EPACS is able to attract highly qualified teachers with strong educational backgrounds. As part of inspiring their students to go on to college, each teacher flies the flag of their alma mater outside their classroom.

Learn what school our staff hail from as well as why they teach at EPACS.

Kindergarten First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth

Seventh Eighth Library and Electives Spanish Collective Roots After School Program Instructional Coaches

Kindergarten

Nicole Carlos Baron is a kindergarten teacher. She has been teaching at EPACS since 2006. She lives in San Francisco and attended UC Berkeley for her BA in English Literature and Spanish. While teaching in New York through the New York City Teaching Fellows, she earned her masters degree in Education from Mercy College. Ms. Carlos enjoys working at EPACS because she feels like she is making a difference in the community.

Elizabeth Jordan is a kindergarten grade teacher, and has taught at EPACS since 2004. Originally from the Bay Area, she grew up in Los Altos and currently lives in San Francisco. Ms. Jordan received a BA in Psychology and English from UC Santa Barbara and earned her teaching credential from the San Francisco State Clinical Schools Program. She enjoys the friendly and supportive staff, students and families at EPACS and is committed to Aspire's goal of providing quality education and opportunities for all children.

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First

Maricela Montoy is one of our new first grade teachers. A graduate of Stanford University and the Stanford Teacher Education Program ("STEP"), Mari joined us in the summer of 2009.

Mary Mitchell is a first grade teacher at EPACS. She is from Oceanside, Calfornia. Ms. Mitchell received her B.A. in Liberal Studies with a minor in Visual and Performing Arts, and her Multiple Subject teaching credential, from California State University, San Marcos. She joined the EPACS team in 2008. Ms. Mitchell came to EPACS because she admires the dedication and enthusiasm of the EPACS staff and families. She enjoys collaborating with highly motivated professionals, and working with the families to provide these amazing students with a wonderful educational experience.

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Second

Jennifer Saul teaches 2nd grade at EPACS. Jennifer has a BA in the Fine Arts, with a focus on dance from UC Irvine, and a Teaching Credential from Chapman University. She lives in Redwood City, and has been teaching for over 10 years in Riverside and San Leandro. Jennifer joined EPACS in 2007, and is most excited to be part of a school that functions as as a community where all members are welcomed and encouraged to challenge, support, and learn from each other.

Kelly Sorbera is a second grade teacher. She has been at EPACS since 2008.

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Third

Sarah Steinke is a 3rd grade teacher at EPACS. She grew up in Long Beach, California and can remember wanting to be a teacher since she was in 5th grade. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in elementary education with a minor in dance from the University of Arizona. Before joining the EPACS community, she taught for two years in Phoenix, Arizona as part of Teach for America. Miss Steinke feels very privileged to work with the students and families in the EPACS community. She looks forward to teaching her students each and everyday.

Ivy Valant is a 3rd grade teacher at EPACS. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!!). Prior to coming to EPACS, she taught first grade in New York City and preschool in Boston. Mrs. Valant loves teaching and loves children, and she is so proud to be part of the EPACS community.

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Fourth

Victoria Kauer is a fifth grade teacher at EPACS. She is from originally from Cleveland, Ohio, although she headed out west for college. Ms. Kauer received her undergraduate degree in American Studies from Stanford University. She is also a Teach For America corps member. Ms. Kauer was new to EPACS for the 2008 school year and she feels she has found a home at EPACS. She finds EPACS to be an incredibly unique, positive, and supportive environment for teaching and she loves the sense of community throughout the school.

Sarah Milo is a 4th grade teacher at EPACS.  She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Vassar College and her Master in Teaching degree from Seattle University.  Prior to teaching at EPACS, Ms. Milo lived in  Santiago, Chile for two years where she was a 5th grade teacher.  Before that, Ms. Milo  taught preschool in her hometown, Seattle.  Ms. Milo is thrilled to be a part of a community where the students are so excited to learn and succeed!

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Fifth

Ben Crosby is a 5th grade teacher at EPACS. Ben hails from Big Horn, Wyoming, and he earned his BA from Stanford University in English. Ben joined EPACS in 2007, but volunteered for two years prior in a tutoring program in after school program. Through his volunteer experience, he has really come to appreciate the diverse and motivated student body. Also, he is continually impressed with the inspired and inspiring staff at EPACS.

