This is Val’s first year as the Executive Director. She brings 25 years of experience with her including roles as a high school Spanish teacher, Director of Student Services, Managing Director of Academics, and other leadership positions in K-12 schools. Val lives right here in the Live Oak community and is excited to bring her expertise to her neighborhood school! She plans to immerse herself in the learning models at TP, the connection to nature, collaborating in a small community and the commitment to inclusion. She is passionate about decolonizing curriculum and pedagogy, supporting the challenging works of teaching and learning for students, staff, and parents, and removing barriers for learning and growth for all students.

Sofie enters her 9th year at TP in the role of Office Manager. A Santa Cruz native (born and raised), Sofie attended Soquel High School. She earned a Criminal Justice degree and after years managing small nonprofits in Santa Cruz, found herself as first, a TP parent, and ultimately the one who keeps the school moving.

She loves spending weekends with her children. When she’s not at school, you can find Sofie keeping up with her 5 kids.

This is Kim’s 15th year at Tierra Pacifica, where she supports the school in Payroll, Human Resources, and Accounts Payable. Kim’s connection to Tierra Pacifica began when her children attended the school, and she was inspired to continue working here because she believes deeply in the school’s vision and the strength of its community.

Originally from San Francisco, Kim has enjoyed building her career in school business, where her love of learning and community come together in meaningful ways. In her spare time, she loves roaming the beaches after a big storm in search of seaglass treasures.

This is Peggy’s first year at Tierra Pacifica, joining us with 11 years of experience in charter school finance locally at Pacific Collegiate School. She has a degree in Geological Engineering and previously worked for NASA.

Peggy is a believer in learning on the job no matter what capacity. She has one child currently in college, loves rocks, and is excited to rediscover past interests and passion projects.

This is Beth’s second year at the school as the Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director. Beth relocated to Santa Cruz from Atlanta, Georgia in 2024 and credits the TP community for helping ease that transition. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Beth had a career in media relations and marketing at colleges, independent schools, and nonprofits.

In her spare time, she loves all things college sports, yoga, tennis, walking her dog, and following the lives of her three adult children. Her husband Tim also works in education as the Director of Athletics at Hillbrook School in downtown San Jose.

Sean is a fixture in the Tierra Pacifica community and his impact is felt all over campus. He began his TP journey as a parent and volunteer and is now in his 6th year as the Office Assistant.

Sean served in the US Navy as a Boatswain's Mate for 21 years and has a wide range of job experience from body jewelry machinist to wastewater plant mechanic making him the perfect TP problem solver. He has a college age daughter with whom he’s shared his passion for Ham Radio and serves as a Coast Guard volunteer. When he’s not at TP, you might find him in Napa Valley exploring all it has to offer.

Grace continues as the role of Enrollment Coordinator this year. She knows first hand the unique culture and strong sense of community that TP fosters having been a parent at the school for the past 10 years and also having worked as an Instructional Aide in the 1st and 2nd grade classroom. She was so inspired by her experience here that she’s now working towards achieving her teaching credential.

When she’s not studying or sharing information about the school, you can find Grace on the waves or spending time with her family in nature.

Shannon is entering her third year as the TK teacher and reading intervention for grades 1-8 at TP and her 13th year teaching. She has reading and multiple subject credentials. Shannon joined the TP community as a parent first and quickly realized she’d love to teach at a school that mirrors her strong beliefs in parent participation and positive discipline.

Shannon has a passion for the outdoors as well as hiking, traveling, working out, and crafting.

Elana has been a member of the Tierra Pacifica community for over 21 years. Currently she teaches Kindergarten and 4th and 5th grade history, but has held a variety of roles in year’s past including ELA and math instruction and administrative support. Elana earned her teaching credential from UCSC and has a passion for reading, science, and sustainability.

When she’s not at school you can find her dancing all around Oakland and Santa Cruz, out in nature, or spending time with her two amazing children.

Lauren is in her 5th year of teaching the 1st/2nd grade class at TP. She’s our resident camping expert and thrives on sharing her love of reading and nature with students. She’s dedicated to teaching students the importance of connecting with the natural world, not only for social emotional development, but also as inspiration to become thoughtful stewards of the earth.

When she’s not teaching, she’s camping, or hiking, or doing yoga, or jumping in the ocean. She’s also the busy parent of three TP students.

Juliet's been teaching the second and third grade class at Tierra Pacifica since 2010. She attended UCSC and has a B.A. in performing arts with a Masters of Education. Juliet loves being able to incorporate her passions for the arts with her dedication to working with children.

