Community Announcement -Our New Name Cypress School of San Francisco

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About

 

ABOUT COW HOLLOW SCHOOL

Cow Hollow School a full day, full year school for children 2-5 years old, supports the belief that children learn through play, exploration and discovery within the context of nurturing and reciprocal influences of children, parents and teachers. Our curriculum is based on the constructivist philosophy in which children construct knowledge and understanding from authentic experiences—they are encouraged to explore possibilities, invent solutions, collaborate with others, and try out ideas in the context of meaningful experiences. These real-life experiences make connections that inspire and provoke, and foster inquiry and critical thinking.

We hold an image of the child, the parent, and the teacher as competent and active participants in learning and creating the culture of our school. Parents act as partners in the classroom, working alongside the teachers during the school year.  Parents are given an opportunity within the low adult-child ratio to closely observe and learn from and with their children with support and guidance from experienced teachers. As a result of this unique setting, partnership and experiences, learning, teaching and parenting are enriched and transformed.

HISTORY

Early Days of Cow Hollow

Founded in 2000 by a group of remarkable San Francisco women, Cow Hollow School was born out of the need for a creative, play-based program for young two-year-olds. The overflowing enrollments of other local preschools with programs for young two-year-olds, and the appeal of a parent participation format for very young children, convinced the founders that there was enough need and interest in San Francisco to create a new school.   After coming to an agreement with the Vestry of St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church, the Preschool was able to open for a one-year trial with 12 children. During that first year, the volunteer Board poured an enormous amount of time building a school, soup to nuts—defining and implementing a play-based program, developing a school philosophy, hiring the teaching team, working through the myriad of licensing issues, recruiting families, and raising their own families!  Needless to say, it became apparent that the school had a future.

Move to the Presidio

​In ​2004, in order to actualize and make evident ​​our belief ​in children as active participating members of a rich and diverse society, we started our search for a space that would reflect this within and outside of its walls. ​In 2005 we moved into ​a beautiful historic building in the Presidio. ​Our first location was small and only could house one class of children at a time (less than forty families total) and required that church parishioners ma​k​e up a ​the majority of the school population​. Our move to the Presidio ​meant that enrollment ​would double in size and become accessible to any and all Bay Area families​.

Enrollment

Classes

2-3 year-old classes (age 2 by June) 

3-4 year-old classes (age 3 by June)

4-5-year old classes (age 4 by June)

School Hours

Cow Hollow School is open from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM for all ages.

2024/2025 School Year Dates

August 19, 2024 Start of new school year- July 16, 2025 End of school year

Tuition Rates

Tuition for the 2024/2025 School-Year will be $32,625.00. All ages will be full day and full year. Tuition will be the same across all classes. Tuition covers 8:00 AM-5:30 PM hours. 

Cow Hollow School uses the services of FACTS Tuition Management platform to offer different payment options. We offer three payment options: 1) pay in full, 2) semi annually or 3) nine payments. All initial tuition payments are due at the start of July. At the time of enrollment, a non-refundable deposit is due (which is credited towards your tuition) along with the signed membership agreement. Your enrollment spot is secured once both are received and processed.

Community Fund ​ Program

Cow Hollow School is committed to honoring economic diversity and is dedicated to making our school accessible to all families. Through The Community Tuition Fund, our robust tuition assistance program, we are able to provide financial assistance to a broad range of families. – see our data on diversity and demographics. It is our goal that Cow Hollow School be accessible to any and all Bay Area families interested in applying and it is our hope that families will apply to Cow Hollow School regardless of financial circumstances.

For more information about the Community Fund application process,  see the Admissions page.

Cow Hollow School thrives using a combination of professional educators and parent participation. Our strong administrative leadership determines, alongside the extremely qualified faculty (many holding graduate degrees in early childhood education) the curriculum of the school and oversees admissions and operations. Each family at Cow Hollow School shares talents, skills and enthusiasm in many ways—teaching in the classroom, helping with school activities, serving on committees, coordinating fund raising events, and so much more.

