Faculty & Staff
At Khan Lab School, we believe that everyone’s a teacher and everyone’s a student.
Our faculty and staff are experts in their respective fields and enthusiastic collaborators who enjoy sharing their deep content knowledge and research interests with the community. Members of our team model what it means to be a life-long learner and work to ensure that students discover their passions and develop the skills they need to pursue them. As members of a lab school, we never stop learning, and we never stop innovating to create the highest quality learning experiences for our students!
Shin Adachi
STEM Specialist
View Bio
Shin Adachi
Shin is an engineer, musician, and educator from Tokyo, Japan. He is excited to return to teaching after a stint in industry.
Shin’s engineering career has spanned many disciplines. He has worked on projects such as the ATHLETE lunar rover, the LauncherOne satellite launch vehicle, Google Fi, and the Riffit text-to-music algorithm. He also taught engineering at Synergy Academies in Los Angeles, and has spent many weekends playing Calypso music at the Six Flags theme park.
Teaching has always remained Shin’s favorite activity. He loves seeing the students build their skills and confidence, and he enjoys learning new things alongside the students every day.
Shin resides in Sunnyvale with his wife. In his spare time, he likes to compose music and study the Thai language. He holds a B.S. in aerospace engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Alexandra Adler
History Teacher
View Bio
Alexandra Adler
History Teacher
Upper School
alexandra@khanlabschool.org
Alexandra received her BA in History of Art & Architecture from the University of Santa Barbara and is about to complete a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Social Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. After working as an Archivist at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, where she taught college-level courses and learned in-depth about historical research practices, Alexandra decided to pursue a career in education as a history teacher. Currently an eleventh grade US history teacher at Nipomo High School, Alexandra uses project-based learning and primary source analysis to make learning come alive for her students. Although she has primarily worked with high school students, she is looking forward to taking on a new role at KLS as a middle school history teacher. She has already utilized Khanmigo and other AI to enhance the educational experience for students and she looks forward to taking our middle school students to archives in the area.
Rehana Al-Soltane
Visiting Computer Science Specialist and Technologist
View Bio
Rehana Al-Soltane
Visiting Computer Science Specialist and Technologist
rehana@khanlabschool.org
Rehana is an educational and creative technologist, with 5+ years of experience working at the intersection of maker education, physical computing, robotics, wearable and creative technology. As a Fulbright Scholar from the Netherlands, she most recently researched maker education and digital fabrication at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and MIT. With a background in Pedagogical Sciences (Utrecht University, the Netherlands) and Psychology (Brunel University, United Kingdom) she specializes in designing STEAM learning experiences that are creative, engaging, interdisciplinary and hands-on. Rehana has led workshops for Girls Into Coding and Code First Girls. Rehana will be at KLS from July through the end of term two.
Kate Anthony
Chief Financial Officer
View Bio
Kate Anthony
Chief Financial Officer
kateanthony@khanlabschool.org
Formerly the COO at ASU, Learning Enterprise, Kate brings a deep background in finance, strategic planning, and operations/legal compliance to her new role as CFO at KLS. She has designed, implemented, and overseen organization-wide strategic planning including multi-year forecasts to inform decision making. Prior to ASU, Kate was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey and Company, where she led comprehensive strategic and financial transformations in the education and public sectors. Kate holds a B.Sc. from Georgetown and a MSc. from Oxford.
Michelle Argel
Director of Enrollment Management & External Affairs
View Bio
Michelle Argel
Director of Enrollment Management & External Affairs
michelleargel@khanlabschool.org
Michelle Argel comes to KLS from the Stratford School where she was the Campus Director of Admissions leading all aspects of the campus level admissions and enrollment activities for a program with nearly 1000 students. Michelle will be leading the schoolwide KLS Admissions and Enrollment Management Department, which includes retention and the scholarship and financial assistance programs. Michelle is looking forward to engaging with our current families and students and working closely with the marketing team to build a wider awareness of KLS in the Bay Area. Formerly an elementary school teacher, Michelle holds a BA in Child and Adolescent Development from San Jose University.
