NEW FACES 2026–2027 Each year, we are delighted to welcome new faculty and staff members to the Bentley School community. Ethan Baumert –K–8 Permanent Substitute Ethan is thrilled to join the Bentley community this year! He grew up in Marin County, where he developed a love for learning, teamwork, and the outdoors. Ethan has a BA in History from San Francisco State University and aspires to become a history teacher. Through his experiences as a basketball coach, swim instructor, classroom aide, and mentor, he has discovered how much he enjoys creating an environment where learning is fun, curiosity is celebrated, and every student feels seen, heard, and valued. He especially loves sports and believes they teach valuable lessons in leadership and resilience. In his free time, Ethan enjoys staying active, exploring new places, and spending time with family and friends. He’s also always trying to learn something new and is a huge Bay Area sports fan—go, Warriors, 49ers, and Giants! Justine Clifford – Director of Strategic Enrollment Management Born and raised in the Bay Area, Justine has spent nearly 20 years working in local independent schools (most recently Marin Academy)
and helping families navigate important educational transitions. At Bentley, she loves helping prospective families experience the warmth, curiosity, and sense of belonging that make so many students proud to call themselves Phoenixes. Outside of work, she enjoys dancing, sharing her love of Puerto Rican history and culture, and keeping up with the adventures of her two children, dog, cat, and bunny. Paige Cook – Associate Director of College Counseling Paige is excited to join the Bentley community as a College Counselor after five years working in undergraduate admissions at Columbia University. At Columbia, she served as the Native & Indigenous Outreach Coordinator and as an Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions. Paige spent nearly a decade in New York City, earning her Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology, with minors in Native American & Indigenous Studies, Creative Writing, and Mathematics from New York University, before moving uptown to complete her Master’s of Arts in Sociology & Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. She cares deeply about access to education and the student experience, and cannot wait to get to know her new cohort of students, and help them find the college that is the right fit for them. In her free time, she enjoys trying out a variety of crafts, finding all types of sweet treats to try, and she is always looking for book suggestions.
Nayeli Fajardo – After School Program Staff Nayeli is excited to join Bentley’s After-School Program! She has spent several years working with children as a children’s church volunteer and a nanny, where she has enjoyed creating fun, supportive, and engaging environments for kids. She loves getting to know each child and helping them feel valued, encouraged, and included. Outside of work, Nayeli enjoys baking, hiking, and getting lost in a good book. She is looking forward to getting to know the Bentley community and making this a fun and memorable year for the students! Virginia Fourqurean – 6th Grade Science Teacher Virginia is beyond excited to join Bentley as the 6th grade science teacher. Originally from Miami, FL, she obtained her Bachelor’s degree from the Florida State University in Biological Sciences. She then spent two years as a research scientist studying shark populations for the Global FinPrint Project, with her work focusing on Florida Keys Reefs. This research became part of pivotal publications in both nature and science. Virginia has been an educator at the K–12 level for seven years, with experience teaching physical science, earth and space science, biology, ecology, and leading students in competing in the Toshiba ExploraVision competition. As an educator, she believes every student should be taught how to think and not what to think, and that every student is capable of success when given the right attention and support. She considers earth science her favorite subject to teach. Outside of teaching, Virginia enjoys crochet, hiking, running, painting, yoga, and taking care of her reptiles. She also ran a half-marathon this summer!