 

TEAM

Administration

Darcy Campbell, Executive Director
[email protected]

Darcy has been directing at Cow Hollow School since 2002. Darcy has over 30 years of experience working with teachers, families and children in the Bay Area. She has more than 25 years of Site Administration experience and has taught and learned from children three months to twelve years old. She teaches early childhood and elementary education courses at San Francisco State University and conducts early childhood training and consultations with families, schools, and educational organizations throughout the Bay Area. She is a strong advocate for children and specializes in reflective, responsive, collaborative teaching and parenting practices. Darcy is the founder of The COLLABORATORY, a parent and teacher workshop series and the co-founder of REAL PARENTING, a workshop and coaching practice for parents. Darcy holds a graduate degree in early childhood development.

 

Katy Roybal,  Assistant Head of School
[email protected]

Katy joined the Cow Hollow School in 2024. She is an independent school educator and administrator with over 25 years of experience fostering relationships and student-centered programming. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oregon, a teaching credential from Santa Clara University, and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Hawaii. Katy has spent over twenty five years in independent schools. She started her career as a teacher assistant in a Reggio inspired early childhood classroom eventually moving into administration. Throughout her career, Katy has fostered cultures of collaboration, belonging, and trust. She advocates for children and strives to support teachers so they can do the good work of sparking wonder and joy in their students. Katy and her husband, Jeremy have four sons. Three have launched into adulthood and their youngest son will start eighth grade this fall. Katy loves hiking, traveling, reading (or listening to) books, and spending time with her family.

 

Sasha Chalak,  Finance Manager
[email protected]

Sasha joined the Cow Hollow School in 2024. He has over a decade of experience working in the finance/accounting field and brings in-depth experience of working as an Executive Director in the non-profit sector. He has consulted and worked for corporate, construction, start-up and non-profit organizations and has helped define, scale and refine accounting/operating workflows and business processes. Sasha holds a B.A in Accounting and Finance from San Francisco State University where he was a collegiate soccer player.

 

Krissi Lewis, Director of Admissions
[email protected]

Krissi has over 20 years of professional experience working with children, ranging in age from 3 months through middle school. She is a dedicated advocate for children and families, approaching her work with curiosity and a deep commitment to equity. Her focus has always been to foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging. In 2016, Krissi transitioned from the preschool classroom into admissions, driven by her passion for supporting families. She strives to design an admissions process that is family-centered and values-driven. Krissi has her Associate degree in Early Childhood Education, a BA in Race and Resistance Studies and is in process to complete her MA in Equity and Social Justice Education from San Francisco State University.

 

Hannah Matranga, Office Manager
[email protected]

Hannah is a dedicated and compassionate education professional from San Francisco. She holds a
Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Development with a strong foundation in Developmental Psychology
from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Through her work as an early childhood educator and
program manager, she has over 15 years of experience supporting families throughout the Bay
Area. Hannah is committed to ongoing professional development, focusing on Anti-racism for
Educators and Somatic Psychology. Her empathetic nature and commitment to lifelong learning
make her a valuable advocate for the well-being of children and families. She enjoys spending time
in nature, thrifting for vintage treasures, songwriting, and learning how to play piano in her spare
time.

 

Teachers

Christina Chin
Christina is a San Francisco native. She received her Bachelors from San Francisco State University in Child and Adolescent Development with a minor in Asian American Studies.  After many years of teaching, Christina decided to go back to school and recently earned her Masters in Early Childhood Education from the University of Colorado, Denver through a two year online program.  As an early childhood educator, Christina sees the importance of supporting the children in developing their social-emotional skills and confidence to know they are capable and competent. She really enjoys listening to the children and asking them questions to provoke their thoughts to see where their ideas lead to support them in loving to learn.  She looks forward to another exciting year. 

 

Lucy Cline
Lucy is originally from San Diego, and moved to San Francisco after receiving her Bachelor of Science in Child Development from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. At Cal Poly, she also earned a minor in Psychology and spent 4 years teaching at the on-campus preschool. Lucy has 8 years of experience working with children ages 6 months to 6 years, implementing a play and inquiry-based philosophy. She is an advocate for self-development, self-identity and self-love, believing there is nothing more magical than a child realizing “they can”. She strives to empower every child with the confidence to grow and learn, and help them develop the tools they need to embrace all of life’s moments with empathy. Outside of the classroom, Lucy spends her time designing children’s clothing, supporting her San Francisco Giants, baking cookies, and traveling.

