Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School

Tamara Austin

M.S., Biology & Mathematics, Kazakh State University, Kazakhstan

Mrs. Austin majored in Microbiology and worked for five years as a teaching assistant and research biologist at Kazakh State University. She also worked for ten years at the Advanced High School for Mathematics in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan where she taught all levels of math, including calculus and statistics. She has authored twelve publications on topics including solving trigonometric and logarithmic inequalities, and functions and their graphs. As a teenager she competed for Kazakhstan in rhythmic gymnastics; she is also an avid skier and volleyball player. Mrs. Austin moved to California in 1993 and became a founding faculty member of Kirby in 1994.

Kathleen Brandwene

M.A., Art, San Jose State University

Ms. Brandwene is a painter, printmaker, and arts educator. Her work has been exhibited both nationally and abroad, and she has received numerous awards for monotypes that have appeared in museum shows and traveling exhibitions. Her paintings have received critical recognition and are included in collections in New York and Los Angeles. She has taught at San Jose State, the Cultural Council, Watsonville High School, and the William James Association. Currently exploring portraiture, both animal and human, Ms. Brandwene also works as a graphic artist for a locally owned family business.

Maria Elena Caballero-Robb ()

Ph.D., Literature, University of California, Santa Cruz, M.F.A.,Creative Writing, University of Michigan, B.A., English, Cornell University

Dr. Caballero-Robb has been a Lecturer in Writing and Literature at University of California, Santa Cruz since 2003 and prior to that at the University of Michigan. She has published scholarly work in Contemporary American Women Poets: An A-Z Guide and in Literary Newsmakers, Vol. 1.

Abigail Christopher ()

B.A., Anthropology and Spanish, University of California Davis

Ms. Christopher served as Practice Coordinator and Fitness Instructor for Bay Area Committed to Kids and as Assistant to the Medical Director of Santa Cruz Women?s Health Center. She is a member of the Bay Area?s Fury Ultimate Frisbee Team, which in 2008 was ranked number one in the United States and won the World Championship.

Alison Gee

Ph.D., Earth Sciences (Geochemistry), University of California, Santa Cruz

Dr. Gee has an extensive career as an environmental scientist, most recently as an environmental chemist with the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, and as a Lecturer at UC Santa Cruz. She has published numerous articles on her research. She received her B.A. from Wesleyan University.

Kathleen Genco ()

B.A., English, University of California, Berkeley

Ms. Genco first came to Kirby in 1997 as a parent volunteer and has continued to serve in various administrative roles. Her affection for teenagers in general, and Kirby students in particular, makes each student feel heard and cared for and their welfare remains her primary goal in her role as Assistant Dean of Students.

Emily Hose ()

B.A., English and Creative Writing, Sonoma State University

After earning her B.A. in Creative Writing, Ms. Hose contined her education at Sonoma State, completing a concentration in Literature. She earned her single subject credential in English by working as a student teacher at Elsie Allen High School in Santa Rosa. Ms. Hose was co-captain of the Sonoma State softball team for the 2001 and 2002 seasons, and has coached and directed several softball camps.

Jeff House ()

M.A., English, San Jose State University, B.A., Journalism, Brigham Young University

Mr. House joined the Kirby faculty with over twenty years experience in public and parochial schools. The recipient of several NEH grants, Mr. House has also been recognized by Stanford University and San Jose State for his teaching. As an AP reader and speaker for College Board, he has lectured to teachers in the Western states for over a decade and addressed state and national conventions. A songwriter, he has published in such periodicals as English Journal and Journal of American Culture. In 2005, his text Writing is Dialogue: Teaching Students to Think (and Write) Like Writers was published. He is currently working on a guide to studying literature entitled, Below the Moon: Using Archetypes to Study Literature. A former journalist, Mr. House has advised school publications and guided them to awards from The Los Angeles Times, The National Scholastic Press Association, Columbia School of Journalism, and Quill and Scroll.

