Faculty
Kara Kersey
Third Grade Assistant Teacher
Kara Kersey’s love for working with children began in her hometown of Berkeley, where she was born and raised. A mother of two, Kara understands the importance of patience, warmth, and creativity in a child’s early years. She has served as a head preschool teacher at a nature-based school, leading outdoor classes for children ages 18 months to 6 years, and as a special education instructional assistant for the Berkeley Unified School District. Kara earned her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and a bachelor of arts and science from Prescott College. She also studied horticulture at Merritt College, developing extensive knowledge of plants and the natural world. Kara brings her love of nature, music, and holistic education into every classroom, believing learning should nurture both the mind and the heart. In her personal time, Kara enjoys singing and performing music, tending to plants, and spending time with her children in the vibrant Berkeley community she calls home.
Other Faculty for This Grade
Aïda Garcia-Pons
Lower School Spanish Teacher
Aïda attended the same elementary school as opera tenor Josep Carreras.
Nicole Lockwood
Lower School Science and Second – Fifth Grade Garden Teacher
Apprenticed at the National Theater of Croatia
Romina Ronquillo
Second Grade Head Teacher and Lower School Assistant Teacher Coordinator
Mad for dancing
Tess Leverenz
Third Grade Head Teacher
Took three and a half months to bike across the country with my husband










