The Piedmont Unified School District has gained several new faculty members this school year.
Susan Adams is the new library technology aide. She was a library volunteer at Wildwood for three years when her children attended. Then she worked at PMS before getting the job at PHS. She decided to work at PHS because she thinks it is a great place to be, has a student attending now, and another coming in a couple of years. She loves working with Ms. Stutzman, and finds it exciting to be around the students.
Michael Cincotta is the new algebra I, II, and geometry teacher. He taught math at a school in Massachusetts for seven years before coming to PHS. He decided to take this job because PHS is one of the best schools in northern California and he said he could not pass up the opportunity. First impressions he has conceived of PHS are that it was small, hilly, and that the students all work hard.
Dan Bonnin is the new Wellness Center site coordinator, meaning he assists the staff there, works with the T.A.s, and promotes the students’ knowledge of and access to the services and associations available to them. Prior to working at the Wellness Center, he has worked as a PMS teacher, the assistant principal at PMS, and the principal of Beach Elementary.
Megan Herandez is the new co-athletic director with Jeff Peters. Hernandez took the job after her son graduated PHS, where he had a great four years playing sports. Hernandez, last year’s PHS Boosters president, splits the sports programs with Peters. She was the chair of the USA Women’s International Committee for several years, managing the USA Women’s Water Polo team’s budget, schedules, international competition, and Olympic selection process. She was also the assistant coach for the Cal Women’s Water Polo team and the regional technical direction for the USA Water Polo’s Olympic Development Program.
M’Lisa Kelley is the new executive chef at The Piper Café. She previously worked at a social services agency, Seneca Center Family of Agencies, where she worked with children and family to develop nutritious and delicious meals. She also ran a catering and restaurant business for Nordstrom and headed the spa kitchen at the Claremont Hotel. Kelley said the most difficult aspect of working at PHS is having all the kids coming to get food all at once.
Sara Plowman is the new home base special education teacher, meaning she teaches English, World History, Physical Science, and a support class to students with learning disabilities. She has had six years of previous experience in teaching special education to high school students at Star Academy in San Rafael. She chose to work at PHS because she wanted to apply her knowledge and skills from her previous job to a public school environment. She was drawn to Piedmont’s commitment to academic excellence and the advantages of teaching at a school in a smaller community.
John Savage is the new chemistry and biology teacher. Savage chose to teach at PHS because he is a Piedmont alumni and he happened to be searching the Piedmont website randomly and saw there was a job opening and applied. PHS now reminds him a lot of how it was when he went to high school because the teachers are motivating and the students are so driven. He previously taught regular chemistry, AP biology, and regular biology at a school in Virginia.
Lauren Small is the new sports medicine teacher and athletic trainer. She first wanted to teach at PHS because of its great reputation and the teachers enjoy what they do and are passionate about it. She went to Acalanes High School, which is similar to PHS so she can identify with the students. She taught sports medicine at a high school in Arizona before and has been an athletic trainer for almost 10 years. Small said everybody has been very welcoming and helpful, which made it a great first experience.
Photos by Sasha Costello, Mira Wollenberg, Danny Kolosta, and Alec Petty