 

Cece Del Rio
Cece is so grateful to be a member of the Cow Hollow community! Her love for teaching began when she started volunteering at a Child Care Center in 2016 and she has been a preschool teacher ever since. Cece grew up in San Diego and moved to San Francisco for college. She loved the city so much she decided to stay after getting her degree. Cece has a B.A in Psychology with a minor in Counseling and an A.A in Child Development as well as a Early Childhood Education Site Supervisor Permit. Cece is passionate about children’s social and emotional development and supports an environment that is welcoming and inclusive for all. Cece is fluent in English and Spanish. During her free time, she loves to dance, roller skate and spend time with her family and cat! She loves working on messy projects and being out in nature.

 

Cassie Fennel
Cassie began working with children when she was a teenager and her passion for working with the early childhood age group has only grown! Cassie has always been interested in how the mind of a young child works and how to enhance their curiosity of the world. Cassie’s education has focused on early childhood education with an emphasis on social and behavioral psychology. She graduated from CSU Long Beach with a BA in Human Development and a minor in Child and Family Studies. While in college she worked at a Reggio Emilia inspired school where she was able to practice her naturalistic and learner-centered teaching style. Cassie has also worked as a Registered Behavioral Technician supporting children with behavioral challenges to reach their goals. In the ABA field she taught children to use effective coping skills and mindfulness to benefit their everyday life. She believes the best teaching approach comes from love, understanding, and patience.

 

Jessica Gallagher
Jess, after growing up in Sacramento, CA, headed off to Cal Poly SLO where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development and minors in Psychology and Ethnic Studies. After working at the Children’s Center on Cal Poly’s campus for five years, she moved to Denver where she received her Master’s Degree in Learning, Developmental and Family Sciences, with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. After spending two years in Colorado, she just recently made the move to San Francisco. Jess appreciates being in the Cow Hollow community with a group of like-minded learners dedicated to upholding a strong image of children as competent and capable global citizens. One of Jess’ favorite things about early childhood is discovering more about the world alongside children and finding inevitable joy in each day. In her free time, Jess loves running, trying new foods, and cheering on the San Francisco Giants.

 

Cindy Grynkiewicz
Cindy moved from Dallas to the Bay Area in Spring 2021. Cindy is an auntie to three little ones in Dallas. She earned her B.S. in Elementary Education with a concentration in Middle School Mathematics from the University of Delaware. Cindy has worked with children from ages 1-13 for eight years. Cindy looks forward to continuing to deepen her relationships within the CHS community. Cindy is particularly excited to build children’s confidence through love, guidance, and play!

 

Anne Marie Haro
Anne-Marie discovered her passion for equal opportunity in Education during her time as a literacy mentor for elementary students at the University of California, Berkeley. This inspired her to work in various fields of education in the pursuit of aiding students of all needs in a classroom setting. In 2019, she completed her minor in Child Development where she realized how impactful a quality education through the developing years is. She got the opportunity to work with experts in the field who referred her to the Haste Development Center where she observed teachers in Infant, Toddler and Preschool classes shortly before finding employment there. She finds working with youth inspiring and uplifting. She believes that every child deserves a quality education where they are treated with respect and given opportunities to think for themselves as they navigate the vast world around them. Children are capable of so much and it truly is so powerful to see what they can achieve when given the chance. In her free time Anne-Marie loves film photography, making watercolor art and exploring the beautiful nature that the Bay Area has to offer.

 

Emily Kish
Emily earned a BA in Early Childhood Studies with a concentration in Education from Sonoma State University. Emily’s career in the field of early education brought her from Sonoma to the city of San Francisco. Her intention is to work alongside the children, connect to their relationship with natural materials while integrating concepts of mindfulness in  teaching. Emily  looks forward to making connections with the children, their interests, and families.

