Sylvie Hill, Principal

Sylvie was born and grew up in Paris, France. While living in France, she received a Montessori Diploma, French Teaching Credentials and started teaching at the elementary school level in 1967. She moved to California in 1970. She started teaching again First Grade at the Popper-Keizer School for the Gifted in 1984. In 1996 the school became Spring Hill and Sylvie became the principal. She has a Master's Degree from Santa Clara University and many years of experience working with the special needs of the Gifted. Sylvie teaches Latin, French and Drama in the middle school.

Peter Scherfig, Assistant Principal, Teacher 7&8 Grades

Mr. Scherfig has been teaching students in grades one through eight, in both self-contained and multi-age classrooms.  He has worked in Montana, California, Costa Rica, and Chile. He also has experience as teacher and district coordinator for Gifted and Talented Education programs.He has a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education (K-8) and a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership, both from Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana.

   
Diane McCarthy, Director of Admissions and Marketing

Diane has a background in Advertising, Marketing, Graphic Design and Journalism. She owned and managed a successful ad agency in Santa Cruz for over 15 years. Diane also has extensive experience in marketing and development for non-profits having worked several years as the Communications Director for Children's Relef Network, an organization which provides homes for abandoned street children in Romania.

Cynthia Green, Office Billing

Cynthia has been a part of Spring Hill School since 2004. First, as a parent volunteer of two Spring Hill boys and secondly, as Spring Hill office staff. She has a BA degree from SFSU in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology and has completed extensive graduate work in that field. Cynthia is currently in charge of Spring Hill billing, office support, facility management, and is the employee benefits liaison and parent volunteer coordinator.

 
Angelic Navarro, Program Coordinator and Drama Teacher

Angelic Navarro has a background in drama and dance. She joined the office staff in 2008 and manages the after school, winter, spring and summer break programs. She also manages special events at Spring Hill including the Invention Convention and Grandparent's Day.  Angelic is also a Spring Hill parent.

Yvonne Vermillion, School Counselor and Substitute Teacher

Yvonne has over twenty years experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist. She holds MA Degrees in both Art and Psychology, a Doctorate in Psychology, and has a California Elementary Teaching Credential. Yvonne also has an AMI Montessori Certificate, and is proficient in Spanish. She specializes in play therapy, group and indiviual sessions for children an adolescents.

TEACHERS

Kindergarten - Sandy Metaxas and Patty Schork

Grade 1 - Kim Haile

Grade 2 - Gabrielle Carroll

Ms. Carroll has been teaching second grade at Spring Hill since 2001.  She has a Bachelors Degree in Environmental Science with a minor in Art from Claremont College. She received her Teaching Credential from San Jose State University. Ms. Carroll is bilingual and teaches first and second grade Spanish.

Grade 3 - Forrest Casey
Forrest Casey, grade 3, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Modern Literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Before joining Spring Hill, Forrest taught at All Saints’ Day School in Carmel Valley. He loves the Spanish language, Literature and California History. He is passionate about his family, sailing, reading and spending time in the classroom. Forrest also teaches third and fourth grade Spanish.

Grade 4 - Laura Seckinger

Laura, grade 4, has been teaching at Spring Hill since 2004.  She has a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from Grinnell College,and a Masters Degree in Education and Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Grade 5 - Bob Biegert

Bob, grade 5, has been teaching at Spring Hill since 1997. He has his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado. He has a Pre-Primary Diploma from the Montessori Institute, a Certificate for Computer & Information Science from Cabrillo College, and a Candidate Multiple Subject Credential from San Jose State University. Bob runs the annual school Science Fair and Invention Convention.

Grade 6 - Casey Ryan

2007/2008 was Casey’s first year teaching at Spring Hill. He has his Bachelors Degree in Film and Digital Media from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He has a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from St. Mary’s College of California and is teaching grade 6.

Grades 7 & 8 - Peter Scherfig

Mr. Scherfig has been teaching students in grades one through eight, in both self-contained and multi-age classrooms.  He has worked in Montana, California, Costa Rica, and Chile. He also has experience as teacher and district coordinator for Gifted and Talented Education programs.He has a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education (K-8) and a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership, both from Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana.

Grades 7 & 8 Veronique Winiarski

Veronique is very excited about teaching 7th grade at Spring Hill. Previously she has taught 12 years in Los Gatos and in Hermosa Beach, CA. She received her Teaching Credential and Masters in Education at the University of California Los Angeles.

Life Lab, K-6 Art  & K Science - Greg Seckinger

Greg has been teaching at Spring Hill since 2004. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Studio Art from the University of Notre Dame. He has a Master's Degree in Education and Teaching Credential from the University of California Santa Cruz. He has teaching certificates from John Jeavons Ecology Action in gardening.

Music - Eliot Nemzer

Eliot has been teaching all grades of music at Spring Hil since 2005. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Aesthetic Studies from the University of California Santa Cruz. In addition to teaching music during classroom hours, Eliot teaches an after school rock band. He has also been teaching private music lessons since 1978.

Middle School Art - Andrea Coddington

Andrea Coddington teaches grades 7 and 8  in this after school art program. Students work with chaulks, pastels, water colors, acrylics, mosaics, paper mache and more! Andrea owns and manages "Under the Sun Art & Gardening" in Santa Cruz which offers workshops and classes. She also provides free art projects during the school lunch hour and teaches an after school art program for grades 1-7.Andrea has a teaching credential from UCSC, is trilingual and has traveled the world.

Online Education Coordinator - Ellie Peters

Ellie Peters is a Spring Hill parent who teaches the Stanford EPGY Math Program and serves as a classroom aide. She has a degree from University of California Santa Cruz and before joining Spring Hill, she worked as a QA Engineer for Vocera Communications, Inc., Borland Software Corp., and Netiva/Portera.

Librarian - Michele Hart
Michele has been the school librarian at Spring Hill since 2006. She 
has a bachelor's degree in classical languages from Cornell 
University. She has more than a dozen years experience working in 
university and school libraries. She lives in Santa Cruz with her 
husband and son, who is a Spring Hill alumnus.

Sports and Languages - Liz Fowler

Liz has been teaching at Spring Hill since 1999.  She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Cruz.  She also received her Teaching Credential and ESL Teaching Credential from the same university.   She teaches Latin and Spanish and coaches after school sports. She also serves on the School Board.