Misha Hudson ()

Ph.D., (pending), History, University of California, Santa Cruz

Mr. Hudson holds two M.A.degrees in history, one from the University of Northern Iowa and the other from the University of California, Santa Cruz. His B.A., also in history, was conferred by the University of Northern Iowa. Before joining the Kirby faculty in 2006, he taught at Pacific Collegiate School. Much of his graduate studies work focused on East-West relations in the twentieth century. This interest dates from his teenage years, when he lived in Leningrad to further his career as a competitive chess player. Mr. Hudson is advisor to the Kirby Chess Team.

Christine Hutton

M.A., Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, B.S., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Ms. Hutton joined the Kirby faculty in 2006 after six years of laboratory research at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she also worked on pedagogical methods with the UC Santa Cruz Academic Senate Committee on Teaching. She served as a teaching assistant at UCSC for courses in Biochemistry and Eukaryotic Molecular Biology. Ms. Hutton published an abstract for her work in structural biology with Brookhaven National Labs, in addition to her work on transcription factors in the periodical Genes and Development. For recreation, she enjoys snowboarding in the winter and dirt bike camping in the summer.

Jefferds Huyck ()

Ph.D., Classics, Harvard University, B.A., Stanford University

Before returning to his hometown of Aptos, Dr. Huyck taught Greek and Latin at Harvard University and at the University of Michigan. He served as American Fellow to the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae, a Latin dictionary project based in Munich, and has won prizes for Greek and Latin compositions in prose and verse.

Jennifer Jaeger ()

B.A., Education, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Before joining the Kirby faculty in 2006, Ms. Jaeger devoted her career to outdoor and wilderness education. She has served as a naturalist for the Exploring New Horizons Outdoor School, as Program Director for VISIONS Service Adventures, and as a ski instructor for people with disabilities at Environmental Traveling Companions. She has spearheaded student expeditions in the British Virgin Islands, Hawaii, and Minnesota, and led a service learning program in a native village in Alaska. An avid surfer, Ms. Jaeger has spent several summers surfing in Costa Rica and Mexico. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Teaching from National University.

Jordan Johnson ()

M.S., Computer Science, University of California, Santa Cruz, B.A., Computer Science, Indiana University

Mr. Johnson's experience includes teaching computer science at the Latino College Preparatory Academy of the National Hispanic University and serving as a teaching assistant at UC Santa Cruz. He has a passion for singing, with a special interest in close harmony.

Josh Karter ()

Ph.D., Drama, New York University

Before joining the Kirby family, Dr. Karter spent fourteen years as a faculty member and administrator at Trinity College (Hartford, CT.) He taught classes in acting, directing, and dramatic literature, served as Chair of Trinity's Department of Theater and Dance and subsequently as Director of the College's satellite campus in San Francisco. Prior to his years at Trinity, he taught theater at the University of California, Santa Cruz and also coordinated the first-year seminars for UCSC's Porter College. He is a graduate of Amherst College. Coupled with his academic career, Dr. Karter has directed productions for professional theaters both in this country and, during the 1990's, in Russia. In addition to staging Russian-language translations of American plays in Moscow, he sponsored tours by Russian artists in the United States. In 2002, he directed and translated a production of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, featuring a joint cast of American and Russian actors. Since the mid-seventies, when not on the road, he has lived and planted fruit trees in Bonny Doon.

Marianne Kent-Stoll ()

M.A., English, Pennsylvania State University, B.A., English, University of California, Santa Cruz

Ms. Kent-Stoll has devoted twenty years to education. She began her career teaching English and humanities courses on the college level. She first discovered the rewards of high school teaching when she was hired at Archbishop Mitty in San Jose. Ms. Kent-Stoll has taught all levels of high school English and served in various administrative positions. While at Mitty she was appointed Director of the Study Abroad Program, Curriculum Coordinator, and she assisted with the Admissions process. Ms. Kent-Stoll twice received teacher appreciation awards, one from the National Honors Society, and the other from West Valley College. As Assistant Head of School, she is an integral part of a school that continues to grow stronger as a community and is open to building an innovative curriculum. In 2007, she lead a cultural exchange and school-building program to Tanzania for a group of twenty-five Kirby students, staff and parents.