 

Katie Krebsbach
Katie moved from Minneapolis, Minnesota to San Francisco in June 2022. She has a  B.S. in Child Psychology and Masters in Social Work from the University of Minnesota. Her career in early childhood education began in her undergraduate work where she worked  with infants and toddlers at a local childcare center and family homeless shelter. Katie also has experience working with children and families in elementary schools and in child protection services. After exploring social work for a few years, her heart brought her back to early childhood education. She is passionate about and inspired by working alongside young learners. In her free time, she enjoys being outside, doing yoga, and spending time with  friends.

 

Jennifer Marquez, Support Teacher
Jennifer grew up in Los Angeles loving school and with hopes of becoming a teacher someday. She has a BA in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis in public health education at the University of California, Berkeley. After some time in the public health field, she was rerouted to working with children again.  This solidified her decision to go back to school to get her MA in Teaching at University of Southern California where she completed her student teaching placements in a TK and 4th grade classroom. Time in the TK classroom inspired her to further her experience in early childhood education. Jennifer enjoys working at Cow Hollow with people who value and respect a child’s learning experience. She is excited to build meaningful relationships and connections with the children. She knows how much their minds have to offer the world and enjoys their fresh, bright perspectives.

 

Sienna Nobleza
Sienna earned her BA in Child and Adolescent Development and her MA in Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education, both from San Francisco State University. She has been an early childhood educator for the past 7 years working with children from four months to five years old.  Sienna is eager to build strong relationships with children and their families, connect and dish with colleagues, and is motivated to grow in her passion for this field.  She is an advocate for social-emotional learning, honors the curiosity of young children, and strives to promote inclusivity wherever and whenever she can.  Sienna enjoys witnessing children making their own discoveries and is grateful to be a guide to them in their ever changing environment.  When she is not at CHS, Sienna enjoys sharing meals with friends and recently got certified as a personal trainer and nutritional coach!

 

Joelle Oxoby
Joelle is a proud native of San Francisco. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Adolescent Development with a concentration in Youth and Family Services from San Francisco State. Joelle is also the current athletic director at the same grammar school that I attended in the Richmond District. She  has over 20 years of experience working with children aged 2-14. She has taught preschool aged children in many different capacities as lead teacher, director and most recently teaching transitional kindergarten. Joelle has a passion for teaching and prides herself on building positive relationships with young children and their families. She loves watching children learn and grow through play and discovery. Joelle has been married for over 20 years and is a proud mother to 3 wonderful children. She enjoys spending time outside in the park, the beach or traveling and is an avid sports fan! She played college basketball and loved every second of it. She is  a music enthusiast and enjoys going to live concerts,  spending time with her family and dog, and exploring this wonderful city we live in.

 

Charlotte Riedler
Charlotte, from a young age, was drawn to caring for young children. She was interested in discovering how they learned from the world around them, and communicated with their caregivers. Charlotte is originally from San Diego and moved to San Francisco in 2016 and received her  BA in Child Development at San Francisco State University In 2020.  Charlotte has worked as a substitute teacher for children ages 3 months to 5 years, was a Lead teacher for infants and was an Infant/Toddler Instructional coach. Charlotte is also a leadership member of WestEd’s Teaching team focusing on  social-emotional learning and development. Charlotte values supporting families in understanding their children’s unique needs and interests, while fostering a foundation for positive learning experiences. She is passionate about advocating for children’s access to high-quality childcare, being a loving educator, creating engaging learning environments, and allowing children the agency to discover themselves naturally.

 

Kristin Schwartz
Kristin is native of the Bay Area and has worked with children 2 to 14 years of age for over 14 years. She attended San Jose State University as part of the Communication Studies program, and earned an Early Childhood certification from The San Francisco Montessori Teacher Education Center in 2018. Prior to becoming a Montessori teacher, she studied Mindfulness and toured India for 3 months. She earned and received her 200 hour yoga teacher training in a beautiful Himalayan village of Dharamsala. Kristin considers herself deeply connected to the natural world and is passionate about fostering community bonds with all ages. One of her deepest honors and greatest joys is serving children in their educational development and she especially loves to teach children how to read. She loves to witness moments of spontaneous learning in children because it feels like pure magic to her. In her free time Kristin enjoys traveling with her Dad, cooking with plants, and spending time with her beloved kitty, Wagsworth, and her partner Adam.

