Overview

Find Faculty & Staff at Country Day

Below is a list of members of the administration, staff, and faculty at Sacramento Country Day. To locate a Country Day employee, click on the drop-down menus below to search by department or last name. Clicking on a faculty or staff member’s name creates an email to that person.

This list must not be used by any person or organization to circularize, or otherwise solicit, the persons included in this list for any purpose, except by the specific permission of Sacramento Country Day School.

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Sang Kim

Sang was born in Jinju, South Korea. The family moved to Sacramento and Sang attended Country Day for his middle school years and first two years of high school. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of San Francisco and his law degree from McGeorge School of Law. He works at Katz Kirkpatrick Properties, a land development company. He and his wife, Shayna, have a daughter attending the lower school.

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Grove Nichols

Grove’s Country Day board tenure is extensive, serving as a trustee from 1987-1994, board president from 1991-94, and returning to the board in 2010 as treasurer. Raised on Long Island, Grove graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont where he majored in English and played varsity ice hockey. His ice hockey career continues with a regular Sunday morning game on a men’s team. He received his MBA from Stanford with a concentration in finance.

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Drew Petersen

Drew is a Californian – born in Lafayette and educated at Cal State Chico (BS in finance and economics), and UC Davis (MBA). His work is with Strada Investment Group in real estate investment and development. Drew is a former WNBA coach for the Sacramento Kings (Monarchs) and the Portland Trailblazer organizations. Drew and Grace’s daughter is a Country Day high school student.

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Julie Sloat
President

Julie grew up in Sacramento, attended La Sierra High School and CSU Sacramento, and earned a law degree from McGeorge School of Law. She is a veteran of Desert Storm and operated a KC-135 boom for the 940th air refueling reserve unit. Julie’s work experience includes public relations for PG&E, law and public policy for the California Cable TV association, and general counsel for Nationwide Health Plans of California.

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Kelley Taber ‘84
Past President

After graduating from Sacramento Country Day, Kelley attended Harvard University, where she was captain of the varsity swim team and graduated magna cum laude with a major in East Asian Studies. She returned to California for law school at the University of California, Davis. Kelley is an attorney in private practice specializing in land use and natural resource law.  She is the mother of two baseball players, both SCDS students, and a devoted St. Louis Cardinals fan, as well as a former Little League president.

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Stan Van Vleck

Born in Reno and raised in Sacramento, Stan earned his bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and a JD from McGeorge School of Law. He is a member of the Advisory Council of the Cal Poly College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences, a partner and chairman of the city’s largest law firm, a lobbyist, and a cattle rancher.

The family ranch is looking forward to the year 2056, when it will celebrate its 200th year of running their ranching business in Northern California. Stan and his wife, Nicole, have two high school students at Country Day.

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Steve Edwards

Steve is the owner/CEO of The Edwards Company, specializing in commercial real estate. Originally from southern California, Steve spent many years in Boston and is a devoted Red Sox fan. He returned to the Sacramento area for college at Sacramento State and has worked in the real estate field for several decades. Steve is a former co-president and vice president of the board of trustees, and he and his wife, Cynthia, are the parents of a Country Day graduate and a high school student.

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Rohitesh Chand

Rohitesh was born in Suva, Fiji Island, and his family moved to the States when he was seven. They originally settled in Los Angeles and later moved to Sacramento to be closer to family. Rohitesh earned his bachelor’s degree from Sacramento State and is an owner and transportation broker for Landmark Logistics, a trucking/transportation company headquartered in Folsom. Rohitesh is an active soccer player on a men’s over-40 recreational team and coaches his children’s competitive teams. He and Sandee have three children at SCDS.

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Billy Downing ‘98

Billy Downing is a proud Sacramento native who attended Sacramento Country Day School and Jesuit. After high school, Billy obtained his undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley and his graduate degree from the University of San Francisco before returning back home. His extensive non-profit board experience includes working with Wind Youth Services, Positive Coaching Alliance, San Juan Education Foundation, and the YMCA of Superior California. Billy and his wife, Jessaca, have two children, Costa and Korina, and live in Sierra Oaks.

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Loren Kaye
Treasurer

Loren grew up in Del Mar, in north San Diego County, and attended UC San Diego, graduating with a bachelor’s in political science. He is president of the California Foundation for Commerce and Education, a think tank affiliated with the California Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife, Cassie Gilson, have a daughter in the lower school at Country Day.