Rasha Barakat
Humanities Specialist & Advisor
View Bio
Rasha Barakat
Humanities Specialist & Advisor
Lower School
rasha@khanlabschool.org
Rasha was born in the Middle East and immigrated, with her family, to the United States as a child. After receiving a degree in Anthropology, Rasha decided to move back to the Middle East to delve into the rich culture. While there, she taught for several years at an international school while simultaneously working with the UNHCR to provide sustenance and support for Iraqi refugees. Having taught overseas and in the Bay Area, Rasha has over fourteen years of classroom teaching experience. She views her classroom as an experiential, imaginative workshop where students are consistently inspired and creating.
Rasha loves swimming, strolling through the redwoods, and spending time with family and friends.
Brennan Barnard
Director of College Counseling and Alumni
View Bio
Brennan Barnard
Upper School Administration
brennan@khanlabschool.org
Brennan Barnard, M.Ed, has over two decades in education Brennan has worked as a teacher, coach, dorm parent, admission officer, counselor and administrator at a number of independent high schools and colleges. He has written about college admission for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Forbes.com, Thrive Global, HuffPost, Concord Monitor, Journal of College Admission, among others. He is co-author of the book, "The Truth About College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together."
A native of suburban Philadelphia and practicing Quaker, he is a graduate of Westtown Friends School. Brennan earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Spanish from Franklin & Marshall College and a master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from The University of Vermont. He is a father of two and lives in Hopkinton, New Hampshire, where he is a volunteer firefighter.
Jennifer Battad
Business Manager & Executive Assistant
View Bio
Jennifer Battad
Marie-Helene Bauguil
Art Specialist
View Bio
Marie-Helene Bauguil
When she is not working or passionately advocating for arts education, Marie-Helene enjoys nature hikes, cooking for family and friends, visiting museums and galleries, and caring for her flower garden.
Melissa Blanco
Academic Director
View Bio
Melissa Blanco
Julian Blecken
Extended Day Teacher
View Bio
Julian Blecken
Extended Day Teacher
Lower School
julian@khanlabschool.org
Jason Bush
Spanish Specialist
View Bio
Jason Bush
Spanish Specialist
Upper School
jason@khanlabschool.org
Jason Bush is an experienced educator in the fields of Spanish language teaching, Latin American Studies, and Theatre History. After receiving his BA in Theater from University of California, Los Angeles, and his MA in Theatre Studies from California State University, Northridge, Jason decided to explore Latin American cultures during his Ph.D studies in Theatre History and Performance Studies at The Ohio State University. At Ohio State, Jason conducted extensive ethnographic research on Peruvian indigenous performance on the global stage. In the process of living and working in Peru, Jason became proficient in written and spoken Spanish. While writing his dissertation Jason decided to try his hand at teaching Spanish and he absolutely fell in love with language teaching.
Jason has extensive classroom experience teaching Middle School and High School Spanish at Basis Independent School, Stratford School and university level Spanish at The Ohio State University and San Jose State University. In addition, Jason has developed a specialized expertise in individualized instruction in Spanish, tailoring a personalized educational experience that draws on students’ interests and preferred learning styles at AJ Tutoring, Fusion Academy, and Tilden Preparatory School. He is currently continuing his education by finishing his MA in Spanish at San Jose State University with a specialization in second language acquisition and applied linguistics. His favorite part of teaching language is helping provide students with the tools in order to express themselves in new ways, communicate to new groups of people, and explore cultures in different parts of the world.
Jennifer Chapa
Director of Admissions
View Bio
Jennifer Chapa
Jennifer earned a BA in Psychology and Spanish from Earlham College, an MSc in Human Resource Management and Training from the University of Leicester (UK) and a Diploma in Psychology from the Open University (UK). She is a Certified Admission and Enrollment Professional (CAEP) with the Association of Independent School Admission Professionals (AISAP).
Jennifer enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, hula, period dramas, bold coffee, and a day out at a museum. She also follows European and Premier League football (Arsenal, Go Gunners!) and has been known to cheer too loudly at her two sons' soccer matches.
