Meet the Faculty
2021-2022
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 an associate teacher in the kindergarten/1st grade classroom. 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 1st/2nd co-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)

Lydia Boateng
Lydia is Waverly’s school counselor. Lydia holds a B.A. in Africana Studies from Binghamton University as well as an M.S. in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University. Lydia is a native of New York City and a recent transplant to the area, moving from northeast Ohio where she served in multiple roles, including school liaison, school based therapist, and associate teacher counselor. In her roles, she has counseled children and adolescents with mild to severe behavioral, mood, and trauma-stressor related disorders. She has provided individual and group sessions to K‑12 students, supported families with community resources, mental health techniques, and collaborated with teachers and parents on developing behavioral interventions and emotional support for students. She is excited to join the Waverly community where she will be working collaboratively to bring advisory programming to the high school. Lydia loves to serve in her church community, travel the world, and play sports in her free time. (Email)

Maria Brown
Maria is a kindergarten/1st grade associate teacher and teaches Spanish in the elementary school. 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 8th grade and Natalie in 10th 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)

Elah Davidson
Elah (Waverly class of 2008) is a 5th/6th-grade associate teacher. She has a Bachelor of Science in journalism with a focus in environmental communications from Emerson College in Boston. Elah truly enjoys working with students in upper elementary as they navigate their social dynamics, emotional growth, and take pride in their academic work. She believes in the importance of creating a community where students cultivate curiosity and feel safe to try new things and make mistakes. Elah loves to bring her love of the natural world into the classroom, as well. (Email)

Oonagh Delaney
Oonagh is a kindergarten/1st grade lead teacher. Oonagh has a B.A. in Theater Arts and English Literature and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of Manchester in the U.K., and Early Childhood and Site Supervisor/Program Director Certification through the University of California, Los Angeles. She has over 25 years of experience in education and has been the owner, director, and lead teacher of the highly regarded The Little Preschool in Northridge for 13 years prior to teaching at Waverly. Oonagh’s three sons graduated from Waverly: Sam’20, Patrick‘16, and Eamonn‘15. (Email)

Molly Geller
Molly (Waverly class of 2002) is a 5th/6th lead teacher. She has a B.A. in theology and religious studies from the University of San Francisco and a teaching credential and a Master of Education degree from Antioch University. Molly supports and challenges her students by meeting them where they are emotionally, socially, and academically. She explains, “Some days they need support, other days a challenge, but knowing they always have a teacher who will support them allows them to be their best selves.” (Email)

Lexa Grace
Lexa is a 5th/6th associate teacher. Lexa has a B.A. in the arts from The New School University, an M.P.A. Certificate in nonprofit management, and an M.A. in theatre from Villanova University. Having taught in a variety of settings, Lexa has experience with anti-bias/anti-racist curriculum, Readers and Writers Workshop, and Everyday Mathematics. (Email)

Susan Hendricks
Susan is a 2nd/3rd lead teacher. Credentialed by the State of California as a teacher (preschool-12th grades) and as a reading specialist, Susan holds a Master of Science in education specializing in language and literacy from the University of Pennsylvania as well as a Child Development Program Director Permit from the State of California. Susan challenges the kindergarteners by first supporting them emotionally. She says, “There is so much flux and transformation taking place socially, emotionally, and cognitively at this point in their development, that my role is to listen, observe, and recognize when and where to push regarding their learning experiences.” (Email)

Bryce Hopkins
Bryce is a 2nd/3rd associate teacher. Bryce holds a B.A. in strategic communications from Northern Arizona University. Prior to joining us in the classroom, Bryce was a camp counselor in Waverly’s summer camp. Bryce has previously worked as a physical education teacher at Chandler School, and he has also served as a paraprofessional for the La Cañada Unified School District. (Email)

Jennifer Johnson
Jennifer is the learning specialist for kindergarten through 12th grade. Jennifer has a California Teaching Credential, a Master’s in teaching, and certification as an educational therapist. Led to a career in education by a lifelong fascination with the many different ways people think and learn, Jennifer is happiest when around children and teens and believes that most kids are naturally curious and seek challenges to stretch themselves. To support them, she explains,“Often, you just need to give them the time and space to follow their curiosity. For children who may find themselves facing tasks which are too challenging, what is often needed is support in building the skills to feel capable of meeting a challenge.” (Email)

Sahaj Kashyap
Sahaj is a 3rd/4th 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 kindergarten/1st grade 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)

Cory Williamson
Cory is a 1st/2nd co-lead teacher. Cory holds a B.F.A. in theatre performance from the University of Idaho and graduated from the School at Steppenwolf’s Acting Program in 2016. Cory fosters a safe and creative environment for his students. He has embraced professional development in Responsive Classroom, Everyday Mathematics, and The National SEED Project (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity). He brings his theatre experience into the classroom to actively engage students during read-aloud, playwriting, and poetry lessons. (Email)