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Alexandra Alquati, Spanish Program Specialist

Alexandra Alquati

Alexandra was born in Venezuela and grew up in Colombia where she obtained her B.A in Early Childhood Education. She worked as a music teacher and K-3 teacher in bilingual schools in Colombia, and then moved to Texas to work in the public school system as a bilingual teacher. She holds a multiple subject and bilingual credential in the state of Texas and California, and will be starting her M.A at San Francisco State. She plays the piano and the guitar in her classes, and loves children's literature and cats. She has been teaching since 1999 and has joined the Aurora staff in 2008.

Mark Hall, Computer Lab Specialist

Mark Hall

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.

Kerry Higuera, Art Specialist

Kerry Higuera

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 who traveled to Japan in October 2007 doing research. She loves to spend time with her family, travel, garden and work on her own art.

Josh Johnson, Extended Care Coordinator

Josh Johnson

Josh is excited to be joining the Aurora team, working with all ages in the After School Program. Josh comes to us from St. Paul's after school program, where he has been working for the last three years. Josh has also spent the last 6 years as the Assistant Camp Director at Adventure Day Camp, a traditional summer camp in Walnut Creek. All together, Josh has over 15 years of experience in the recreation field, both in school and camp settings. Josh grew up in San Francisco, and moved to the East Bay (Alameda) in 2004. When not working, Josh enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Holly, and 4 year old daughter, Kayli Mae, enjoying the many family attractions of the east bay, from the Oakland Zoo to the Alameda Beach.

Joyce Kelley, M.Ed Learning Resources Specialist

Joyce Kelley

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 a certificate 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 30 years and has a 20-year-old daughter who attends a local college. 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 11 years.

Terry E. Meyers, Ph. D, Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Terry E. Meyers

Terry is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in private practice in the East Bay. She teaches and supervises graduate students in clinical psychology and has a private practice in Oakland and Castro Valley where she works with children, adolescents, families and adults. Dr. Meyers also has a background in arts education, the performing arts, and arts administration. Her work at Aurora School includes providing support services to children and their families. Terry works with parents, the child and his/her teacher to improve school functioning, boost self-esteem and confidence, and help with social concerns. A child can be seen in individual and/or group counseling sessions during the school day.

Holly Schneider, Music Specialist, 4/5 Teaching Assistant

Holly Schneider

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. Holly is also a Teaching Assistant for one of the 4/5 classes.

Kathryn Shepler, Librarian

Kathryn Shepler

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 H. Sutherland

Sonja has taught movement classes to children and adults for over 20 years. She is a guild certified Feldenkrais practitioner, a method of somatic education. She maintains a private practice in Berkeley offering individual sessions, group classes, workshops and retreats. Her background includes ten years of ongoing studies in Somatic Psychology, an M.A. in Dance Education and Choreography, and a blackbelt in Aikido. Drawing from her many years of experience Sonja developed "Creative Learning Through Movement" a dynamic somatic curriculum for elementary school children. Classes include group movement explorations and games, which foster creativity, spark curiosity, enhance self-image, develop personal and interpersonal skill, encourage group participation and cooperation, and create a lifelong love for moving and learning.

Nikki Truax, Physical Education Specialist

Nikki Truax

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.

Alex Vittum, Woodshop Specialist

Alex Vittum

Alex Vittum is a percussionist, woodworker and teacher based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He holds a BA from Bennington College and an MFA from Mills College. In Alex's current work he focuses on integrating percussion, instrument building and electronics into live performance. He is an associate instrument builder and designer with the Paul Dresher Ensemble and a technician for synthesizer pioneer Don Buchla. Alex teaches drums at Piedmont Piano and is a dedicated advocate for sustainable farming.