All of our teachers are highly qualified, and fully support the Carden West School philosophy that every child is challenged every day to meet their individual academic excellence. Carden's teachers pride themselves in their ability to meet the social, emotional and academic needs of each student. Students who have already demonstrated mastery of a concept are challenged to delve deeper into the area of study. All students, from our youngest two year olds to our fifth graders, experience daily success due to our truly exceptional staff.
Learn more about Carden West's experienced staff. Biographies are being added regularly - check this page often!
Mary Cantori - Junior Kindergarten Teacher
Mary Cantori's entire 17-year teaching career has been spent at Carden West. She attended Foothill College in Palo Alto and San Francisco State University before joining our staff as a preschool teacher, and then was preschool director, before moving to kindergarten.
Mary has seen many positive changes in Carden West during her tenure here. She cites the cohesiveness of the staff and the strength of the curriculum as the most notable, along with the expansion of foreign language offerings (required Spanish and elective French and Mandarin) and computer classes. "Even at the kindergarten level, our students attend computer classes twice a week. Our after-school program offers many opportunities for enrichment as well."
Mary loves teaching reading and witnessing the success that a kindergartener experiences. She appreciates the wealth of teaching materials available, the ability to customize her instruction to each individual child and the time (a full day) to reinforce the day's lessons.
"My favorite thing about Carden West is the lovely sense of community that we enjoy here. There is such a feeling of openness and comfort and I know our parents trust us to watch and guide their children well."
Mary and her husband, Carlo, have been married for 22 years and have two children. Along with her family and teaching, Mary's passion is gardening. She has filled her yard in Dublin, which originally had two trees, with more than 100 trees and shrubs.
Amy Greaney - Kindergarten Teacher
Amy Greaney was introduced to Carden West through a position with the summer tutoring program and joined the staff as a kindergarten teacher in 2007. She is a graduate of San Diego State University and holds a teaching credential from Cal Sate, East Bay. Teaching students to be lifelong learners is important to her since she is one herself; she is always looking for opportunities to be inspired and acquire new ideas or teaching techniques, therefore she continues to attend workshops, classes or seminars when she can.
Amy loves having the entire day with her kindergarteners. She knows there is less stress because nothing must be rushed. The children have time to use the information they have learned in play, thus solidifying their knowledge. "We even have time to sing songs about what they have learned and have fun!" she says.
"I value the time and ability to focus attention on every child and make a special connection of some kind with each child, each day. It is wonderful to know that I can give each child what he or she needs."
Amy appreciates the collaborative spirit of the teachers at Carden West, which she believes enhances the strength of the curriculum and provides a well-rounded environment for the students. Though Amy and other teachers have separate classrooms, they work as a synchronized team, working together to link all the areas of learning - reading, math, science, and social studies - into meaningful learning experiences for their students.
Amy lives with her husband and two children in Pleasanton. In her scant leisure time, she enjoys reading, taking walks, cooking and spending time with her family.
Lara Christensen - Kindergarten Teacher
"I am pleased to be starting my 3rd year here at Carden West. Before working in Pleasanton, I was employed on the peninsula teaching a K-1 Special Day class. Before that, I taught Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants, with Special Needs.
A California native, I grew up in the Monterey Bay area. I was pleased to escape the colder weather, when I moved to Los Angeles to get a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies - Education. Certainly, my years there prepared me for the work force, but I approached it with trepidation. So decided to continue my schooling, in a much different climate.
After three-days driving cross country, I found myself in Washington, DC, getting a Master of Arts, in Deaf Education - Multiple Disabilities. With three credentials and a home0-sick stomach, I returned to Southern California.
Five years later, I can say that I've found my niche. Kindergarten has welcomed me with opened arms and I've embraced it."
Nelle Weidinger - First Grade Teacher
Nelle Weidinger joins Carden West from the San Ramon Unified School District where she worked in reading intervention. She is a holds a Liberal Studies degree from Sonoma State University and a multiple subjects teaching credential along with CLAD certification from CSU East Bay. She will be receiving a Masters in Education and Curriculum from CSU East Bay in December.
