Meet the Bayview Academy Staff

Leyla Akincilar, English Teacher

From a small farming town in Lititz, Pennsylvania, Leyla Akincilar first moved North to Boston, Massachusetts to attend Emerson College, and then West to Los Angeles to work in the entertainment field. After eight months of putting her writing degree to work, she found herself driving through the streets of South Central, and was inspired to change her course to education. Through the Los Angeles Teaching Fellows, Ms. Akincilar accepted a position at Charles Drew Middle School as a 7th and 8th grade English teacher. She took on the roles of Department Chair and Assessment Coordinator in her four years at Charles Drew, but her greatest accomplishment was coordinating the Washington, DC trip for a group of dedicated 8th graders. Ms. Akincilar's move to KBA was motivated by the exceptional teaching staff and dynamic students she met during one of her frequent visits to San Francisco. She happily returned to KBA for a second year, and looks forward to supporting another class of 8th graders on their path to college.

Megan Brown, Science Teacher

Ms. Brown earned her bachelor degree at Loyola College with a major in elementary education and a minor in special education. Originally from New Jersey, Ms. Brown moved to the west coast to experience a different part of the country- and she's loving it! She is the 5th and 6th grade Science teacher at KBA and she is excited to be part of a community that is devoted to achieving every child's dreams.

Lorraine Cathey, Academic Support Teacher

A fourth generation California native, Lorraine was educated at Universitetet i Stockholm and Mills College, where she received her B.A. in Dramatic Arts in 1982. After working in theater for thirty years (American Conservatory Theater, Eureka Theater, Theater Rhinoceros, Bill Graham Presents) she made the life altering decision to become an educator. Lorraine first volunteered at New Traditions Arts Alternative Elementary in the Haight Ashbury before training through the John Muir MATE Program, graduating in 2000. She worked as a teacher at G.W. Carver Elementary school for seven years, and is now at KIPP Bayview. For Lorraine, it's been a great pleasure to see her former students grow and move closer towards their dreams.

H. Sebastian Cherng, Algebra Teacher

H. Sebastian Cherng is originally from Columbia, MD, which is not to be confused with Colombia, the country, Columbus, OH, or any other more interesting location. After spending two years meticulously planning his college decision, Mr. Cherng ended up at MIT because his best friend was also going and found himself elbows deep in brains and Markstrat. During his year teaching English in rural China during college, Mr. Cherng decided to take a look into education. This led him down his path to certification, interest in education equality, and KBA and teaching algebra to the 8th graders (with a dot.com startup in Shanghai in there to mix things up a bit). He is proud to be a part of such a world-class staff and still finds motivation every morning with this idea: every child deserves choices.

Lorie Delizo, Science Teacher

Ms. Delizo was born and raised in San Francisco, having grown up very close to where Bayview neighbors Visitacion Valley. Every now and then she still visits her home in Vis Valley to get a home cooked meal after a hard day of teaching. She attended Our Lady of the Visitacion School as well as Lowell High School, before she left to attend the University of California San Diego. At UCSD, she studied general biology and education. She stayed an extra year to finish a graduate program at UCSD in order to receive her teaching credential and Masters in Education. Ms. Delizo taught 7th and 8th grade science in San Diego before moving back home and teaching 7th and 8th grade science at KBA during the 2006-2007 schoolyear. With the return of Ms. Larkin this year, Ms. Delizo is happy to devote all of her time and energy to 8th grade science as well as her 7th grade homeroom. While she often misses the warm Southern California weather, Ms. Delizo enjoys teaching in a community she considers home.

Ben Eller, Physical Education Teacher

Mr. Eller is a Bay Area native in his first year of teaching at KIPP Bayview as the 7th grade English Language Arts teacher. He graduated from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo where he studied English and Education. Mr. Eller stayed in the Central Coast to earn his teaching credential by teaching 3rd grade and a bilingual Kindergarten class before heading to work in Los Angeles. Mr. Eller is ecstatic to be back in San Francisco (where he can watch all of his beloved 49ers' games) and is overjoyed to be a part of the KIPP Bayview family.

Veronica Flores, Assistant Principal

A native Texan, Ms. Flores moved to California to attend Stanford University earning a B.A in History and an M.A. in Education Policy. This is her third year at KIPP Bayview Academy where she has served as the Director of High School Placement. Last year Ms. Flores placed our first graduating class of 8th graders into some of the most prestigious college preparatory high schools in California. She is excited to assist our new class of 8th graders and their families through the high school application process this year.

Denise Hall, Office Manager

Ms. Hall comes to us from Stanford University, where she served as an administrative associate to the football team. She is a native San Franciscan, and has also worked at San Francisco State University and James Denman Middle School. She has a B.A. in Communicative Disorders from San Francisco State University. Ms. Hall also holds a minor certificate in Coaching, and is quite the football buff. After nine years away from middle schools, she is delighted to return to working with middle school students.

Tiffani Johnson, 7th grade Writing and Electives Teacher

Tiffani Johnson is a full-time teacher and activist who lives her Gospel and Social Justice message working in the inner city schools of San Francisco and Oakland. As a native San Franciscan, Tiffani attended many of its schools including Benjamin Franklin Middle School and J. Eugene McAteer High School. Tiffani then pursued her undergraduate degree at the University of California Berkeley, majoring in American Studies and Education. Upon completion of her post secondary degree, she researched her former elementary school, St. Paul of the Shipwreck, only to learn that it was recently KIPP Bayview Academy, under the leadership of her once 8th grade math teacher, Molly Wood. After finishing her masters program at San Francisco State University, Tiffani joined the KIPP family full time as the schoolÕs 6th grade Writing and Electives teacher. Now teaching 7th grade Writing and Electives, Tiffani feels honored to be a part of such a dedicated, zealous and resilient team of teachers and students.