Theresa Hall – School Counselor Theresa brings more than 20 years of experience in education, having served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, district equity leader, and school counselor. She is passionate about supporting the academic, social, and emotional growth of all students and believes that strong relationships are the foundation of student success. Theresa is excited to partner with students, families, and faculty to help every child feel known, supported, and empowered. She holds degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, Hunter College, and Mississippi College, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Louisiana Monroe. Outside of school, Theresa enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time exploring the outdoors with her son, Phoenix. Yoel Iskindir – K–8 Permanent Substitute Yoel is a digital producer, educator, and committed community member from the Bay Area. After earning a degree in filmmaking, Yoel developed a dynamic background in media production, including producing short films. This led Yoel to bridge his experience into education, developing media arts programs for a range of students. Yoel has taught film and photography to middle and high school students, supporting young storytellers and artists. Yoel enjoys the outdoors, cooking, occasionally using his gym membership, and music. Maddie Larson – Lower School Teaching Associate Maddie is so excited to be joining the Bentley community! Born and raised in the Bay Area, she got her BA in Theater Performance from Cal State Long Beach in 2016, and went on to
work in theater education for eight years in the East Bay and New York City. She recently completed the Multiple Subject Credential program at CSU East Bay and taught 3rd grade at Rheem Elementary School in Moraga last year. She loves reading thrillers, going to the movies, running, and singing (ask her about competitive karaoke!). She could not be more thrilled and eager to meet everyone and is so excited for a fantastic school year! Genevieve Lawrence – Upper School Learning Specialist Genevieve is thrilled to be joining the Bentley community! She has worked in education for over 10 years, beginning her career as an English teacher in the Oakland Unified School District before discovering her passion as a learning specialist. She holds a degree in Government from Colby College in Maine, a Master’s in English Literature, and credentials in Special Education, Administration, and English. Genevieve brings a rich background in diverse learning environments to Bentley, having previously worked at Stanbridge Academy in San Mateo, the Brandeis School of San Francisco, and most recently, Campolindo High School in Moraga. A Lafayette native, she recently returned to her hometown from San Francisco and is enjoying being closer to extended family. Outside of the classroom, she spends time with her husband and their two children, Alice and George (ages five and three). Together, they love hiking, diving into a good book, and enthusiastically eating their way through the best pastries and bagels the East Bay has to offer! Rose Ellen Lessy – Upper School English Rose Ellen is delighted to join the Bentley community as an upper school English teacher. Originally from suburban Washington DC, Rose Ellen double majored in Comparative Literature and Women’s Studies at Brown University, and then earned her PhD in English from Cornell University. She has spent the last decade living in the East Bay and teaching in San Francisco, most recently at Convent & Stuart Hall
High School, and at The Jewish Community High School, where she also served as Chair and Dean of Humanities. Prior to making the move west, Rose Ellen lived in New York City, where she taught at the New School University, New York University, and Columbia University. She lives in Oakland with her husband, a professor of sculpture and ceramics, and her two children, Avi (12) and Alice (10). She spends a disproportionate amount of time attending youth baseball games and dance recitals. Dominic Monteiro – Upper School History Dom joins the Bentley community this year as an Upper School History Teacher, bringing four years of teaching experience across various content areas. Originally from Massachusetts, Dom received his BA in History and MEd from the University of Massachusetts Amherst before becoming a proud resident of the Bay Area. Most recently, Dom taught English at a charter school in Oakland, where he took pride in addressing educational gaps and providing visibility for inner city student populations as a Black/Latino male educator. Dom is beyond excited to make his much awaited return to the history classroom and cultivate a level of critical curiosity as students investigate the world around them. He is dedicated to creating a classroom environment that embraces healthy academic discourse. Outside the classroom, Dom is a musician and adventurer who enjoys a good hike, run, or climb but also knows how to relax and enjoy a good concert or beach day. He loves going out and trying new restaurants with his partner and asks that you provide him with all of your recommendations. Amber Morse – Associate Director of Admissions, Upper School Amber is passionate about building community, creating meaningful experiences, and helping people connect and grow. Throughout her career at UC Berkeley Haas, Riot Games, Twitter, Google, and Black Girls CODE, she’s had
the opportunity to develop programs, foster partnerships, and support students and communities in reaching their goals. A proud graduate of Tuskegee University, Amber believes in the power of relationships, mentorship, and creating spaces where people feel supported and empowered. She’s always inspired by stories of adventure and possibility, one reason The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho has remained her favorite book. Outside of work, Amber loves traveling, trying new restaurants, cheering on her favorite sports teams, and prioritizing wellness. She’s always happy to swap book or podcast recommendations or must-visit travel destinations. Dennis Yang – Upper School Mandarin Dennis has over 25 years of teaching experience. He first started teaching Mandarin at his alma mater, Lowell High School. He then went on to become the Urban School’s first Mandarin teacher, creating and developing their Mandarin program and curriculum. After Urban, Dennis taught Mandarin at the Bay School of San Francisco for 16 years. Dennis holds a BA in Chinese Language and Literature from UC Berkeley and an MA from San Francisco State University in Chinese. Besides being passionate about teaching Chinese language, history, and culture, Dennis also loves to sing and act. In a past life, he was a singer and actor in Hong Kong. He has performed in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China. Dennis is also an avid fan of the SF 49ers, Warriors, and SF Giants. When he’s not teaching or performing, Dennis coaches his daughter in flag football.