Faculty
Lower School (Transitional Kindergarten - 4th Grade)
Elva Guttormsen
Transitional Kindergarten & Administrative SupportIn 2017, Elva’s family joined our Presentation School community. Elva has a background in education from San Francisco State and completed her credential program at Dominican University. Elva believes in educating the whole child by allowing students to reach their full potential and develop a love of learning. One of the things Elva loves most about TPS is the dedication and care that teachers give to students on a daily basis. Elva enjoys competing in triathlons, spending time with her kids (Kameron TPS Class of 2022, Tyson TPS Class of 2023, and Madison TPS Class of 2026), and running with her dog, Oreo.
Amy Albrecht
KindergartenBorn and raised in Sonoma, Amy joined the Presentation community in 2007 and brings 18 years experience in Kindergarten (15 years at Presentation). She began her career studying Liberal Studies at Chico State before moving to Sonoma State University for her credential program. She credits her experience to the mentors that shaped her professionally as an associate teacher for many years ahead of becoming the lead teacher. These early relationships with colleagues fostered her commitment and dedication to the Presentation community. She enjoys working with our youngest learners with the rooted philosophy in teaching the whole child – socially, emotionally and academically. Amy says, “There is no better reward as a TPS teacher, then to see your once 5 year old student, walking on the stage at their 8th grade graduation. To be a part of that journey is truly special.” In her spare time, Amy is eagerly chasing her young sons around, Benjamin (almost 5) and Charlie (nearing 2). She has been happily married to her husband, Braiden (winemaker at Mayacamas Vineyards, Napa) for 6 years. She enjoys life’s simple pleasures – being with friends and family.
Marissa Brooks
Kindergarten AssociateA native to Sonoma, Marissa joined the Presentation community with a wealth of experience in early childhood development and education. Marissa’s time spent working in preschools makes her a natural fit for supporting Presentation’s young learners and supporting the transition from preschool to our lower school program. With professional experience in student-focused anxiety management, Marissa implements these techniques to help our early scholars manage everyday emotions, and finds passion in helping students feel at home at school. Marissa chose Presentation because of the value the program places on educating the whole child and implementing SEL with academic rigor. Marissa enjoys spending time with friends and family, going to the beach, and listening to live music.
Maggie Moran
1st GradeMaggie was born in Michigan and raised in So Cal. She attended San Diego State, and has a multiple subject teaching credential as well as credentials in health, P.E., psychology, sociology, and crosscultural language and academic development. She has 28 years of diverse teaching experience including in health, special education, and as a lead elementary classroom teacher. She has a passion for making learning fun, establishing a solid academic foundation, teaching to the whole child, and creating life long learners. She emphasizes cooperative learning and having a flexible brain. Her favorite professional development experience has been learning more about the science of reading. What she most loves about TPS is that we instill values in young people and have such a dedicated staff. Outside of school, you can find Maggie outside! From rock climbing and hiking, running and gardening, she’s a lover of nature and animals. She enjoys reading and traveling. Maggie has lived in Napa for 28 years. She has a daughter who is a PhD candidate in veterinary medicine in Scotland.
Haley Antti
2nd GradeHaley, a Napa native, is in her seventh year teaching second grade and her fourth year at TPS. She has a B.A. in Early Childhood Development from Sonoma State, a master’s degree in Education from the University of the Pacific, and completed her credential program through the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute. She has experience teaching in both independent and public schools in the Bay Area. Her passion for teaching began early, growing up tutoring and nannying children of all ages. Haley loves creating a welcoming classroom and seeing her students light up with those “aha moments.” She lives in Napa with her husband Derek, their new baby boy Cameron, and their French bulldog, Tino. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, exploring new places, walking, and reading.
Harriet Grazer
2nd GradeHarriet joins Presentation full-time this year after serving in various support roles on campus for the past three years. She holds a degree in Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies and brings over a decade of experience in the North Bay, both as a leader in adolescent mental health and as an academic support specialist.
With a deep understanding of child development and social-emotional learning, Harriet enriches the classroom with a warm and evidence-based approach. Her professional interests include the RULER framework and the Growth Mindset philosophy, which she integrates into both the classroom and the wider school community. These approaches support the whole-child philosophy that is a hallmark of our independent school. Harriet lives in Napa with her husband, where she enjoys cooking, gardening, and walking their dog, Gary.
Melissa Yazzolino
3rd Grade TeacherOriginally from upstate New York, Melissa moved to Southern California when she was 10 years old. Beginning her teaching career in Southern California, she brings over 20 years’ experience in education. Melissa has a Masters in Teaching with an emphasis in Reading. Her favorite professional development experience has been learning how to mentor other teachers. Melissa feels passionately that it’s critical to ensure students grow to understand that mistakes are a necessary part of the learning process. She believes helping her students grow both emotionally and academically is important for the development of the whole child. Melissa chose Presentation School not only for herself, but for her daughters, because of the passionate team of teachers who care so much about student success. In her spare time, she enjoys walking, reading, teaching at the gym, and spending time with her family. Melissa currently lives in Petaluma with her husband Domenick and their two daughters, Bella (TPS Class of 2024, and current student at Justin-Siena) and Gianna, TPS Class of 2027.
