School Leadership

Cheryl Ting joined the St. Paul's community as the Head of School in 2020. With nearly 30 years of experience in education, she has worked in three other Bay Area independent schools where she has held the positions of classroom teacher, department chair, dean, admissions director, and assistant head of school. She currently sits on three boards -- CAIS, CATDC, and The Wesley School -- and presents extensive workshops on the topics of equity and inclusion, diversity and leadership. She is the mother of two amazing humans, Maia, a musical artist, and Dylan, also an artist and recent graduate from the architecture program at Pratt. Cheryl loves to cook, read, travel, listen to music, exercise, swim in rivers/lakes, work on a camper van conversion with her partner, Cameron, and hang with their two fur babies, and extended family and friends.

Marcus Chang, Director of Middle School, is excited to join the St. Paul's community. He received his Bachelor of Science in Human Movement from San Francisco State and his Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College. He has served in a variety of roles at his six previous schools, which include Athletic Director, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Associate Head of School, and most recently Dean of Students. He and his partner, Meta, are the proud parents of Jordan who recently turned 17 and is starting his junior year! His family also includes two rambunctious dogs who keep them on their toes.

Nayo Brooks, Director of Lower School, joined St. Paul's in 2018. Ms. Brooks received her Bachelors of Arts in English from UC Davis, a Clear CLAD Multple Subject Teaching Credential and Masters in Education from the University of San Francisco, and is a National Board Certified Teacher. Ms. Brooks also works at Stanford's National Board Resource Center offering monthly support to teachers who are pursuing National Board certification. Prior to joining St. Paul's, Ms. Brooks taught for 19 years at Katherine Delmar Burke School in San Francisco. Ms. Brooks has a son who recently graduated from Linfield Universtiy in McMinnville, Oregon and enjoys spending time relaxing with family and friends.

Nicole Start, Director of Finance & Operations, joined St. Paul’s in 2004 as a teacher and then spent nine years as Director of Admissions before moving into the Business Office. She grew up in Oakland and then went east to Williams College for her B.A. She couldn't stay away from the Bay Area, however, so she returned to get her teaching credential from Holy Names University. Ms. Start speaks French (she enjoyed living in Paris for a year), loves hiking in the regional parks, and enjoys reading, sewing, and eating delicious food with friends and family.

Melissa joined the St. Paul’s staff in 2022. She graduated from Yale College, Yale University and has a masters in English and American Literature from New York University, where she also taught. She came to St. Paul’s as a parent in 2016 and is the proud parent of two St. Paul's students. After serving as Parent Association President, among other volunteer roles, she joined the administrative staff and is thrilled to serve the community she loves.

Simrita Dhanjal, Director of Admissions, joined St. Paul’s in 2016. Ms. Dhanjal (pronounced 'done-juhl') holds a Masters Degree in Curriculum Design and Instruction and taught Kindergarten through Fifth Grade students for 12 years. Prior to stepping into the world of education, Ms. Dhanjal worked in the IT industry as a Computer Engineer. When not at St. Paul's, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, dance, eat delicious foods, watch Bollywood movies, and travel to places to which she has never been.

Kenton Young, After School Program Director, joined St. Paul's in 1998. Mr. Young is a graduate of Holy Names University with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies. He also co-directs St. Paul's summer camp and has co-directed Aim High, a summer academic and cultural program, at St. Paul's.

Eighth grade math teacher, varsity basketball coach and Director of Student Life in grades K-8, joined St. Paul's in 2012 after serving as a third grade teacher, after school director and basketball coach at Archway School from 2004 to 2012. He was raised in Oakland and attended various public school including Redwood Heights, Bret Harte, and Skyline High School. Additionally, he has worked as a first, second, and third grade teacher at the Head-Royce Summer Program from 2002 to 2018. Previously, he worked at Sarah's Science This Land is Your Land summer camp as a counselor and after care director from 1996 to 2004. Mr. Lee holds a bachelor's of elementary education degree from Kansas State University and a Kansas teaching credential. In his spare time he is an avid golfer, a soccer coach, and enjoys bike rides through the various neighborhoods of the East Bay.

Deborah Lira joined the St. Paul’s community in 2017. She attended middle, high school and community college in Hayward. Go Cobras, Lancers and Gladiators! She majored in Mathematics at UC Berkeley and returned to Hayward for the teacher credentialing program at Cal State East Bay. Outside of teaching 8th grade math, she is also the Director of Equity and Belonging at St. Paul’s. She has also participated in the East Bay Teacher’s Math Circle and has taught at Mills Upward Bound Program. Prior to St. Paul’s, Deborah taught in both Albany and Oakland Unified School Districts. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her partner and child in the beautiful Bay Area hills, and making memories with family and friends.