Chi-Ray Chien
Head of Operations & Technology
View Bio
Chi-Ray Chien
Head of Operations and Technology
Administration
chi-ray@khanlabschool.org
Chi-Ray graduated from Stanford University with B.A. and M.S. degrees in Biomechanical Engineering. He spent a few years applying his studies as General Manager for a local company, prototyping and manufacturing coronary stents. Soon, he decided to pursue his interest in system thinking, and he became an operations generalist for small-to-mid-sized organizations. Chi-Ray has held a number of roles similar to what he does at KLS, including serving as Director of Operations, Technology, and Facilities at a large church in Boston; working as Program Director for the Digital Media Academy at Stanford; and most recently, working as Director of IT and Employee Services at One Kings Lane (the online home goods retailer). In his spare time, Chi-Ray has been known to lead scouts, root for the New England Patriots, play banjo, listen to country music, wish he had a pick-up truck, and dream of seeing the U.S. on an extended RV trip with his wife, Erica, and kids, Timothy and Megan. You'd never guess he was born in Boston and raised in L.A. Chi-Ray has been a member of the KLS team since its founding in 2014.
Julia Doscher
STEM Specialist
View Bio
Julia Doscher
When not at school or commuting to and from San Francisco, Julia is an avid cyclist and a Bananagrams champion.
Kim Dow
Executive Director
View Bio
Kim Dow
Executive Director
Administration
kim@khanlabschool.org
With more than two decades of experience in schools, research, and business environments, Kim is the KLS Executive Director. Most recently, she was the Chief of Academics at US Performance Academy — an online middle-high school for elite athletes. During her career, she has held key leadership roles at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, National Sports Academy, Emergent Academy and LRN. She has also been a consultant for a wide range of companies and organizations. Kim holds a B.S. in Physics from Marlboro College, an M.S. in Astrophysics from the University of Arizona, and an M.Ed from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Hannah Drbal
Kindergarten Teacher
View Bio
Hannah Drbal
Kindergarten Teacher
Lower School
hannah@khanlabschool.org
Hannah Drbal was born and raised in the Bay Area. She joined Khan Lab School in the Fall of 2020 as an Associate and Science Teacher and she has enjoyed her time since then at KLS as Kindergarten Advisor. Hannah graduated from San Jose State University with a BA in Behavioral Sciences. She completed a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and Masters of Education. She is especially interested in progressing her knowledge in the teaching of reading and writing among English Language Learners.
Hannah has a background in teaching therapeutic horseback riding, working with occupational therapists, swim instructor, as a teacher's aide, and most recently taught music at a community center for many years. In her free time, Hannah loves to spend time with her horse, exercise, and write music.
Nick Fera
Humanities & Extended Day Specialist
View Bio
Nick Fera
Humanities & Extended Day Specialist
Upper School
nickfera@khanlabschool.org
Marcus Fong
Marketing Manager
View Bio
Marcus Fong
Marketing Manager
Administration
marcus@khanlabschool.org
Marcus is a product of the Bay Area, though he really loves all of California as he worked for over a decade in the sports and hospitality industries across Los Angeles and San Francisco before coming to KLS. While Marcus could spend days talking about the things he has seen while working in entertainment, he equally enjoys working with students who want to learn more about the latest digital technologies. When Marcus isn’t in front of a computer at KLS, you can find him in front of a computer somewhere else!
Julie Glusker
Director of College Counseling & Community Partnerships
View Bio
Julie Glusker
Director of College Counseling & Internships
Upper School Administration
julie@khanlabschool.org
Julie joins KLS from US Performance Academy (USPA), an online high school for elite student athletes globally where she served in various leadership roles, including Director of College Counseling, Chief of Academics, and Head of School. Prior to USPA, Julie was the Director of Athlete Career & Education at U.S. Ski & Snowboard, advising and managing the academic, college, funding, career, and transition needs and goals for more than 400 national team student athletes.
Julie earned a B.A. from Dartmouth College and M.A. from Middlebury College's Bread School of English. She formerly taught and coached at Hackley School, The Masters School, and Oakley School. She also founded Aim Advising (college counseling), Aptitude Academics (test prep, tutoring, college counseling), and Park Record Spelling Bee, served on Park City Education Foundation, and coached Park City Lacrosse, Utah Mamaci and Tenacity Project.
