I am grateful to be joining the Roosevelt community. This will be my 28th year teaching and 18th as a kindergarten teacher! I spent the past 13 years teaching kindergarten in Palo Alto, and prior to that I taught in London England, Oakland, and Richmond CA. It’s great that I’ll be working close to my Oakland home, and with such a friendly, supportive team. I have worked with families of all socio-economic, cultural, and religious backgrounds, and I appreciate the opportunity to teach in the diverse, vibrant community of San Leandro. My core philosophy as an educator is that a child’s emotional and social well-being is a prerequisite to learning. Though I believe a strong academic program is important for kindergarteners, the thing I’m most proud about as a teacher is establishing a bond with each child and making school a welcoming and fun place for learning. When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my wife, children, and grandchildren hiking, biking, going to cafes, following the baseball season, and reading.