Peter Lavaroni has been teaching at Kittredge School since 1981. He was the Primary Class (first and second grades) teacher for 16 years. He finally left the "World's Greatest Class" in 1998 to assume his current role as Principal.

Mr. L received his BA from California State University, Chico, and his Master's degree at Dominican College. His teaching credential was also earned at Dominican College.

He currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of the National Independent Private Schools Association (NIPSA), the organization that accredits Kittredge School.

This is Ms. Pon-Barry's fifth year teaching and second year at Kittredge.

She received her BA in Liberal Studies from Santa Clara University, along with minors in Spanish and Art History. She earned her multiple subject teaching credential and MA in Education from the University of San Francisco.

Ms. Pon-Barry enjoys working with the primary children for their fresh and unique outlook on life. She strives to make the learning process enjoyable and enticing for each child.

This will be Miss Oneto's seventh year of teaching, and fourth year at Kittredge.  She comes to us with teaching experience in Oregon, California and New York City.  Holly earned her BA and MA in Education, as well as a dance minor from The University of Oregon.  She has also earned her CLAD certificate in California. 

Holly enjoys the honesty the children bring to the classroom and loves to teach writing.  She considers the second and third year of education critical in establishing the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.

Mr. Wayne Riddle is the fourth/fifth grade teacher. He has been teaching for 28 years, 22 of them at Kittredge School, where he has worked with students at all levels. He received his BA degree and elementary teaching credential at San Francisco State University in 1975 and a mathematics single-subject credential in 1982.

In 2006 Mr. Riddle became Kittredge School's second recipient of the Herbst Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence. In all classes and across the curriculum, Mr. Riddle enjoys helping students feel comfortable in their learning environment as they continue to grow academically and socially.

Kevin is in his sixth year at Kittredge and his fourth year as sixth grade teacher. He received his BA in Anthropology at San Francisco State University, and his teaching credential from the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute (BATTI).

Kevin grew up in Japan, and enjoys bringing his international experiences into the classroom.

Jeana Hrepich holds BA and MA degrees in English literature from Mills College in Oakland, California, and she is currently earning a single subject credential in English from the Bay Area Teacher's Center and San Francisco State University. Having taught college composition courses, high school, and middle school English, she is eager to continue at Kittredge for a third year.

Ms. Hrepich has been invited to conferences throughout the United States and internationally where she has shared her writing. In her spare time she volunteers as a literacy tutor to adult learners in San Francisco. An avid reader and writer herself, Ms. Hrepich believes that words can impact lives, and that is why she encourages her students to read voraciously and write ardently.

Mr. Terry Young, winner of a 2004 Herbst Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence, has been teaching seventh and eighth graders at Kittredge for 28 years. A native of Philadelphia, he received his BS in Secondary Education and his teaching credential at Temple University, and an MA in Secondary and Post-secondary Education at San Francisco State University.

Mr. Young has been a member of the Board of Directors of the National Independent Private Schools Association (NIPSA) and is also Kittredge School's representative to the Bay Area Independent Schools Placement Counselors organization. His record of getting students into San Francisco's best high schools speaks for itself.

This is Ms. Rose's fourth exciting year at Kittredge, and this year she takes over the middle grades' science curriculum.

D'aria Rose is from the Pacific Northwest. She earned her BA from Evergreen State College in Cultural Anthropology and Marine Biology. Miss Rose has traveled extensively, studied abroad, and moved to San Francisco from Berlin, Germany.

Miss Rose has taught marine biology to adults and children of all ages, worked as an educator on a marine research boat, and opened a costume shop in Berlin with her sisters. She is a dancer, artist and performer, and loves languages and nature.

In her sixth year at Kittredge School, Ms. Leslie is currently the art teacher. She moved to San Francisco from her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. There she received a B.F.A. in Printmaking and Drawing from Washington University.

Since college Leslie has pursued her interests in textile design and folk art through volunteer experiences in Central America and the Middle East. Leslie is looking forward to using her knowledge of these cultural arts to enrich the children's education this school year.

Entering her fourth year at Kittredge, Maestra Cecilia earned her BA degree in Physical Education and Masters degree in Psychology of Education at the University of Buenos Aires. As an extension of her Masters degree she continued to study for two years at the University Medical School. Moving to the United States sixteen years ago, Cecilia earned a degree as a Montessori bilingual teacher in Chicago, subsequently spending fifteen years teaching Montessori classes in grades K though 12.

Celilia has also earned a degree in History of Art, and has worked as a professional ballet dancer where she had the opportunity to perform with dancers of the Bolshoi Ballet. Her varied experience allows her to introduce movement and art into her language classes. The children’s art produced in Spanish class is often displayed around the school.

Trudy is a graduate of the University of San Francisco, where she also worked for 10 years, most recently as Assistant Director of Annual Giving.

In addition to supervising the school's business office for the last twelve years, she is in her tenth year as Administrative Assistant to the Principal.

This is Ms. Elisabeth’s third year teaching at Kittredge School. She holds both a BA and a Masters in Teaching from The Evergreen State College and has worked for many years in Jewish education. She also has a great deal of experience as a counselor, song leader and programmer in the summer camp environment.

In addition to continuing with her interdisciplinary Performing Arts curriculum, this year Miss Elisabeth Wakcher will be co-teaching the 7th and 8th grade math classes.

Music, dance, poetry and theatre have been central parts of Elisabeth’s life for as long as she can remember. She feels that The Arts play an essential role in helping people understand and appreciate the beautiful diversity of our world. Through her teaching, Ms. Elisabeth hopes to help her students develop a lifetime love of learning.

This is Julie's second year at Kittredge and she is very excited to be back. She is originally from Los Angeles, and she earned her B.A in Peace and Conflict Studies with a minor in Southeast Asian Studies from UC Berkeley.

Ms. Julie is currently getting her credential and masters in Education from the University of San Francisco. Julie is very interested in Southeast Asian history and culture and loves learning languages, traveling and singing.

This is Elizabeth's second year at Kittredge. She is
originally from Denver, Colorado but has been in San
Francisco since 1993. She recieved BAs in both Liberal
Studies and Journalism from San Francisco State
University. Though much of her teaching experience is
in Early Childhood Education, she has worked with
children of all ages for more than ten years.

Elizabeth loves the outdoors, travel and gardening.
When she isn't teaching she is busy running her own
small landscaping business. She looks forward to new
teaching experiences with Kittredge kids!