Meet our staff
Nancy Schlenke, Principal
Growing up the daughter of a Navy doctor, we moved around a lot. Between Kindergarten and twelfth grade I attended 10 schools. My last two years of high school were in London, England where I was the only American in the school, and the only one they had ever had. It was a learning experience for both of us!
Before I became a teacher, I worked for seven years in a research lab at UCSF. After my children were born, I stayed home for a few years. When my son started Kindergarten at Mira-loma, I volunteered in the classroom and got hooked on teaching. For two years I ran a science program for the students at the school while getting my teaching credential. I then taught at Alvarado for ten years before be-coming Teacher-in Residence at the Exploratorium. From there I went to the District’s curriculum office as a science resource teacher prior to coming to Sunnyside.
I love being here! It is such a nice place to work, with great kids, friendly and committed teachers, and parents who are involved and supportive. I love that we are a small, neighborhood school with a diverse population. The teachers work hard at developing a sense of community and caring that works not only in their classes but across all grades. The PTA has always been very supportive of school activities, and parents have worked hard raising funds to buy the extras we couldn’t otherwise afford. My hope is that parent involvement will continue to grow as new families join the school.
This year with five new staff members there is excitement and energy in the air. I believe that we are going to have a really great year. Be involved and be part of the action!!
Leah Plack, Kindergarten - I was born and raised in East County San Diego. After many hours of practicing, I received my BM in Clarinet Performance at SDSU. Once I finished my degree in music, I went to SFSU to work on my teaching credential. It had been a dream of mine to move to San Francisco for a long time, so I went for it! I may never go back…
This is my second year at Sunnyside and my third year teaching kindergarten. I enjoy working at Sunnyside for many reasons. The parents and families are fantastic, and the kids are great to work with. Our staff is so supportive of each other, which makes the environment of the school very positive. Our school is small and has a great neighborhood feeling, which I love.
I did not expect that I would teach such a young grade when I beganstudent teaching I had always worked with older children when I taught music lessons. However, I quickly realized that I love working with kindergarteners. I get the opportunity to see the kids grow and change so much over the school year, not to mention the years that follow. We learn through singing, playing, artistic expression and hands on activities. What could be better than that?
When I’m not at work, I love to ride my bike everywhere! I also enjoy knitting in the wintertime, reading the news, listening to NPR, and cooking like a fiend.
Jennifer Yee, Kindergarten - Working with children for the past six years, I knew that my passion is to teach. After field work in the educational field and obtaining my Bachelors of Art from the University of California, Berkeley, I knew my passion was in working with children. After a year working in the preschool setting, I decided to pursue for my Multiple Subjects Credentials. While attending school full time and working as a substitute teacher both in the San Francisco and South San Francisco Unified Districts, I learned and gained vital information and teaching tools in bettering myself as a teacher. I was delighted to be offered a kindergarten position at Sunnyside after being a student teacher here for one and a half year.
My present goal for myself as a teacher is to continue my understanding of how to reach and meet the needs of all students from different educational backgrounds. I truly enjoy working as a teacher because everyday I am challenged by the students. I am enlightened by the knowledge they have. My hope is for families, the teacher, and the school to continue working collaboratively as a team in igniting their thirst for this knowledge.<
Carol Converse, Kindergarten - I grew up in the East Bay during the ’50s and ’60s. In those days, parents raised their children to be self-sufficient early on and it was possible because the economy was thriving, the dollar was strong, jobs were plentiful, and employees were well-compensated. Imagine this: with only the salary I earned as a hospital ward/emergency room/admitting clerk, I was able to spend 9 months traveling in Europe, 6 months studying in Italy, and a summer practicing Italian on islands in the Mediterranean (!) while putting myself through college debt-free (granted, it was on the 8-year plan). In 1978, I joined the Peace Corps and went to Morocco where I was trained to English as a Foreign Language and made lifelong friends who accompanied me on many of the adventures that were to follow. I got a Master of Arts (in Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages) which together with the Peace Corps experience led to 4 years in Portugal, 2 in Italy, 2 summers in Turkey, and 8 years in Egypt where I (we) developed curriculum and worked as teacher trainers for the Peace Corps, USIS/USIA, the Fulbright Commission, and USAID. In 1995, most of us came back to the States, almost all of us to cities near our families. I activated both my teaching credentials, got the CLAD certificate, and was hired by the SFUSD. It was while I was teaching first grade that I got National Board Certification (in Early Childhood education). This is my first year both teaching Kindergarten and working at Sunnyside. Miraculously, I was assigned to the most charming, spacious, light-filled classroom I have ever seen. I spend my days with students who - without exception - are interested in every possible topic, enjoy wondering, and consider new concepts from surprising perspectives. My colleagues, even the retired teachers who substitute, are remarkably generous with their original and very useful suggestions as well as their moral support. I am very grateful for this, another life-changing experience, and hope that I will be able to inspire
others as much as they inspire me.
