BLENDED CONSORTIUM - Key Persons
Alex Quinn joined College Prep's science department in 2023 and teaches physics and chemistry. Prior to working at College Prep, Alex taught middle school science in Richmond, CA. They graduated from College Prep in 2015 and then studied biology and engineering at Harvey Mudd College. After college, Alex got their MA in Education from Claremont Graduate University and began their teaching career.
In their free time, Alex loves reading science fiction, fiction, and fantasy. On a week night, you're likely to find them at the gym lifting weights, running, or working on their handstands. On the weekend, Alex races sailboats, bakes bread, and walks their roommate's poodle.
Avery is currently a math teacher at Lick-Wilmerding, and the way he teaches math ≠ the way he was taught math. In the past 2+ decades Avery has taught math and science to students from second grade to graduate school, usually not at the same time. Avery believes that everyone can do math, that math is a creative endeavor, and that math can and should be a tool for social change. He also believes that spiders are cool, but is open to other opinions on this last point.
Byron Philhour is the Dean of Teaching and Learning at San Francisco University High School. Over the last two and a half decades, he has taught astronomy, cosmology, physics, chemistry, computer science, and computational modeling. He earned his undergraduate degree in physics from U.C. Berkeley with a focus on gamma-ray astrophysics and his Ph.D. in physics from the California Institute of Technology with a focus on observational cosmology. As an educator, Byron aligns with the constructivist and humanist movements, understanding that human beings are capable of explosive, self-directed, experiential learning once obstacles to their well-being are removed. Byron lives in San Francisco with his wife, three children (one in high school, one in middle school, one in elementary school), three dogs, and two cats. Byron wishes he had a bird, too, but thinks that would be unwise because of the cats.
Job Titles:
- Digital Literacy Specialist
Charlotte has been the Digital Literacy Specialist/Librarian at Branson since 2021. Previously she served as Director of Library Services at the Northwest School in Seattle, and has over a decade of experience in both public, academic and school libraries. Before becoming a librarian, she taught and developed arts & humanities programs for various non-profits. She's passionate about cultivating learner-centered spaces that address equity gaps, incorporate information literacy standards, and encourage a love of reading. One of her favorite things to do at Branson is collaborate with faculty and students on a variety of research projects, especially those that uncover the magic of primary sources. She has a degree in women and gender studies with a concentration in art history from DePaul University, and a master's in library and information sciences from San Jose State University.
Chris has been teaching at San Francisco University High School since 2008. He studied political science at UC Berkeley and earned a PhD in history at the University of Rochester. He currently teaches Western Civilization: History of the Arts, Honors U.S. History, American Lives: Asian America, and San Francisco History and Art: A Field Study. He also alternates teaching American and Comparative Politics. Outside of the classroom, Chris serves on a number of UHS committees and enjoys cycling, cooking, and traveling-in no particular order.
Don Rizzi has been teaching Biology and Chemistry at Lick-Wilmerding High School since 2007. He also coaches wrestling, is an advisor, and mentors independent study students in electronic music production. Prior to coming to Lick, Don taught Physics, Math, Chemistry, and Media Production at High Tech High, which is a charter school that emphasizes project based learning and the cultivation of 21st century skills. He also received his MA in Instructional Technologies from San Francisco State University.
Ian Arenas teaches Visual Art, Film History and Video Production at Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco, and has been an arts educator since 2010. Before joining LWSH, Ian was the Department Chair of Art and Director of the STEM Initiative at YULA High School in Beverly Hills. Outside of the classroom, Ian loves playing and coaching soccer. He earned his MFA in Art from CalArts, attended Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, and is an interdisciplinary artist who is interested in ideas of labor, work, worth, use-value, and inefficiency.
James has been an English and Humanities teacher at Marin Academy for the past six years, where he has also served as the Director of Community Action and a co-teacher in the Transdisciplinary Leadership Program. A fifth-generation Californian, James is passionate about Bay Area and California history, and sees community engagement and experiential learning as essential components of his teaching. He completed his BA degree in English from the University of San Diego and MA degrees in both English and Education from Stanford University. He is also a published writer and musician and brings together his various interests and experitise in the design of The Golden Gate course.