Nelle believes in creating a safe and positive learning environment for her students. “A positive classroom environment has effective and consistent classroom management, promotes and protects physical and emotional safety, nurtures intellectual and individual growth, activates curiosity and creativity, fosters equality, builds a sense of community, encourages student accountability, holds high and attainable expectations, and empowers to become lifelong learners.” She believes that when all of these elements are in place, students will feel safe, encouraged, and confident to take academic risks which leads to the most effective student learning.
Nelle is continuously adapting her teaching style to meet the needs of her students. Her goal is to include as many different teaching strategies and hands on learning opportunities to best meet the needs of her students. The small class size allows her to create differentiation for all levels of learning and educate the whole child. “My goal is to help each child reach his or her full social, emotional, and intellectual potential while instilling a love and passion for learning.”
Nelle grew up in the East Bay and still lives there. In her spare time she enjoys reading, scrapbooking, theater, and spending time with her family.
Christine Radich - First Grade Teacher
Janis Giovacchini - Second Grade Teacher
Janis Giovacchini grew up in the Santa Clara Valley. Because of the
many exceptional and talented teachers she had she decided to become
a teacher herself. She attended De Anza College and then San Jose State
University where she earned her BA and multiple subject teaching
credential. Her first teaching positions were teaching in San Jose public and
private schools. She found these positions very rewarding because the
parents and children were so focused on becoming educated to improve their
lives and achieve the American dream.
Janis taught part time while raising her own children. She returned to teaching
full time after moving to Pleasanton in 1998. After teaching in Livermore for
several years, her desire to be closer to her children brought her to Carden West
to teach second grade. She was drawn to Carden West because of its philosophy
of teaching to the whole child.
Janis also values the smaller class size which really increases each child's
success daily and allows a teacher to be more involved and creative. " Carden
West is a wonderful place where children can learn and achieve each and every
day in a learning filled, safe, nurturing, and creative environment. I love teaching!"
Lisa Harp - Third Grade Teacher
I come from a family of educators and learned the importance of a solid academic foundation very early on in my life. Before my father passed away, he was a teacher and administrator in San Jose for almost 30 years. I was awed by the amount of his former students who visited him and shared stories of how he had influenced their lives. My mother was an English teacher, ESL teacher and now is a Barton tutor at Knowledgequest Learning Center in Los Gatos. My husband, Alex, is the principal at Lincoln High School in San Leandro and inspires me daily with the way he cares for all of his students, staff and community. My mother-in-law, Katie McLane, is a semi-retired teacher and principal from the Oakland Unified school district who is a wonderful support to me and a solid sounding board for new ideas and strategies that can help our students reach their potential. I came to Carden West four years ago after spending two years as a stay-at-home mom. Carden West just seemed like a good fit for our whole family. This is my fourth year teaching the third grade at Carden West School.
Before taking time off for motherhood, I taught in Union City for ten years as a second grade, third grade and a second/third multi-age teacher at Hillview Crest Elementary School. I am a graduate of University of California, Berkeley and I hold a multi-subject teaching credential with CLAD certification from Cal State, East Bay.
My children are so happy at Carden West and, for me, it's a dream job. The students love learning and the small class size allows me to individualize instruction and be creative rather than just manage a large class of students.
I love the homey atmosphere here and the supportive relationships among faculty and administration. I appreciate the opportunity to partner with other teachers for projects and field trips and enjoy helping with language arts assessments and activities.
In my spare time, I love to enjoy the beautiful Bay Area with my family, cook, dance and go to concerts.
Allison Loomis - Science Teacher
Allison Loomis's experience teaching multi-level math and science on the Peninsula made her new position at Carden West the "perfect fit." She joined our faculty in 2007 as teacher of the third, fourth and fifth grade combination and continued in 2008 with the fourth and fifth grade combination. Ms. Loomis is teaching fifth grade homeroom and science to the 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students for the 2010-2011 academic year.
"I really enjoy teaching students with a range of abilities at the elementary level, and appreciate that, at Carden West, we have the flexibility to teach according to the needs of the students," she states.
"What I am happy to find here is that students are used to having their needs met so they can discuss with me what they need in terms of learning. In turn, I have the time to understand and address the needs of each child because our classes are small. My students and I have a close bond and I'm happy to be with them every day."
Allison enjoys connecting the content of various subjects, integrating them in a way that is meaningful and memorable to her students. She often adds creative experiences like simulations or special reports and field trips to bring the subject matter alive.
