Faculty

Edil Bessa-Salgado joined St. Paul's in 2015 as an After School Program teacher and assistant swimming instructor before joining the Kindergarten team as a Resident Teacher in 2019. Previously, he worked as an Enrichment Teacher at Duck's Nest Preschool for nine years. Mr. Edil holds a BA in Human Development with Minor in Early Childhood Education from California State University, East Bay. He also holds another BA from his home country Brazil in Museum Studies from the Federal University Rio de Janeiro. There, he worked in different Museums for fourteen years as an assistant curator. He holds a teacher permit from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, running, and traveling.

Tracey Cosgrove joined St. Paul's as Lower School Librarian in 2004. Ms. Cosgrove received her B.A. in English Literature from Portland State University and her Master of Library and Information Studies degree from the University of California at Berkeley. She loves to look at books and read - surprise! She especially enjoys time with her family (which includes Liam ’11 and Emma ’14), visiting museums, and playing Frisbee with Percy, the dog, on the beach at the Albany Bulb.

Guy de Chalus, Coordinator of Music, joined St. Paul's in 2007 as Music Teacher for grades 4-8. His concentration is in the music of the Diaspora with particular emphases on the choral and instrumental repertoires of Haiti, Guyana, and the Old Time songs of Appalachia, The Carolinas, and West Virginia. Mr. de Chalus is a graduate of Hunter College, NY, where he studied music theory and literature. Prior to joining SPES, he taught literature at The Benjamin Banneker Academy in Brooklyn, NY, and at Flushing High School in Flushing, NY. Mr. de Chalus holds multi-state teaching credentials.

Monica Haddad joined St. Paul’s in 2005 as Swimming Teacher and Physical Education Teacher. A native of Brazil, Ms. Haddad holds a Bachelor of Physical Education degree from Federal University of Sao Carlos. She recently earned an American Swimming Coaches Association certificate for levels 1 and 2. She has been a swim teacher, coach, and summer program teacher in the East Bay. Ms. Haddad enjoys swimming (naturally), hiking, and biking around the city.

Derrick Polk, Art Teacher K-2 grades, joined St. Paul's in 2017; this year will be his 5th year. He previously taught at Beacon Day School for 12 years before joining the St. Paul's family. Mr. Polk loves the Arts; he has a background in theater, dance, illustration, and more. He enjoys creating his own artwork, and teaching art to young people. He is involved in community outreach and youth based programs across the bay area.

María Rincón, second grade lead teacher, joined St. Paul's in 2005 as a first grade lead teacher. Ms. Rincón previously taught at Oakland Montessori School and in the Oakland, San Francisco, and Houston school districts. She received her BA in psychology from the University of Notre Dame and her BCLAD multiple subject teaching credential from New College of California. She is the mother of Diego ’14 and Gabriela ’15 and enjoys hiking, reading, and running.

Sanjay Vora, Art Teacher, joined St. Paul's in 2005. He holds an M.F.A. in Painting from San Francisco Art Institute and a B.S. in Architecture from University of Virginia. Mr. Vora is a working artist who shows his paintings throughout the United States. His work can be viewed at www.sanjayvora.com. In addition to Mr. Vora's painting practice, he taught painting at UC Berkeley in the Department of Art Practice.

Joanna Belkin Petti came to St. Paul's in 2001 as a Guest Teacher, and ultimately worked as Assistant Director in ASP before becoming a BATTI resident in 2003. She left St. Paul's to teach at Julia Morgan School for Girls and Oakland School for the Arts. After 14 years, she returned to St. Paul's in 2017 as the 8th Grade English teacher and has been "home" ever since. She earned a JD from Northeastern University School of Law, and has a Multiple Subject credential, and a Single Subject credential in English. Both of her kids attend St. Paul's and when she is not grading papers, she loves to swim, and to hike with her friends and her beloved dog, Rocky. 

Sam originally hails from Las Vegas, Nevada. He has a diverse educational background ranging from music production and audio engineering to astrophysics and atmospheric sciences. After graduating from University of Colorado Boulder, he and his wife moved to the Bay Area. Sam started at St. Paul’s in 2017 and is incredibly excited to be working with the 8th graders this year. His interests include playing guitar, Dungeons & Dragons, nerding out over everything science, and reluctantly going outside on hikes when forced to do so by his wife.

Corbin Harris, Assistant P.E. Teacher, joined St. Paul's in 2019. Mr. Harris holds a bachelor's degree in broadcast and electronic communication arts from San Francisco State University. Corbin was also a student at St. Paul's. He enjoys producing music and interviewing creatives in the Bay Area.