Jason Chang joined the history department at College Prep in 2021, and teaches ninth grade Asian Worlds and a senior seminar on the History of Capitalism. Before arriving at CPS, he taught for ten years at Bentley, where he covered topics that ranged from ninth grade world history to seminars on the prison industrial complex, the Cold War in a global context, the global revolutions of 1968, race in American legal history, the history of capitalism and slavery, and many others.
Originally from Berkeley, Jason obtained his BA in American Studies with a concentration in Ethnic Studies from UC Santa Cruz, and earned his PhD from the University of Michigan in American Studies, where his broad area of research focused on the intersecting histories of racial formation, capitalism, and empire. He is a passionate classroom teacher who believes deeply that having a strong historical understanding of the ways that race, gender, sex, class, ability, and other markers of difference and identity have shaped our present is a prerequisite for radically reimagining how we want our shared future to look. Whenever he has some down time, Jason loves nothing more than to read, eat delicious food, and cook.
Julie Kuo has been teaching history since 2008: nine years at Lexington High School in Lexington, MA, and at Branson School since 2017. She has a B.A. in print journalism from the University of Southern California and an M.Ed. from Boston College. In her career, she has taught ancient and modern world history, U.S. history, journalism, media studies, East Asian studies, and introduction to law. In addition to teaching history, she enjoys advising the student newspaper at Branson and volunteering as a baker for Cake4Kids, an organization that provides sweet treats for underserved youths in the Bay Area.
Kevin teaches math at Marin Academy and is also the 9th-grade Dean. In his sixteen years at Marin Academy he has taught all levels of math from Algebra I to Multivariable Calculus, including courses in Computer Science, Number Theory, and the new transdisciplinary course on Smart Cities and Data Science. Prior to Marin Academy he worked at American and International schools in Europe.
Kevin earned a B.A. from Colgate University and a M.S. in Mathematical Sciences from Clemson University. In his spare time he enjoys reading fiction, riding road and mountain bikes, trying to surf, hiking, and spending time with his family.
Kevin Wray has been teaching mathematics for the past six years at The College Preparatory School, and prior to that for four years at the University of California at the University of California, Berkeley. Currently Kevin is teaching single variable calculus and multivariable calculus at CPS. He has also taught courses in linear algebra, abstract algebra, analysis, several seminars at Cal, as well as courses in classical mechanics, quantum physics, and relativity.
After finishing his undergrad, Kevin moved to Holland for a year as a member of the Mathematical Research Institute in Utrecht. He followed this by moving to Amsterdam, where he was a grad student in theoretical physics at the Universiteit van Amsterdam. After completing his degree at the UvA, Kevin moved to Berkeley for work as a graduate student in mathematics. Upon completion at Cal, Kevin started work at The College Preparatory School.
Kevin enjoys taking hikes, bike rides, surfing, really pretty much anything outdoors, basketball, olympic-style weightlifting, and, of course, reading math and physics papers and books.
Liz teaches Chemistry, Advanced Biology, and Environmental Science at Marin Academy. She also coaches the Cross Country team at MA and leads a number of running, hiking, and restoration outings. She has led summer trips to Alaska to study biodiversity, the high Sierras to study climate change (& pika) and the American Prairie Reserve in Montana to participate in citizen science projects.
Liz was a founding BlendEd Consortium teacher, leading 3 successful cycles of the Bay Area Field Ecology course and is excited to pioneer a new immersive blended/hybrid model with the Wilderness Studies Summer/Fall trimester course.
Liz earned a B.A. from Colby College and also a Masters in Science from Montana State University. She began her teaching career by participating in Teach for America, where she taught seventh- and eighth-grade science at Roosevelt Middle School in Compton, California.