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Lee Mahla

Lee has spent time in many parts of the United States: she was born in New York, grew up in Greendale, WI, and Easton, PA, attended Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, and has lived in Chapel Hill, NC, and Los Angeles. Lee is a realtor with Coldwell Banker, as well as the owner of RightSize Your Move, a senior move management company. Lee and her husband Chip’s two children both attended SCDS.

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Louay Owaidat

Louay is the president of Great Lakes Environmental & Infrastructure and on the board of advisors for CSUS’ College of Engineering and Computer Science. Louay attended high school in Beirut and college in the United States.

Along with his board of trustee service, Louay’s interest in soccer translates into his board membership on the Union FC soccer club, as well as his association with Sac Republic FC. Louay and Maya are the parents of three SCDS students: two graduates and one in middle school.

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Patrice Ratinoff

Patrice was raised in Los Angeles and graduated from California State University, Northridge with a degree in business administration and accounting. She moved north after her apartment was declared off limits following the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Patrice’s career path has taken her from an accountant with Ernst & Young to marketing and sales at Tiffany & Co., and Baume and Mercier.

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Emily Stephenson

Emily was born in San Francisco and graduated from the University of California, San Diego, with a bachelor’s in sociology and a double minor in European history and physics/biology. She is retired from her position as a senior executive producer at the Intel Corporation and currently is the managing director of Stephenson Medical Consulting, Inc. Emily and husband, Topher, have a son in lower school.

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Jeremy Burr

Jeremy left his home state of New York to attend Williams College in Massachusetts, where he graduated with a double major in astrophysics and economics. He spent a year studying at the London School of Economics, and then returned to Massachusetts to earn his MBA from the Harvard Business School. Jeremy is a founding partner of Spotlight Equity Partners, a private equity firm focused on acquiring software and technology-enabled service companies headquartered in the United States.

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Francis Zhang

Francis was born in Shanghai, China, lived in Philadelphia, and calls Sacramento home. His undergraduate work was in mechanical engineering and his MBA is from Rowan University in New Jersey. He is the president and CEO of Promptar, Ltd., a business based in Elk Grove which involves space technology, particularly for the thermal protection coating of flying objects, and optical components for sensors and electronic systems.

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Lindsey Sackheim

Born in Portland, Oregon, Lindsey grew up in Northern California and attended the University of Southern California, where she received a bachelor’s in communications. Her successful fundraising skills are evident in her work in the community: she co-created Luxe for Life benefitting the Sacramento Children’s Home and directed the Chip in Fore Charity golf events, which raised funds for local children’s non-profits.

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Angela Donlan
Secretary

After growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, and graduating from St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana, Angela moved west to attend UC Davis Law. She is an attorney with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, with an expertise in natural resource law. Angela joined the board three years ago, and she and her husband, Rob, have two children at Country Day.

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John Gudebski

John joined the board of trustees ten years ago and has chaired the buildings and grounds committee for much of that time. John grew up in Vacaville, received his bachelor’s in international relations from the University of California at Davis, and his law degree from UC Hastings Law.

Faculty & Staff

Valerie Adelsheim
Assistant to the Head of School

B.S., University of Minnesota

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Faculty & Staff

Amanda Ashdown
Fourth Grade

B.S., Baptist Bible College

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Faculty & Staff

Jane Batarseh
World Language Department Chair
High School Latin

B.A., Principia College; M.A., California State University, Sacramento

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Faculty & Staff

Jane Stroup Bauman
Director of College Counseling
High School English

B.A., University of California, Santa Cruz; M.A., Georgetown University

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Faculty & Staff

Elena Rodriguez Bennett
Lower School Music

B.A., Cornell University; M.Div., Yale University (Divinity School); M.Ed. California State University, Sacramento

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Faculty & Staff

Brian Billings
Middle School Latin

B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara

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Lonna Bloedau
International Student Coordinator

B.A., California State University Sacramento

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Faculty & Staff

Cameron Bohn
Third Grade

B.A., University of Colorado; B.S., Montana State University

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Faculty & Staff

Edward Bolman
Sixth Grade
Middle School Mathematics Department Coordinator
Middle School Student Council Advisor
Middle School Dean of Student Life

B.A., California State University, San Francisco

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Faculty & Staff

Kelley Brown
Learning Specialist

B.A., Loyola Marymount University; M.A., St. Mary’s College

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Faculty & Staff

Aleitha Burns
Sixth Grade, Middle School Science Department Coordinator

B.S., State University of New York

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Marisa Christie
Assistant to the Head of Lower School