Cristie Kirlin ()

Yakira Rodriguez Landaverry ()

Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz

In addition to holding teaching assistantships in Chemistry at UC Santa Cruz and her coordination of the SURF (Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship) Program on that campus, Dr. Landaverry has served as a math and science teacher at the Cesar Chavez Middle School in Watsonville. She has published a number of articles and presentations on her work in chemical synthesis.

Mima Lecocq ()

B.A., University of California,Berkeley, French and Comparative Literature

Ms. Lecocq grew up in a French-speaking household and joined the Kirby faculty in 2005 after teaching French at the Montessori School in Aptos. In addition to her teaching, she has worked extensively in the area of gourmet cuisine. She was a cook with Alice Waters at Chez Panisse Restaurant in Berkeley and went on to found Carried Away, a restaurant and catering business in Aptos, which remains under her ownership. Ms. Lecocq supervises the extraordinarily popular and healthy lunch program at Kirby.

Barbara Leites ()

M.F.A. & B.F.A, Miami University (Ohio)

Ms. Leites has lived in Europe and Mexico, is an independent arts educator workshop leader, and has had an extensive painting career in acrylics. She has been an award-winning participant in over three hundred national and international juried exhibitions and travel shows. She is a signature-elected member of 22 watermedia societies and currently serves as Board member and President/Treasurer of the International Society of Acrylic Painters. Her work has been included in The Artist's Magazine, International Artist, Splash V, The Art of Layering, Best of Watercolor-Composition, Best Abstracts, Creative Watercolor, and the Texas Watercolor Society. She is listed in the Who's Who in American Art and Who's Who in the World. She self-publishes digital gicle? prints of her work on paper and canvas through Ara Fine Art which can be viewed at www.araleites.com.

Drew Lewis ()

B.A., Music Education, Bethany College, B.A., Theology and Leadership, San Jose Christian College

After nine years as an accompanist for various schools, including Cabrillo College, Aptos High, and Soquel High, Mr. Lewis went on to conduct five choral ensembles at Aptos High, Aptos Jr. High, and Watsonville High as a sabbatical replacement. For several years he served as Music Director for Kids-on-Broadway, Scotts Valley Performing Arts, Cabrillo Stage shows, and other independent musical and theatrical productions in the greater Santa Cruz area.

Mike Malbon ()

Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, B.S., Physics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

During the first part of his career, Dr. Malbon focused on the research and development of high frequency electronics. More recently, he made a career change to fulfill a long-term desire to teach high school. His favorite hobby is woodworking.

Mina Marmol ()

B.A., Humanities, Scripps College, Claremont

Ms. Marmol has taught at Kirby since 2000. As a Fine Arts major at Scripps College, she explored ceramics, painting, fabric surface design, papermaking and sculpture ? leading to her work as a mixed media artist. As an art teacher, she is currently developing curricula addressing topics related to African, Asian, and Latin American cultures. Ms. Marmol is a native Spanish speaker and has taught all levels of Spanish from middle school to Advanced Placement. Ms. Marmol has worked in the fields of educational research and translation. She has lived and traveled in Central and South America and currently resides in Santa Cruz with her daughters and Bugsy, her Boston terrier.

Carolina Martinez ()

M.A., Education, University of California, Santa Cruz, B.A., Latin American Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz

For eight years, Ms. Martinez was a teacher for, and the coordinator of, the Spanish for Spanish Speakers Program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She then devoted a number of years to teaching UCSC Oakes College Core Course, "Values and Change in a Diverse Society." As an undergraduate, she attended the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Ms. Martinez has also been active in conflict resolution work and is a Board member of the Fund for Nonviolence.

Paul Mazzei ()

M.A., Education, University of California, Berkeley, B.S., Biology and Spanish, Wofford College

As an undergraduate, he spent a summer conducting independent research on the effects of global warming in Costa Rica. After graduating, he spend two years teaching environmental education at San Joaquin Outdoor School. He went on to complete his graduate work at UC Berkeley where he taught science to students in grade 8 to college level. In his spare time Mr. Mazzei enjoys backpacking, surfing, and writing music.