 

Izabela Tavares
Izabela was born and raised in the small town of Brumadinho, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. She moved to the United States in 2015, and has lived in Mississippi and California. Izabela recently graduated from Sonoma State University with a major in Psychology. For the last 5 years, she has been working at an award winning after school and summer camp program located in Marin County where she now lives. In her free time, Izabela enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, and doing anything active. Izabela loves taking her passion off outdoors into the classroom, teaching kids of young age love and appreciation for the world around them.

 

Jamie Kelty, Studio Teacher
Jamie has been with Cow Hollow School since 2012 and has enjoyed the privilege of sharing art experiences with children since 1992. She works also as an assemblage/collage painter with a variety of mediums which translates well into exploring a multitude of materials with children. She received her B.F.A. in painting and her K-12 art teaching certificate from Fort Hays State University in Kansas. Jamie taught art in schools in Kansas, Missouri, and New York City. She worked at the The Children’s Museum of the Arts in New York teaching in public programs and in schools, creating programming, and managing the Fine Arts Studio teaching artists. Jamie regularly presents studio workshops for parents and educators through The COLLABORATORY at Cow Hollow School and The Innovative Teacher Project in San Francisco.

 

Support Teachers

Nichole Adrain, Classroom Support Teacher
Nichole has been an early childhood educator for seven years, caring for children as young as three months old and as old as six years of age. She is passionate about creating a space where children feel like they belong and watching their development and confidence blossom. She is especially intrigued by the explosion of language that begins around age two. She also holds a special place in her heart for parents and cherishes the relationships she builds with them. Nichole holds a bachelor’s degree from Westmont College and has obtained early childhood units at Saddleback College. In her free time, Nichole makes jewelry, bakes, practices various forms of art, and spends time snuggling at home with her two mischievous cats.

 

Abby Byrne, Classroom Support Teacher
Abby is originally from Denver, Colorado, and graduated in May from the University of Colorado Boulder with a dual BA in Sociology and Leadership & Community Engagement and a minor in Education. Throughout her 4 years, she volunteered in elementary schools, was an assistant teacher at her local preschool, and focused her efforts on social work and mental health in the realm of education. Abby is passionate about socio-emotional learning and ensuring all children feel included in the world around them! In her free time, Abby enjoys practicing yoga, baking, and exploring her new city!

 

Angel Cage, Support Teacher
Angel is a San Francisco native who enjoys exploring her city like a tourist, finding new discoveries and adventures in the city she calls home. She joins our community with experience working with children ages 5-14 and is ecstatic to continue her passion working with our little ones. Her passion is social emotional learning. She is an advocate for Children/Youth to have the necessary tools to reach their education goals and helping students advocate for their social emotional and educational needs as learners. To her loved ones and co-workers, her superpower is connection and the way she is able make every child feel seen, powerful and a sense of belonging. She believes teaching should be tailored to the unique aspects of every child and each child should feel powerful in their learning journey. In any space, she strives to create a safe and engaging environment for children to learn, explore and play while having the space to be their true authentic selves, for every child to feel seen, heard and respected and guide children to understand mistakes are how we learn while finding the joy and love to explant our knowledge. Outside of the classroom, Angel enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially her goldendoodle Cali Nova, amusement parks, coaching, dancing, attending home team games and eating delicious foods around the Bay Area. She looks forward to making connections with our Cow Hollow students, community and families over the next few years.

 

Jacqueline Dudley, Support Teacher
Jacqueline Dudley was born and raised in Sacramento CA and has lived in San Francisco for about 7 years She began her educational journey originally as an art major. Although she switched her career path to child education she believes that the extensive creative background gives her a unique and creative way to connect with people around me. She is currently obtaining her teachers certification. In her spare time you can find her learning how to fix whichever 80’s project car she has at the moment (a love/hate hobby she says), refurbishing estate sale treasures, and cooking/creating.