Megan has been teaching at University High School since 2015, and serves as the Math Department Chair. As a math educator for 16 years, she has experience ranging from Algebra I to AP Calculus BC. In addition, Megan has taught math online to high school students through Northwestern's Center for Talent Development. Megan has an M.A. in Mathematics from San Francisco State University and a Master's in Educational Technology from Boise State University.
Melina has been teaching and conducting research in psychology and public health for over 20 years. For the last four years she has taught courses in general psychology, social psychology, human development, and research methods. She has a B.A. in Psychology from UC Berkeley and a PhD in Human Development from UC Davis. Her favorite hobbies include gardening, baking, hiking and running.
Nicole Hunter has been a librarian at San Francisco University High School since 2003. Working with the history department she teaches research skills across the history curriculum with a focus on the use of primary sources. She has co-taught an English course called the Fourth Estate in which students both examined media coverage of current and past events and created media pieces of their own. Nicole has a passion for research, constructivist learning, art, and history. She has a degree in history from UCLA and a master's in library science with a focus on archives from San José State. Nicole lives in Oakland with her husband and son. She loves to sew and knit and hosts a podcast on her creative pursuits. She enjoys running on the trails of the East Bay hills and exploring local history sites.
Nora is a saxophonist and composer from Queens, New York. She has written for, and performed with artists like David Murray, Butch Morris, Geri Allen, Mathew Tembo, and Macy Gray. She completed a PhD in jazz composition at the University of Pittsburgh in 2014. After relocating to Oakland in 2016, she has worked at SFUHS and the Athenian School, where she directs student ensembles and teaches classes in music history, composition, and electroacoustic music production. She maintains an active presence in the local music scene and performs throughout the US and Canada.
Rachel has been teaching at San Francisco University High School since 1999. She teaches Western Civilization: History of the Arts, Art History AP, and San Francisco History and Art: A Field Study. Rachel believes strongly in interdisciplinary studies and has been brought in to English and History classes to connect other disciplines to Art History. At her time at UHS, Rachel has sat on numerous committees and has also served as the Arts Department Chair and Class Dean. Outside of UHS, Rachel served on the SFMOMA Teacher Advisory Committee and is an active member the Historical Fictions Research Network. She earned her BA in Art History from New York University and her MA in Art History from the University of Chicago.
Shanti Kolluri has been teaching math for eleven years. She has taught all levels of high school math, including theoretical and applied computer science courses. She currently teaches Precalculus and Multivariable Calculus at the College Preparatory School in Oakland, California. Prior to teaching, she worked as an embedded software engineer in the field of digital signal processing for nine years. Shanti earned her M.A in Education with a specialization in mathematics from Stanford University, and M.S in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station. She loves Salsa dancing, taking long walks in the sun, reading books, taking naps, learning new languages, and exploring the beauty of all things math!
Tony has been teaching computer science at The Branson School since August 2016. He currently teaches classes in web design, Java, Arduino, Python and iOS mobile application development. He holds a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Psychology and Computing from the University of Plymouth and a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Bath. Tony previously worked for a leading cell phone company in England as a software developer and team leader from 1998 to 2005, prior to becoming a computer science teacher. He was chair of computer science at Priory Community School in North Somerset, England from 2006 to 2015. Tony lives in San Francisco with his wife and young son. He enjoys cycling, golf and snowboarding in his spare time.
Whitney is a recent transplant to the Bay Area and could not be more thrilled to be joining the BlendEd Consortium in her capacity as a history teacher at Marin Academy. She earned a B.A. from Grinnell College and an M.A. from Yale University, and is now approaching her 17th year of teaching, having taught in both public and independent schools in the Boston area, New York City, and northern New Jersey. She also taught at Summerbridge San Francisco when she was in college, which was a major catalyst for her career choice as an educator. The course Social History of Disease was inspired by Whitney's fascination with social history and morbid curiosity about the bubonic plague. In her spare time, Whitney enjoys watching birds, playing the guitar, and finding novel ways to cook tofu.