Katie Kling teaches 5th grade at EPACS. Originally from Rochester, New York she has a BA in History from SUNY Brockport and a Teaching Credential from National University. Prior to joining the EPACS community in 2003, Katie worked in Financial Services focusing on Sales & Training. Her favorite things about EPACS is its mission to provide opportunities to a hardworking population of students. She is continually impressed with EPACS families and staff, and the level of dedication to students.

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Sixth

Geneva Europa is the 6th grade Math/Science Teacher. Originally from Los Angeles, California, Geneva graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in Bio-Psychology and a minor in Asian-American Studies. She is now pursuing an M.A. in Secondary Education with San Francisco State University. Geneva joined EPACS in 2007, and she is continually impressed with the huge emphasis on everyone succeeding.

Meg Barrager is the sixth grade humanities teacher at EPACS. She was born and raised in Palo Alto where, as an eight year old, she handed her palm to a fortune teller who predicted she would be a teacher. She received her Bachelor's degree in French Studies at Lewis and Clark College in Oregon, and a Master's in clinical social work from Smith College in Massachusetts. Prior to coming to EPACS, she taught high school in France, worked as an individual and family therapist, and designed decision-making curriculum for K-12 schools across the U.S. Meg loves to see her EPACS students writing, and discovering new books.

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Seventh

Ashley Baker teaches 7th grade Humanities at EPACS. She is from Laguna Niguel, California and received her BA in Political Science from Stanford University as well as a Masters degree in Education (Policy, Organization, and Leadership Studies) from Stanford. She tutored middle school students at EPACS during her time at Stanford and fell in love with the staff and students at the school. Needless to say she was ecstatic to be placed at EPACS as a teacher through Teach For America in 2008.

Brett Baker (no relation) is the the 7th and 8th grade math teacher at EPACS. He is originally from the East Bay and went to school at Occidental College in Los Angeles. After college, he taught 8th grade math in Avondale Arizona before moving back to the Bay Area. The part Mr. Baker appreciates most about EPACS is the sense of community at the school amongst the staff, students and administration.

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Eighth

Jessica Chacon has been teaching 8th grade humanities at EPACS since 2005. Originally from El Paso, Texas, Ms. Chacon attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned her BA in English Literature. Before coming to EPACS, Ms. Chacon taught for two years in Philadelphia with Teach for America. During her time in Philadelphia she earned her masters in Elementary Education. What she loves about EPACS is the collaborative, hard working environment — and how everyone will do whatever it takes to get students to succeed.

Hillary Mills is a 7th and 8th grade Science teacher at EPACS. She graduated from the University of California San Diego (UCSD) with a bachelor of science in Environmental Systems-Earth Science. With a passion for the outdoors she previously worked as a kayaking and backpacking instructor as well as a middle school and high school naturalist all through out California. She transitioned from a role of teaching middle school Math and Art and is very excited about getting back to her scientific roots at EPACS. She continues to be impressed by the curiosity and interest of students at EPACS and feels honored to be part of such a passionate staff as well as to be welcomed into such a dedicated and committed community.

Veronica Woodard is our first Middle School Math Fellow at EPACS, position that is funded with the generous support of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation..  She earned her bachelor of arts in kinesiology from Occidental College in Los Angeles.  Before she came into the EPACS family she was teaching English to high school students in Japan.  Veronica loves teaching and is currently in her credentialing program at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, CA.  Ms. Woodard is excited to get her teaching career going!

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Library and Electives

Stephen Ashford teaches Physical Education at EPACS. He was born in East Palo Alto, and grew up in Richmond, CA. He went to school at Contra Costa College and College of Marin, where he studied communications. He has been at EPACS since 2001 and loves working with the kids and the staff.

Erin Boothe graduated from Fresno State University with a bachelors of science in Health Science. After college Ms. Boothe earned her teaching credential and taught at a high school in Madera, Califonira for five years. Since moving to the Bay Area two years ago, Ms. Boothe has worked as the librarian at EPACS and earned her Masters in Library and Information Science from San Jose State University.