Jeremi Grimaldo
Office Administrator & Executive Assistant
View Bio
Jeremi Grimaldo
Lower School Administration
jeremi@khanlabschool.org
Jeremi is a Bay Area native whose passion revolves around children. Her 2 daughters and 2 sons attend a parent participation school in Saratoga. Her oldest son is a sophomore in High School. For the past 12 years she has been an integral part of their development. Volunteering in the classrooms, chaperoning on field trips, and coordinating schedules comprise her experience. In her spare time, Jeremi enjoys taking trips to the beach with her husband and 5 kids. They're an active family who play sports, go for hikes and take day trips to local parks and museums. She also loves to hang with her friends exploring new eateries.
Tooba Hamid
Math Specialist
View Bio
Tooba Hamid
Math Specialist
Upper School
tooba@khanlabschool.org
With a lifelong passion for teaching and education, Tooba is excited to be a part of KLS. She received her Bachelor’s in Business and Information Technology (BBIT) followed by her Masters in Business and Economics from University of Reading (U.K). Her Masters dissertation was on “Competition in the Airline Industry: International Airline Alliances and Low Cost Carriers”, where she did an extensive research by using various mathematical and statistical modeling techniques and tools such as E-views and SPSS to prove her hypothesis. She was also part of “UK Women Entrepreneurship Project” which empowers and supports women entrepreneurs throughout the United Kingdom.
Prior to joining KLS, Tooba worked in UK’s leading private schools for 11+ years, thus bringing a wealth of UK’s educational practices to KLS. Tooba has worked as a lecturer for A-levels (High School) in Business and Economics. She was also involved in teaching Pre-calculus and Calculus courses in mathematics. Aside from work, Tooba enjoys cooking, baking, and spending time with her two kids.
Laura Haney
Upper School Director
View Bio
Laura Haney
Upper School Director
Upper School Administration
laura@khanlabschool.org
Serving most recently as the STEM Academy Dean at Saint Monica Preparatory, Laura Haney has held a number of school leadership positions in independent schools in addition to teaching high school Physics. At Saint Monica Preparatory, she trained teachers across the school in Project Based Learning approaches and developed STEM-oriented experiential learning opportunities. As a founding science department chair at Sequoyah School she taught a series of science classes including Physics, Astrobiology, Geology, Design Thinking, and Scientific Writing. At Sequoyah School she also facilitated a social innovation program, initiated the STEM Institute, and helped to develop credit areas for the Mastery Transcript Consortium. Laura holds a BA in Astrophysics from Barnard, an MA in Astronomy from UCLA, and PhD in Astronomy and Astrophysics from UCLA.
Jayme Hsiao
Kindergarten Teacher
View Bio
Jayme Hsiao
Antonio Ibarra
Extended Day Teacher
View Bio
Antonio Ibarra
Extended Day Teacher
Lower School
antonio@khanlabschool.org
Salvador Ibarra
Extended Day Teacher
View Bio
Salvador Ibarra
Extended Day Teacher
Lower School
salvador@khanlabschool.org
Alana Ippolito
Creative Director
View Bio
Alana Ippolito
After obtaining her Master's degree in graphic design, Alana worked as a designer on the global marketing team at IDEO. She art directed visual assets that brought their project stories to life through design and photography. This provoked a transition from design to photography. Clients include Airbnb, Blue Bottle Coffee, as well as local businesses throughout the Bay Area.
Saadiya Jamil
Extended Day & Summer Program Director
View Bio
Saadiya Jamil
Alexandro Jara
English & History Teacher
View Bio
Alexandro Jara
English & History Teacher
Upper School
alexandro@khanlabschool.org
Alexandro comes to KLS from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles where he was a Visiting Professor of History in the Department of Chicano and Latina/o Studies. He research is focussed on Ethnic Mexican, Urbanism, Culture and Politics in Silicon Valley between 1940-1980. Alexandro holds a BA in Latin American History from Santa Clara University, an MA and PhD from the University of New Mexico. Alexandro is a San Jose native and is looking forward to returning to the Bay area.