Kirstin Olsen ()

B.A., English, Princeton University

Ms. Olsen is the author of twelve books, including a companion to Lord of the Flies, a history of eighteenth-century English daily life, a Jane Austen cookbook, and the two highly acclaimed literary encyclopedias All Things Shakespeareand All Things Austen. She is currently at work on a multi-volume encyclopedia of Charles Dickens's world. Ms. Olsen has taught Latin, history, and English at a variety of educational levels.

Erik Perkins ()

M.S. & B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Delaware

Mr. Perkins received his Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus on computer networks. While in graduate school he served as an IT administrator, during which time his academic interests included network routing, genetic algorithms, statistics, and distributed computer simulations. Mr. Perkins has worked as a hardware designer, software programmer, computer network engineer, and speech recognition consultant. Some of his accomplishments include a patent for improved motion detection, an internship at XEROX PARC, and fifteen years of ultimate frisbee as a player and coach. Mr. Perkins' current hobbies include chess, ultimate frisbee, disc golf, physics, acoustic guitar, and spending time with his wife and daughters.

Joe Poirot ()

M.A., English, University of Montana, B.A., English Literature, University of California, Santa Cruz

Since joining the faculty in 1996, Mr. Poirot has taught English, P.E. and Creative Writing and has coached basketball and cross-country teams. Mr. Poirot's literary interests include both classical and contemporary works. He also enjoys surfing and exploring the Sierras during the summer.

Kimberly Quaranta ()

M.S., Marine Science, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, California State University

In addition to teaching assistantships and lecturing in Ichthyology in the course of her graduate study, Ms. Quaranta has taught Physical Education and referees in the comp soccer league. She received her B.S. in Biological Sciences from California Lutheran University.

Beth Pettengill Riley ()

M.A., Physical Education/Dance Specialization, Stanford University, B.A., English Literature, Colorado College

Ms. Riley has over thirty years experience as a teacher of wellness, yoga, dance and movement at Mount Madonna School, UC Santa Cruz, Cabrillo College, Santa Barbara Graduate Institute and, most recently, at the Castilleja School. She danced as a member of Tandy Beal & Co. for over ten years. She received the Good Times award for "Best Yoga Teacher in Santa Cruz" and loves to hike, garden and spend time with her two daughters, husband, and big fluffy dog.

Christopher Roads ()

M.A., Educational Studies/Physics Education, Ohio State University, B.S., Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, Pennsylvania State University

Leaving his career as an industrial engineer, Mr. Roads began teaching science to students in 1994. As Online Instruction Coordinator for the UC College Prep Online program, he developed methods, training, and a suite of tools to effectively deliver online instruction to underserved students throughout California. While with UCSC, Mr Roads taught AP and college prep physics courses, co-designed online course content and hired and mentored online instructors. In previous years, Mr. Roads led his school's Science Olympiad team and Junior Engineers to state competitions and coached mountain biking and baseball teams. Mr. Roads is currently purusing an M.A. in Educational Leadership and Administration from San Jose State University.

Nigel Sanders-Self ()

B.A., Literature and Film, University of California, Santa Cruz

Mr. Sanders-Self began his career as a theater and video director with the California Arts Council and has worked extensively as a producer of educational media for the film and recording industry. More recently, he was Vice-President of Interactive Education and Entertainment for the Animation Farm and Vice President of Minden Pictures Interactive. Mr. Sanders-Self has used his knowledge of media and web design to raise funds for international AIDS relief projects as Director of Business Development and New Media Production for Straight-Up Productions. He serves on the Board of Directors of Shakespeare Santa Cruz & The William James Association.

Heidi Schindler ()

M.A., Counseling Psychology, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, B.A., History of Religion, UC Santa Cruz

Ms. Schindler is currently completing her requirements to receive her license as a counseling therapist, and has served as a children?s grief counselor with Hospice of Santa Cruz. She is a certified hypnotherapist, yoga instructor, and massage therapist, and she has had extensive experience teaching yoga, capoeira, and dance, with an emphasis in making classes fun and accessible.