Leslie Quillin, 1st Grade - coming soon
Mabel Chen, 1st Grade - coming soon
Emily Grande, 1st Grade - coming soon
Katherine (Kit) Bell, 2nd Grade - coming soon
Heidi Leontie, 2nd Grade - coming soon
Kenny Yee, 3rd Grade - coming soon
Lisa-Anne Lee, 3rd Grade - coming soon
Joelle Capitan, 4th Grade - coming soon
Sarah Rensman, 4th Grade - coming soon
Kristin Hilmoe, 5th Grade - coming soon
Moira Duffy, Special Day Class Teacher, K-2
Although most of my family origin is from Northern Ireland, I grew up on the Peninsula and in San Francisco.
I went to U.C. Berkeley as an under-graduate and graduate student. My major was English literature. I had to study two languages so I chose French and German. I left the Ph.D. program with a Masters and switched to Art as my major.
I studied painting, drawing and sculpture at Parsons in New York, the San Francisco Art Institute, and San Francisco State University..
I have worked as a teacher at Mission High, teaching Art and ESL, Denman Middle School, teaching 8th grade English, and now at Sunnyside as a Special Education teacher. I was hired by Dr. Margaret Penn and have been at Sunnyside since 1997.
Teaching young children with severe cognitive and physical disabilities has been one of the most challenging educational experiences in my life. I think every child can learn and Sunnyside is a productive learning environment.
I encourage parents and staff to learn languages other than English. It helps one understand some of the hurdles that many of our students face in learning English. As someone who still dangles participles, I ought to know!
Annie Bovone, Special Education Teacher 3rd-5th
I have worked in special education for 10 years as a teacher in schools and as a volunteer in the Peace Corps. I have a Multiple Subject and a Special Education credential.
I grew up in San Francisco with my parents and four brothers and sisters. I went to St. Brendan Elementary for grammar school and graduated from Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep High School downtown. I went to college at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA and later earned a Masters degree at CUNY Hunter College in NYC.
I came to Sunnyside in the fall of 2004 and am enjoying my 5th year at this wonderful school.
This school year I hope to create a fun and safe learning environment for my class. I aim to continue building community relationships between my students and all of the people in our school, especially our buddies.
I like teaching at Sunnyside because it is a small and diverse school. There is a real feeling of community and friendliness here.
I think parents ought to teach their children to value themselves, others and our differences because our diversity makes us great. Also, help them develop good study habits and social habits now, these are the kinds of skills that your children will use for far into the future.
Brendan Walsh, PE - coming soon
Stuart Briggs, PE - coming soon
Ronna McMurray, Music Teacher - coming soon
Jacki Ng, Music Teacher - Coming Soon
Meg Sandine, Art Teacher
I was born and raised in San Francisco. I earned my B.A. in art from San Francisco State in 1993. I have been a working artist since 1988, focusing mostly on sculpture. I work in many materials including: clay, metal, wood, yarn, paper mache, paint, found objects and more. I have an upcoming show this November. My teaching career spans my daughter’s lifetime, 14 years. I began teaching adults with developmental disabilities and from there moved into schools. I have taught art to children from preschool age through middle school. My primary focus has been teaching children in grades K to fifth. I have worked at the same school in SF for over seven years. I love teaching, art and children and feel fortunate to have found work which encompasses all three.
Laura Yanow, Librarian - coming soon
Kelly Tucker, Resource Specialist Program (RSP) - coming soon
My family and I immigrated to the States from S. Korea when I was ten. It was the end of October when we landed in LA, so my first memory of the States is Halloween. My cousins dressed me up and we went trick-or-treating. What? All you have to do is ring someone’s door bell, say few words, and they give you candy?! Needless to say, I thought America was the greatest place.
While attending Cal State, Long Beach, I worked as a teacher’s assis-tant in an elementary school and I loved it. It didn’t feel like just a job; I was making a difference. I always knew I wanted to work with children, but now I had a clear goal to become a teacher.
I worked as a Special Education teacher in LA for six years before moving to San Francisco in 1999. In SF, I taught General ed for six years to grades third – fifth and now I’m back in Special Ed.
This is my first year at Sunnyside. I work part time with RSP and At-Risk students. I love the diversity and friendliness of everyone at this school. I know it will be a great year.
Lisa Malloy, Paraprofessional - coming soon
Nancy Evans, Paraprofessional - coming soon
Hope Gini, Paraprofessional - coming soon
Nazareth Zimpel, Paraprofessional - coming soon
Sandeep Kumar, Learning Support Professional - coming soon
Ruby Bell, Student Advisor - coming soon
Adilia Galvez, Office Clerk - coming soon
Cecilia Roman, ExCel Program - coming soon
Josie Miranda, YMCA Program - coming soon
Sue Kwong, Custodian - coming soon