Sierra Stulac grew up near Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Sierra received her Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Special Education from the University of Nevada, Reno. Sierra then  moved to San Diego, CA to continue her teaching journey; where she has been teaching Transitional Kindergarten since 2018. Since teaching, she has obtained both her English Language Learners and Early Childhood endorsements. Sierra is looking forward to spending the year learning and growing with her students!

When not in the classroom, Sierra enjoys spending her time with her family, traveling, hiking, running, dancing, surfing, skiing and all around enjoying the outdoors.

Ms. Bartz has been teaching at Kavod Charter School since 2018. After teaching third grade for 5 years, she decided to make the move to Kindergarten!

Ms. Bartz is passionate about creating a strong classroom community where her students feel heard and respected. She focuses on creating engaging lessons that are authentic to her students. Apart from her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, she also has her master's in Teaching ELA.

In her free time, she likes to go to the beach and travel with her friends and family.

Ms. Whitman grew up in the small town of Aromas, just outside of Monterey Bay in Northern California. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development with a minor in Education Studies at the University of California, San Diego. She has a background in early childhood education and experience working as a preschool teacher. After obtaining a teaching credential, she joined Kavod’s Kindergarten team in 2019. She then went on to pursue a Master’s degree. Ms. Whitman received a Master’s of Arts in Teaching in Language Arts in the summer of 2020. 

When not in the classroom, Ms. Whitman enjoys the being active and taking advantage of the beautiful San Diego weather. She can be found surfing, scuba diving, hiking, ice skating, dancing, and running with her dog.

Ms. Brandao was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations in Brazil before moving to the United States/San Diego in 2018. She has been a long-time roller skating coach back at home, and decided to keep following her passion of teaching and stay in the field. She is now pursuing her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education at Moreland University. Mrs. Brandao is happy to be a part of the Kavod team and have the opportunity to support explorers on their learning journeys. She enjoys the school’s positive environment, and the care shown towards all explorers. 

In her free time, Mrs. Brandao loves going to the park with her family and dog, going to restaurants and trying new food, watching soccer games (Go Wave!) and traveling.

Hamora Rivka, hails from a quiet village near the Dead Sea to San deigo. Following high school, Rivka dedicated two years to an orphanage in here National service. Then armed with a Bachelor's degree in Special Education from Efrata College and a Master's in Educational Systems Management from Hertzog College Rivka worked for a decade in a special education high school. In her free time Rivka loves to be with her kids go to hikes and wandering at the beach. 

Norma Talavera-Vazquez grew up in Tecate, Baja Califonia. She moved to the USA to optain her education at a young age. Despite English being her second language, Norma received two Associate of Arts in Behavior Sciences and Social work from CCoCollege2021, she obtained her bachelor's in Early Child Development from Point Loma Nazarene University. Norma is looking forward to interacting and growing with the explorers

When not in the classroom, Norma enjoys time with family, dancing, and coloring with music/podcasts in the background. She loves bees, milk tea, and riding her scooter too.

Patrick McKerring has lived in San Diego with his wife and three children for more than 20 years. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Social-Psychology with an emphasis on Juvenile Delinquency from San Diego State University. After completing his B.A., he continued his studies, earning a masters degree in education and a California Teaching Credential. Mr. McKerring also holds a masters certification in Applied Behavior Analysis and has been at Kavod since 2016.

Mrs. Miller has been in education since 2011 and has been teaching at Kavod since 2019.

Mrs. Miller was born and raised in Maryland. She graduated from

Towson University with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education. Mrs. Miller went on to earn a Masters of Science Education in Reading and Mathematics K-6. She has taught first grade in public, private, international and charter schools. She is excited to begin a new journey of supporting teachers and students through small group differentiation this school year.

In her free time, Mrs. Miller and her family enjoy going to the beach, farmer's markets, and local parks. She loves to travel and can’t wait for her next adventure. 

Ms. Theroux has taught 1st grade since 2015. She has worked on her school’s English Language Learner Support Committee, ran Student Council for 2 years, and put on talent shows. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Literature with a minor in Education at the University of California, Santa Cruz and obtained her Master’s of Arts in Teaching and her California teaching credential from Santa Clara University. During college she worked as an after school teacher at a dual immersion school where she saw the importance of learning a second language at a young age.