Before coming to work at Tierra Pacifica she worked with preschool age children and was also a math intervention teacher for 4th and 5th graders. Juliet credits Tierra Pacifica for its intimate setting, as well as its environment for encouraging students, teachers and parents to share their passions in the classroom.

Veronica enters her second year of teaching leading the 4th/5th grade class. She has a B.A. from SJSU in child and adolescent development and completed her teaching induction last year. She feels fortunate to have had her teaching career begin at TP.

Veronica is an avid supporter of Santa Cruz’ Grey Bears organization and loves taking her students on field trips to experience hands-on its mission and vision for the community. She’s getting married this fall and is devoted to her cat.

Courtney joined Tierra Pacifica in 2005. With an educational background from UC Berkeley in geology, math, education and biology, she started her professional career at the UC Berkeley Herbarium working on the first online database of botanical collections. While there she volunteered at a local middle school and fell in love with teaching and went back to Berkeley for her graduate degree.

Courtney's classroom is supportive, rigorous, open to big ideas, and fun. With lots of additional training such as attending The Exploratorium Teacher Institute in San Francisco, CPM's Ideas and Inspirations Math Program, and Jo Boaler's Growth Mindset Class, she brings hands' on experiential lessons to the classroom everyday. Students are encouraged to take academic risks and to not be afraid to try new things...... and make mistakes.

When not at TP, she enjoys spending time with her family (husband, Erik and children, Elan, Jesse, and Mia - all former TP students!) hiking, going to the beach, playing games, traveling, and working at the UCSC Cal-Teach program.

Boaz begins his first year at TP as the middle school History teacher after many years teaching History, Civics, English, and Creative Writing. He was drawn to TP for its smaller environment and being part of a school in his own community of Santa Cruz.

Boaz has an MA in English with a concentration in Ethics and Policy. His thesis heavily incorporated cultural studies and history contributing to his joy in learning about his own students' histories and stories. When he’s not teaching, he spends time with his three boys, playing the guitar and singing, traveling, camping, and manning the BBQ.

Jacob returns to TP as a math and science teacher in the Middle School. He has a degree in engineering, with a concentration in mechatronics, which lends a different perspective to his teaching.

Jacob started at TP as a long term substitute and fell in love with teaching and especially what TP’s community stands for. When Jacob isn’t at school he’s playing board and card games, dabbling in 3D printing, or running.

Trevor is the Middle School and 4th and 5th grade English teacher. Originally a coach, he discovered his real talent was in the classroom.

Trevor enjoys hiking, biking, and reading. He collects music and does “Grandma things” to the amusement of his middle school students. He has two boys, one a current TP student.

Sarah continues at TP this year teaching 1st and 4th grade math and kindergarten reading intervention.

After a 5 year hiatus from teaching, she was thrilled to find this opportunity at TP as she really missed being in the classroom. When not at school, Sarah’s invested in spending time with her family and raising good humans.

Sarah joins TP as the art teacher after having most recently taught ceramics at Santa Cruz High School. She has a masters in education with a credential in art from San Jose State and studied art and art history at New York University and Parsons School of Design in Paris.

A mom of three, Sarah loves spending time with her family taking road trips and camping. As a professional artist herself, Sarah’s been painting a lot of dogs, keep your eye out for an upcoming Santa Cruz area Open Studio where you can view her work.

This is Stacy's first year at Tierra Pacifica and her 13th in the teaching profession. She is thrilled to join this wonderful staff and community blending her love of movement and exercise with her passion for teaching. She received her BA in human communication with an emphasis in pre-law from CSUMB and her masters in education and teaching credential from UCSC. She was a youth gymnast and later a collegiate diver for American River College in Sacramento.

Stacy has also coached gymnastics in Sacramento and at Santa Cruz Gymnastics. More recently, she taught adult fitness classes in the x-tend barre method. She loves to get out for runs, bike rides, yoga classes, surf and swim sessions, and hikes with her friends and her husband and three kids. She also loves animals, listening to and playing music, and working in the garden.

Joanie enters her 4th year at TP as an instructional aide in the TK class. After the school day is over, she switches roles working in the finance office focusing on fundraising.

Joanie’s overjoyed to be at the starting point of a child’s educational journey watching them learn and grow. She’s worked as a Director of Product Sales and at NPO Girl Scouts, but found her sweet spot supporting TP’s youngest learners.

A mom of three current and former TP students, Joanie enjoys hiking, camping, crafting, sewing, and reading.

This is Lorena’s eleventh year at Tierra Pacifica, where she serves as the Kindergarten Teacher’s Aide and ELPAC Coordinator. A former TP student herself, she attended from 4th through 8th grade and is grateful to now support students in the same community that shaped her.

