Michelle

AM Nursery Head TEACHER

Michelle started teaching at Parker School in 2009. After being the Head Teacher of the PM program for 10 years, she is excited to wear a new hat as a member of the AM team. Originally from Whittier, California, Michelle has called San Francisco home since 2005. She earned her BA in Fine Arts and also studied Early Childhood Education at San Francisco State University. She holds an ECE Site Supervisor Permit and continues to take classes to grow as a teacher and deepen her knowledge of working with young children. During the summer, Michelle runs a summer camp program for elementary-aged girls called The Little Studio, focused on fostering creative expression and social-emotional learning through the arts. 

Michelle and her husband joyfully welcomed a daughter into the world in 2020. During her free time, Michelle is also a working artist and muralist. She loves painting, music, cooking, and exploring the city with her family and friends.

April

Interim director

April was born and raised in the Bay Area and returned to Marin County after getting a BA in Anthropology from CSU Chico. After discovering a passion for Early Childhood Education and spending four years gaining education and experience at the Bay Area Discovery Museum, she joined the Parker community in 2014 and has felt at home there ever since. In 2017, she earned her MA in Early Childhood Education from San Francisco State University and continues to dedicate herself to growing and learning as an educator. 

April is passionate about building a warm and trusting community of children, teachers and families at Parker School. She strives to foster a school environment that centers relationships and emotional safety, and promotes collaboration, flexible thinking, a strong sense of self, and a connection to the natural world. In her time away from Parker School, April loves any activity involving nature, camping, reading, crafting, traveling and spending time with her dog, Addie.  

Steven

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Steven is originally from Macau, China and immigrated to the U.S. at the age of three. Even at a young age, one of the things he wanted to be when he grew up was a teacher. After studying molecular sciences at UC Davis, interning in an operating room, working as a researcher at a genetics laboratory, and working as a purchaser at a restaurant, he finally made a full circle to pursue something he was truly passionate about, returning to school to study early childhood education. After being a classroom teacher for 9 years, Steven is excited to have joined the administrative team at our school. He looks forward to helping Parker continue to be a place where children can spread their wings and discover who they are through play and exploration.

Steven lives on the peninsula with his wife and two sons; both in elementary school. Steven’s weekends are often spent at a park, playing basketball, riding bikes or spending time with friends. Steven thinks that one of the best parts about being a parent and an educator is that each day, he gets to be around individuals who are constantly discovering and learning about the world. He really believes that we learn something new everyday and working with your children has not only improved his understanding as an educator, but also as a parent.

Tabachae

AM Nursery Teacher

Tabachae is a native San Franciscan, having started her teaching career at the Head Start preschool program she attended many years ago. She has been a proud member of the AM Nursery since 2004. In her free time, she loves to read and travel and visit her family in Houston, Texas.

Tabachae holds an AA from City College in Child Development, a BA in Child & Adolescent Development with a concentration in Research and Public Policy from San Francisco State University, and has achieved her MA in Early Childhood Education as well as her ECE Program Director permit. Tabachae enjoys working with young children and their families, and counsels peers as a Professional Growth Advisor.

Geoff

Little red school bus Teacher

After a lengthy career in sports writing, Geoff is excited to make a transition to being a preschool teacher. Geoff’s daughter Zoë is a Parker alum (and current second-grader at Live Oak School) and spending two years as the parent volunteer for Lunch Bunch helped spark his career change. He has a BA in English from Tufts University and recently completed ECE classwork at CCSF.

In his free time, Geoff enjoys spending time with his family at the park, flying kites, hiking or playing with the family’s two cats. They are working on walking the entire length of San Francisco’s Crosstown Trail (in pieces).

Julie

Childcare Head Teacher

Julie has been at One Fifty Parker Avenue School in the Childcare program since 1995. She holds a BA in Child Development from San Francisco State University.

A native San Franciscan before moving to the East Bay after getting married, Julie enjoys teaching children of many ages and continues to look forward to each year at Parker School.

Elizabeth

PM NURSERY Teacher

Elizabeth moved to San Francisco in 2009 to earn her BS in Early Childhood Education at San Francisco State University. 

Elizabeth has taught in play-based, child-driven classrooms over the last 7 years, as well as in a variety of art based programs. 

Elizabeth is excited to join the dedicated Parker teaching team and community. She treasures the relationships built with the children and families, and looks forward to connecting with everyone. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys drawing, yoga, hiking, traveling and adventuring around the city. 

