OUR TEAM
Credentialed, dynamic and rigorously-trained teachers. Passionate, seasoned administrators. Really nice people. We can't wait to meet you and your child. Picture (left) In person professional development training with our teachers two weeks prior to start of school year in Fall 2020 (masked and 6 ft apart)

"Intelligence: Not because you know everything without questioning, but rather you question everything you know. " ~ Maya Angelou
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OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL
Wendy Xa
Head of School
Two-time school founder. Neuroscientist. Mom.
Terra Marin is Wendy’s “encore project” after founding Presidio Knolls, the award-winning private Mandarin-immersion school in San Francisco.
“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.”
OUR Preschool TEACHERS
Tianxing Yao
TK Mandarin Preschool
M.A. in Education University of San Francisco. Talented poet. Dog lover. Amusement park enthusiast.
Melody Zhao
Mandarin Preschool
M.A. in Education George Fox University in Oregon. Singer and guitarist. Animal lover.
OUR Lower School TEACHERS
Riva Zippin
K On-Site
B.A. from UC Berkeley. 15 years teaching. Contagious laughter. Doting aunt. Ms. Frizzle Dress-Alike.
Enessa Sanchez
3-5 On-Site
B.A. in Liberal Arts from SF State University.. 15 years teaching. Committed to building strong relationships with children to help them with continuous academic/social-emotional growth.
Gabrielle Greenfield
K Outdoor Micro-School Marin
B.A. in English Literature & Plant Science from University of Maryland. Naturalist, playwright, puppeteer.
Ivania Portocarrero
5 English, K-8 Spanish On-Site
B.A. Psychology from San Francisco State
University, M.A. in Education from University of Phoenix. Traveler. Multilingual. Heart of gold.
Molly Becher
1 & 2 On-Site
B.A. in Liberal Arts from Cal State Chico. Grew up in Marin County, feel "very blessed to live in such a lovely place."
Andy Trapp
1-3 Outdoor Micro-School Marin
B.A. from University of Michigan. Multi-subject accredited elementary teacher. Rock band drummer. Skiing addict.
OUR Upper School TEACHERS
John Boyd (and wife)
7-8 Math, Virtual
Lover of numbers. Tutor extraodinaire.
Mike Burkett
5-8 Science, Virtual & On-Site
Permaculture gardening enthusiast. Proud owner of Charlie the Science Dog. Renaissance man.
Michael Field
5-7 Math, Advisor Virtual & On-Site
Backpacking enthusiast. Dancing fool.
Lesley Fisher
7-8 Humanities, Virtual
Backpacking enthusiast. Dancing fool.
Stephen Riave
6 English, 5-8 Social Studies Virtual & On-Site
3-time principal and middle school English teacher. Word nerd. Nature lover.
Shanshan Wu
K-8 Mandarin On-Site
5 years of experience teaching Mandarin to all ages. Lover of cooking and cuisine. Mother. Caring.
OUR TEACHERS who teach All GRades
Chloe Jean Bermudez
Preschool - 4 Music On-Site
UC Berkeley graduate & accomplished R&B musician. Nature enthusiast.
Diamond Dahlstrom
Earth Education Director
Northern California native. 2nd generation earth educator with 5 years experience. Expert in hands-on wild crafting & survival skills, tracking, mapping, regional hazards, bird language, & local flora and fauna identification.
Ryan Hickey
Music Director On-Site & Outdoor Micro-School
Passionate traveler. Often found on a music stage. Loves learning languages.
Aidan Gavet
Drama & Safety Director On-Site & Outdoor Micro-School
Music video producer. Hairdo freestyler.
Stephanie Romano
4-5 Earth Educator
B.S. in Geology and Earth Science with a physics minor from Portland State University. Nature nerd. Loves a good rock n’ roll show.
OUR ADMINISTRATORS
Leilani Tice
Admissions Manager
Shauna Sullivan
Assistant Head of School
BA in Education with a focus in mathematics from SFSU. 20+ years classroom experience. Kind-hearted. Lover of all children. Book hound.
Edie Alejandre
Director of Strategic Planning, Operations
Super organized. Mother. Calm under pressure.