Profiles
Profile type:
Mary Menacho, Head of School
As she guides educators here at Trinity School, Mary keeps these ideas close: teach others as you would be taught; learn from others as you would have them learn from you. Mary is inspired to help Trinity School students flourish in mind, body, and spirit under the tutelage of inspiring and caring teachers and other personnel. She is committed to helping Trinity School be a strong institution now and for many years to come.
Mo-Lan Chan, CFO
As Mo-Lan joins the Trinity School’s administration team, she reflects on the principles that have guided her past work: to learn attentively and contribute generously, to collaborate and build relationships, and to facilitate the flourishing of the organization.
Lana Harkness, Academic Dean
Lana is dedicated to creating a school and classroom environment that is intellectually engaging, emotionally safe and loving, and substantially innovative. Lana believes that children should be known and acknowledged through their individual gifts, challenges, and passions. To this end, she supports and guides instruction and academic work for students that is meaningful. Lana says, “Children arrive at school each day ready to work and learn. It is our job to meet them where they are and support them in achieving those goals.”
Shelley Willig, Director of Admission and Community Relations
Shelley demonstrates the value of a Trinity School education to prospective families. She is committed to enrolling diverse students that enrich the School community and to helping new families feel integrated and engaged.
Katy Roybal, Technology Integrator
Katy wants to meet each child where they are, to get them excited about learning and to help them make connections to the world around them. In her classroom children will feel welcome, safe and ready to take risks. It is her job to provide rich content and a secure environment for learning. Katy believes magic happens in the classroom when children have space and time to pursue their curiosity and interests.
Sue Krishna, ECP 3-4 Teacher & Auxillary Program Coordinator
Sue upholds the image of the child as unique and as an advocate of his or her own learning. Through collaboration, research, and education, she hopes always to implement opportunities to grow and transform educational practices of being with and educating young children.
Caroline Kirkpatrick, ECP 3-4 Teacher
At Trinity School I hope to give each ECP child an inquisitive voice and view of the world. I want to help them gain the skills to look at their surroundings and not only ask what, but why and how. I hope that all of my students will graduate from the program with the strong beginnings to standing tall as an individual, as well as being a successful group member.
Emily Wong, Jr. Kindergarten Teacher
Emily appreciates the tremendous privilege and responsibility of teaching. She seeks to create a true sense of community within the classroom where students feel safe and supported. In such an environment students take risks, seek knowledge and learn through deep exploration and discovery. Emily supports students in their endeavors by creating a classroom that incorporates and accommodates multiple learning styles and intelligences. She works to extend the learning community to families. This develops each child’s confidence and competence, while growing, flourishing and establishing a lifelong love of learning.
Michelle Taylor, Kindergarten Teacher
Michelle sparks a love of learning in her students. She wants them to evaluate their thinking and to respect the world around us. By providing each child with a safe environment to take risks, her students gain knowledge through direct instruction, independent and group activities, and self-discovery time.
Crystal Mijailovic, Grade 1 Teacher
In my classroom, I hope to create an atmosphere where my students feel safe to talk, create, move, laugh, learn, inspire, and imagine. I believe in honesty, kindness, respect, collaboration, reflection, appreciation, and embracing diversity. I hope each student is able come out of my class having a better sense of who they are, their strengths, their challenges, their passions, and most importantly, goals for their future.
Joy Jones, Grade 2 Teacher
I aim to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring students who want to make a difference in the world and in their personal lifelong journey. I hope to encourage every student to be an active learner, communicator and risk taker in their life to better prepare them for the future.
Nancy Palmer, Grade 3 Teacher
Nancy never tires of learning. Pursuing her curiosity about people and the world we share brings her great happiness. Nancy’s hopes her love and enthusiasm for learning inspires her students to pursue their interests with confidence, to be creative in their thinking, and to enjoy the intrinsic value in better knowing themselves and the world.
Joan Young, Grade 4 Teacher
Joan works to inspire and empower her students to discover their unique strengths and passions that will lead them to lifelong paths of curiosity, meaning, and purpose. Her mission is to prepare students for an ever-changing world by teaching them how to be critical thinkers and innovators
Kathy Hoekenga, Grade 5 Teacher
Kathy guides students to love reading and learning and to become passionate, life-long learners. Kathy wants her students to develop respect for and understanding of others and our environment. This will lead them to empathy and a sense of responsibility to their local and global communities. She encourages strong critical thinking skills and the ability for students to formulate their own questions while they search for, think through, and discover answers. Kathy helps students practice and develop the academic skills needed to become confident learners as they transition to middle schools, where they will hopefully make a positive difference in the world.