Kiara Leuteneker
Associate Teacher
View Bio
Kiara Leuteneker
Lower School
Leo Lin
Science Specialist
View Bio
Leo Lin
Science Specialist
Upper School
leo@khanlabschool.org
Born and raised in the heart of San Francisco, Leo is excited to lead the Middle School Integrated Science program. Having taught overseas for the past decade, his educational experience includes leading hands-on inquiry programs in collaboration with GEMS at the Lawrence Hall of Science and the MAD Science Program. He combines his passion for Molecular & Cell Biology as an undergrad at UC Berkeley with his research through Neuroscience whenever possible while in the classroom. After receiving his Masters in Urban Education at the University of Southern California he quickly transitioned to leading flip-learning, AP, IB, and STE(A)M initiatives at various International Schools throughout Taiwan. He has served as a K-12 classroom teacher, student advisor, technology coordinator, Google Educator, and Department Head. His favorite lessons are those where students’ exhaust their imagination and driven by their curiosity. If not in the classroom, one can often find Leo cycling or running through trailheads in the Bay Area or dabbling in gastronomy.
Sujata Mahesh
Lower School Specialist
View Bio
Sujata Mahesh
Associate Teacher
Lower School
sujata@khanlabschool.org
Sujata Mahesh is excited to be a part of the team at KLS. She has her Masters Degree in social work with a specialization in family and child welfare. She also has her certification from DeAnza College in Early Childhood Education.She has always been passionate about working with children and believes that children learn through observation, exploration, and collaboration - both inside the classroom and outside.
Sujata is classically trained in music and dance. She is passionate about Ancient History an Archaeology and often spends time reading about it. When she is not working, she loves to spend time with her family at home.
Jaclyn Major
STEM Specialist
View Bio
Jaclyn Major
Originally from Chicago, IL, Jaclyn joins the KLS community with over ten years of teaching experience. She has collaborated with both lower school and middle school students. In 2012, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and has also obtained her master’s degree in Teaching and Learning, with a specialization in STEM Education. She holds teaching credentials in Illinois and California. This year Jaclyn will serve as a sixth grade STEM Specialist in our Lower School. She is excited to empower her students to have voice and choice in their learning.
Outside of the classroom, Jaclyn coaches club volleyball and enjoys the outdoors. She also loves exploring new places with her dog, Henry.
Morgan May
Outer Wellness and Athletic Coordinator
View Bio
Morgan May
Outer Wellness and Athletic Coordinator
morgan@khanlabschool.org
Morgan is an experienced middle school teacher and coach who comes to KLS after seven years at Head-Royce School as a middle school teacher and coach. Morgan has coached a wide range of sports and activities including: lacrosse, basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and tennis. Morgan has also led many outdoor education excursions for students focussed on skiing, snowboarding, and rock climbing. Morgan holds a degree in elementary education from Indiana University, and an M.Ed. from Boston University in Curriculum and Instruction.
Matt Mazzone
Maintenance
View Bio
Matt Mazzone
Malia McAndrew
History Specialist
View Bio
Malia McAndrew
Malia McAndrew is a historian who enjoys thinking, teaching, and writing about the past. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park and her publications investigate the meanings of gender and race in modern America. Malia is an experienced educator who is always looking to learn something new. She has been a part of the KLS community since 2021 and enjoys the creativity and ownership that KLS students bring to their studies.
Kate McCracken
Associate Teacher
View Bio
Kate McCracken
Associate Teacher
Lower School
katemccracken@khanlabschool.org
Mikki McMillion
Director of Student Wellbeing
View Bio
Mikki McMillion
Mikki taught 9-12 grade English for 24 years at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino. Her classes included Speech and Debate, English Language Learners, and Advanced Placement English. At Monta Vista she founded programs such as the New Student Support Program, Art and Literature Course, and the Life Skills Summer Camp for graduating seniors. She joined Khan Lab School for two years as Level 4 and Level 5 Advisor and as Upper School Administrative Assistant. For the next two years she ventured to Oxford Day Academy in East Palo Alto as their Founding High School English Instructor and Staff Coordinator. She is grateful to return to Khan Lab School to continue to challenge and widen her practice, and to support the growth of the school community. Her work history demonstrates consistent passion for education, innovative creativity, and giving the underdog a voice. She currently plays several roles at KLS, including Humanities Coordinator, Teacher Development Specialist, and English Teacher.