Allison values the mutual support among administration, faculty and parents at Carden West. She views parents as partners in their children's education and believes that knowing the parents helps her know and serve her students more effectively. "It adds to my perspective of my students," she adds.
Allison attended California State University, Sacramento, where she earned a BA in child development, and obtained a multi-subject teaching credential from Sacramento State's Bilingual, Multicultural Teaching Credential Program. She also holds a NCLB (No Child Left Behind)-qualified science credential.
Jessica Clark - Upper School Lead Teacher & English/Language Arts Teacher
Hello my name is Jessica Clark. I am the Upper School Lead Teacher and I also teach 5th grade Writing as well as 4th and 5th grade Reading. I am extremely committed to the concept of being of life-long learner and it was my childhood ambition to one day be a teacher and work in the field of education.
In my efforts to achieve this goal I volunteered, student taught, and substitute taught in a variety of K-6 classrooms and educational settings. I graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) with an undergraduate major in History and a minor in Black Studies. I then went on to complete the requirements for my Multiple Subject California Teaching Credential and obtain a Masters Degree in Education from the Graduate School of Education at UCSB.
For the past eight years I taught upper elementary students in straight grade classrooms as well as multi-grade "looping" classrooms in Marin and Santa Barbara counties. In addition to my standard classroom responsibilities, I took on leadership and management roles beyond the classroom by serving on decision making committees as the school’s
district representative, mentoring co-workers, participating in professional development and developing and delivering numerous presentations for site based staff meetings and district wide professional development days.
In my free time I enjoy spending time laughing with friends and family, being
outdoors, traveling the world, reading and playing sports (especially soccer). I look forward to sharing my passion for learning with the students and families of Carden West this year!
Beverly Gustafson - 4th Grade English/Language Arts, French, & Spanish Teacher
Hillary Marine - Social Studies/History
Hillary grew up in the Bay Area and graduated from Harvest Park Middle School and Amador Valley High School. In the fall of 2004, Hillary began her college career at California State University, Chico. It was in her first year while volunteering for a Science Teaching Internship with the Hands On Learning Lab she found her passion for teaching elementary school students. She loved the moment when students seemed to grasp a concept and how the children were so enthusiastic to come and learn about Earth, Natural, and Physical Science. Hillary graduated from Chico State in 2008 with a Liberal Studies degree with an area of concentration in Environmental Studies as well as a TESOL certificate, deeming her qualified to teach second language learners. In the fall of 2010, Hillary began her credential year at California State University, Chico. She worked with three different cooperating teachers in three diverse classroom settings, conducting case studies, collaborating with professionals in her field, and creating her own units while solo teaching a 1st, 4th, and 6th grade class. She holds her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential as well as her Single Subject Teaching Credential in English.
Upon completing her credential year, Hillary was excited to apply the tools and teachings she gained during her credential year and undergraduate. It was a joy to find a school in her hometown that was looking for a reading resource teacher and an Extended Care Head Teacher. Carden West was a clear choice and she made bonds with not only the students but the tight knit staff as well. Getting to work collaboratively is a highlight of her job and leaning how to best cooperate and achieve goals as a team is what makes Carden West a great school for children. Hillary believes in the importance of being a reflective and effective teacher and creating a classroom environment that is accepting, cooperative, and that allows students to see themselves as important future leaders in our world’s society. Hillary believes that learning will occur in everything we do, and with engaging lessons and differentiated instruction, her students will be encouraged to become confident and courageous lifelong learners. She believes in the potential in all of her students and she works to foster their passion to learn and to help them succeed.
Hillary is thrilled to be at Carden West for her second year with a new assignment of the Fourth and Fifth Grade Social Studies teacher as well as an Extended Care Co-Head Teacher for Kindergarten. She is enjoying getting to hone in one subject and collaborate with such a reflective and creative upper school team as well provide an enriching and educational after school program.
Andrew Pipkin - Math Specialist and Art Teacher
In 2004, after five years with the Hayward School District, Andrew Pipkin relocated to Pleasanton and began the search for a teaching position that was "more local." He discovered an opening at Carden West and was immediately drawn to the sense of community and family atmosphere at the school. Thus began his association with Carden West, teaching physical education and art for grades K-8.
