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OUR TEAM

Our faculty and staff combine passion, dedication, and flexibility with the wisdom of many years spent teaching children to achieve their fullest potential.

Pictured above: Our in-person professional development training with our teachers, two weeks prior to the start of the 2021-22 school year (masked and ready to inspire).

Head of School

OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL

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Wendy Xa

Founding Head of School

Neuroscientist. Nature Enthusiast. Quadrilingual. Mom.

 

After founding Presidio Knolls, the award-winning private Mandarin-immersion school in San Francisco, Wendy had a vision for a pioneering school that could combine language immersion, nature-based education, and social-emotional learning into a unified program. With four years of operation under its belt, Terra Marin is the exemplification of this vision.

 

“I created my first school, Presidio Knolls, to be the school I wanted for my own two children. It was incredible to watch it become everything I dreamed of. Then, over ten years working with hundreds of students and teachers, I learned how to create something even better. That’s what Terra Marin is.”

Teachers

OUR Preschool TEACHERS

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Tianxing Yao
TK Mandarin Preschool
Talented poet. Amusement park enthusiast.

M.A. in Education from the University of San Francisco. B.A. in Electrical Engineering from Xi’ an Shiyou University in China. 7 years of teaching experience.                                                                                                  

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Patricia Etchekan
Mandarin Preschool

Singer. Quadrilingual.

B.S. in Preschool Education at Inner Mongolia Normal University and M.A. in Chinese Language & Literature at Inner Mongolia University, China. 4 years of preschool teaching experience. Fluent in Mandarin, French, and English. Proficient in Spanish.

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Shiying Phoebe Sun
Mandarin Preschool
Creative. Friendly.Traveler.

M.A. in Education from the University of San Francisco. B.A. in both English and Business Administration. 7 years of teaching experience. 

our Lower School TEACHERS

(in order by grade)

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Riva Zippin
Kindergarten & 1st Grade 
Contagious laughter. Doting aunt. Ms. Frizzle Dress-Alike.

B.A. from UC Berkeley. 15 years of teaching experience. Multi-subject accredited elementary teacher. 

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Molly Becher
1st & 2nd Grade

Creative. Friendly. Adventurous.

B.A. in Liberal Arts from Cal State Chico. Multi-subject accredited elementary teacher.  Grew up in Marin County, feels "very blessed to live in such a lovely place."

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Andy Trapp
3rd & 4th Grade
Skier. Mountain biker. Rock band drummer.

B.A. from the University of Michigan. Multi-subject accredited elementary teacher.  13 years of teaching experience. Father of three.

OUR Upper School TEACHERS

(in alphabetical order)

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Mike Burkett
5th-8th Grade Science 

Permaculture gardening enthusiast. Proud owner of Charlie the Science Dog. Father. Renaissance man.

Over 15 years of teaching experience in the sciences. 

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Michael Field
5th-7th Grade Math 
Ultimate frisbee, hiking, and gardening. Cook. Slam Poet. Guitarist.     

B.A. in Mathematics & Philosophy from Brown University. 10 years teaching experience. Meditation teacher. 

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Lesley Fisher
7th-8th English, High School Counselor

Backpacking enthusiast. Dancing fool.

Over 15 years of teaching experience in Humanities. Mother of 2 daughters in high school.

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Chloe Lechuga
7th-8th Grade English/Humanities,
SEL Consultant

Ocean lover. SoCal soul with a NorCal heart. Food lover and cooking enthusiast. Smashed penny collector.

B.A. in Human Development and Early Childhood Education from Sonoma State University. 8 years of teaching experience with at-risk youth. Pursuing a Masters in Social Emotional Learning. 

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Agustin Olmedo
5th-8th Grade Math

Bilingual. Father of a baby girl.

B.A. in Mathematics from SFSU.  First of his extended family to graduate college and wants to help others to do the same. 

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Israel Palacio

PK-8th Grade Spanish 

Cat and dog lover, passionate about math and philosophy.

B. A. in Spanish Literature from San Francisco State University. Born and raised in Mexico City; moved in 2015 to the Bay Area.

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Stephen Riave

5th-6th Grade English, 5th-7th Grade Humanities 
3-time principal and middle school English teacher. Wordsmith. Nature Enthusiast. 

B.A. from UC Santa Cruz. M.A in Educational Administration from SFSU. Multi-subject credential. 

OUR MUSIC, DRAMA, EARTH eDUCATION, world language & ART teachers
(in alphabetical order)

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Chloe Jean Bermudez
PK-8th Grade Music 

R&B musician and composer. Nature enthusiast. Mother of 2 two.

UC Berkeley graduate & accomplished musician. 5+ years teaching experience in music and the arts.

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Jake Chamberlain
Art Teacher PK-8th Grade

Filmmaker. Artist. Outdoors enthusiast.

M.F.A. in Documentary Filmmaking from Stanford University. Grew up in Eagle River, Alaska exploring the great outdoors and shooting films with friends. 

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Aidan Gavet
Drama & Safety Director 

Actor. Playwright. Director. Music video producer. Hairdo freestyler.

Over 10 years teaching experience in drama and the arts.

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Emili Herrera
K-8th Grade Spanish 
Hardworking. Fearless. Enthusiastic.

Teacher with 5 years experience. Loving daughter, and friend.

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J. Alex Michel

Earth Education Director
Tuba player. Fire fighter. Trilingual.

Double Major with B.S. in Environment Science/Society and B.A. in Slavic Languages and Literature from UC Berkeley with a minor in Education.

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Shanshan Wu

K-8th Grade Mandarin
Passionate chef. Epicure. Avid volunteer. Mother.

B.A. from Shenyang University, China. 5 years of experience teaching Mandarin to all ages. Volunteer at orphanages and senior citizen homes.

Administration

Our ADMINISTRATORS & Staff

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Shauna Sullivan

Assistant Head of School
Cat & child whisperer. Math wiz, Avid reader and book collector. Proud grandmother.

B.A. and M.A. in Education with a focus in mathematics from SFSU.  20+ years classroom experience. Cat and children whisperer. Just became a grandmother for the 2nd time.

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Chloe Lechuga
SEL Consultant, 7-8 English/Humanities

Ocean lover. Epicure and culinarian.

B.A. in Human Development and Early Childhood Education from Sonoma State University. 8 years of teaching experience with at-risk youth. Pursuing a Masters in Social Emotional Learning.

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Juan Rebuffo
Marketing Manager
Pop Culture Enthusiast. Designer. East-Coaster turned West Coast.

B.S. in Marketing & Business Entertainment, Music, and Technology from NYU Stern. Jack of all trades, master of some. Fluent in English & Spanish.

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Shruti Dattani
Finance Manager

Financier. Mother of two. Epicure.

Shruti is creative, innovative, and a visionary. She was born in Africa, lived in Australia, and married in America. 

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Johanna Cervantes 
Operations Manager
Marathon runner & standup comedian.

BA in Environmental Studies and Theology & Religious Studies from USF.  Fluent in English and Spanish. 

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Rebecca Lewis 
Operations Manager/Front Desk
Loves her dog, Hermione.Tough Mudderer.

B.S. in Early Child Education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Previously, 4 years as an administrator at a Veterinary hospital and 13 years as a preschool teacher. 

Board & Advisors

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS & ADVISORS

Wendy Xa, Board President
Simona Chongo, Board Member
Levi Leavitt, Board Member
Jen Guittard, Board Member & Advisor
Jane Camblin, Advisor
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