Ms. Theroux moved to Kavod from Israel, where she taught English in an Israeli public school. She is originally from The San

Francisco Bay Area and is excited to now call San Diego home. When not in the classroom, Ms. Theroux can be found at the beach, cooking, hiking, listening to

podcasts, or watching soccer.

Ms. Herndon has been teaching first and second second since 2017. She graduated from San Diego State University with her Bachelors of Science in Business in 2016. After graduating from SDSU, she moved back to her hometown of Santa Cruz to pursue her teaching career. She received her teaching credential and Masters of Arts in Education from California State University Monterey Bay in 2018.  

Ms. Herndon is passionate about creating a learning environment that fosters a love of learning and empowers students to be themselves. Ms. Herndon is looking forward to getting to know her students and having a great year teaching first grade.

When not in the classroom, Ms. Herndon enjoys camping, traveling, walking her dogs, reading, and spending time with friends and family. 

Eric Dingman grew up in Northern California and fell in love with the outdoors(especially fishing and backpacking). He received a BA in communications from Chico State University in 2003. He has lived in San Diego for two years now and Ioves swimming in the ocean and going to the beach and gym. .

Gina Devencenzi grew up in Santa Cruz, California. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies and a Multiple Subject teaching credential from Sonoma State University. As a Special Education teacher intern, Ms. Devencenzi pursued a Master’s degree in Education and a Mild/Moderate Education Specialist credential which she received in 2021. She joined the Kavod team as an Education Specialist in 2023. 

When not in the classroom, Ms. Devencenzi enjoys being active and staying busy. She can be found golfing, going to the beach, concerts, or spending time with friends.

Reading Coach/Differentiation

Mrs. Hubbard has been teaching since 2016. She started in 4th grade her first year and taught 2nd grade the following six years. She moved to San Diego in the summer of 2020 and started working at Kavod. She received her Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction following her undergrad which were both completed in Kansas. 

While teaching second grade, she developed a strong passion for teaching kids to read and began her position as Reading Coach in the 2022-2023 school year. She is excited to work with both explorers and teachers to develop strong readers at Kavod. 

Mrs. Hubbard loves to travel and explore new places any chance she gets. She enjoys yoga, cooking, reading (of course) and anything outdoors.

Ms. Parrett grew up in Orange County and moved to San Diego for college. She graduated from San Diego State University with a BA in Sociology, Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and a Masters in Teaching Language Arts. In her free time she loves spending time with loved ones, going to the beach, and traveling.  

Ms. Dutra is a California native who grew up in Palo Alto, CA. Ms. Dutra received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a minor in Global Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. Ms. Dutra received her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential at San Diego State University. To further her education, Ms. Dutra is pursuing a Master’s of Arts in Teaching Language Arts at San Diego State University, to be completed by the summer of 2023. Coming from a family of educators, Ms. Dutra has always been passionate about education and values the importance of being a lifelong learner!

When not in the classroom, Ms. Dutra loves to experience everything that beautiful San Diego has to offer! She enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, yoga, hiking, traveling, camping, cooking, and trying new restaurants. 

Ms. Olivas was born and raised in Chandler, Arizona.  She received her Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education from Grand Canyon University in 2020.  She taught in 3rd grade and 5th grade prior to coming to Kavod. She believes everyone should be lifelong learners and creates a positive, warm environment where all students can thrive.  

Her greatest joy in teaching is seeing her students meet their goals and make themselves proud.  At her last school, she was actively involved in the community and started an Art Club for 5th and 6th grade students.  Ms. Olivas just relocated to San Diego this summer.  So far she is loving the cooler weather and proximity to the beach! In her free time, she enjoys working out, trying new recipes, going to the beach, hiking and exploring new places in San Diego.  

Jordan grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Illinois. After graduating, Jordan moved to Spain to teach English and improve his Spanish. After two years in Spain, he went to Costa Rica to work at a private academy. In 2019, Jordan moved to sunny San Diego to continue his teaching career back in the States. 

In his free time, Jordan loves music, film, hiking, yoga, camping, and spending as much time outside soaking in the San Diego sunshine. On the weekends you can usually find him at the OB dog beach with his husky named Bo. 

HaMorah Reut was born in Israel. She began teaching at Kavod in 2019, after teaching four four years in Israel.

After she completed the ISRAEL DEFENCE FORCE she received her B.A. in Seminar Hakibutzim of Education in Tel Aviv.

