ELEMENTARY FACULTY & STAFF

Administration

Meaghan A. Carr

Head of School

Mandy Rizvi

Assistant Head of School

Hilary Andaya

Director of Faculty and Curriculum

Taylor Carr

Director of Public Relations and Art

Janet Day

Project Manager

Natalie Ortega

Office Manager

Meaghan A. Carr

meaghan@serendipityschool.com

Education

B.S. in Business Administration — Notre Dame de Namur University
Minor in Sports & Leisure Management — Notre Dame de Namur University

E.C.E (Early Childhood Education) — 12 units

Relevant Experience

Head of School — Serendipity School: 2002 to Present
Assistant Preschool Administrator — Serendipity School – 1999 to 2002

Preschool Teacher — Serendipity School – 1997 to 1999

Mandy Rizvi

Years with Serendipity: 10

mandy@serendipityschool.com

Education

M.A. in Drama – San Francisco State University

B.F.A. in Theatre – The Hartt School of Performing Arts PTTP

Two Year Program Completion, Graphic Design, and Illustration – Hartford Art School

Relevant Experience

Assistant Head of School – Serendipity School – 2021 to Present
Director of Admissions and Outreach – Serendipity School – 2014 to 2021
Office and Admissions Coordinator – Serendipity School – 2011 to 2014
Campus Manager – The Hilldale School – 2007 to 2011

Preschool and Elementary Teaching Experience – Various Schools – 1996 to 2011

Hilary Andaya

Years with Serendipity: 1

hilary@serendipityschool.com

Education

California Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
Administrative Services Credential, Certificate of Eligibility – University of San Francisco
M.A. in Education – University of the Pacific

B.A. in Communications Studies – University of Pittsburgh

Relevant Experience

Director of Faculty and Curriculum – Serendipity School – 2021 to Present

Literacy Coach – Iolani School, Honolulu – 2018 to 2021
Junior Staff Developer, The Reading and Writing Project – Columbia University, Teachers College – 2017 to 2018
4th & 5th Grade Teacher and Grade Level Head – Independent Schools Foundation Academy, Hong Kong – 2015 to 2017

Public School Core Subject Teaching Experience – San Carlos, Millbrae, and Stockton Unified School Districts – 2007 to 2015

Taylor Carr

Years with Serendipity: 5

taylor@serendipityschool.com

Education

B.S. in Fine Arts, Fashion Design – Academy of Art University

Relevant Experience

Director of Public Relations—Serendipity School—2020 to present

Summer Camp Coordinator—Serendipity School—2020 to present

Director of Art—Serendipity School—2019 to present

Fine Art Teacher—Serendipity School—2017 to 2019

Campus Coordinator—Serendipity School—2015 to Present

Design Assistant – BCBG Max Azria 2014-2015

Janet Day

Education

B.S. in Speech Pathology — San Francisco State University, California

Relevant Experience

Project Manager — Serendipity School — 2019 to Present

Human Resource and Payroll Manager — Matterport, Inc— 2011 to 2018

Director of Admissions and Operations — Serendipity School — 2007 to 2011

Office Manager — Serendipity School — 2004 to 2007

Parent Volunteer — Serendipity School — 2002 to 2004

Raising three beautiful children who are Serendipity School Alumni

Natalie Ortega

Education

B.A. in Humanities — San Jose State University

Relevant Experience

Office Coordinator — Serendipity School — 2020 to Present

Front Desk Associate — Central YMCA of Silicon Valley — 2019 to 2020

Family Services Coordinator— Midpen Housing — 2014 to 2019

Front Counter Manager — La Patisserie — 2011 to 2014

Classroom Teachers

Kim George

Kindergarten Teacher

Lisa Ratcliffe

1st Grade Teacher

Matt Mazzoni

1st Grade Teacher

Jess Mills

2nd Grade Teacher

Jessica Haas

5th Grade Teacher

Michelle Atno-Hall

4th Grade Teacher

Marija Petrovic

2nd Grade Teacher

Kaeley Burzycki

Third Grade Teacher

Kim George

Years with Serendipity: 22

Education and Experience

Degree: B.A. Sociology, St. Mary’s College, 1998

Credential: Multiple Subject, St. Mary’s College, 1998

E.C.E. (Early Childhood Education) — 15 units

Years of Teaching Experience: 25

Lisa Ratcliffe

Years with Serendipity: 3

Education and Experience

Degree: B.A. Liberal Studies, California State University, Hayward, 1992

Credential: Multiple Subject, San Francisco State University, 1998

Years of Teaching Experience: 26

 

Matt Mazzoni

Years with Serendipity: 2

Education and Experience

Degree: M.A. Curriculum and Instruction, expected graduation: May 2022

Credential: Multiple Subject, San Francisco State University, 2021

Years of Teaching Experience: 4

Jess Mills

Years with Serendipity: 3

Education and Experience

Degree: M.A. Education, Northwestern State University of Louisiana, 2018

Credential: Multiple Subject, Northwestern State University of Louisiana, 2018

Years of Teaching Experience: 8

Jessica Haas

Years with Serendipity: 2

Education and Experience

Degree: M.S. Education and Early Childhood, Sarah Lawrence College, 2011

Credential: Multiple Subject, Sarah Lawrence College, 2011

Certificate: Montessori Lower Elementary Certification, Montessori Educational Institute of North America, 2014

