Jenise Falk- Principal

I am thrilled to join the wonderful staff and community at Greenbrook Elementary School. Originally from the Northwest, I was raised in Oregon and attended high school in Tacoma, WA. I received my Bachelors in English and Education from Washington State University (Go Cougars!) and my Masters in Education from the University of Washington. I taught English in the Seattle area for nine years, before the birth of our two daughters. In addition, during that time, I was a Fulbright exchange teacher to Cambridge, England. Fifteen years ago, our family relocated to Danville and we have loved living and raising our children in this vibrant, busy community! My husband Brad and I have two daughters, Allison (22) and Katie (20).

I began my administrative career in 1998 at Sycamore Elementary School. From 2002-2006, I served as Vice Principal at Thomas Hart Middle School in Pleasanton. In the fall of 2006, I returned to the San Ramon School District as Assistant Principal at Iron Horse Middle School. In January, I moved to Hidden Hills Elementary as Assistant Principal. And in June, I had the honor of being named principal of Greenbrook Elementary School. In my free time, I enjoy watching sports, hiking, swimming, water and snow skiing, snow shoeing, biking, reading, cooking, and walking our frisky lab mix, Max.

Reading Specialist

My name is Carol Koepp. I am a native Californian, born in San Francisco, but spent most of my life growing up on the peninsula.  After attending San Francisco State University, I obtained my first teaching job teaching Kindergarten.  I moved to Houston, TX and taught 3rd grade, and then another move to New Jersey where I taught 4th grade.  I me t my husband in New Jersey, and after having our son, we decided to move back to California.  Our daughter was born shortly after settling in Danville. When both children were attending Greenbrook Elementary, I found an opportunity to join the Greenbrook Staff as the Reading Specialist.  The program is a wonderful addition to the school.  I am starting my 8th year at Greenbrook and can't think of a more rewarding job.  I love my community and love contributing to the education of our children.  When not teaching, my most favorite thing to do is gardening and traveling with my family.

Librarian

\My name is Sue Thomas, and I am the Librarian at Greenbrook.  I was born near Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from Penn State University.  I have always loved reading, so working in a library is a perfect match!  My hobbies include gardening, hiking, traveling and of course READING!  I have three sons and will be a first time Grandma in December. I can't wait to read books to my grandchild, because I sure love reading and sharing great books with every Greenbrook student!

School Psychologist

I am Christina Giannini, School Psychologist at Greenbrook Elementary. I am a local around here; I went to Alamo School, Stone Valley and graduated from Monte Vista High School. I received my Bachelors degree in Media Communications, Broadcasting. After working in the business field for a few years, I realized that I wanted to do something more fulfilling for my career, so I decided to go back to school. I received my Masters Degree in Educational Psychology with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential and Educational Specialist degree. I am going on my 9th year as a School Psychologist with the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, and am really enjoying the collaborative approach of the Greenbrook staff and families. Most of all, I love working with students and helping them find the most successful path for their educational career. What can I say, I love my job! I have been married for 13 years and have a 7 year old son, Ethan and a 5 year old daughter, Talia.

Pre-School

Hello, my name is Diane "Dinnie" O'Hara.  This is my second year at Greenbrook working in the speech and language program for preschoolers.  
I was born in Rochester, Pennsylvania outside of Pittsburgh.  I have a large Italian family back East. I married my husband who has a large Irish family in Philadelphia.  I graduated from Clarion University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Speech Pathology and Audiology and a M.Ed. in Speech Pathology.  I moved to Bakersfield in 1979 and worked there for 17 years.  We moved to San Ramon in 1996.  I have 2 grown sons; Chris (28 yrs.) and Mike (22 yrs.).  They work in the photography and television and film production industries.  I love walking, cooking and eating, gardening, crafting, and doing yoga.  I love the beach and hope to retire there some day.
This is my 30th year teaching and I still love to teach speech!
 