Maura Smith ()

M.A.T., English, Boston College, B.A., American Literature and Italian Literature, UC Santa Cruz

In addition to the University of Santa Cruz, Ms. Smith studied at the Universita di Venezia, focusing on Dante and 20th century Italian literature. She began teaching at Kirby in 1997. In her spare time she enjoys gardening and cooking with her husband and spending quality time with her Bull Terrier, Chloe.

Don Stoll ()

Ph.D., Philosophy, Pennsylvania State University, B.A., Philosophy, UC Santa Cruz

From 1985-1998 Dr. Stoll taught philosophy at Foothill/De Anza College and Santa Clara University, with a specialization in the intersection between contemporary philosophy and modern history. His book, Philosophy and the Community of Speech, was published in 1987, and subsequent articles have appeared in Philosophy Today, The Journal of Speculative Philosophy, and Idealistic Studies. Dr. Stoll acted as co-leader in the School's cultural exchange/school building project to Tanzania.

Don Sullivan ()

Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, Michigan State University;M.S.E.E., Electrical Engineering, Lowell University; B.S., Boston College

After a brief career in pharmaceutical research, Dr. Sullivan taught at Foothill Junior College, Salem State College (Massachusetts), Northern Essex Community College (Massachusetts), Mt. St. Mary's College, Mission Community College, Santa Rose Junior College and UCLA. Dr. Sullivan also worked for more than twenty five years in the corporate world designing radar and communications systems and in a variety of managerial positions. Prior to joining Kirby, Dr. Sullivan taught high school science and math for six years at another private high school. Dr. Sullivan has taught all possible high school math courses (pre-algebra to calculus BC) and all high school science classes (with the exception of biology -- he hates to dissect anything!)

MarNae Taylor ()

B.F.A., Theater (Minor, Music), Utah State University, B.A., Studio Art, Principia College

After college graduation, Ms. Taylor taught theater and music in Salt Lake City, directing several musicals. She then spent several years traveling, first to Alabama, and then to Korea, where she taught English language. From Korea she moved to Louisiana, where she taught music, speech, and fine arts in grades K-12. Pursuing her own love for acting, she has played lead in such varied productions as All's Well that Ends Well, High Spirits, and Clue. Most recently she performed in the Scotts Valley Community Theatre producton of Oliver and the lead role in the Actors Theatre production of How I Learned to Drive. She received several best actress awards in Army Community Theatre competitions and is currently active in local improvisation and community theatre groups.

Susana Terrell ()

M.A., Humanities, San Francisco State University

Ms. Terrell is a figurative painter and printmaker with a special interest in drawing. Her work, which has been exhibited nationally, is based on the metaphoric nature of life experiences and often incorporates appropriations and collage. At UCSC she completed the Fifth Year Graduate Program in Visual Art and earned a Graduate Certificate in Art Education. She is credentialed in art for grades K-12 and in art and the humanities at the community college level. Her teaching experience includes UCSC, UC Extension, Cabrillo College, The Children's Art Center, and Spectra. Ms. Terrell received an "Excellence in Teaching" Award from the University of California Santa Cruz Academic Senate Committee on Teaching in 2005.

Gary Young ()

M.F.A., English, University of California, Irvine, B.A. from UC Santa Cruz

Mr. Young is a poet and artist whose honors include grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vogelstein Foundation, and the California Arts Council. He has received a Pushcart Prize, twice won fellowship grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, and his book of poems, The Dream of a Moral Life, won the the James D. Phelan Award. He is the author of several other collections of poetry including Hands, Wherever I Looked, Days, and Braver Deeds, which won the Peregrine Smith Poetry Prize and No Other Life which won the William Carlos Williams Award of the Poetry Society of America. His most recent book is Pleasure. He is the co-editor of The Geography of Home: California's Poetry of Place, and has produced a series of artist's books, most notably Nine Days: New York, A Throw of the Dice, Bear Flag Republic: Prose Poems and Poetics from California and My Place Here Below. His poems have appeared in such magazines as Poetry, Antaeus, The American Poetry Review, The Kenyon Review, and The Nation. His print work is represented in numerous collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum, The Getty Center for the Arts, and special collections libraries throughout the country.