 

Cecilia Guerrero, Support Teacher
Cecilia is originally from Ecuador, and has been on a remarkable journey over the past two years here in San Francisco. Her educational background includes an MBA and a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development from Regis University. She has a deep passion for teaching languages, which was her undergraduate degree in applied linguistics. With this unique combination of expertise, she launched Mamaestra de Español, a program that empowers caregivers to teach Spanish to newborns to three-year-olds. She has also authored and published materials like music, didactic toys, and a collection of engaging books. Cecilia is currently furthering her education in Early Childhood Education and Graphic Design. She is an advocate for teaching, art, nature, and mental health.

 

Laura Griffin, Support Teacher
Laura is a San Francisco native and loves living in the Bay Area. She has worked with children for over 15 years. Laura obtained her early education coursework at Santa Rosa Junior College. Laura considers herself a lifelong learner alongside the children and each day is a joy when working with them. Laura loves helping develop children’s wonder and curiosity about the world around them, exploring their interests , and watching them put  their ideas into practice in the classroom. Laura strives to help children to feel heard, validated,  and supported. In her spare time she loves walking around the city and exploring new places and spending time with my friends and my family.

 

Carly Kennaugh, Support Teacher
Carly graduated from CSU, Chico with a Bachelor’s in Child Development and minor in Family Relations. She has always known she wanted to work with young children and her studies in college affirmed that belief. Her favorite part of working with children is getting to see the world through the most pure and curious eyes, which she says makes every day brighter and more fulfilling. While in college, she worked at an inclusive preschool which gave her the chance to care for and learn more about children with special needs. Through this program, she promoted peer acceptance and respect to help all children feel competent, no matter their abilities or needs. She has also been a nanny for many years helping children grow up to be confident, compassionate, and curious learners. In her free time, Carly loves painting, watching sunsets, and thrifting all her clothes.

 

Fatima Khalfallah, Support Teacher
Fatima is originally from Algeria, embarked on a new chapter in her life when she married in 2019 and relocated to San Francisco with her husband in 2021. Fatima has a degree in British literature and linguistics, possesses a deep love for languages, fluently speaks three languages (French, Arabic, English). Beyond her academic pursuits, Fatima holds a French bakery diploma, indulging her passion for creating exquisite pastries. With five years of experience working with young children, she effortlessly combines her nurturing nature with her engaging personality. Social and interactive, Fatima thrives on connecting with others, both professionally and personally.

 

Nichole Shen, Classroom Support Teacher
Nicole is passionate about engaging with families and values the strong connections she builds with parents and understands the importance of a collaborative approach to child development. She is working towards her degree in Early Childhood Education and has completed core early childhood education coursework at City College of San Francisco. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys hiking, painting, and experimenting with new recipes in her kitchen. She also loves spending quality time with her family.

 

Kelsey Slagle, Support Teacher
Kelsey recently moved to the Bay Area from St. Louis, Missouri. She has over 5 years of experience working with young children, both as a nanny and in school settings. Kelsey has a degree in applied sciences from St. Louis community college and is working towards her degree in Early Childhood Education. Growing up, her mother owned and operated a daycare out of their home. Kelsey attributes her patience and passion for working with children to her mom. She is thrilled to become a member of a school that encourages relationship-driven, community based learning. She observes and believes in the endless potential of every child. Kelsey enjoys seeing children learn through play based activities and social interaction. In her free time, Kelsey likes to explore around San Francisco and spend time with friends and family.

 

Natalie Traub, Support Teacher
As a child, Natalie found a passion working with kids, especially those with special needs. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Mills College at Northeastern University with a degree in Psychology. Specifically, she specialized in abnormal childhood development. In addition, she has been working in childcare for over a decade. As an educator, Natalie strives to meet every child at their level. Her ultimate goal is to help students with disabilities and their families thrive. Natalie feels that having a psychology based education gives her a perspective which enables her to relate to a wide spectrum of children. In her free time, Natalie can be found reading, baking, or playing with her pets.