Outside of school, Lorena enjoys reading, painting, and spending time outdoors with her husband and their son, Luca, whom they welcomed in April 2024.

This is Isabella’s first year at TP as an instructional aide in the 2nd and 3rd grade class. A recent graduate of UCSC in environmental studies, TP was a great fit for exploring her interests in outdoor education. Isabella attended a Waldorf Charter School so her roots are in collective growth and alternative education.

When she’s not at school, Isabella loves doing stuff with her hands including sewing, bead work, gardening, and crafting. She has a passion for community collective projects, traveling, and learning about new cultures and places.

River joins TP as an instructional aide in the 1st and 2nd grade classroom. She spent 11 years in higher education and is excited about working in a front-facing role with students.

River is a jack of all trades with specific interest in gardening, interior design, and fixing things.

Tiger started at TP in 2004 and has watched this school’s evolution over the years. She serves as an instructional aide in the 2nd and 3rd grade classroom as well as handles all of the school’s technology needs.

If the school needs it, Tiger finds it putting her thrifting skills to good use. From the most coveted recess ball to the most used office supply, you can bet it was procured by Tiger. She’s a mom to two former TP students, and loves her additional role as grandmother.

This is Lily’s second year as an Instructional Aide at Tierra Pacifica. Currently, she is going into her senior year at UC Santa Cruz, working towards a degree in Education, Democracy, and Justice.

Her biggest passion is music and she loves singing, songwriting, and performing. In her free time, she also likes running, playing tennis, and going to the beach.

Emily joins TP this year as an Instructional Aide for the 4th/5th grade class. A graduate of Arizona State with a degree in Sociology and Anthropology, Emily is excited about engaging in this new community and experiencing different cultures and personalities.

Emily loves being outside connecting with nature through rock climbing and backpacking. She’s excited about going camping with her class and participating in field trips.

This Ally’s first year at TP and her fourth year as an instructional aide. She’s working in the 4th and 5th grade classroom with a focus on special education support.

Outside of school, Ally is heavily involved with her church and explores her creative side through art, jewelry making, creative writing, and music.

Elizabeth begins her third year as the Middle School instructional aide while also pursuing a single subject credential in History.

She has a special knack for connecting with middle school aged students and loves sharing her passion for Indigeonous Mythology, American history, bugs, and poetry. She started the school’s after school clubs program connecting students with outside interests and providing a leadership opportunity before they head off to high school.

Stephanie is in her second year as an Education Specialist at TP. She has a background in non-profit organizations and enjoys building community, working with people of all ages and backgrounds, and supporting each other. She loves seeing all the class time shared outdoors and the connection that the TP staff develops with its students in a small school setting.

In her free time, Stephanie enjoys hiking, jumping in the ocean and river, and mountain biking at Wilder Ranch with her kids.

Lindsey is in her second year as an Instructional Aide in the SPED Department. She’s pursuing a degree in Psychology with the goal of working towards a Masters in Speech Language Pathology or as a counselor.

Lindsey loves spending time swimming in the ocean, working on her Spanish fluency, and playing the French Horn, an instrument she started in middle school and continues to play to this day!

Vince is in his first year with TP, but his 25th year as a Speech and Language Pathologist. He’s excited about TP’s small learning environment and the opportunity to work with multi-age students.

Look for Vince surfing in the ocean or at the hardware store as he and his wife continually work on their home in Aptos.

Jessalyn joins TP this year as the school counselor and is excited to contribute to the already warm and supportive environment and help students be their best selves. She has broad experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and couples.

Jessalyn enjoys hiking and spending time with family and friends. As a lifelong learner, she’s always reading and taking classes, growing her knowledge base to provide more effective support to those in need.

Allie is an Occupational Therapist working for Bloom Pediatric Occupational Therapy and is in her second year supporting TP students.

She received her Masters of OT in 2004 and has previously worked for SLVUSD and SCCS as a school based OT. Prior to that she worked at Watsonville Hospital as an OT and Director of Rehab. Allie started her career as an OT at Dominican Hospital and has held roles including: Supervisor of Acute Therapists, OT on various hospital floors, and OT in Employee Health Services. She’s well connected with a number of therapists in the community and TP is fortunate to have her.

Personally, Allie is married with a seven year old, a dog and a fish. She loves arts and crafts, hiking in the redwoods, and time with family and friends.

Coach Duke has worked in Physical Education since 1996, focusing the past 5 years as an Adapted PE Specialist. This is her first year working with TP students. She has an undergraduate and Masters Degree in PE with an added authorization for Adapted PE.

Coach Duke just finished writing and publishing her autobiography this past summer. She loves teaching and supporting students and being in quiet, beautiful spaces.