In addition to working for students, Mikki enjoys reading, hiking, laughing with friends, and hanging out with her three children who continually grow love and wisdom in her life.
Uyen Nguyen
Learning Guide
View Bio
Uyen Nguyen
Learning Guide
Upper School
uyen@khanlabschool.org
Uyen is a recent graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education and has a deep interest in building supportive youth communities in Southeast Asia. Prior to attending HGSE, Uyen’s career included working at Vietnam National Television where she created a debate program that supported the growth of debate in Vietnam. She has also worked with Global Citizens Vietnam where she launched both a debate, Module UN and public speaking program for students and at the Banking Academy of Viet Nam. While at HGSE, she was active with Project TEACH, where she supported college and career awareness for middle school students.
Isela Ochoa
Office Administrator & Executive Assistant
View Bio
Isela Ochoa
Isela excitedly began her journey with Khan Lab School just before the 2021-22 school year. With 7 years of service at Kehillah Jewish High School and 10 years at the Ravenswood City School District, Isela comes to KLS with an extensive background working in school communities. In addition to being a key school-to-family resource for our high school program, Isela supports our office operations and event planning.
Outside of work, Isela enjoys spending quality time with her husband Sal and two boys, Adrian and Antonio, and has a goal to begin traveling to a different country once a year.
Lizzie Ormiston
Director of Strategic Marketing
View Bio
Lizzie Ormiston
Lizzie's career started in finance working for a variety of small and start up companies in the Boston area. Following that, she spent over 15 years in the ski industry in resort planning, development, commercial leasing and real estate marketing, living in small mountain towns in the northeast and Idaho. While west, she provided business and strategic marketing services for small companies and a private school. Lizzie then worked with Overabove, a strategic marketing firm in Essex, CT. While they work within a range of industries including travel & leisure and casino gaming, she has a particular focus in Real Estate (resort and urban communities) and independent school education. Lizzie joined Khan Lab School in 2022 where she creates market strategies in collaboration with the Administration.
Gio Perelli
Outer Wellness Specialist
View Bio
Gio Perelli
Jessica Peters
Lower School Director
View Bio
Jessica Peters
Lower School Director
Lower School Administration
jessica@khanlabschool.org
Originally from a small town in Wisconsin, Jessica graduated from college in Minnesota and then her adventurous spirit brought her West. First to Portland, Oregon, then to Santa Barbara, and finally to the Bay Area. While in Portland, Jessica volunteered for a year of service as part of the AmeriCorps program which then led to pursuing her Masters degree in Public Health at Portland State University. After working in program development and implementing community-based programs in the non-profit public health sector for several years Jessica eventually settled in the Bay Area. It was here that Jessica decided to shift her career and pursue a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. While gaining the clinical experience required for obtaining licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) Jessica discovered she was most interested in working with children and families by working in a counseling capacity in several different schools from San Francisco to San Jose and in between. Jessica finds school-based mental health services to be a particularly effective way to connect with children, adolescents, and families in order to promote a holistic approach to supporting students. She looks forward to continuing to support the development and implementation of social and emotional learning at KLS and believes that cultivating and nurturing relationships is foundational. Jessica has provided school based counseling support for the past several years and in 2016 became a licensed MFT. Jessica enjoys spending time with her husband and two young children, cooking, traveling, reading, hiking, cheering on the Green Bay Packers, and exploring all of the amazing food and experiences the Bay Area has to offer.
