Willow Creek Acacdemy Staff
Willow Creek Academy is delighted to introduce its Head of School and Teachers
Our faculty is dedicated to providing Willow Creek's students with a rich and exciting inter-disciplinary curriculum centered on language arts, mathematics, history and science with a strong emphasis on the arts, environmental issues, appropriate uses of technology and the nurturing of each individual student's strengths.
Our classroom teachers all have California Teaching Credentials and our Assistant Teachers all have four year college degrees and in many cases are working on advanced degrees and/or teaching credentials. Our instructional specialists are also all college graduates with specialization in their specific fields.
Our Head of School
Carol Cooper, has an extensive background in both teaching and administration. She has been a Marin County resident for 35 years; 18 of which have been in Sausalito. To quote her, "This is the best job I have ever had. Working with Willow Creek families over the last 6 years to create this school has been a remarkable experience. This year our enrollment and staff have tripled sine our first year; our 2007-08 school year promises to be even more rewarding and exciting than our past six."
Introducing our Teachers:
Primary (K-2)
Alise Perez and Lisa Goodrich-Boyd, Kindergarten
Eliza Lurie and Michelle Elmore, 1st Grade
Jan Loshin and Becky Jackson, 2nd Grade
Intermediate (3-5)
Emily Cook and Stephen Barbee, 3rd grade
Michelle Morris, 4th Grade
Nathania Jacobs, 5th Grade
Upper School: (6-8)
Kristin White, 6/7/8 grade team
Wendy Powell, 6/7/8th grade team
Melissa Nestel, 6/7th/8th Grade team
Instructional Specialists (School Wide):
Becky Jackson, Visual Arts
David Singleton, Physical Education
Nancy Spottiswoode, Music
Alise Perez, Kidergarten
Alise is a local, Marin County native. She grew up in San Rafael and told us in her initial interview that she decided to become a teacher because of all the help that teachers gave her in her San Rafael public school experience. Those early teachers taught her to believe that she could become a leader and an educator. Kindergarten under Alise's direction is teeming with enthusiasm as students learn their letters, their sounds and, perhaps most importantly, how to work both independently and with each other.
Eliza grew up in Reno, NV with her two older brothers, and now lives in San Francisco. She loves to hike, ski, and do triathlons. As a graduate of UC Davis, she majored in Communications and played lacrosse for three years as an Aggie. One of her college highlights was traveling abroad on Semester at Sea during her sophomore year. Eliza completed her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and Master of Arts in Teaching Reading at the University of San Francisco in 2004. She brings a passion for teaching reading to her students as they enter into the world of literacy.
WCA's first grade is not only about learning how to read and write, but also a time to focus on character education. In addition, this Spring is will be a busy time with lots of writing units, field trips, and putting on our own Reader's Theater play!
Jan Loshin, 2nd Grade
Willow Creek is fortunate to have Jan Loshin on our staff---coming to us with 15 years of teaching experience. In addition to providing her students with a rigorous math and language program, she plans a series of field trips to urban and rural environments in the Bay Area to share this glorious area with her students. Their first serious study of geography is highlighted with trips to the top of Mt. Tam, ferry rides to San Francisco and the agricultural areas of Pt. Reyes.
Emily Cook, 3rd Grade
Emily brings to her third graders experience with the Great Books program, a knowledge of the Bay Area's cultural institutions such as the Asian Art Museum, Strybing Arborateum in Golden Gate Park and Alex, the third grade turtle. Third grade is abuzz with the integration of scientific studies combined with art, language and the environment.
Michelle Morris, 4th Grade
Michelle is our own version of the British Invasion. Experienced in working with English language learners, educational technology and a great comfort level with science, Michelle brings 10 years of experience to our fourth grade class. She runs what she calls literacy boot camp, resulting in terrific young writers and thoughtful readers by the end of their year with her.
Nathania Jacobs, 5th Grade
Nathania has taught English in Japan and then worked with 5th and 6th graders in a Charter School in Harlem. She headed west to join a Master's Program at the University of San Francisco in Education and Social Justice with Herb Kohl. She found Willow Creek three years ago and her students reflect her attention to detail, focus on personal responsibility and in depth studies of creative writing, American History and literature. As with so many other classes, a wide range of field trips expand the walls of the classroom into real iife applications of what is learned in traditional studies.
Kristin White, Wendy Powell and Melissa Nestel, 6th, 7th and 8th grade.
The Upper School teachers have created and implemented a rigorous and demanding program with Kristin heading the history/social studies curriculum, Wendy teaching math to all three grades and Melissa delivering the English/language arts curriculum. Melissa and Wendy teach science while Kristin coordinates the 8th grade projects. In addition, the Upper School students serve as reading and garden buddies with lower grade classes, take advantage of a group of electives such as Law and Order, Yoga, Spanish, visual art and Chorus.