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
