Faculty

NDV's administration supports educating students spiritually, academically, socially and physically. A comparison with other schools reveals that NDV has committed an unusually high level of resources to special subject staff and teachers. In addition to the classroom teachers, NDV's staff includes the following support positions:

  • Technology teacher
  • Clergy
  • Reading specialist
  • Math and Science resource teacher
  • School counselor
  • French Language teachers
  • Art teacher
  • Music teacher
  • Physical education teacher
  • Librarian
  • Class room aides

 

To maintain this level of staffing, administration and faculty, NDV continuously seeks opportunities to benefit from financial investment in the intellectual infrastructure of our school.

NDV staff continually evaluates and builds on curriculum guidelines to incorporate both input from our extended community and the results of regular student assessment. Staff members regularly participate in workshops relevant to their teaching area. In addition, faculty attend a myriad of other workshops discussing topics including classroom management, child development and learning differences. They also pursue additional education and share new ideas to stay abreast of emerging trends and techniques.

Likewise, NDV staff regularly meet in clusters and as a faculty to discuss school and student progress. Regular in-class and standardized assessment exercises provide tangible evidence of areas of success and opportunities for improvements.

Due to NDV's commitment to the employment of full-time aides, the staff/student ratio in grades K through two has been greatly reduced. To ensure that each child receives individualized instruction, we utilize our resource staff to reduce class size. On any given day, NDV students will attend several small group sessions. The staff/student ratio in grades K through two is 12:1 and 16:1 in grades three and four. While class size in the upper grades averages between 30 and 35, we have support staff to significantly reduce class size. The program is designed to allow for small group sessions.

Ten full-time teachers hold teaching credentials and five hold advanced degrees, including PhD's and Masters degrees. The average teaching experience for full-time and part-time teaching staff is 13.5 years with an average of eight years at NDV. Teachers attend in-services and workshops on a regular basis to keep current on educational research and methods.

To support its rigorous academic program, NDV's facilities include 12 classrooms, a fully equipped science lab, a library with a collection of more than 10,000 books, music room, art room, a computer technology lab with 18 iMac workstations, several classrooms equipped with interactive white boards, mobile laptop computer cart, an auditorium/theater facility, a gymnasium, a cafeteria and a school chapel.

Administration:

Mary Ghisolfo
Principal
B.A., Natural Science, CSU Chico
M.A., Education, CSU San Francisco
California Life Credential, CSU Chico
Administrative Services Credential, CSU San Francisco
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Sharon Hupf
Vice Principal
B.A., Westminster College
M.A., Religious Education, USF
M.A. Private School Administration, USF
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Valerie Meehan
Alumni Coordinator
B.A., Chemistry w/Math minor, Lone Mountain
M.A., Education, Lone Mountain
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Michelle Astabie
School Secretary
B.S. Business Administration, U.C. Berkeley
J.D., Boalt Hall School of Law
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Desiree Almendares
Admissions Director
General Studies, S.F. City College
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Faculty:

Aileen Albertson
Librarian
B.A., English, Boston College
B.F.A., California College of Art
Multi-subject California Credential, Notre Dame de Namur University
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Sarah Boniface
Middle School Social Studies, Sixth Grade Religion
B.S. Education Emporia State University English and Secondary Education
M.A. Curricuum and Teaching, Michigan State University
California Singe Subject Credential in English
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Connie Buford
Fifth Grade Teacher
B.S., Speech and Language
California Multi-subject Credential, S.F. State
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Jill Carlisle
First Grade Teacher
B.A., International Relations, U.C. Davis
Multi-subject Credential, California State U. Stanislaus
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Charles Cecilia
Second Grade Teacher
B.A., Liberal Arts, S.F. State University
Multi-subject Credential, S.F.S.U.
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Gigi Gulinao
Music Teacher
B.A., Music, U. of the Philippines
M.A., Teaching, College of Notre Dame
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Patty Hoyt
Computer Teacher
B.S. History, State College, Brockport
Multi-subject credential
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Jenifer Lake
Art Teacher
B.F.A., Old Dominion University
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Jeanne Mazeris
K-3rd French Teacher
B.A., French/Music
M.A.
Secondary Credenial
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ext. 309

Meridith Pantaleoni
Third Grade Teacher
B.A., Child Development, California Polytechnic, San Luis Obispo
California Life Credential, CSU Fresno
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Roberta Renzi
Kindergarten Teacher
B.A., Interdisciplinary Creative Arts
M.A.,
California Elementary Teaching Credential
California Early Childhood Education Credential
Reading Specialist Credential, St. Mary’s College
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Judith Shilstone
Middle School Language Arts
B.A., History, Douglass College
M.A., Columbia Univ. Teachers’ College
Single Subject Credential, Social Studies, College of Notre Dame
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Dimitrios Tsokas
Physical Education Teacher
B.A., Physical Education, CSU San Francisco
Clear Single Subject Credential
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Erika Weber
Fourth Grade Teacher
B.A., Liberal Studies/Elementary Education, Humbolt State Univ.
TESOL, Univ. of CA at Davis
Clear Multiple Subjects Credential
CLAD, Humboldt State Univ.
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Jeanine Wiater
Counselor
B.S.W. Social Work University of Georgia
MACP Institute of Transpersonal Psychology ; MFT License #49914
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