Teresa Caselli
4th GradeA Sonoma Valley native, Teresa began teaching at Presentation in 2003 and has over 22 years experience in primary education. She received her undergraduate degree in Humanities with a minor in Psychology from Dominican University and also completed her multiple subject credential program while there. Teresa has served on many WASC accreditation teams in California and Oregon which has allowed her to have a deeper understanding of the programs and practices that best foster student learning. Teresa is passionate about helping children become thinkers and problem solvers. She also strives to help children develop a curiosity for learning that will follow them throughout their lives. In her spare time, she enjoys bird watching, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends. Teresa currently lives in Sonoma and has an adult daughter who is a Presentation alumna.
Upper School (5th - 8th Grade)
Laurel Studebaker
5th GradeFor more than 30 years, Laurel has guided young learners through the exciting world of third through fifth grades, including many years teaching Gifted and Talented classes. She earned her degree from the University of the Pacific and went on to complete a Language Development Certificate there as well. Her classroom is a place where curiosity is celebrated, questions are welcomed, and students are encouraged to think deeply, take risks, and express their creativity. Laurel places a strong emphasis on student engagement and building meaningful relationships, believing both are essential to learning and growth. Each year, she seeks fresh and engaging ways to spark a love of learning in her students. She joined TPS because it is a place where students are inspired to reach their full potential and teachers nurture each child with genuine care and attention. Laurel lives in Sonoma with her husband, Michael. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling, listening to live music, discovering new restaurants, exploring new places, and spending time with her four adult sons, extended family, and friends.
Keefe Durgin
6th GradeOriginally from New England, Keefe moved to the Bay Area at age 17. Keefe has spent the last seven years as a part of the Presentation community. He is passionate about connecting lessons to the outside world and to current events. He also likes to make learning relevant and meaningful by integrating ideas and content that matter to the students. Keefe’s philosophy on education follows the old adage of “The Head, The Hand, and The Heart”, meaning that education should integrate the intellect with action and morality. Keefe completed the Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy for educators and community members in Sonoma County, which trains leaders on integrating their classrooms into the Sonoma County community at large. When not in the classroom, Keefe enjoys backpacking in the Sierra and biking all around the Bay Area. Keefe received his bachelors in Economics from UC Santa Cruz and completed the teacher credentialing program at Dominican University in San Rafael.
Derek Berka
7th GradeDerek joins The Presentation School with over 20 years of teaching experience. Derek graduated from Sonoma State University with a BA in Philosophy and a minor in Anthropology. Derek taught at-risk youth for the United States Jobs Corps for a year before moving to Marin Primary & Middle School in Larkspur, where he taught math and science and served as an advisor for 20 years. Throughout his teaching career, Derek has had many rewarding professional development experiences. However, the professional development experience that he values the most is when he has had the opportunity to visit other schools and connect and communicate with other educators. Derek’s educational philosophy is guided by connecting with his students, getting to know them as human beings, and teaching to the whole child. Derek lives in Petaluma with his wife and three children. When he is not teaching, Derek enjoys camping, kayaking, playing basketball, coaching Little League, and spending time with his family.
Gina Irvine
8th GradeGina brings over 20 years of teaching experience and has been a valued member of the Presentation community since 2015. Gina attended the University of Oregon, where she obtained her B.A. in Educational Studies and an M.Ed. in Teaching & Learning. Passionate about connecting classroom learning to the real world, Gina encourages her students to engage with current events—locally, nationally, and globally. From Gina: Some of the most impactful Professional Development I’ve been a part of is how to layer language arts with social studies, so while we are learning comprehension and vocabulary techniques, we are also learning about the fallout of the Civil War or early women in leadership. I love working at TPS because the small school allows me to not only really know my students on a deeper level, but most students in the school. I love walking through campus, knowing each person by name, and being able to connect, even if just for a moment. She lives in Sonoma with her husband and two sons, Finnley and Jameson. Outside the classroom, Gina enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends.
Greg Garrison
6th-8th Grade Science, MathDr. Garrison, aka “Doc G” carries over 35 years experience in science and math education as a college professor, high school math and research teacher, and as a science and math teacher at multiple independent middle schools. Doc G loves teaching at independent schools where he finds the freedom to develop the educational process in ways that are more effective for student learning, and in ways that students find more meaningful and memorable. Doc G appreciates the community spirit of all of the TPS educators and their collaboration together through hands-on and impactful lessons with the students. When he is not at TPS, Doc G loves living in the peaceful midst of the redwoods, visiting with his daughter, son-in-law and grand-dog, and sailing through fascinating adventures.
Specialist Teachers
Julie Boles
ArtJulie holds a BA and MA in English from San Francisco State University. She was a graduate assistant for an art history professor and is a self taught art educator, with her most recent certifications in digital arts and teaching differentiation from Sonoma State Extended Ed. She has developed visual arts elementary and middle school programs with an emphasis on cross curricular material, teaching locally for sixteen years, the most recent five years happily at TPS. Outside of TPS, Julie loves yoga, pilates and walks with her family and beloved mini golden doodles. She also continually hones her drawing, painting and ceramics skills through an amazing network of art teachers because practice is everything. She is buoyed by her students’ embracing of her mantra, “Trust the process.” It’s this openness and love of learning in young artists that informs her why – in art education but specifically at TPS.