Abbie

Transitional Kindergarten Teacher

Abbie is originally from Chicago where she received a BS in Early Childhood Education from DePaul University. Since moving to the Bay Area 14 years ago she has worked as a teacher at The Little School, received a Masters Degree In Library and Information Science from San Jose State, and worked as a nanny. Her most recent role has been full time stay at home mom to two beautiful boys.

Abbie is thrilled to join the Parker team. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, weight lifting, baking, gardening and chasing her kids around the beautiful beaches and parks of Pacifica, where they live.

Taylor

LITTLE RED SCHOOL head BUS teacher

Taylor was born and raised in Fort Bragg, California, and has been living in San Francisco for the last 12 years. Inspired by his mom’s many years of teaching preschool, he pursued a career in Education by receiving a BA in Elementary Education from San Francisco State University. After working in many different educational fields, fate would have it that Taylor found himself in the preschool classroom, following in his mom's footsteps. This all began by volunteering at Parker many years ago!

For the last six years, Taylor has been teaching in play-based, Reggio Emilia and nature-inspired classrooms as well as running his own outdoor summer camp. It’s his belief that children are capable, competent learners that are always constructing their own knowledge and understanding about the world around them. When children are given the respect, trust, and opportunity they are capable of doing amazing things.

Taylor enjoys the endless potential and experiences of the little bus program and all that Parker School offers young children. Outside of work, Taylor enjoys playing music with friends, photography, skateboarding and traveling. 

Nathan

PM Nursery head Teacher

Nathan has been an early childhood educator for 14 years. He holds Master’s degrees in early childhood education from San Francisco State University and in curriculum and instruction from UT Austin. He is interested in teachers as researchers, looking closely at children’s work, and supporting cooperative thinking in children.

In his free time he loves to hike, camp, travel, garden and play records. Nathan is excited to be a part of the One Fifty Parker Avenue School community.

Ellie

Transitional Kindergarten Head Teacher
& Admissions Coordinator

Ellie was born and raised in the Bay Area and spent her high school years on the east coast. She graduated from Pitzer College with a BA in Psychology, and went on to take additional Child Development courses at San Francisco State University's College of Extended Learning and at San Francisco City College.

Ellie first began teaching at Parker School in 1996 and was immediately inspired by the play-based approach to learning and the dedicated staff. She has worn many hats during her time at Parker and particularly enjoys her role as a teacher in the TK program. In her free time Ellie can be found reading, hiking, exploring Northern California, daydreaming, and napping.

Leisl

am nursery Teacher

Leisl is originally from New Jersey (Southern New Jersey near Philadelphia), and moved to San Francisco in 2005. She received her BA in Child and Adolescent Development in 2012, and her MA in Early Childhood Development in 2015, both from San Francisco State University. Her previous teaching experience includes working at Associated Students Early Childhood Education Center (ASI ECEC) where she supported young children’s growth and development in an NAEYC accredited, play based, Reggio inspired setting, which focused on building relationships with young children and families to promote social and emotional well being. At Congregation Emanu-El Preschool Leisl supported the school values through an inquiry-based curriculum, learning from and with children and families to create and nurture collaborative partnerships, connecting home and school culture, traditions and values. In any environment, Leisl enjoys seeing the world through the lens of children to meet their individual needs, and her experience as an assistant to an occupational therapist supports her in this work.

Leisl lives in San Francisco with her husband and 8 year old son. She likes going to hear live music, visiting farmer’s markets, being outdoors, and exploring new and old cuisine in this city’s vibrant restaurant scene. Fun fact: Leisl was born in Ethiopia.

Joyce

PM nursery Teacher

Joyce was born in the Sierras in Arnold, CA and has deep roots in the bay area, extending back 5 generations. She was raised in the wilds of Oklahoma on her grandparents’ cattle ranch, relocating to a Virginia equestrian farm in high school. She came to early childhood education through teaching horseback riding and running summer camps at Bridlewise Farm in Hartfield, VA. Joyce has been teaching since 2008 with a focus on Reggio/inquiry-based learning. Joyce is pursuing a bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education.

Amy

Little red school bus Teacher

Amy was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. She is Director and Lead Teacher certified through The Department of Early Education & Care (EEC.) Amy has spent the past 30+ years working in childcare, as well as raising her three grown children. Prior to teaching at One Fifty Parker Avenue School, Amy ran The Little Red Schoolhouse in Wrentham, Massachusetts for fifteen years.

Amy attended Framingham State College for Early Childhood Education and Psychology. She has an immense love of learning and teaching through hands on experiences. She is so excited and honored to be a part of One Fifty Parker Avenue School! In her free time, Amy can be found amongst the palm trees and sandy beaches of San Bruno, where she resides.