Dinnie O'Hara

Science Specialist

I am Mark Pelham, Science Specialist. I grew up in Walnut Creek and attended Most Precious Blood School before going to high school at De la Salle. I went to college at the University of California at Santa Cruz where I studied marine Biology. I became interested in teaching after coaching volleyball and tutoring students that were having trouble in their science classes. My first teaching job was at Monte Vista High where I taught biology. I enjoy teaching science here at Greenbrook because I get to teach every subject of science to all the different grade levels. I have two daughters, Julia and Samantha, and am married to Mrs. Pelham. I enjoy reading, watching baseball and college basketball and like playing videogames.

Kindergarten

I am Susie Stagnaro. I was born and raised in Oakland, California. I attended Chico State and got my teaching credential there. I have a grown daughter and son. They both attended Greenbrook (yeah!) and have both graduated from college. My husband and I Live in Greenbrook and love it here. One of my goals in life was to become a teacher and I am so happy to be part of this profession. Kindergarten is such a wonderful age and place for children and I enjoy each and every day. Life is good!!!!!

My name is Peggy Edmunds.  I grew up in Alamo and Danville and have stuck around this valley for most of my adult life.  I attended Rancho Romero School, Stone Valley School and San Ramon High School.  I have two adult children and a FABULOUS grandson.  My husband and I are Cal Bear fans and enjoy going to their games. I am also a huge soccer fan.  I LOVE Kindergarten!!!  We get to sing and dance and read lots of stories.  I always enjoy reading Curious George stories because I remember when my big sister used to read them to me.  I am happy to be at Greenbrook School with it's wonderful families and staff.  Go Eagles!!

I am Barbara Erickson and I teach Kindergarten. I grew up in Lafayette. I went to Vallecito Elementary. I knew I wanted to be a teacher in high school when I volunteered in Beth Heckman's afternoon kindergarten class. My hobbies are walking, swimming, reading, and baking. I live with my husband John and my two kids, Nick and Valerie. We live in Walnut Creek with my family and boxer dog, Ginger.

1st Grade

My name is Kelli DeMichiel.  I am a first grade teacher and have taught at Greenbrook for the past six years.  I love teaching first grade and always enjoy watching children learn to read!  I grew up here in and Danville .  I went to Bollinger Canyon Elementary School , Pine Valley Middle School, and then Carondelet for High School. I enjoy reading, golfing and being with my family and friends.  You may often find me cheering for the Oakland A's and occasionally the Yankees.  (Only because of my husband!)  I feel fortunate to teach here at Greenbrook and could not imagine teaching anywhere else.

It is a pleasure to introduce myself.  My name is Sheryl Cossey.  I love teaching First Graders!  They have an excitement about learning that is contagious.  I began teaching First Grade straight out of college, but my life's journey subsequently took me into the corporate world for almost two decades.   I returned to my career of choice - teaching - in 2002 when I was fortunate enough to once again have the opportunity to teach First Grade, this time at Greenbrook!
 My family includes my son and daughter-in-law, Chris & Stacy, who live and work in Phoenix.  Valerie, my daughter, is enjoying college at Chico State.  Jenny, my step-daughter, lives and works in Sacramento.  My husband, Mark, and I share our home with one dog and two cats, all "inherited" from our children.  We are very happy and feel truly blessed!

Hi!  My name is Michelle Murphy and I am one of the First Grade teachers at Greenbrook.  I started my teaching career at Greenbrook and I can't imagine being anywhere else.  Go Eagles!  I grew up in Moraga and I attended college at California State University, Chico.  I received my teaching credential at St. Mary's College.  I live in San Ramon and am very lucky because my family continues to live in the area.  During the summer months you can find me doing some of my favorite things...traveling, reading, waterskiing, or parking myself on a nice, warm beach with friends.  I love teaching first grade and I am so fortunate to come to work every day surrounded by people I truly enjoy!

