ELEMENTARY FACULTY & STAFF
Administration
Meaghan A. Carr
Head of School
Mandy Rizvi
Director of Admissions and Outreach
Cecilia Mitchell
Financial Coordinator
Taylor Carr
Director of Art and Development
Sasha Mills
Director of Staff and Curriculum
Rose Guerra
Office Coordinator
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
mandy@serendipityschool.com
Education
M.A. in Drama – San Francisco State University
B.F.A. in Theatre – The Hartt School of Performing Arts PTTP
Relevant Experience
Director of Admissions and Outreach – Serendipity School – 2014 to Present
Office Coordinator – Serendipity School – 2011 to 2014
Office Manager – The Hilldale School – 2007 to 2011
Executive Assistant – Steve Padis Jewelry – 2003 to 2007
Teaching Experience – Various Schools – 1995 to Present
Cecilia Mitchell
cecilia@serendipityschool.com
Education
Ed.D in Education – University of San Francisco
M.A. in Education – San Francisco State University
B.A. in Social Science – University of California, Berkeley
Relevant Experience
Business Manager – Facial Plastic Surgery Center, Los Altos
Program Coordinator/Assistant Professor, Medical Assisting Program – College Of San Mateo
Administrative Assistant – California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco
Taylor Carr
taylor@serendipityschool.com
Education
B.S. in Fine Arts, Fashion Design – Academy of Art University
Relevant Experience
Director of Art and Development—Serendipity School—2019 to present
Campus Coordinator—Serendipity School—2015 to Present
Design Assistant – BCBG Max Azria 2014-2015
Sasha Mills
sasha@serendipityschool.com
Education
California Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
Florida Teaching Certification – University of Florida
M.A. in Elementary Education – University of Florida
B.A. in Business Administration – Florida International University
Relevant Experience
Director of Staff and Curriculum – Serendipity School – 2018 to Present
4th Grade Teacher – Serendipity School – 2014 to Present
5th Grade Teacher – Littlewood Elementary School – 2011 to 2014
3rd Grade Teacher (Magnet/Gifted program) – Joseph Williams Elementary School – 2010 to 2011
Substitute Teacher (grades K-6) – Miami Dade County – 2009 to 2010
Rose Guerra
rose@serendipityschool.com
Relevant Experience
Office Coordinator – Serendipity School – 2018 to present
Registrar – Woodside Priory – 2008 to 2018
Registrar – Mills Peninsula High School – 2004 to 2008
Classroom Teachers
Kim George
Kindergarten
Lisa M. Isaacs
1st Grade
Juliana Rossi
2nd and 3rd Grade Humanities
Sonia Myers
4th and 5th Grade Math and Science
Kristen Kennedy
2nd and 3rd Grade Math and Science
Michelle Atno-Hall
4th and 5th Grade Humanities
Annie Russell Zinzuvadia
Transitional Kindergarten Teacher
Kim George
kim@serendipityschool.com
Education
Multiple Subject Teaching Credential — St. Mary’s College
B.A. in Sociology — California State University Hayward
E.C.E. (Early Childhood Education) — 15 units
Relevant Experience
Kindergarten Teacher — Serendipity School — 2000 to Present
Kindergarten Teacher — St. Gregory School — 1998 to 2000
Preschool Teacher — Mills Montessori Child Day School — 1991 to 1997
Lisa Isaacs
lisa@serendipityschool.com
Education
M.Ed. in Elementary Education — University of Florida
Multiple Subject Teaching Credential — California Certification
B.A. in Communication Studies — Vanderbilt University
Relevant Experience
1st Grade Teacher — Serendipity School — 2018 to Present
Elementary School Teacher, First through Third Grades — Sacred Heart Schools, San Francisco and Atherton — 2014 to 2018
5th Grade Teacher — Brandeis Hillel Day School — 2013 to 2014
1st Grade Teacher — Sheerer Charter School — 2012 to 2013
2nd Grade Teacher — St. Mark’s Episcopal Day School— 2011 to 2012
Juliana Rossi
juliana@serendipityschool.com
Education
California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential – BATTI (Bay Area Teacher Training Institute), University of the Pacific, Stockton
M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction – BATTI (Bay Area Teacher Training Institute), University of the Pacific, Stockton
B.A. in Creative Advertising and Spanish – Southern Methodist University, Texas
Relevant Experience
2nd Grade Teacher – Serendipity School – 2016 to Present
2nd Grade Associate Teacher – The Carey School, San Mateo – 2014 to 2016
Substitute Teacher – The Urban School, San Francisco – 2013 to 2014
Sonia Myers
sonia@serendipityschool.com
Education
California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential – Cal State TEACH
B.A. in Liberal Studies – Notre Dame de Namur University
Relevant Experience