Rishi Pradeep
Intern (Business)
View Bio
Rishi Pradeep
Intern (Business)
Administration
rishipradeep@khanlabschool.org
Alexis Ramos
Extended Day Teacher
View Bio
Alexis Ramos
Extended Day Teacher
Lower School
alexis@khanlabschool.org
Lejoi Reese
Art Specialist and Innovation Hub Coordinator
View Bio
Lejoi Reese
Lejoi attended the Rhode Island School of Design where she received both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Fine Arts. She was a Design Director for the fashion and home furnishing industry making, producing, selling, and designing custom fabric for 15 years. Although it was extremely rewarding work Lejoi craved more artistic self-expression. Seven years ago she founded Brave Chick, an online artisanal jewelry company, and serves as the creative director designing and selling one-of-a-kind jewelry.
In 2018, while running Brave Chick, Lejoi began teaching painting, sculpture, jewelry making and textiles at the Community School of Music & Arts in Silicon Valley to children and adults. Lejoi’s teaching philosophy is based on cultivating and supporting visual literacy with the goal of instilling in children (and adults) the value of art education to become well-rounded, competent, and confident individuals.
Michelle Ross
English Specialist
View Bio
Michelle Ross
michelle@khanlabschool.org
In her free time she enjoys watching football, going to concerts, and exploring the West Coast.
Shannon Rossi
Humanities Specialist & Advisor
View Bio
Shannon Rossi
Shannon is a Bay Area native who has dedicated her teaching career to early childhood education, working in a variety of settings primarily with children ages 3 to 8 years old. She earned her BA in Liberal Studies and completed her Multiple Subject Credential coursework at San Jose State University. During her tenure with the Diocese of San Jose, Shannon was certificated in Blended Learning through Santa Clara University’s Academy of Blended Learning. She helped to implement, manage, and produce a school-wide theater arts program as well as direct annual musicals in her classroom. Shannon is beyond excited to be a part of the KLS team and looks forward to collaborating, designing and implementing instruction, and sharing favorite picture books with her class. When not creating engaging learning experiences for her students, Shannon enjoys gardening, cooking, catching comedy shows and theatrical productions with her family, supporting her daughter on both the stage and soccer field, and collecting smashed pennies and two-dollar bills.
Baxter Smith
Innovation Hub Director
View Bio
Baxter Smith
Innovation Hub Director
Upper School Administration
baxter@khanlabschool.org
Baxter recently worked at a local Bay Area startup, where he contributed to the design, construction, and installation of cutting-edge home battery and solar systems.
Previously, Baxter was at Green School in Bali, Indonesia. During his time there, he helped create and direct the Community Innovation Hub, a fabrication space dedicated to empowering individuals to explore digital design and fabrication tools and master hands-on craftsmanship. While at Green School, Baxter also played a key role in helping the school achieve 100% energy from renewable sources, and was heavily involved in the procurement, installation, and upkeep of a vortex hydro turbine in the river that crosses the school’s campus.
Baxter holds a Master of Architecture from UC Berkeley, California, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Denver. Baxter has always had a passion for learning, teaching and action, and at the same time inspiring positive change and driving our commitment to a sustainable future.
Justin Sparks
Humanities Specialist & Advisor
View Bio
Justin Sparks
justin@khanlabschool.org
Justin is an educator recently relocated from Cincinnati, OH. He studied secondary education at Indiana University and has been teaching and leading programs at multiple diverse schools since 2014. He will be the Humanities teacher for the 6th grade. Justin is extremely excited to be implementing project based lessons he has experimented with at previous schools and can’t wait to incorporate them into his Humanities curriculum. He is especially looking forward to working with a diverse group of learners in a new environment and about his recent move to the Bay Area.
In his personal life Justin enjoys backpacking, climbing, summiting mountains and being on the move. He has taken up running more diligently in the recent year and is excited to be bringing that perspective as the new Cross-Country coach of the Middle and Upper Schools.
Lana Steuck
Math Specialist
View Bio
Lana Steuck
Math Specialist
Upper School
lana@khanlabschool.org
Lana is a passionate and creative high school and middle school teacher with 8+ years of experience in developing curricula and teaching Math and Science courses, including Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Calculus at advanced and honor levels. In addition to her teaching experience, she has 18 years of diversified experience as a Software Engineer, specializing in DevOps and programming for UNIX and PC systems.