Kristen Atkins ()

M.S., Health Education, Southern Connecticut University, B.S. in Physical Anthropology, University of California, Davis

In addition to her role as Learning Support Advisor at Kirby, Ms. Atkins concurrently works at Chartwell School as Outreach Director and teaches a class for math instructors at California State University at Monterey Bay. Her twenty five years experience includes extensive literacy and learning consulting and professional development work in Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey Counties.

Lis Bensley ()

M.A., Education, San Jose State, B.A, English and Psychology, Trinity College (Hartford)

Ms. Bensley joins Kirby with experience as a tutor and writing teacher for Developmental Learning Solutions and for private clients. For more than a decade, she worked as a professional writer: as a reporter for the New York Times, and as a Senior Writer/Editor for Oncology Times and MEDICA: Women Practicing Medicine.

Abigail Christopher ()

B.A., Anthropology and Spanish, University of California Davis

Ms. Christopher served as Practice Coordinator and Fitness Instructor for Bay Area Committed to Kids and as Assistant to the Medical Director of Santa Cruz Women?s Health Center. She is a member of the Bay Area?s Fury Ultimate Frisbee Team, which in 2008 was ranked number one in the United States and won the World Championship.

Darcy Cooper ()

Currently a college student majoring in Literature and Creative Writing

Ms. Cooper's background and experience is in music and foreign languages and she has worked with children of all ages for many years. She is currently a college student majoring in Literature and Creative writing. This is her fourth year in the Kirby community.

Stephenie Dekking ()

A.A., Cabrillo College

Ms. Dekking joined the Kirby administrative team after many years at the University of California, Santa Cruz Extension as a Program Assistant in the Arts and Humanities Department, handling the Fine Arts and Writing Programs. Along with remodeling her house, her passions include adventure racing, running, and spending time with her beloved dog and cat.

Cynthia Druley ()

B.A., Oberlin College

Prior to joining Kirby's administration in 2006, Ms. Druley served as Admissions Director at Spring Hill Advanced Elementary School of Santa Cruz. In addition, her background includes 20 years of sales and marketing experience in the high tech industry. In 2001, she received the BAYMEC Community Activism Award and a Certificate of Congressional Recognition for her community service. She extends that service into the present with her membership on the Diversity Partnership Advisory Board of the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County. She lives in Santa Cruz with her partner and son.

Olga Euben ()

M.S., Invertebrate Embryology, University of California, Berkeley, (A.B.D.)

Although she taught invertebrate embryology in various community colleges and at UC for a number of years, advising students on all matters is the heart of Ms. Euben's college counseling work. Her previous experience includes being a founder and advisor of the Women's Re-entry Program (UCSC), Academic Preceptor (College 8, UCSC), Associate Director of Admissions (UCSC), Director of Admissions at Hampshire College (Amherst, MA), and College Counselor at York School (Monterey, CA). She has been an independent counselor serving students and their families from Santa Cruz, San Jose, and Monterey Counties for over a decade.

Kathleen Genco ()

B.A., English, University of California, Berkeley

Ms. Genco first came to Kirby in 1997 as a parent volunteer and has continued to serve in various administrative roles. Her affection for teenagers in general, and Kirby students in particular, makes each student feel heard and cared for and their welfare remains her primary goal in her role as Assistant Dean of Students.

Emily Hose ()

B.A., English and Creative Writing, Sonoma State University

After earning her B.A. in Creative Writing, Ms. Hose contined her education at Sonoma State, completing a concentration in Literature. She earned her single subject credential in English by working as a student teacher at Elsie Allen High School in Santa Rosa. Ms. Hose was co-captain of the Sonoma State softball team for the 2001 and 2002 seasons, and has coached and directed several softball camps.