 I am Natasha Progar  and I teach first grade. I grew up in Danville, Walnut Creek, and San Ramon. I currently live in Livermore where I love to walk downtown and check out all of the fun activities. I enjoy listening to live music, dancing, and spending time with my husband-Keith, my friends, and my family. I also adore my cat Hobbes and our new puppy Lloyd. I was a Montessori student from preschool to fifth grade. I went to St. Mary’s Elementary in Walnut Creek, then on to Carondelet High School, DVC, and Cal State Hayward. One of my friends inspired me to become a teacher. I visited her classroom and while I was helping her, I thought wow; it would be so cool to be a teacher!  A little unknown fact about me is that when I was a little girl, my parents named one of their deli’s after me!

My name is Karin Bagot. I was born in London, England. My father was a restless spirit so we didn't stay too long in England nor in any other place or country. I attended preschool in Guyana, grammar school in Barbados, middle school in Virginia and high school in Guam. All that moving from place to place as a child has made me appreciate the life I have here in Danville. I have lived in the same house in this Greenbrook neighborhood, raising my three daughters with the help of my husband, for over fifteen years. That's the longest I've ever been in one place.

2nd Grade

. I am Mrs. Patti Erickson and I teach 2nd grade. I was born and grew up in Lafayette, California. I went to college at Chico, then got married and graduated from Cal poly in San Luis Obispo. We raised our two boys in San Ramon. They have finished college and are now working hard. I love to be outside walking, gardening and skiing. I also love to read, write and do little home improvement projects around my house.    

Hi!  My name is Heidi Smutny  and I am one of the Second Grade teachers at Greenbrook.  I started my teaching career here as a First Grade teacher in 1997.  After seven great years, I stayed home raising my two daughters for a few years and returned this year to teach with Mrs. Parlett! I can't imagine being anywhere else, Greenbrook is an amazing place to work!  I grew up in  Danville and I attended college at the University of Arizona, Tucson.  I received my teaching credential at St. Mary's College.    I love reading, hiking, travel, photography and doing anything with my family!    I am thrilled to be teaching second grade!

My name is Carrie Freeman and I am a second grade teacher at Greenbrook Elementary.I love working here because the community is wonderful. I should know, as I attended Greenbrook myself a number of years ago. As a local I went to San Ramon High, and then moved to attend college at UC Santa Barbara. I enjoyed sunny Santa Barbara so much that I decided to stay after I graduated to attend UC Santa Barbara’s Graduate School of Education, where I received my Master’s Degree in Education and my teaching credential. Some of my hobbies are reading, writing, hiking, walking my dog, and traveling.I love teaching at Greenbrook. It represents an amazing community with amazing people, and it is a joy to be a part of it.

My name is Andrea Civitano, I live in Pleasanton, and I teach second grade.  I grew up in  Brooklyn New York and I am part of a large Italian family.  In fact, my entire family still lives there, but I find that these days I am more of a California girl.  I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I first started subbing on my days off from being a flight attendant in Newport Beach.  I love coming into work everyday knowing that 20 bright, smiling faces are eagerly awaiting my arrival!  I like to run and I am an active volunteer for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Feel free to stop by room 609 if you would like to get to know me for yourself.  Go eagles!

My name is Jennifer Parlett and I am a 2nd grade
teacher here at Greenbrook.  I have been teaching at Greenbrook for 7 years.  I grew up in the San Ramon Unified School District.  I attended Montevideo Elementary, Pine Valley, and California High School. Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of becoming a teacher.  I use to teach the neighborhood kids in my garage.  Teaching is something I was born to do. When I am not teaching I enjoy running, traveling, gardening, watching movies, and going to DISNEYLAND! I am a Disneyland fanatic!  My favorite character is cinderella.  I also love cats.  I have two cats named Max and Maggie

3rd Grade

My name is Kristen Edgren and I teach 3rd grade. I grew up in Los Altos and went college at University of Redlands in Southern California. I then received my teaching credential from Notre Dame de Namur University.  I have always wanted to be a teacher and used to enjoy helping my mom in her classroom when I was younger. My mom still teaches elementary school in Atherton to this day! It is now fun to help eachother with school projects. Some of my hobbies are reading, writing, hiking, traveling, photography, and cooking.  I love teaching third grade and feel very fortunate to be part of the Greenbrook Community!