Brianna Thompson
English Specialist
View Bio
Brianna Thompson
English Specialist
Upper School
briannathompson@khanlabschool.org
Brianna comes to KLS from Kenyon College in Ohio where she was a Visiting Professor of English. Her areas of expertise include gender studies, science fiction, and multi-ethnic American Literature. Brianna received her PhD in English from Cornell University in 2021. Brianna is passionate about mentoring students outside the classroom. Her past experience as a Graduate Resident at Cornell’s West Campus allowed her to offer a year-long sewing program that taught novices how to operate a sewing machine, read patterns, and eventually make a garment of their choice. She is looking forward to participating in the non-academic community by offering students a sewing or textiles extracurricular.
Cristina Vazquez
Spanish and English Specialist
View Bio
Cristina Vazquez
Spanish and English Specialist
Upper School
cristina@khanlabschool.org
Cristina received her BA in Spanish and International Relations and MA in Spanish from the University of California at Davis and is currently completing her PhD in Hispanic Literature and Languages from UCLA (expected 2024). A native speaker, Cristina has advanced knowledge of Spanish grammar and current theories of second language acquisition. She has taught at the college level for a number of years and is excited to make the transition to K-12 education. She is intrigued by the educational model at Khan Lab School and looks forward to experimenting with AI and other online tools to enhance the learning experience for students. In addition to teaching Advanced Topics in Spanish and Spanish 4 at KLS, Cristina will also teach an English elective on Hispanic or Latin American literature.
Ruby Vinayak
STEM Specialist
View Bio
Ruby Vinayak
STEM Specialist
Lower School
ruby@khanlabschool.org
Ruby Bustos Vinayak grew up in the Bay Area and was raised by immigrant parents. She was the first in her family to attend college and complete her undergraduate studies at UCLA, where she minored in Education. After graduating in 2014, Ruby discovered her passion for working with children and has been a teacher for eight years. She understands the impact a great education can have on a person's life and is one of the reasons she's so passionate about educating youth. Ruby most recently obtained her Masters of Arts in Education from SJSU with emphasis on Curriculum and Instructions in 2021.
During her free time, Ruby loves being outdoors, working out, traveling, and spending time with her husband and loved ones.
Mallika Viswas
Data Manager and Registrar
View Bio
Mallika Viswas
Data Manager and Registrar
Administration
mallika@khanlabschool.org
Mallika Viswas will be starting her role as Data Manager & Registrar at Khan Lab School on Monday, June 26. With a Master's Degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the University at Buffalo, NY, Mallika has been teaching computer science to elementary and middle school students at Alpha: Jose Hernandez, a TK-8 charter school in San Jose.
Kit Waffle
Humanities Specialist
View Bio
Kit Waffle
Humanities Specialist
Lower School
kit@khanlabschool.org
Ulla Wilcox
Associate Teacher
View Bio
Ulla Wilcox
Associate Teacher
Lower School
ulla@khanlabschool.org
Bay Area native Ulla has worked in the STEM field for many years as both a student and a teacher, bringing a driven, thoughtful, creative mindset to the classroom. She is especially proud of her studies and research at the UCI School of Education, and her passion and persistence in the UCI School of Physical Sciences while studying Mathematics. Her identity and experiences as a female mathematician motivate her to create spaces in which all students are valued in STEM.
Ulla is most excited by educational strategies that are holistic, balance efficacy with experimentation, integrate disciplines, and create the perfect mix of logic and magic. Her most recent professional endeavor in education prior to KLS was as an outdoor science educator, where her friendly teaching assistants were tarantulas, boa constrictors, toads, hissing cockroaches and more!
Now at KLS, Ulla looks forward to further developing as an educator and serving the next generation of thinkers and change-makers.
Board of Trustees
As a nonprofit organization, Khan Lab School is governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the financial welfare of the school as well as its strategic planning.
Nayo Brooks
Kristen DiCerbo
Kim Dow
Curtis Feeny
Sal Khan
Rakhi Singh