Dawn Larkin, 6th grade Science Teacher

Dawn Larkin has been teaching science at KIPP Bayview Academy for 4 years. This year she is teaching the 7th grade students. Ms. Larkin received her BA from Queens College in Charlotte, NC where she studied Ceramics and Printmaking. After several years of travel and living abroad, she settled in San Francisco where she taught for 4 years at Benjamin Franklin Middle School. Ms. Larkin completed her teaching credentials at Sacramento State and her CLAD with Stanford. In addition to teaching our family at KBA, enjoys her own family. She and her husband are both science teachers. Ms. Larkin continues to enjoy the outdoors, hot weather, cooking food, running, and doing yoga.

Carolyn Mulloy, Special Education Teacher

Carolyn Mulloy grew up in the Bay Area but decided to go East for college where she attended the University of Vermont, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Spanish. After college Ms. Mullo moved to Boston and because of her strong desire to work with children began teaching for Boston Public Schools. She particularly enjoyed the challenges and rewards that special education offered and eventually taught her own 5th/6th grade special education class for a Boston Public Charter School.

In 2006, Ms. Mulloy returned home to the West Coast and decided to live in San Francisco where she ventured into a new career of real estate. After one year she enrolled at Aliant International and started working towards earning a Masters in Special Education. Ms. Mulloyw recently started at KIPP Bayview Academy as the Special Education Resource Specialist and is looking forward to being an integral part of this dedicated team. When not working, she enjoys traveling, hiking, softball and this year became a member of the Team in Training Program and completed her first half marathon.

Kerianne Ryan, Principal

Kerianne Ryan is proud to be the principal at KIPP Bayview Academy! Prior to teaching at KBA, Ms. Ryan lived in Phoenix, Arizona, where she spent 3 years teaching 6th grade at VH Lassen Elementary School through Teach for America. She is excited to be a part of our motivated and excellent school community. Ms. Ryan grew up in North Carolina and she graduated with a degree in Public Policy Studies from Duke University. She is a HUGE college basketball fan, and she is excited to share her excitement with her students come basketball season.

Chris Schaefer, 6th grade Social Studies Teacher

Mr. Schaefer is proud to be a founding teacher of KIPP Bayview Academy. Prior to starting at Bayview Academy, Mr. Schaefer taught sixth grade Language Arts and Social Studies at Everett Middle School in San Francisco and at Chipman Middle School in Alameda. Before he decided to become a teacher, Mr. Schaefer was an archaeologist. He loves sharing his archaeological experiences with the students studying ancient civilizations in his sixth grade Social Studies classes. Mr. Schaefer has graduated from college three times Ð he earned a B.A. in Anthropology from Pomona College, a M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Washington, and a M.Ed. from Harvard University. Not only is he a talented teacher, but he also was the captain of the varsity swimming team in college.

Charlene Sevilla, 7th and 8th grade Social Studies Teacher

Ms. Sevilla is currently teaching 7th and 8th grade Social Studies. Ms. Sevilla grew up on Air Force bases, but calls New Mexico home. She studied Political Science at the University of New Mexico. After graduation she joined Teach For America and taught in Oakland, California for two years. While teaching, she completed a Master's of Education program. She is excited to make great progress with her students at KBA.

Louisa Shields, Development Director

Ms. Shields works to provide the resources necessary to support the students and teachers of KIPP Bayview Academy. Prior to joining KBA, Ms. Shields was a consultant with Deloitte Consulting working with companies going through large-scale mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Currently, she is active in her community. Ms. Shields holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, and a BA in Public Policy from Trinity College.

Christopher Street, Music Teacher

Christopher Street was born on the east end of Long Island, New York, in the town of Southampton. Throughout various turmoils in his life, he has always had a connection with music. Soul music (to be specific). Which is a kind of music incorporating rhythm and blues and gospel music, popularized by African-Americans. It is characterized by an emphasis on vocals and impassioned and improvised delivery. It was not until his high school years that he fully realized that he too could utilize this music as a medium to express himself. That people would listen and relate, as well. Mr. Street has developed his choral experience with some of New York 's most elite gospel choirs, such as the Love Fellowship Choir, under the direction of Hezekiah Walker, the New York Restoration Choir, under the direction of Rev. Donnie McClurkin and the New York State Fellowship Choir, under the direction of Rev Timothy Wright. As well as graduating from music performance programs at Berklee and Five Towns College of Music. Since his move to San Francisco, Mr. Street has worked for the San Francisco YMCA, as a youth programs coordinator at various school sites in the Bayview district as well as currently being the choral director at a local church in the neighborhood. This is his first year at KIPP Bayview Academy and he is excited to be a continued positive servant to the youth, families and community.

Sandi Stringfellow, High School Placement Director

Ms. Stringfellow has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Harvard and a master’s degree in organizational psychology
from the London School of Economics and Political Science. At Harvard, she was a varsity swimmer. When Ms. Stringfellow is not working at KIPP, you’ll find her cycling with her husband, cooking for  friends, or curled up with a good book.