Faculty

Lesley Bell, who provides instructional support in the Educational Care department for grades 3-5, joins St. Paul’s with over 30 years of experience in progressive school environments, designing and implementing curricula and working closely with learning specialists. She earned her Master of Science in Elementary Education at Bank Street School of Education and her Bachelor of Music from New England Conservatory of Music.

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.

Ajayi Jackson graduated from California State University, East Bay with a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts, Classical Bassoon Performance with a focus on music education. He spent five years in apprenticeship with the principle drum soloist of the National Ballet of Senegal, Abdoulaye Diakite (Djembe Master). He's worked on curriculum for hip hop lyrical improvisation and music production. Most recently, he has served as Musical Director for a young, upcoming band.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bob Correia, Director of Finance and Operations, joined St. Paul's in 1997. He received a B.S. in Accounting from the University of California at Berkeley and has worked as a controller, treasurer, financial analyst, and auditor. Mr. Correia spends much of his free time with his wife and four children.

Heather De Bose, Lower School Secretary and Assistant to the Lower School, 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.

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.