HaMorah Reut moved to San Diego from Israel in 2019 as part of a mission World Zionist Organization.

These days, HaMorah Reut is studying her second MA in Teaching Second Language, at Middlebury College, VT.

Ms. Summer is originally from Arizona but moved to San Diego in 2018 to attend the University of San Diego. She graduated with her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and has been a substitute teacher since then. 

This will be her first year at Kavod and she is looking forward to getting to know her students and having a great year teaching fourth grade. 

In her free time, Ms. Summer enjoys traveling, yoga, reading, and spending time with her friends and family.

Mrs. Collins started her teaching career in 2011. She taught 6th grade ELA and Reading for six years. Her family moved to San Diego in 2017. Mrs. Collins has been a part of the Kavod Team since 2020.

Mrs. Collins has a Bachelor degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She completed her Masters in Elementary Education at the University of West Alabama.

When not in the classroom, Mrs. Collins enjoys spending time with her family, watching sports, and traveling during her free time.

Roy was born and raised in the center of Israel. He began teaching at Kavod in 2021, after teaching for 5 years in Israel. He graduated from Beit Berl College in the year 2016, receiving his bachelor’s degree in Education. At the end of this year, he will also be completing his master's degree in Second Language Acquisition in Middlebury College. Roy has chosen the teaching profession as he feels education is the ultimate responsibility for positive progression in our communities and the world. In his free time, Roy loves spending time with his friends and family, as well as reading, playing sports, or just relaxing with a hot cup of coffee watching a good movie! 

Mr. St. Hilaire grew up in Hoosick Falls, New York, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Childhood Education from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Cortland. He then went on to earn his Master’s from the University of St. Mary in Curriculum and Instruction.

After college, he lived in Bennington, VT for seven years, teaching a wide variety of subjects at a private school before eventually settling in as a 6th grade teacher in Shaftsbury, VT. 

Mr. St. Hilaire made the move across country in the summer of 2018 to San Diego, currently residing in Imperial Beach.  

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, watching and playing sports, going to the beach, movies/television, concerts, and traveling around the world.  On November 23, 2019, he married his wife Whitney.

Mrs. Quezada  was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Metropolitan State University. In 2017, she kicked off the first four years of her teaching career as a 6th grade teacher.

After meeting her husband, Mrs. Quezada moved to his home state of California in 2021. They initially moved to Redlands, CA where Mrs. Quezada taught 4th grade for two years. Mrs. Quezada and her husband made the move to San Diego in June of 2023 and Mrs. Quezada began teaching at Kavod as a 5th grade teacher that fall.  

Mrs. Quezada loves coffee, crafting, and spending time with her friends and family. When she  stays in, she enjoys completing puzzles, watching movies, and snuggling with her elderly cat Gwen, who she brought with her all the way from MInnesota. 

Miss Stagner is from the Bay Area and became a San Diegan in 2013, when she attended SDSU, pursuing degrees in Theatre Performance and Fine Arts English. After graduating, she entered the education field as a 7th-12th grade English and Drama teacher.

This year she is thrilled to share one of her biggest passions with explorers: Film studies! As for English, her favorite aspects of teaching include novel study, creative writing, and in-class discussion. Her classroom library includes over 2,000 books, tons of Marvel and Star Wars collectibles, and posters galore!

In her spare time, Miss Stagner can be found in a bookstore or a movie theatre, or spending time with friends, family, and her cat, Kiki.

Mr. Murphy is the Individual and Societies teacher for Middle school, in addition to teaching Theatre for 6th grade. Mr. Murphy is from the Bay Area, and moved down here 11 years ago when he attended SDSU. Mr. Murphy has been teaching at Kavod since January 2021, and when he is not teaching, he can be found with his family, at the gym, or playing basketball every Sunday, 

Ms. Hayes grew up in the Bay Area, CA and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon, majoring in Spanish and International Studies with a focus in International Education. She has lived, studied and taught abroad, in Chile, Spain and Germany. She taught English at a secondary school in Madrid, Spain, and earned a Master’s of Arts in Latin American and U.S. American Studies from the University of Erlangen- Nuremberg (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität), in Germany. In 2022, she earned a Master’s of Education from Portland State University, with endorsements in both Spanish and German. Her background in early childhood education and specialization in teaching the Spanish language brought her to Kavod!