Holly Ravin

I have been a Danville resident for almost 35 years. I attended Green Valley
Elementary, Los Cerros and Monte Vista High School. Loving Danville, and my
family, UC Davis was as far as I was willing to travel for college. I earned
a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Behavioral Concepts (an elaborate
title for Community Development) and remained at Davis for the teaching
credential program. I student taught kindergarten and 2nd grade in West
Sacramento and was hired as a long-term substitute for second grade.

In 1995 I returned to Danville and began my Greenbrook career in the 4th
grade. One year later, I applied to the St. Mary's Language Arts Masters
program. The two-year program turned into a 5 year journey, but it was worth
it!

I taught for a total of six years in the 4th and 5th grades. After having my
first child I decided to work part time as Greenbrook's Reading Specialist.
Two years later I had my second child. I said goodbye to my Greenbrook
family and went home to be a mom and run a private tutoring business.
I returned to Greenbrook last year when my youngest entered kindergarten at
Montair. I currently have a first and third grader and I am delighted have
this opportunity to work with your children!

Michelle Cowles

I am a Midwestern "transplant" and have lived in Danville for the past 11
years.  Prior to our move here, I lived my entire life in suburban Chicago;
with the exception of the years that I attended the University of Iowa and
received my bachelor's degree in English and Education.  Moving back to
Illinois after graduation, I taught 6th grade for 6 years and obtained my
Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling at Northeastern Illinois
University.  Making a slight career shift, I moved to the high school level
and was a Guidance Counselor for 4 years before we relocated to the Bay Area
for my husband's job.

Our move west took place 6 weeks after my oldest daughter was born, and 18
months later we added another daughter to our family.  Those days were both
exhausting and exhilarating, and have flown by much too quickly!  Our girls
are now in 4th and 6th grade, and we have been a part of the Greenbrook family
for their entire school experience.

Three years ago, I started substitute teaching at Greenbrook, and last year I
was one of the Rainbow Aides here.  It is wonderful to be back in the
classroom this year as a teacher on such a consistent basis.  I am thrilled to
be at Greenbrook working with your children in such a supportive and caring
school community!

I am Susan Caldera and have been working in the field of education all my life. I am a native of California. I grew up in Concord. My college years were in Southern California where I began my teaching career. I have been in the district for eleven years teaching third grade. I have taught here at Greenbrook for four years and love the families. We have a great staff and it is a joy to work with them and you, the parents, in the education of your children. Beyond teaching, I love the outdoors, hiking, swimming, walking, biking or sitting and reading under a great shade tree. Both the mountains and the beach call to my spirit, so you can imagine why I enjoy living in the Bay Area. Education is a passion and it is a pleasure to be part of the “EaglesNest” here at Greenbrook.

Hello! My name is Jennifer Selover and I teach third grade at Greenbrook Elementary. This is my first year here at Greenbrook,  I'm so lucky and excited to be here!
I grew up in the San Ramon Valley,  I attended Los Cerros Middle School and Monte Vista High School, Go Mustangs! I received my Bachelor of Arts degree at California State University Monterey Bay, and my Multiple Subject Teaching Credential at Chapman University. Currently my husband Jim and I live in Danville Flash and Cinder. Some of our favorite activities include: running on the iron horse trail, eating yummy crepes at the Farmer's Market, going to movies, eating yogurt at the yogurt shack and spending time at Clearlake. My favorite thing about teaching is my students, I love getting to know who they are and all their different personalities, and most of all, how much I learn from them.