Laura Hull ()

B.A., Business Concentration in Accounting, San Jose State University

Ms. Hull joined Kirby in 2007, prior to which she worked for a bookkeeping service that handled Kirby's account along with several other businesses. After traveling with the inaugural Kirby group to Tanzania in 2008, she has a new found love of travel. She also enjoys spending time with friends and family and her two dogs.

Josh Karter ()

Ph.D., Drama, New York University

Before joining the Kirby family, Dr. Karter spent fourteen years as a faculty member and administrator at Trinity College (Hartford, CT.) He taught classes in acting, directing, and dramatic literature, served as Chair of Trinity's Department of Theater and Dance and subsequently as Director of the College's satellite campus in San Francisco. Prior to his years at Trinity, he taught theater at the University of California, Santa Cruz and also coordinated the first-year seminars for UCSC's Porter College. He is a graduate of Amherst College. Coupled with his academic career, Dr. Karter has directed productions for professional theaters both in this country and, during the 1990's, in Russia. In addition to staging Russian-language translations of American plays in Moscow, he sponsored tours by Russian artists in the United States. In 2002, he directed and translated a production of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, featuring a joint cast of American and Russian actors. Since the mid-seventies, when not on the road, he has lived and planted fruit trees in Bonny Doon.

Marianne Kent-Stoll ()

M.A., English, Pennsylvania State University, B.A., English, University of California, Santa Cruz

Ms. Kent-Stoll has devoted twenty years to education. She began her career teaching English and humanities courses on the college level. She first discovered the rewards of high school teaching when she was hired at Archbishop Mitty in San Jose. Ms. Kent-Stoll has taught all levels of high school English and served in various administrative positions. While at Mitty she was appointed Director of the Study Abroad Program, Curriculum Coordinator, and she assisted with the Admissions process. Ms. Kent-Stoll twice received teacher appreciation awards, one from the National Honors Society, and the other from West Valley College. As Assistant Head of School, she is an integral part of a school that continues to grow stronger as a community and is open to building an innovative curriculum. In 2007, she lead a cultural exchange and school-building program to Tanzania for a group of twenty-five Kirby students, staff and parents.

Mina Marmol ()

B.A., Humanities, Scripps College, Claremont

Ms. Marmol has taught at Kirby since 2000. As a Fine Arts major at Scripps College, she explored ceramics, painting, fabric surface design, papermaking and sculpture ? leading to her work as a mixed media artist. As an art teacher, she is currently developing curricula addressing topics related to African, Asian, and Latin American cultures. Ms. Marmol is a native Spanish speaker and has taught all levels of Spanish from middle school to Advanced Placement. Ms. Marmol has worked in the fields of educational research and translation. She has lived and traveled in Central and South America and currently resides in Santa Cruz with her daughters and Bugsy, her Boston terrier.

Erik Perkins ()

M.S. & B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Delaware

Mr. Perkins received his Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus on computer networks. While in graduate school he served as an IT administrator, during which time his academic interests included network routing, genetic algorithms, statistics, and distributed computer simulations. Mr. Perkins has worked as a hardware designer, software programmer, computer network engineer, and speech recognition consultant. Some of his accomplishments include a patent for improved motion detection, an internship at XEROX PARC, and fifteen years of ultimate frisbee as a player and coach. Mr. Perkins' current hobbies include chess, ultimate frisbee, disc golf, physics, acoustic guitar, and spending time with his wife and daughters.

Joe Poirot ()

M.A., English, University of Montana, B.A., English Literature, University of California, Santa Cruz

Since joining the faculty in 1996, Mr. Poirot has taught English, P.E. and Creative Writing and has coached basketball and cross-country teams. Mr. Poirot's literary interests include both classical and contemporary works. He also enjoys surfing and exploring the Sierras during the summer.