"I appreciate having the freedom to design curriculum and the flexibility to work with the students one-on-one," he says. "I have more time to spend with them, understanding their individual capabilities and finding activities that will help them develop."
Because art history is covered in students' homeroom classes, Andrew's art classes center around fine art skills like creating with charcoal, pastels, and acrylic paints and learning various techniques. Last year, his students created an art show at the school with their works auctioned off during the Music in the Halls fundraising event at the holiday season.
Andrew is a graduate of Cal State East Bay and is currently enrolled in a teaching credential/ masters degree program with Western Governors University. He is a new father who enjoys playing soccer and pursuing his musical interests on saxophone and guitar.
Joshua Diamant - Music Teacher
Joshua Diamant is thrilled to join the Carden West family, teaching general music, choir, and orchestra from preschool up through fifth grade. A lifelong New Yorker until August 2011, he is rapidly and happily adjusting to life on the West Coast.
Josh holds a B.A. in ethnomusicology from Columbia University and an advanced certificate in K-12 music education from Brooklyn College. Before settling on teaching, he spent three years in journalism as managing editor of The Port Times Record, a weekly community newspaper in Port Jefferson, Long Island.
In 2007, in his initial step back toward a career in music, he became the conductor of the Long Island chapter of HaZamir: The International Jewish High School Choir, an organization that gives teens in over 20 cities in the United States, Canada, and Israel the opportunity to join together in friendship and performance.
Josh is also something of an expert on standardized tests, having worked for three years as a tutor of the SAT, PSAT, ACT, GRE, and AP and New York State exams in math, English, and music theory.
Josh subscribes to a teaching philosophy of Comprehensive Musicianship, in which singing, playing, movement, listening, improvisation, composition, music literacy, history, and theory are inextricably intertwined from the earliest ages, and he finds that philosophy a good match with the Carden credo of educating the whole child.
Outside of Carden West, Josh is an active singer, pianist, conductor, composer, and arranger. On those rare occasions when he is not making music, he is an avid reader, cook, baseball fan, and explorer of his newly adopted hometown of Berkeley.
Elizabeth Giovanetti - Preschool Director & Pre-Kindergarten Head Teacher
Elizabeth Giovanetti, “Miss Elizabeth” to everyone at Carden West has been a vital part of the Carden West preschool team for five years. Elizabeth has been a 3 Year Old Program teacher, a Prekindergarten teacher and our Preschool Director in her tenure at Carden West.
“In 2006, I heard about an opening at Carden West teaching three-year-olds, an age I love, and decided to pursue it. On my first visit, I was taken by the beautiful campus, the extensive library collection and the friendly staff. I grew up in Pleasanton and liked the idea of working in my hometown and seeing my students and their families wherever I went. It seemed like an excellent fit. Years later Carden West is still a perfect fit. Outside school, I have served as treasurer of EBAEYC, the local chapter of the National Association of the Education of Young Children. In my time away from school, I enjoy gardening, reading, playing with my dogs.”
Angela Dunn - Preschool Director & Pre-Kindergarten Head Teacher
Angela Dunn, “Miss Angie” to her students has been teaching in the Early Childhood field for 15 years.
“I love working with all preschool children. The children at this age are wonderful to learn from. I started working at Carden West as a substitute in November 2009 and worked in many of the classes in all programs. In June 2010 I became Head Teacher in the two year old room. In the 2010-2011 academic year enrollment increased and another head teacher was needed in the pre-kindergarten program . I was very excited to be able to work in another age group which suits my talents. Now in my new role as Preschool Director, I will be able to fulfill another of my main goals; to be a mentor teacher. I am excited to help guide new teachers in the field and to collaborate with our more seasoned teachers. In my life outside of school, I have 3 grandchildren; 2 boys and a girl. I'm very lucky to be able to spend quality time with them. I love going to the movies, camping and spending time with my mom.”
Joanne Rauch - Preschool & Kindergarten Reading Resource Specialist
Carden Conejo's loss was Carden West's gain when Joanne Rauch and her husband relocated from Westlake Village to Pleasanton in 1990. Joanne joined our faculty as a preschool/kindergarten teacher and remained until her retirement in 2005. After retirement, she returned to Carden West part time as our Reading Resource Specialist.
Included in Joanne's teacher training are more than 1,000 hours of mentoring by Annamaria Zimmerman, who, along with her husband, Norman, founded Carden West. In addition, she has participated in extensive preschool through eight grade seminars presented by the Carden Foundation.