4th Grade

Hello, my name is Adam Repicky and this is my fifth year at Greenbrook. I'm teaching the fourth grade class this year and am very excited about this challenge. I went to CSU, Chico for my undergraduate work and St. Mary's for my Credential's and Master's. My dad has taught 3rd grade for 35 years so I've been around education for a long time. For fun I ride one of my many bikes around 250 miles a week and I put twice as many miles on my bike than I do my car. I drive a 1962 VW Bug, so when you see me get ready to Slug Bug. Something fun about me is that I shave my legs because I'm a competitive cyclist, so it comes with the territory. Study hard and listen to your teacher.

My name is Kim Hamill and I teach 4th grade. I grew up in Danville and went to Green Valley, Los Cerros and Monte Vista for school. I attended UC Irvine for college and St. Mary's for my teaching credential. I first realized I wanted to be a teacher when I would help my grandma out in her classroom. I then transferred to helping my mom in her classroom. Now that I have my own class, my mom will come in and help me. I would say teaching runs in the family! In my free time, I love to spend time with family and friends, snow ski, and work out. My husband and I and our two daughters live in Lafayette.

Hello Eagles! My name is Tara Hegarty and I teach fourth grade here at Greenbrook. This is my 9th year of teaching, and I am very excited and proud to be a Greenbrook Eagle along with each of you! I was born and raised in Danville and graduated from San Ramon High in 1994. I then attended UCLA until 1998- Go Bruins!! I always knew I wanted to teach elementary school, especially since my mom has taught middle school here in this district forever! I enjoy playing basketball, swimming, doing Tae Bo, dancing, and listening to music. I currently live in an apartment in Walnut Creek. Thanks for reading my profile! I am looking forward to an awesome year!

5th Grade

My name is Jose Barron (aka Mr. B). I grew up in Bakersfield , CA during the 50's and 60's. I attended and graduated from the University of California at Davis . After many years of working in the corporate world, I made a lifestyle change and became a teacher in 1994. I always knew I wanted to teach especially after 5th grade. My most influential teacher guided me during a difficult time. I was 10 years old and I could not speak English very well and many of the kids made fun of me. She took it upon herself to take me under her wing and give me the extra attention I needed. Her hard work is what drove me to be a teacher. When I became a teacher my first class was a 4/5 split class. After that first year the only grade I have taught is 5th grade. I began my Greenbrook career back in 1997. I can't believe it will be 10 years! Let's make it another 10

My name is Pam Vamvouris and I have been teaching 5th grade at Greenbrook for 3 years. My educational background includes undergraduate degrees in Behavioral Science and Liberal Studies with a concentration in Childhood Development from CSU, Hayward. I continued my studies at the U. S.F. where I acquired a Masters degree in Education and a California teaching credential. I grew up in Detroit, MI and the beautiful garden state of New Jersey. I currently reside in Blackhawk with my amazing husband, Tom and two incredible children, Kyle and Katarina. I have dedicated myself to the field of teaching because I believe in the educational system. I know that a skillful and effective teacher has the potential to ignite the interest of a child in an authentic and constructive way.

My name is Colin Ritchie. I am 39 and I was raised in Walnut Creek. I went to Las Lomas High School and then attended DVC. In 1990, I transferred to UC Santa Cruz and graduated in 1994. I worked as a substitute teacher and as a waiter on the Santa Cruz Wharf for a while, then came back to Walnut Creek to get my teaching credential. I've been proud to be a part of the Greenbrook community for the last 13 years. I live in Pleasant Hill with my wife and two kids, Megan and Sean. Megan is in second grade and Sean is in pre-school. I like to ride bicycles, motorcycles, and go surfing. I enjoy reading books when I get the time and sleeping in when I can. My favorite place is any beach along the central coast of California. I also like to tinker with cars and motorcycles. My favorite part of last summer was riding waves on a body board with my daughter on my back, laughing in my ear.