Nigel Sanders-Self ()

B.A., Literature and Film, University of California, Santa Cruz

Mr. Sanders-Self began his career as a theater and video director with the California Arts Council and has worked extensively as a producer of educational media for the film and recording industry. More recently, he was Vice-President of Interactive Education and Entertainment for the Animation Farm and Vice President of Minden Pictures Interactive. Mr. Sanders-Self has used his knowledge of media and web design to raise funds for international AIDS relief projects as Director of Business Development and New Media Production for Straight-Up Productions. He serves on the Board of Directors of Shakespeare Santa Cruz & The William James Association.

Maura Smith ()

M.A.T., English, Boston College, B.A., American Literature and Italian Literature, UC Santa Cruz

In addition to the University of Santa Cruz, Ms. Smith studied at the Universita di Venezia, focusing on Dante and 20th century Italian literature. She began teaching at Kirby in 1997. In her spare time she enjoys gardening and cooking with her husband and spending quality time with her Bull Terrier, Chloe.

Jane Stokes ()

B.A., Humanities, San Jose State University

Ms. Stokes comes to Kirby with almost 20 years of experience working within the local non-profit community, most recently with KUSP Radio. She is a Certified Public Accountant who specialized in Management Information Systems for non-profit organizations. As Development Director, she works closely with the Kirby community and Parents Association and manages Kirby fundraising programs. She also serves on the Board of Girls on the Run of Silicon Valley, which promotes healthy self image and life skills for elementary and middle school girls.

Linda Sullivan ()

B.A., Math Ed., Merrimack College, North Andover, MA

Ms. Sullivan has served as Kirby's Business Manager since 2002. She was a math teacher in a "former life." Her son's attendance at UCSC inspired her family's move to the Santa Cruz area, and she is thankful to have landed in this community.

Don Sullivan ()

Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, Michigan State University;M.S.E.E., Electrical Engineering, Lowell University; B.S., Boston College

After a brief career in pharmaceutical research, Dr. Sullivan taught at Foothill Junior College, Salem State College (Massachusetts), Northern Essex Community College (Massachusetts), Mt. St. Mary's College, Mission Community College, Santa Rose Junior College and UCLA. Dr. Sullivan also worked for more than twenty five years in the corporate world designing radar and communications systems and in a variety of managerial positions. Prior to joining Kirby, Dr. Sullivan taught high school science and math for six years at another private high school. Dr. Sullivan has taught all possible high school math courses (pre-algebra to calculus BC) and all high school science classes (with the exception of biology -- he hates to dissect anything!)

MarNae Taylor ()

B.F.A., Theater (Minor, Music), Utah State University, B.A., Studio Art, Principia College

After college graduation, Ms. Taylor taught theater and music in Salt Lake City, directing several musicals. She then spent several years traveling, first to Alabama, and then to Korea, where she taught English language. From Korea she moved to Louisiana, where she taught music, speech, and fine arts in grades K-12. Pursuing her own love for acting, she has played lead in such varied productions as All's Well that Ends Well, High Spirits, and Clue. Most recently she performed in the Scotts Valley Community Theatre producton of Oliver and the lead role in the Actors Theatre production of How I Learned to Drive. She received several best actress awards in Army Community Theatre competitions and is currently active in local improvisation and community theatre groups.

Susana Terrell ()

M.A., Humanities, San Francisco State University

Ms. Terrell is a figurative painter and printmaker with a special interest in drawing. Her work, which has been exhibited nationally, is based on the metaphoric nature of life experiences and often incorporates appropriations and collage. At UCSC she completed the Fifth Year Graduate Program in Visual Art and earned a Graduate Certificate in Art Education. She is credentialed in art for grades K-12 and in art and the humanities at the community college level. Her teaching experience includes UCSC, UC Extension, Cabrillo College, The Children's Art Center, and Spectra. Ms. Terrell received an "Excellence in Teaching" Award from the University of California Santa Cruz Academic Senate Committee on Teaching in 2005.

Tiffany Wise-West ()

B.S., Civil/Environmental Engineering, Purdue University

Before joining the Kirby faculty in 2006, Ms. Wise-West spent more than a decade as a civil engineer in utility infrastructure planning, design and project management. In addition to her environmental interests, she is actively involved in local community service and sports organizations.