Ilda Riojas joined EPACS in 2006 to work with both new and native Spanish speakers in grades K-8 to improve their language skills. She earned a B.A. in Modern Languages in her home country of Columbia, where she taught Spanish Literature and English before coming to the United States. Since then, Ms. Riojas has earned a BCLAD credential from San Jose State, and taught in San Jose and Palo Alto. She has strengthened our Spanish program dramatically over the years, and really enjoys focusing on helping students become proficient in both languages (Spanish & English) in reading, writing, and speaking.
With this goal in mind, she works with students in a class called Young Interpreters to try and instill an understanding of the advantages of being bilingual, and how they can use that skill to serve their communities. Young Interpreters go on a field trip to the County Court to watch professional interpreters in the judicial system, and to imagine the skills they need to develop. They also take a trip to the Stanford Hospital to see how interpreters work with patients to help break down barriers. Ms. Riojas looks forward to continuing to develop the Spanish program at EPACS, and is excited to be part of such a dynamic community of teachers and learners.

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Collective Roots

Wolfram Alderson is the Executive Director of Collective Roots, a nonprofit organization that uses school-based organic gardens to teach students about nutrition and the environment. Collective Roots has been located on the EPACS campus for several years, and we are lucky to have the Garden curriculum and Leadership opportunities that they provide. Wolfram comes to us from Los Angeles, California but has been in the Bay Area for a few years. He earned a BA in Organizational Leadership, and is finishing up an M.A. in Organizational Leadership from the University of San Francisco. Wolfram has worked in Social Services for over 30 years, focusing largely on garden-based programming, environmental restoration, and urban agriculture. He joined EPACS in 2007 he is looking forward to continuing to work and provide opportunities for students in such a wonderful community.

Eron Sandler is the Middle School Elective Teacher for Garden Class and she manages Garden Work Days at EPACS.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Hampshire College and her Masters of Science at Antioch New England Graduate School.  Eron works with Collective Roots to keep the EPACS garden growing and loves seeing EPACS students and families learning from and enjoying the garden!

Katie Gadsby is the Nutrition and Garden Education Coordinator at Collective Roots providing garden classes and after school programs to K-5 students weekly at EPACS.  She received her B.A. degree in Biology from UC Santa Cruz and an M.S. in Nutrition and Public Health from Teachers College, Columbia University.  Katie enjoys teaching garden based lessons to the students at EPACS because of their excitement and desire to learn in the beautiful 1 acre garden setting provided by EPACS and Collective Roots.  To see students snacking on carrots and radishes with a big smile while learning about science and nutrition is such a joy.

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After School Program

Mike Nagy is the Director of After School Programs (ASP) at EPACS. He was awarded his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Stanford University in 2006. Prior to earning his bachelors', Mike attended five other colleges and universities, earning a total of seven Associate of Arts degrees - primarily in the social science and social service fields. Before coming to EPACS he worked at Stanford in various capacities ranging from assistant lab manager to Facilities Coordinator. He also worked at Google for a brief stint coordinating their in-house video production department. Mike loves working directly with the kids as an advisor and technology teacher in the middle school. In his administrative role, he cares deeply about providing a meaningful after school program where the kids have access to the academic support they need, as well as a range of arts, sports, and intellectually stimulating enrichment activities.

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Instructional Coaches

Sharon Johnson became the reading coach at EPACS in 2006. She has been teaching at the school since 2000. At first she taught 5th grade for three years and then 2nd grade for three years. She is originally from Palo Alto and attended Northwestern University for her BA in Psychological Services. Recently she earned her Master's degree from San Jose State University in Educational Leadership. Before coming to EPACS, Ms. Johnson was a teacher in Compton, CA with Teach for America. What she enjoys most about EPACS is the commitment to student learning, high expectations and the school culture that believes all students can earn a college degree. Ms. Johnson also feels that the constant collaboration and relentless dedication of staff, students and families is what makes the school unique.

Marie White is the middle school math coach. She is from Austin Texas, and came to Stanford where she earned her B.S. in Symbolic Systems. Prior to beginning her tenure at EPACS, she volunteered for two years with the after school program on a regular basis. In 2005, Marie came to EPACS full-time, first in the library and then in the classroom as the 7th and 8th grade math teacher. In the summer of 2009, Marie began her work as an instructional coach, a position that is supported by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Marie is most excited about the collective mission and dream of students, parents, and staff working to achieve together.

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» Meet our Advisory Board