2nd Grade Teacher – Serendipity School – 2016 to Present
Teaching Assistant – Serendipity School – 2014 to 2016
Reporter – Half Moon Bay Review Newspaper and Magazine – 2008 to 2013
Kristen Kennedy
kristen@serendipityschool.com
Education
M.S. in Elementary Education — St. Joseph’s Universtiy
K-6 Teaching Credential — St. Joseph’s University
B.A. in Sociology with a Minor in Gender Studies — St. Joseph’s University
Relevant Experience
2nd, 3rd Grade Teacher — Serendipity School — 2009 to Present
5th Grade Teacher — Nueva School — 2009
2nd Grade Teacher — Mission Dolores Elementary School — 2004 to 2008
1st Grade Teacher — Marin Country Day School — 2003 to 2004
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher — The Children’s School at St. John’s — 2001 to 2003
Special Education Inclusion Aide — Summit Board of Education — 2000 to 2001
Michelle Atno-Hall
michelle@serendipityschool.com
Education
M.A. in English — Notre Dame de Namur University
Multiple Subject Teaching Credential — Notre Dame de Namur University
B.A. in English — Whitman College
Relevant Experience
5th Grade Teacher — Serendipity School — 2007 to Present
8th Grade Teacher — Crocker Middle School — 2002 to 2004
5th Grade Teacher — St. Andrew’s Episcopal School — 1998 to 2002
6th, 7th, 8th Grade Teacher — Krouzian Zekarian Vasbouragan Armenian School — 1995 to 1998
6th, 7th, 8th Grade Teacher — St. Gregory Catholic School — 1994 to 1995
Annie Russell Zinzuvadia
annie@serendipityschool.com
Education
Education
B.A. in Marketing Communications and Business Management—Notre Dame de Namur
University
Art History Courses—American University of Paris
ECE Certificate—Cañada College
Relevant Experience
Preschool Teacher—Serendipity School: 2007-2009 & 2011-present
Substitute Teacher—Bunker Hill Nursery School: 2009-2010
Preschool Teacher—Peninsula Temple Shalom Preschool: 2002-2005
Nanny Experience—various families: 1999-2006
Teaching Associates and Teacher’s Aides
Nadine Batlin
Teacher’s Aide
Alvin Joya-Campos
Teaching Associate
Amanda Ryan
Teaching Associate
Nadine Batlin
Education
Relevant Experience
Serendipity After School Teacher—2004 to Present
Alvin Joya-Campos
alvin@serendipityschool.com
Education
B.A. in Global Studies – San Jose State University, San Jose
Relevant Experience
Teaching Associate, After School Teacher & Summer Program Head Counselor – Serendipity School – 2012 to Present
Coach – Skyhawks Sports Camps – 2012
Amanda Ryan
amanda@serendipityschool.com
Education
Multiple Subject Preliminary Teaching Credential – San Francisco State University
B.A. in Studio Art – University of Hawaii
Relevant Experience
Teaching Associate– Serendipity School – 2018 to Present
After School Teacher – Various Schools – 2016 to 2018
First Grade Teacher– George Washington Elementary– 2015 to 2016
First Grade Teacher– Grant Elementary School– 2014 to 2015
After School Program Director—Glen park Montessori—2012 to 2013
Specialist Teachers
Qimin Zhou
Mandarin Teacher
Keith Fongheiser
Music Teacher
Celia Zhang
Music Teacher
William Potter
Physical Education Teacher, & Website
Eve Nagler
Literacy Specialist
Qimin Zhou
qimin@serendipityschool.com
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
Keith Fongheiser
Education
Relevant Experience
Music Teacher—Serendipity School—2016 to Present
Music Teacher—Artis School of Music—2016 to Present
Music Teacher—Crystal Springs Uplands School—2016 to Present
Celia Zhang
Education
Master of Music, Choral Conducting—San Francisco State University
Master of Music, Orchestral Conducting—China Conservatory of Music
Bachelor of Arts, Musicology—Beijing Union University
Relevant Experience
Music Teacher—Serendipity School—2016 to Present
Music Teacher—Artis School of Music—2016 to Present
Conductor—Crystal Children’s Choir—2016 to Present
Graduate Teaching Associate—San Francisco State University—2014-2015
Celia has worked around the world as a piano and vocal instructor, as well as a choral and orchestral director since 2009.
William Potter
will@serendipityschool.com
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
Eve Nagler
eve@serendipityschool.com
Education
P.D. in Reading— St. John’s University
M.S. in Journalism — Boston University
B.S. in Elementary Education — Emerson College
Relevant Experience
Literacy Specialist — Serendipity School — 2018 to Present
Reading Specialist — Forest Brook Elementary School — 2002 to 2018
Reading Specialist — New Vision School — 2000 to 2002
Reading Specialist — I.S. 252, Brooklyn, NY; P.S. 143, Queens, NY — 1998 to 2000
Contributing Writer— New York Times, Current Biography, US Kids, Archie Comics— 1990 to 2009
Freelance ELA item/passage writer — Key Data Systems— 2013-2013