Years of Teaching Experience: 11

 

Michelle Atno-Hall

Years with Serendipity: 15

Education and Experience

Degree: M.A. English, Notre Dame de Namur University, 1998

Credential: Multiple Subject, Notre Dame de Namur University, 1993

Years of Teaching Experience: 28

Marija Petrovic

Years with Serendipity: 1

Education and Experience

Education:

Degree: Master of Teaching, Primary/Junior–Ontario Institute for Studies in Education–2019

Bachelor of Journalism–Ryerson University–2015

Years of Teaching Experience: 6

Kaeley Burzycki

Years with Serendipity: 1

Education and Experience

Education:

Degree: Bachelor of Science, Early Childhood Education & Bachelor of Arts in Sociology–Eastern Connecticut State University–2017

Credential–California Multiple Subject Clear Credential, Connecticut Initial Educator Certificate

Years of Teaching Experience: 6

Teaching Associates and Teacher’s Aides

Alvin Joya-Campos

Teaching Associate and Recreation Coordinator

Dana Michaels

Teaching Associate

Alex Chen

Teaching Associate

Daniela Salgado

Teaching Associate

Jennifer Hertzig

Teaching Associate

Alvin Joya-Campos

Years with Serendipity: 10

Education and Experience:

Degree: B.A. Global Studies, San Jose State University, 2016

Years of Experience in Education: 10

Dana Michaels

Years with Serendipity: 6

Education and Experience

B.A. in Liberal Studies — San Francisco State University

Teaching Credential — Cal State Teach — Fresno State University

Years of Experience in Education: 8

Alex Chen

Years with Serendipity: 6

Education and Experience

Degree: Cañada College B.S. in progress

Years of Experience in Education: 6 years

Daniela Salgado

Years with Serendipity: 2

Education and Experience

Degree: B.A. Sociology, Sonoma State University, 2020

Credential: in progress

Years of Experience in Education: 3

Jennifer Hertzig

Years with Serendipity: 2

Education and Experience

Degree: High School Diploma, Sequoia High School, 2000

Years of Experience in Education: 8

Specialist Teachers

Qimin Zhou

Mandarin Teacher

William Potter

Physical Education

Syd Hoffman

Mathematics Specialist

Kerry Krolicki

Literacy Specialist and Librarian

Cheryl Pohl PhD

Mindfulness Instructor

Jackeeline Overby

Spanish Teacher

Steven Tinsley

Technology and Innovation Teacher

Qimin Zhou

Education

Master of Science in Logistics – University of Wollongong, Australia

Bachelor of Management in Accounting – Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, China

15 Child Development Units – City College of San Francisco

Relevant Experience

Mandarin Teacher – Serendipity School – 2019 to Present
Madarin Lead Teacher – Francis Scott Key Elementary, San Francisco – 2017 to 2019
Center Coordinator – Zhong Bei Afterschool Center: Guilin, China – 2011 to 2015

William Potter

Years with Serendipity: 15

Education

Single Subject Teaching Credential — In Progress

B.S. in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Physical Education — San Francisco State University

Relevant Experience

Physical Education Teacher — Serendipity School — 2005 to Present
Presenter CAHPERD State Conference — 2015
Presenter CAHPERD Bay Area District Physical Education Workshop — 2014, 2015
Director 40th Annual Elementary Physical Education Workshop — 2013
Committee Member Elementary Physical Education Workshop — 2007 to 2015
Physical Education Teacher — the Nueva School — 2002 to 2005

Summer Day Camp Director — “Up and At’em” Summer Program — 2003, 2005

Syd Hoffman

Years with Serendipity: 3

Education and Experience

Degree: M.A. Education, Arizona State University, 1978

Degree: B.A. Mathematics/Education, Queens College, New York, 1977

Years of Teaching Experience: 44

Kerry Krolicki

Years with Serendipity: 3

Education and Experience

Degree: M.A. Teaching Elementary Education, James Madison University, 2013

Credential: Multiple Subject, James Madison University, 2013

Certificates: Level 1 Orton Gillingham; LLI (Leveled Literacy Intervention)

Years of Teaching Experience: 9

Cheryl Pohl PhD

Years with Serendipity: 5

Education and Experience

Certified Mindfulness Instructor — Mindful Schools

Ph.D in Psychology — Pacific Graduate School of Psychology — Licensed Psychologist, 2003 – present

M.S. Water Resources Engineering — Stanford University

B.S. Civil Engineering — Stanford University

B.A. Anthropology — Stanford University

Years of Experience in Education: 5 years

Years in Private Practice: (Clinical Psychologist with focus on child and adolescent psychotherapy) 19 years

 

Jackeeline Overby

Years with Serendipity: 6

Education and Experience

Degree: M.A. Teaching Spanish Language and Culture, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, 2021

Years of Teaching Experience: 15

 

Steven Tinsley

Years with Serendipity: 1

Education and Experience

Education:

Degree: Master of Education, Curriculum and Instruction–Concordia University–2019

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science–California Polytechnic State University–2016

Certifications and Licenses:

Level 5 Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language–The TEFL Academy

Training Qualifications UK Teaching Certification

Years of Teaching Experience: 7