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Specialist Biographies

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Kerry Higuera, Art Specialist

Kerry has run the art program here at Aurora School since 1992 and is also the coordinator of all of Aurora's specialists. Kerry has also been a lead teacher in Aurora's K-1 program. She earned her BFA degree in Visual Arts from Northern Illinois University. She holds both a multiple subject credential and a single subject credential in art from Holy Names University. She is active in the National Art Education Association and teaches workshops to classroom teachers, parents and children. Kerry is a Japanese Fulbright Memorial scholar and will travel to Japan in October 2007 doing research. She loves to spend time with her family, travel, garden and work on her own art.

Irene Brates, Spanish Program Specialist, 4/5 Teaching Assistant

Irene was born and grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She came to the Bay area almost 20 years ago to study English, fell in love with the area and decided to stay. She has been a teacher ever since, working with children grades K - 12. Irene has a daughter, Dina, who just started Kindergarten at Aurora, and is thrilled at having the chance to peek at her during school hours. Other than Spanish and English, Irene speaks Romanian and French, loves to travel, read and garden. She has a B.S. in Marketing and a translator degree in French-Spanish.

Mark Hall, Computer Lab Specialist

Mark comes to Aurora with over 20 years experience in the technology field. He has had positions as a software engineer, manager and executive at local software firms. His desire to make a difference has led him to a career in education. Mark has always been involved with children; as an art teacher for an after school drawing program, as a counselor for at risk youth in Oakland, as an actively involved parent in his children's education. Mark brings to the computer lab a deep understanding of technology's capabilities and limitations, as well as a creative flair that gives students the opportunity to explore technology in interesting and interactive ways. Mark loves to travel the world, play and listen to music, ride his bicycle and sea kayak on the Bay with his family. This is Mark's fourth year teaching computer lab. He also has two children that attend Aurora School.

Joyce Kelley, Learning Resources Specialist

As the Director of the Learning Resource Department, Joyce is part of Aurora's educational team. Joyce offers support to students, faculty and parents in order to enhance student success. She has a B.S. in psychology from San Francisco State University and an M.A. in Education with an emphasis in Educational Therapy, from Holy Names University. Joyce is co-chair of Aurora's Green Committee and environmental sustainability is one of her passions. Joyce has lived in the Bay Area for almost 30 years and has a 17-year-old daughter who graduated from Berkeley High School last June. In her free time Joyce likes to write, read, and spend time with family and friends. She is an active member of the Insight Mediation Community of Berkeley. Joyce has worked at Aurora for 7 years.

Daniel Schmidt, Woodshop Specialist

Daniel obtained his B.F.A. degree from Westminster Choir College and holds an M.F.A. degree from the California Institute of the Arts. He completed three years of post-graduate work in ethnomusicology at The Center for World Music. In addition to teaching Woodshop, Daniel also teaches Gamelan music as an enrichment class at Aurora. Daniel enjoys building musical instruments, performing and teaching. Daniel has lived in the Bay Area for 30 years and has been at Aurora for 9 years.

Holly Schneider, Music Specialist

Holly has been an educator for over 10 years. Her natural love and enthusiasm for teaching, whether it be ceramic sculpture, movement or music, is always felt by her students. Trained and certified in the Orff Schulwerk method and having established her own after school program, Creative Music Project, Holly is now delighted to be a part of the Aurora team of specialists.

Kathryn Shepler, Librarian

Kathy attended UC Berkeley where she majored in fine arts history. She started her second career at Aurora with a long-held interest in the study of children's literature. Kathy is active in many national, state and local librarian organizations. She is the 2007 President-elect of the Association of Children's Librarians of Northern/Central California. She is currently Executive Secretary for the San Mateo County Reading Association. She is also very active in the Northern California independent Children's Booksellers organization, where she is Treasurer and committee chair for Literacy Grants and for the Northern California children's authors and illustrators' school visits guide. Kathy teaches workshops to librarians, parents and teachers about the book arts and library curriculum she developed here at Aurora, and has taught at many venues, including other local schools, the San Francisco Center for the Book, the University of Utah and many state conventions. Kathy is the proud mother of three Aurora graduates. She is a native to the Bay Area and has been the part of the school library crew since its conception.

Sonja H. Sutherland, Movement Specialist

Sonja has worked with children for over 20 years. Her background includes an M.A. in Dance Education and Choreography. Sonja is also a Feldenkrais practitioner working with children and adults with movement related issues and injuries. She holds a blackbelt in Aikido and studies Somatic Psychology. Sonja speaks German fluently and has lived there for 2 1/2 years studying at a university and then at a conservatory for dance-theater. She have traveled many times to Canada, through Europe, twice to India, to Hong Kong, Malaysia, Costa Rico, Peru, Mexico, Hawaii and hopes to travel to Africa one day.

Nikki Truax, Physical Education Specialist

Nikki grew up as the youngest of five children in a family of sports enthusiasts. She brings to Aurora's playground nearly 10 years of experience as a youth coach in a variety of sports. Nikki received her B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing and Management from the University of West Florida. Before joining Aurora, Nikki worked with the Cal Women's Basketball team where she assisted with the teams' operations, as well as the coordination of summer camps. But her love of children combined with her love of sports is what determined her career decision. She feels that teaching has been the most rewarding and stimulating career. Aside from teaching, Nikki enjoys traveling the Caribbean islands, last minute weekend getaways, casting her fishing pole into the deep blue waters, catching live music shows throughout the Bay Area, and watching a football game from the comfort of her own couch. But when she leaves the playground for the day, you can always find her on her ranch caring for her favorite horse, Lacy.