 

Priscillia Indradjaja, Support Teacher
Priscillia is originally from Jakarta, Indonesia, and moved to San Francisco at the end of 2013. Before moving to the Bay, Priscillia has lived in Seattle, New York and Singapore for both studies and work. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from University of Washington, Seattle. After spending years working in management consulting, advertising and real estate development sectors, she decided to embark on a completely different, but much more meaningful, journey in early childhood education. Priscillia decided to go back to school to get her teaching certification and permit at CCSF in 2020 and began her teaching journey in the middle of 2021. She is also a certified baker who loves to explore the world of pastries here in the Bay Area. During her free time, she enjoys hiking, traveling and learning about new cultures and foods.

 

Volunteer

Gianna Drocco, Classroom Support Teacher Volunteer
Gianna has been working with children in private practice and various school settings for the past 11 years as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a School Counselor. She holds a Masters in Counseling and a PPS School Counseling credential. Gianna believes in the healing power of trusting relationships and knows each child in our world deserves this support. Gianna grew up in the Bay Area and loves raising her family in the Richmond District of San Francisco. She is a mother of two young daughters (ages 1 and 3 years old) and enjoys spending time exploring playgrounds, seeing movies on date night, traveling, walking through Golden Gate Park, and reading buzzy new novels. Throughout the process of finding a quality early education program for her daughters in the city, she became passionate about what she found at Cow Hollow School and knew she wanted to be a part of this special place. Gianna is currently taking courses towards a second MA in Early Childhood Education.

 

Families

Family Engagement in the Classroom – Families in the Cow Hollow School Community have opportunities to work alongside master teachers in their child’s classroom.

Parent Association – The Parent Association is committed to developing and strengthening the family-school partnership, and building a strong community to enhance the experience of all children. All CHS parents are members of the Parents’ Association.

Room Parents – Room Parents are instrumental in weaving the community to the school and act as liaisons between, administration, teachers, children, and families.

 

Board of Trustees

Darcy Campbell, Executive Head of School

Thayer Meicler, Board Chair

Brittni Levinson, Board Vice Chair

Mark Wood, Treasurer

Yvonne Lin, Secretary

Kate Allen

Rajaie Batniji

Leah Bressack

Liz Faralli

Flora Mugambi-Mutunga

Gaby Snyder

Caroline Wells

 

Community

Cow Hollow School is a community of families and teachers from a broad range of cultures, nationalities, family structures, languages, and economic backgrounds. We ​ strive to be a community where each child and family ​is included, valued, and represented, and where ​each participant  ​is actively invited to voice ​and ​​contribute ideas, opinions, questions, and values.

Diversity and Demographics

Cow Hollow School support​s​ the ever-growing diversity of our school population through outreach and admissions. This includes ​,​ but is not limited to: family structure, culture, race, religion, socio-economics, sexual orientation, gender, identity, and mental and social abilities. ​It is our goal that the children and families of our school  reflect the rich diversity of the city in which we live.

​Demographics of Cow Hollow School families:

As a component of knowing, making visible, and celebrating the diversity of our school population, we conduct a demographic survey of our school families on a tri-annual basis. Following is the data from our most recent survey.*

2021-2022 Cow Hollow School Demographic Survey Data

  • 69% Dual–Working Parent Families
  • 5%  Separated and co-parenting or single
  • 3% Same-­-Sex Parents
  • 40%  of families speak a language other than English in the home (representing 16 different languages)

Children’s Racial Identities:

  • 55% White
  • 38% Multi-­racial (see below)
  • 6% South Asian/Indian
  • 1% Asian

Multi-racial Identities:

  • 88% White
  • 66% Asian
  • 13% South Asian
  • 3% African American/Black
  • 0% Native American
  • 13% Asian Pacific Islander
  • 6% Middle Eastern
  • 13% Latino/a/x/Hispanic

Other Information:

  • 44% Faculty who identify as a person of color
  • 43% Board members who identify as a person of color

*Based on 2022/2023 school-year