Joanne loves the small, personalized learning atmosphere at Carden West and the collaborative team spirit among the faculty. She believes that first experiences with reading set the tone for students' future school years and works to ensure that those experiences are pleasant and positive. She considers herself an advocate for each child during the important first stages of learning in a school setting.
"Some children are ready to read in kindergarten and some are not, but we can't, and shouldn't force it. I like to lead rather than drive and work in small groups to make sure each child enjoys the experience and is eager to progress.
Joanne and her husband have three grown children and five grandchildren. In her leisure time, she loves to read and attend opera and movies. Her favorite travels are to Hawaii and to visit grandchildren on the East Coast and in Southern California.
Rajbeer Sandhu - Two Year Old Program Head Teacher
I started working at Carden West School as of March, 2011. I previously taught Pre-K, toddlers and 2’s, I enjoy teaching the Pre-school age group. I have over 6 years of experience with a Master’s degree in Education, Emphasis Early Childhood Education, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts, Emphasis Early Childhood Education and a Child Development Site Supervisor Permit from the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
Other than work I enjoy cooking, baking and spending time with my niece and nephew. I also enjoy spending time with my husband sightseeing, relaxing and watching movies.
It’s nice to join a warm, loving environment with great staff, parents and children to work with. I look forward to working with the wonderful children, families and the Carden West staff.
Rajbeer Sandhu - Two Year Old Program Head Teacher
This is Jessica's second year as Head Teacher in the Two Year Old Program.
Megan Steinert- Three Year Old Program Head Teacher
Megan Steinert was born and raised in the Bay Area. She attended the University of California Davis in hope of becoming a child counselor. During her senior year she took a class where she had to work at the onsite preschool, Center for Child and Family Studies. “I immediately fell in love with the children and how they went about exploring the world around them. I knew from the first week that I could see myself doing this job for the next 50 years.” When people ask her why she decided to become a preschool teacher she tells them, “Everyday at work I laugh at least 5 times a day, I watch children get excited over the smallest things that we as adults take for granted, and this job allows me to use my artistic side. It does matter what kind of day you are having, once you are in the classroom, the children make you smile and laugh, and forget about your worries, even if its just for a few hours.”
Currently, Megan has her Master Teacher Permit and is currently working towards completing an AA n Early Childhood Development. Before coming to Carden West in 2007, Megan received her Water Safety Instructor and taught people how to swim from ages 6 months to 65 years old. On her free time, Megan likes to go hiking in Yosemite, dancing with her friends, spending time with her family, and curling up on the couch with a good novel.
Shayla Murray - Three Year Old Program Head Teacher
Ms. Shayla has been the Head Three Year Old Program Teacher in room D for 4 Years.
Ashley Velez - Three Year Old Program Head Teacher
After 3 years under a veteran head teacher, Ms. Ashley has been promoted to Head Teacher of her own Three Year Old Program class.
Shermeen Rafiq - Pre-Kindergarten Program Head Teacher
Shermeen Rafiq grew up in South East Asia where she graduated from high school and attended college. She has also spent lots of time in France and England visiting her relatives in summer.
She is bilingual and has traveled extensively in Asia, Europe and Middle East.
Before joining Carden West Shermeen was teaching at Primary Plus School at Saratoga, CA.
When she moved to Pleasanton; her friends introduced her to Carden West. When she learned about an opening for pre-k teacher; it was a perfect opportunity for her to be with her 3 year old son, a short distance from her daughter’s school (Alisal) and her home close to down town Pleasanton.
She is currently enrolled in Las Positas College where she is taking courses to enhance her career. She has been teaching at Carden West School since 2003.
She loves interacting with all the children and seeing them develop a love for learning.
It gives her immense pleasure to see the children interact with each other and develop a genuine love of learning as they progress through the school year.
She is married to Tahir who is an engineer in Silicon Valley and has a daughter Natalia and a son Saad. She enjoys spending time with her family and exploring the world with them on their annual summer vacations.
Namwar Hasnat - Pre-Kindergarten Program Head Teacher
Ms. Namwar is currently in year 10th year at Carden West School. Her dedication, warmth, and knowledge is highly respected among the Carden West staff.