Zachary Mondlick
MusicOriginally from New Haven, Connecticut, Zachary Mondlick moved to Napa, California, when he was 15 years old, earning his high school diploma from Vintage High School, followed by his Bachelors in Music from the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley, California, where he majored in Jazz Studies with a concentration in Brazilian Studies. Zachary later received his Masters of Music from Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain. Zachary worked as the Director of Recruitment at the California Jazz Conservatory before finding his way into the classroom at TPS. Outside of school you can find him gigging around the Bay Area with a number of jazz and pop music bands, and playing disc golf with Coach Freitas, or fishing with Maestro De La Cruz.
Fernando De La Cruz
SpanishBorn and raised in Sonoma, Fernando has been in and out of the classroom teaching Spanish for the past 5 years. Previously, he spent time at Vintage High School in Napa teaching Honors Spanish for Spanish speakers. Fernando brings extended experience working with youth thanks to his previous experience as a mentor for California Mini-Corps where he tutored migrant students at multiple schools in Sonoma County. Fernando obtained his BA in Spanish and History from Sonoma State University, the same place where he obtained his teaching credentials through SSU’s School of Education. The reason Fernando decided to become a teacher, in particular at an independent school, was because is able to incorporate the more cultural aspects of the Spanish language that are often overlooked in traditional language classes, such as music, legends, and games. When he’s not in the classroom you can find Fernando coaching soccer, fishing, spending time with his family and practicing kickboxing. What Fernando mostly appreciates about TPS is how the entire community embraces and accepts these cultural aspects behind the Spanish language and culture.
Erin Donahue
School Counselor, Student SupportErin joins us with 15 years of experience working as a school counselor, therapist, and mental health advocate in diverse roles and settings. She holds a joint Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology and a Masters of Education in School Counseling from the University of Massachusetts Boston. “My greatest joy comes from learning alongside my students, guiding them in their social and emotional development, and working closely with devoted educators”. Originally from the greater Boston area, Erin and her family relocated to Hong Kong from 2017 to 2020 where she took on the role of therapist and school consultant for Central Health and the English Schools Foundation, an opportunity which expanded her expertise and perspective by working with children, adolescents, and their parents in an international context.“I chose to become an educator because I deeply believe that when we nourish young minds with curiosity, knowledge, and discovery, they have the power to change the world for the better. Erin lives in Marin with her husband and their three children.
Griffin Freitas
Athletic Director & PE TeacherGriffin attended Santa Rosa Jr. College and San Francisco State. While attending SFSU he focused on kinesiology and received a bachelor’s degree. He transitioned into a credentialing program and masters program in secondary education. Griffin has ten years of TK-8 PE teaching experience and six years coaching wrestling from schools such as Balboa High to Stuart Hall. Griffin has a certificate in effective classroom management and has pursued a wide range of professional developments including on site visits to other schools within the area. Griffin’s reason for teaching is, “To inspire students to recognize the importance and value of fitness and diet for today, and as a lifelong learner. I believe everyone should enjoy a sport or hobby that can lead to success in a variety of ways including physical and mental health, character development, and being an outstanding community member.” He has a passion for disc golfing and anything grappling related. Remarking on his role as both a parent and an educator, Griffin says “I am one of the few lucky parents to see his own child grow, learn and foster relationships on campus. This school accepts people not only for their individuality but helps guide them to be outstanding community members. I love TPS because my daughter can be her unique self.” When he is not on campus he is spending time with his wife Grazielle, daughter Colette (TPS Class of 2033) and dog Chloe in Novato.
Jeanette Cardamone
Learning Support ConsultantJeanette Cardamone is passionate about education and supporting students to achieve their best. She is originally from Southern California where she raised her children with her husband of 45 years. Jeanette and her husband moved to beautiful Sonoma two years ago to be near their grandsons and to escape the intensity of urban life. Her career began in early childhood education as a teacher, director and curriculum developer. Later she moved to K-8 education as a teacher, learning specialist and principal. She has been an educator in these capacities for 40 years. As a learning specialist, she is intrigued by how each student learns and how to unlock their individual puzzle to achieve success.
Diana Vitorelo
Learning SpecialistA Presentation School alumna and Sonoma native, Diana is happy to be back at her alma mater in her 4th year teaching! Diana has a Bachelor’s Degree from Sonoma State University in Early Childhood education, and prior experience working with preschool students in Sonoma County. Diana enjoys working closely with our students to support their academic success and social emotional growth. She has completed professional development focused on differentiation strategies to enhance student learning and engagement across diverse needs. Also trained in evidence-based phonics instruction to support early literacy development. She has passion to teach at an independent school for the opportunity to foster deeper student-teacher relationships, embrace innovative teaching methods, and contribute to a close-knit educational community that values the whole child. “Being part of a place that shaped who she is, and now helping shape the next generation, is incredibly meaningful and fulfilling.” Diana enjoys spending time with friends and family as well as traveling in her free time.