At Waverly, students are led by knowledgeable, caring teachers deeply committed to a developmental approach. With their wide range of influences and belief in integrated learning, Waverly’s elementary teachers create engaging and dynamic classrooms.
Milca Adamczyk
Milca is a 1st/2nd lead teacher. Milca has a B.A. in art history with a minor in anthropology, an M.F.A., and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from California State University, Los Angeles. Prior to coming to Waverly, Milca substitute taught in Spanish Dual Immersion classrooms in South Pasadena USD and was on the faculty of the Creative World Art Camp held at our campus during summer. (Email)
Rebecca Blum
Rebecca is a 3rd/4th lead teacher. She received a B.A. from San Francisco State University in psychology and art. With an interest in developmental psychology, Rebecca taught preschool for seven years, followed by teaching the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grades in San Francisco, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles. Rebecca has participated in diverse educational training over her 15-year career, including Jewish educator training, Reggio Emilia, Reader and Writer’s Workshop, Responsive Classroom, Bill Davidson Math, and anti-bias training. When Rebecca isn’t teaching, she can often be found baking pie for her small pie company, called Piety. (Email)
Maria Brown
Maria is a 3rd/4th associate teacher. Maria has worked with children for more than 25 years and has been with Waverly since its days as a preschool. Of her work, Maria says, “It gives me joy to watch the children grow year after year and see how they become passionate artists, confident speakers, talented musicians, and kind young adults who love us all for being part of their journey.” Maria’s two daughters attend Waverly: Aaliyah in 10th grade and Natalie in 12th grade. (Email)
Stina Clinton
Stina is a 5th/6th lead teacher. Stina has a B.A. in English and a California Single Subject Teaching Credential in Language Arts from California State University, Los Angeles. Stina is committed to creating emergent, project-based social studies units that emphasize multiple perspectives and critical thinking and to engaging her students in service-learning projects. She is passionate about progressive, student-centered education. (Email)
Katie Cohelan
Katie is the kindergarten lead teacher. Katie has a Bachelor’s in International Studies and Spanish from Pitzer College, a Master’s in Education and a California Teaching Credential from the University of the Pacific/Bay Area Teacher Training Institute. With six years of experience teaching kindergarten and first grade, Katie believes learning should be joyous and student led. Her goal is for every child to develop a positive identity as a learner as they deepen their awareness of themselves and others. (Email)
Gisselle De Anda
Gisselle is a 1st/2nd associate teacher. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mount Saint Mary’s University. Before starting at Waverly, she interned at Children’s Bureau and helped run the Library and Family Enrichment Program. She started at Waverly as a substitute teacher and worked for the summer camp. Gisselle loves to read, go to concerts, and spend her time watching movies. Her hope is to make sure every student feels seen and heard and to know how important it is for them to be themselves. (Email)
Sahaj Kashyap
Sahaj is a 5th/6th associate teacher. Sahaj has a B.A. in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.A. in education administration and a teaching credential from California State University, Northridge. He appreciates working at Waverly because “academics can be approached differently to include all learning styles. The classroom is a chemistry experiment in and of itself. We have distinct personalities and diverse mixtures that lead to unique results and experiences every year.” Sahaj enjoys Hatha yoga, playing basketball, and exploring science. (Email)
Dharinne Perera-Myers
Dharinne is a 3rd/4th lead teacher. Dharinne has a B.A. in human development and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Pacific Oaks College. She will complete a Certificate in Educational Therapy at University of California, Riverside this fall. In addition to teaching in elementary classrooms, Dharinne has developed and implemented equestrian programs for Tom Sawyer Camps and has also served as a Behavioral Therapist in the B.L.A.S.T. Program. Dharinne has a background in Visions Inclusivity Training and Responsive Classroom, and she is committed to child-centered education. (Email)
Brittany Reynolds
Brittany is a 1st/2nd lead teacher. Brittany holds a B.A. in psychology and fine art/art history from Bucknell University, a Multiple Subject Credential from CalState TEACH, an Early Childhood Education Certificate from UCLA Extension, and a Master’s in Teaching with a focus on social justice, multiculturalism, and action research from California State University, Fresno. Brittany believes that all students should be given the space and opportunity to love learning and to realize that there is so much that can be uncovered through the learning process. She says, “The classroom is set up to meet varying student needs in a variety of learning experiences. In this environment, students are given the space and support to take risks, ask questions, and express themselves.” (Email)
Millie Schacher
Millie is an associate teacher in the kindergarten classroom. Millie was previously an elementary school music teacher and long-term substitute at Waverly. She also has previous experience working in summer camps and children’s theater workshops. Millie loves to read, write, explore nature, and create murder mystery parties. Her “foremost hope this year is to instill in our students empathy for themselves as well as others.” (Email)
Jason Serrano
Jason is a 3rd/4th associate teacher. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from California State University, Northridge and has worked in education for over 25 years. Before coming to Waverly, Jason spent six years working as a co-teacher in grades 3 – 5 at Brawerman Elementary. Jason shares that he has “a passion for connecting with students and supporting them socially and emotionally. When their social-emotional needs are met, their academics begin to flourish.” (Email)
Claire Walker
Claire is a 5th/6th associate teacher. (Email)
Kelcey Wallens-Logan
Kelcey is a 1st/2nd associate teacher. Kelcey graduated from Barnard College with a degree in environmental science, chemistry, and education studies. Kelcey is an avid knitter, metalsmith, roller skater, rock climber, and (newly!) scuba diver. She plans to pursue a Master’s in education and multiple subject credential and build her skills as a career educator. (Email)
Karen Yenofsky
Karen is a 5th/6th lead teacher. Karen graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s in Human and Family Development as well as a Master’s of Education, Educational Administration and Supervision. Karen has been teaching for the last 18 years and, prior to coming to Waverly, was teaching and working as the Director of Educational Initiatives at Brawerman Elementary School since 2016. In this role, she taught in the upper elementary and provided support and coaching for the 1st-6th grade teachers in curriculum and instruction. She has researched curricula, implemented project-based learning, and cultivated a developmentally appropriate program emphasizing whole child experiences. She also brings her experience working with BLAST (a social skills program that works with children with and without diagnoses to build their social-emotional, interpersonal, and conflict-resolution skills). As an educator, “I firmly believe that every student is capable of excellence; academic, behavioral, and emotional excellence.” (Email)