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
Cecilia Mitchell
Financial Coordinator
Natalie Ortega
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
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
Cecilia Mitchell
Years with Serendipity: 9
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
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
Annie Russell Zinzuvadia
Transitional Kindergarten Teacher
Kim George
Kindergarten Teacher
Monica Molina
Kindergarten Teacher
Lisa Ratcliffe
1st Grade Teacher
Matt Mazzoni
1st Grade Teacher
Jessie Mills
2nd Grade Teacher
Courtney Gregory
3rd Grade Teacher
Jessica Haas
4th and 5th Grade Math and Science Teacher
Michelle Atno-Hall
4th and 5th Grade Humanities Teacher
Annie Russell Zinzuvadia
Years with Serendipity: 9
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
Kim George
Years with Serendipity: 20
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
Monica Molina
Education
B.A. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education — Linfield College, Oregon
M.A. in Human Rights Education — University of San Francisco
E.C.E. (Early Childhood Education) — 15 units
Relevant Experience
Kindergarten Teacher — Serendipity School — 2020 to Present
Dual Language Kindergarten Teacher— Echo Shaw Elementary School, Forest Grove, Oregon— 2016 to 2018
Dual Language Pre-Kindergarten Teacher — Mission Education Center, San Francisco — 1991 to 1997
Lisa Ratcliffe
Education
B.A. in Liberal Studies — California State University, Hayward
California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential — San Francisco State University
Relevant Experience
1st Grade Teacher — Serendipity School — 2020 to Present
1st Grade Teacher — Laurel Elementary School — 2019 to 2020
Elementary School Teacher (K, 1st, 4th, and 5th) — White Oaks Elementary School, San Carlos — 1998 to 2019
1st and 2nd Grade Teacher — Parkside Elementary School, San Mateo — 1997 to 1998
Matt Mazzoni
Years with Serendipity:
matt@serendipityschool.com
Education
*
Relevant Experience
*
Jessie Mills
Education
Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Elementary) — University of Auckland, New Zealand
Bachelor of Sport and Leisure Studies; Bachelor in Marketing — University of Waikato, New Zealand
Relevant Experience
Second Grade Teacher — Serendipity School — 2021 to Present
First Grade Remote Teacher — Serendipity School — 2020 to 2021
Private Elementary Tutor — San Francisco — 2020
First Grade Teacher — St Thomas’s School, New Zealand — 2017 to 2019
Courtney Gregory
Years with Serendipity: 1
Education
*
Relevant Experience
*
Jessica Haas
Years with Serendipity:
Education
*
Relevant Experience
*
Michelle Atno-Hall
Years with Serendipity: 13
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
Teaching Associates and Teacher’s Aides
Alvin Joya-Campos
Teaching Associate
Dana Michaels
Teaching Associate
Alex Chen
Campus Aid
Daniela Salgado
Teaching Associate
Jennifer Hertzig
Teaching Associate
Alvin Joya-Campos
Years with Serendipity: 8
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
Dana Michaels
Years with Serendipity: 1
Education
B.A. in Liberal Studies — San Francisco State University
Teaching Credential — Cal State Teach — Fresno State University
Relevant Experience
Teacher Associate — Serendipity School — 2017 to Present
After School/Summer Camp Coordinator — Serendipity School
Camp Counselor/PE Teacher — Legarza Basketball Camp — San Carlos School District
Pre-school Teacher — Hillsborough School District
Alex Chen
Education
Attending Cañada College, Redwood City, California
Relevant Experience
Classroom Assistant — Serendipity School — 2018 to Present
After School Classroom Assistant — Serendipity School — 2016 to 2018
Summer Camp Junior Counselor— Serendipity School — 2016 to 2018
Daniela Salgado
Years with Serendipity:
daniela@serendipityschool.com
Education
*
Relevant Experience
*
Jennifer Hertzig
Years with Serendipity:
jennifer@serendipityschool.com
Education
*
Relevant Experience
*
Specialist Teachers
Qimin Zhou
Mandarin Teacher
William Potter
Physical Education
Eve Nagler
Literacy Specialist
Syd Hoffman
Mathematics Specialist
Kerry Krolicki
Literacy Specialist
Cheryl Pohl PhD
Mindfulness Instructor
Andrea
Onsite Custodian
Jackeeline Overby
Spanish Teacher
Aaron Hesse
Technology 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
Eve Nagler
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
Syd Hoffman
Education
B.A. Mathematics — Queens College, NYC New York
M.A. Math Education — Arizona State University, Tempe AZ
Relevant Experience
Mathematics Specialist — Serendipity School — 2020 to Present
12 years experience as K-8 Math specialist, taught K-12 math for over 30 years
Kerry Krolicki
Education
M.A. in Teaching — James Madison University
B.A. in Elementary Education — James Madison University
Relevant Experience
Literacy Specialist — Serendipity School — 2020 to Present
ESOL Specialist and Elementary Teacher — Carline Springs Elementary — 2018 to 2020
Senior Instructional Specialist — International Rescue Committee — 2015 to 2017
3rd Grade Teacher — Annandale Terrace Elementary — 2014 to 2015
4th/5th Grade Teacher — Las Terrenas International School — 2013 to 2014
Cheryl Pohl PhD
Education
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
Relevant Experience
Mindfulness Instructor — Serendipity School — 2018 to Present
Clinical Psychologist with focus on child and adolescent psychotherapy — Private Practice — 2003 to Present
Proud Parent of Serendipity School Alum
Andrea
We are grateful for Andrea’s dedicated hard work to keeping our campus clean and sanitized in order to proactively minimize virus transmission within our learning spaces. We could not operate in-person instructions without Andrea’s work and we are humbled to have an onsite and full time custodian.
Jackeeline Overby
Years with Serendipity:
jackeeline@serendipityschool.com
Education
*
Relevant Experience
*
Aaron Hesse
Years with Serendipity:
Education
*
Relevant Experience
*