When Ms. Hayes is not in the classroom, she enjoys laughing with friends and family. She loves yoga, hiking, reading and spending time at the beach.

Shawn Kessler grew up in the great city of Chicago before moving out to San Diego. He received his degree in Biology with a focus on Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology from UC San Diego. He has been teaching since 2008 and looks forward to continuing to grow as an educator. 

On his way to becoming an educator, Shawn worked as a clerk at the Chicago Board of Trade, a ski-lift operator, and a wolf biologist. He uses all of his past experiences to teach his students with real world, problem based projects. 

In his spare time, Shawn loves hanging with his family and dog is outside as much as possible surfing, hiking, running, and cycling. 

Mx. Vickers grew up on a farm in small-town Idaho. They spent most of my high school summers working in San Diego and eventually made the permanent move in 2010.

They obtained both a BA in Liberal Studies (w/ emphasis in science) and a teaching credential from San Diego State University. 

In their free time, they can be found taking care of their many plants, consuming all things horror (movies, books, podcasts, etc.), listening to live music, and spending time with friends and family!

Trevor Macleod is from San Luis Obispo, CA and is excited to be teaching the explorers 8th grade math and 7th and 8th grade design. 

In 2017 he graduated from UCSB with a degree in economics and in 2021 received his masters in global education.

Outside of school you will find him surfing, exploring new cultures, or under water diving.

HaMorah Einav was born and raised in the Petach Tikva in the central district of Israel. She lived in Herzliya and Hod Hasharon.

In Israel, she was a school counselor, play therapist and a Social Sciences teacher.

For the over 13 years she worked in both Elementary and High Schools in Israel.

She earned her Bachelor's degree and teaching certificate in Psychology and Education at the Open University of Israel, and her Master’s Degree in counseling Education is from Beit Berl college, located on the outskirts of Kfar Saba.

HaMorah Einav has a great passion for traveling, the ocean, music and books, meeting new people, adventures and exploring new experiences. 

Ms. Finch grew up in San Diego loving the multicultural environment of a bustling border city. Tucked away in the small, seaside town of Ocean Beach, Ms. Finch cultivated a lifestyle of intellectual and mindful endeavors such as surfing and reading on the beach, while earning her B.A in Psychology, Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and completing Master’s courses in teaching literacy from San Diego State University. Her teaching philosophy is that students are naturally curious about the world around them and learn best when they’re actively engaged in the learning process. 

Prior to coming to Kavod, Ms. Finch was an art teacher at My Art Shed, a math instructor at Mathnasium, and taught various grade levels in Chula Vista Elementary School District. Ms. Finch is passionate about helping students gain confidence in their abilities and discover a love for learning. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Finch enjoys exploring new places and finding new desserts to try with her partner and two adorable dogs. 

Mr. Vineyard grew up in San Diego and earned his Bachelor's degree at San Diego State University. He has worked in special education for some time now and has loved every minute of it. Mr. Vineyard likes to play Dungeons and Dragons and listen to Rock and Roll in his spare time. When Mr. Vineyard is not at school, he can be found at Comic Con or spending time with his family. 

Ms. Holman has worked in the mental health field professionally for three years! She graduated from University of San Diego in 2020 with a Master’s Degree in School Counseling, as well as Clinical Counseling. Before finishing her masters program, she received a TESOL certification to teach English, completed training in play therapy and trauma informed care, and attended three conferences abroad focused on addictions counseling, play therapy and school based counseling. Ms. Holman believes that a holistic approach to counseling is the most beneficial for students, and she works hard to make each of my students feel supported and empowered to advocate and succeed. Ms. Holman is also hoping to continue to connect with my students' families and community more this year! 

Ms. Holman grew up in Lake Tahoe and loves skiing, camping and being outdoors! She has a year and a half old sheepadoodle named Molly who just passed therapy dog training!

Hashinshinit Gal was born and raised in Ashkelon, a city in the south district of Israel. Gal majored in biology, neuroscience, Arabic, diplomacy and psychology in high school. 

 Gal was a tutor in the youth group “Krembo Wings”, a youth group for children with and without special needs. 

 Gal likes to learn a lot of new languages and their cultures, and she also really likes the ocean and to travel, surf, sing, dance and play in the guitar and the piano.