Anthony Hopkins, was born in the Bay Area and grew in Sacramento before heading to New York City to earn his Master's Degree in Education at New York University. He first earned his Bachelor's at UC Berkeley in American Studies, with a focus on the intersectionality of Ethnicity and American Education. Anthony joined St. Paul's in 2019 as the 8th grade Social Studies teacher, and founding Faculty Advisor for our Black Student Union. Anthony combines his professional photography and technology in his teaching to facilitate authentic and diverse ways to learn in and outside of the classroom. He is passionate about creating equitable systems of living, focusing on the intersections of ethnicity, gender, sexuality, physical abilities, and other various identity locations we all possess. Each year he aims for students and staff to better understand how we personally learn as well as authentically show up in the world for others.

Laura Lance, Middle School Coordinator and School Registrar, East Bay native, joined St. Paul's in 1997. Ms. Lance's hobbies include her children, Jessica '03 (ICU Nurse) and Michael '10 (Educator), her two perfect grandchildren, her kittehs, Olive and Sundae, swimming, and collecting demitasses.

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 a co-lead of the St. Paul’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team. 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.

Deborah Meyer, Athletic Director, joined St. Paul’s in 1997. Ms. Meyer is a first, sixth, and eighth grade physical education teacher, as well as coach of our girls’ varsity basketball, coed cross-country, and jv volleyball teams. She received her B.S. in English Education from Moorhead State University and her M.A. in Person-Centered Education from United States International University. Her interests include reading, weeding her garden, and spending time with her sons Xan '21 and Chaz, her wife Leslie, and their dogs, Sammie and Ranger.

Shay Williams, Physical Education teacher, joined St. Paul's in 2017. She received her BA in Communication from California State University, East Bay. She's a former collegiate basketball player, and passionate about exploring different activities to stay active. Ms. Williams enjoys stand up paddle boarding, mountain biking and slacklining.

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.

Yesenia Arce, Assistant Director of Programs, joined St. Paul's in 2016. Ms. Arce holds a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development with a focus on Early Childhood Education from San Jose State University.

Derrick Polk, Art Teacher for Grades K-2, joined St. Paul's in 2017. He previously taught at Beacon Day School for 12 years before joining the St. Paul's family. Mr. Polk loves the Arts; he has a background in theater, dance, illustration, and more. He enjoys creating his own artwork, and teaching art to young people. He is involved in community outreach and youth based programs across the Bay Area.

Sophia Salcedo has been working at St. Paul’s since summer of 2021. She is a student at Berkeley City College and is majoring in biology. In her free time, she likes to spend time with her family and she likes to try new things.

Nayo Brooks, Director of Lower School, joined St. Paul's in 2018. Ms. Brooks received her B.A. in English from UC Davis, an M.Ed. from the University of San Francisco, and is a National Board Certified Teacher. She 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, she taught for 19 years at Katherine Delmar Burke School in San Francisco. Ms. Brooks has a son who attends Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, and a feisty (but lovable) Boston Terrier named Sox.

Heather De Bose, Lower School Secretary and Assistant to the Lower School Director, joined St. Paul's in 2005. Ms. De Bose earned a B.A. in Liberal Studies from San Francisco State University and was a classroom teacher at Beacon Day School. She enjoys cooking and spending time with her niece.

Leigh Anne Gray, Communications Manager, nurtures connection through storytelling at St. Paul's. Her experience in journalism, covering Rome and the Vatican for the Associated Press and managing editorial research for the National Geographic Channel lends broad perspective to the student experience in Downtown Oakland. Ms. Gray enjoys free time with family anywhere near the ocean or hiking with her dog.

Caroline Jones, Development and Database Associate, joined St. Paul's in 2010. She began as a part of the after school program and as a guest teacher, where she shared her love of math and voice of inspiration. In 2018 she entered her current position in the Development Department, where she supports the school’s fundraising efforts and community building projects. Her interests include reading, gaming, crafts, and caring for her two cats. She is a proud Oakland native, who spends her free time having picnics with her fiancé, friends and family at local parks.

Laura Lance, Middle School Coordinator and School Registrar, East Bay native, joined St. Paul's in 1997. Ms. Lance's hobbies include her children, Jessica '03 (ICU Nurse) and Michael '10 (Educator), her two perfect grandchildren, her kittehs, Olive and Sundae, swimming, and collecting demitasses.

Ryan Louie joined the St. Paul's administrative staff in 2019. She previously worked as a youth development coordinator and in several after school programs. After living in New York and Los Angeles she is excited to be living and working in Oakland. Ms. Louie was born and raised in the Bay Area. When she's not at school you can find her hiking with her dog, drinking boba at Mr. Green Bubble or attempting to hit golf balls at the driving range.

Nicole Start, Director of Admissions, joined St. Paul’s in 2004. 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.

Kenton Young, After School Program Director, joined St. Paul's in 1998. Mr. Young is a graduate of Holy Names University with a B.A. 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.