ways.
Kathy is an avid runner and has participated in the Boston Marathon.
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Christina McGuirk
TK-3 Science Teacher
Bachelor of Arts - University of Southern California
Master of Arts - Sonoma State University
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Before coming to SCDS in 2022, Christina was the Science and Sustainability Educator at Marin Country Day School. Previously, Christina worked as an educator with Sonoma County Regional Parks, teaching science and sustainability to school-aged children across the county, including our own SCDS students. She has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Sonoma State University, training science teachers.
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Krystle Jeffers
Lower School Music Teacher
Bachelor of Arts - Azusa Pacific University
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Jeanne Weaver
Lower School Spanish
Bachelor of Arts, Wake Forest University
Master of Arts, Sonoma State University
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Chunxiang Wang
Mandarin
Bachelor of Arts, Baotou Teachers’ College
Master of Arts, San Francisco State
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Chunxiang Wang joined SCDS in 2011 and teaches Mandarin to students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Chunxiang obtained her master's degree in the United States after graduating from college in China. She has taught Mandarin in public and private schools at the elementary and middle school levels and also to adults. In China, Chunxiang was encouraged by her college English teacher to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. Teaching brings her a sense of achievement and satisfaction. She loves children and has always had a passion for learning. Being able to teach every day makes her feel extremely happy and thankful.
Her interests outside of school include hiking, badminton, tennis, ping-pong, and being with friends and family.
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Ana Esquer
School Counselor
Bachelor of Arts, University of La Verne
Master of Educational Counseling, University of La Verne
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Prior to joining SCDS in 2022, Ana served as a School Counselor at Annie Wright School in Tacoma, WA. She has previously worked as a School Counselor for South San Francisco, Apple Valley, Charter Oak Unified School Districts, and has been a Special Education Paraeducator for Azusa Unified. Ana brings a gentle nature, a genuine love of young people, and experience in parent education to SCDS, and we look forward to welcoming her to our community.