B.A., University of California, Berkeley

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Faculty & Staff

Victoria Conner
High School Chemistry

B.A., Mt. Holyoke College; M.S., High School Education: J.D., Widener University School of Law

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Faculty & Staff

Alexis Covey
Second Grade

B.A., Skidmore College

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Faculty & Staff

Bill Crabb
Middle School History

B.A., M.A., California State University, Chico

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Faculty & Staff

Andy Cunningham
Middle and High School Art

B.A., Menlo College; M.A. Hunter College

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Faculty & Staff

Richard Day
High School French

B.A., University of Maryland, College Park; M.A., University of California, Berkeley

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Faculty & Staff

Julie Didion
Middle and High School Ceramics & Sculpture

B.A., California State University, Sacramento

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Emily Eustace
Middle School English

B.A., New York University; M.A., Notre Dame of Maryland

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Faculty & Staff

Barbara Fackenthall Tash
Pre-Kindergarten

Early Children Education Certificate, Sacramento City College

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Faculty & Staff

Patricia Fels
High School English
Newspaper Advisor

B.A., M.A., Stanford University

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Faculty & Staff

Damany Fisher
High School History

B.A., University of California, Davis; PhD, University of California, Berkeley

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Faculty & Staff

Tucker Foehl
Assistant Head of School

B.A., Wesleyan University; M.A., M.Phil. Yale University

(916) 481-8811 x352
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Faculty & Staff

Gretchen Fogelstrom
Fifth Grade

B.A., Oregon State University; M.A., University of Oregon; M.S. School for International Training

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Hannah Frank
Accounts Payable and Purchasing

A.A., American River College

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Faculty & Staff

Brian Frishman
Theater Director
Middle and High School Drama

B.A., California State University,Sonoma; M.F.A., University of California, Los Angeles; Teaching Certificate, University of California, San Diego

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Faculty & Staff

Aggie Geminder
Second Grade Assistant

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Faculty & Staff

Jane Gillette
Second Grade

B.S., Georgetown University; M.A., Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

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Faculty & Staff

Sue Goodwin
Kindergarten

B.A., Millikin University

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Faculty & Staff

Cade Grunst
Middle School Science

B.S., University of California, Davis

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Faculty & Staff

Eric Hennion
Middle School French

Université Charles de Gaulle

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Faculty & Staff

Jason Hinojosa
High School English Department Chair
High School English

B.A., St. John’s College; MFA, University of Iowa’s Writer’s Workshop

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Jay Holman
Director of the Physical Plant

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Faculty & Staff

Patricia Jacobsen
High School Mathematics
High School Dean of Student Life

B.A., New York University; M.Ed., Harvard University

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Faculty & Staff

Barbara Johnson
Assistant to the Head of Middle School

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Faculty & Staff

Hadley Keefe
Director of Admission

B.A., Providence College

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Faculty & Staff

Felecia Keys
Lower School Music
Grades 5-12 Orchestra, Chamber Music, Choir

B.A., Patten University; M.S., California State University, Chico

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Faculty & Staff

Robin Kren
First Grade

B.S., Oakland University; M.S., Wheelock College

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Faculty & Staff

Jason Kreps
Physical Education

B.A., California State University, Sacramento

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Joy Pangilinan Kronemeyer
Director of After School Enrichment & Summer Programs

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Faculty & Staff

Chris Kuipers
Middle & High School History Department Chair
Middle School History
College Counselor

B.A., Amherst College; M.Ed., Harvard University

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Dhinesh Kumar
Custodian

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Faculty & Staff

Kathryn LaComb
Middle School English

B.A., St. Lawrence University; M.Ed., Harvard University

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Faculty & Staff

Lauren LaMay
Middle School English Coordinator, Middle School English

B.A., Princeton University; M.A., Brown University; M.Ed., Harvard University

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Matt Liedtke
Custodian

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Faculty & Staff

Pamela Livesey
Fourth Grade

B.S., University of Georgia

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Faculty & Staff

Sandy Lyon
Head of Middle School
Middle School History

B.A., University of California, Los Angeles; M.Ed., University of La Verne

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Faculty & Staff

Glenn Mangold
High School Calculus
High School Physics

B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology; M.A., University of California, Santa Barbara; California Teaching Credential

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Faculty & Staff

Donna Manning
Pre-Kindergarten

B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara

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Faculty & Staff

Kristi Mathisen
Third Grade

B.A., California State University, Northridge; M.Ed, California State University, Sacramento

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Faculty & Staff

Joanne Melinson
Middle and High School Librarian
Literary Magazine Advisor

B.A., La Salle University

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Faculty & Staff

Chris Millsback
High School Mathematics Department Chair
High School Mathematics & Microeconomics

B.A., Wesleyan University

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Faculty & Staff

Lindsay Mitchell
Middle School Spanish

B.A., University of Missouri; M.A., University of California, Davis

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Faculty & Staff

Laura Steele Monahan
Middle School Mathematics

B.A., University of California, Santa Cruz

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Faculty & Staff

Michelle Myers
Physical Education Department Coordinator, PK-12th grade

B.S., California State University, Sacramento

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Faculty & Staff

Patricia Naylor
World Language, Lower School French

B.P.A., University of Arizona

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Faculty & Staff

Susan Gorton Nellis
High School History

B.A., Whittier College; Teaching Credential, University of California, Davis

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Julie Nelson
Director of Communications
Webmaster

B.A., Portland State University

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Faculty & Staff

Ines Ochoa
World Language, Lower School Spanish

B.A., University of California, Davis; Teaching Credential, Chapman University

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Faculty & Staff

Maya Pelle
Middle School Spanish

B.A., University of California, Davis; Teaching Credential, St. Mary’s College

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Faculty & Staff

Maura Ryan (‘02) Perotti
First Grade

B.S. Santa Clara University; M.A., Santa Clara University

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William Petchauer
Chief Financial Officer/Business Manager

B.A., Albion College; MBA, San Jose State University

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Faculty & Staff

Latonia Pitts
First Grade Assistant

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Faculty & Staff

Patricia Portillo
High School Spanish

B.A., University of California, Irvine; M.A., University of California, Riverside; PhD, Temple University

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Sanjesh Prasad
Custodian

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Faculty & Staff

Bob Ratcliff
Director of Middle and High School Bands
AP Music Theory

B.M., University of North Texas; M.A., Washington State University

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Faculty & Staff

Pat Reynolds
Life Skills Counselor

B.S., Cleveland State University; M.Ed., Cleveland State University

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Rudi Rose
Human Resources and Payroll Manager

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Sue Ryan
Lower School Librarian

B.A., Cardinal Stritch College; M.S., California State University, Fullerton

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Faculty & Staff

Denise Scruggs
Middle School Mathematics

B.A., Saint Leo College (FL); M.S., Old Dominion University (VA)

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Faculty & Staff

Julie Shanks
Lower School Arts

B.S., California State University, Sacramento

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Sailendra Singh
Maintenance Foreman

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Faculty & Staff

Sarah Song
Kindergarten

B.A., California State University, Sacramento

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Faculty & Staff

Bill Stainbrook
Physical Education Faculty

B.S., California Polytechnic University, San Lois Obispo

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Melissa Strong
Assistant Middle and High School Librarian

Faculty & Staff

Wayne Strumpfer
High School Mock Trial

B.A., California State University, Sacramento;
J.D., McGeorge School of Law

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Faculty & Staff

Elissa Thomas
High School Computer Science and Mathematics

B.S., Arizona State University; M.S., Arizona State University

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Faculty & Staff

Lee Thomsen
Head of School

B.A., Harvard University; M.A., Johns Hopkins University

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Christy Vail
Head of Lower School

B.A., California State University San Francisco

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Dana Vargo
Associate Director of Admission

B.A., University of the Pacific; M.A., University of the Pacific

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Matt Vargo
Athletic Director

B.A., University of the Pacific

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Valerie Velo
Assistant to the Head of High School
Assistant to the Athletic Director

B.A., California State University, Sacramento

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Amy Nelson Wells ’98
Alumni Director
Development Coordinator

B.S., University of California, Berkeley; M.S., University of California, Davis

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Faculty & Staff

Brooke Wells
Head of High School

B.A., Haverford College; M.Ed Michigan State University

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Carol Wessels
Controller

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Faculty & Staff

Kellie Whited
Middle and High School Science Department Chair
High School Biology
Nutrition elective

B.S., Ph.D, University of California, Davis

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Faculty & Staff

Doug Whited
Middle School Science

B.A., University of California, Davis

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Erica Wilson
Administrative Assistant/Receptionist

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Faculty & Staff

Carolyn Woolf
Director of Advancement

B.A., California State University, Chico; M.A, Indiana University

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Faculty & Staff

Tom Wroten ’99
Director of Technology

B.F.A., Chapman University

(916) 481-8811 x202
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Faculty & Staff

John Yu
Fifth Grade

B.S., University of Delaware

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