Nancy Castañeda, Early Childhood Program Teacher
Nancy provides a comfortable environment for students, where friendship and collaboration are important and where the innate curiosity of the child is the primary tool for learning.
Bim Cleland, Physical Education Teacher and Grade 1 Paraeducator
It is Bim’s intention to offer a quality PE program that helps students understand the basic components of a healthy lifestyle. Whether students are engaged in individual fitness activities, or contributing to a common goal with their peers, Bim seeks to help students enjoy all of the wonderful ways to create personal goals. In turn, students can understand the value – as lifelong learners – of the importance of making healthy choices in their lives.
Kristine Petermeier, Art Teacher and Junior Kindergarten Paraeducator
Kristine wants to provide students with the tools and techniques to express their own thoughts through visual art. Students use the language of art to express their voices and showcase their unique creativity. Kristine believes that art is a wonderful way to learn about world history and culture.
Becky Zeren, Librarian
Becky believes it is important to listen to students’ questions, to guide critical thinking, to encourage self-discovery, and to guide character development. Becky is committed to encouraging all children and their families to read recreationally, as well as for mastery of academic subjects. She will continue to use American Association of School Librarians’ Standards for a 21st Century as a guide for creating a physical and virtual environment that promotes a literate community.
Marisa Still, Science, Garden, Advanced Math Teacher
Marisa wants science and garden curriculum to reflect real world problems and to empower how students understand their place in the world. She inspires students to preserve and protect that which sustains them. In the classroom, Marisa creates opportunities for students to access their questions and seek answers through scientific inquiry.
Vanessa Lezcano, Spanish Specialist Teacher
In addition to six years of teaching experience, Vanessa learned to speak, read and write Spanish through the immersion process. She knows first hand what it is like to begin, develop and acquire a new language. She believes this foundation is what makes her especially good at teaching Spanish.
Maureen Fromme, Music Specialist
I have always had a healthy sense of curiosity, which goes hand-in-hand with my passion for life-long learning. I look forward to the opportunity to share this passion and way of life with my students. Through my personal love of music, my mission at Trinity School is to cultivate a love for music within all of the students and families, as listeners as well as performers.
Susan Griffin, TPA President
My favorite Trinity tradition is Literacy Night. It's a time when we come together as families to socialize and share the joy of reading with our children. It is remarkable to observe children of varied ages advising one another on book selections, and reading aloud to one another. Literacy Night is one of many Trinity traditions that demonstrates the unity and spirit of our school.
Megan Bernstein, TPA Vice President
I can honestly say I enjoy each and every Trinity tradition, but if I had to pick my top three they would be the Back to School BBQ (a fun way to catch up with people after the summer and a great place to start new friendships!), the annual benefit (it really is a lot of fun!) and graduation (this ceremony is not only incredibly moving, but also really conveys the special spirit of Trinity).
Aime Card, TPA Secretary
I have the pleasure of having two children attend Trinity School; my daughter Catherine is in the 4th grade, and my son, Wesley, in 1st grade. This is our second year at Trinity and we feel so fortunate to have found this incredible place to teach and care for our children. Additionally, there are so many ways to become involved with the school by volunteering, and so much parent involvement is one of the reasons that Trinity has been and remains a close, loving and truly special place.
Amy Liu, TPA Treasurer
Trinity School has been an extraordinary place for my second-grade daughter, Finley, to blossom. The intimate size of the school, excellent teachers, and very active parent volunteers make me feel lucky to be part of the community. Our family has especially enjoyed Literacy Nights, where our wonderful librarian, Becky Zeren, leads the children in story time while the parents relax and chat over wine. I am honored to be able to support this unique and wonderful culture.
Carey Richardson, TPA Room Parent Coordinator
I am Carey Richardson, Room Parent Coordinator and parent of two Trinity School students: Piper a fourth grader and Jack a 1st grader. Volunteering for our school gives me the opportunity to be connected to the community of parents and children and get to know them better.
Michelle Swenson, Board Chair & St. Bede’s Trustee
My son, Alec Drobac, currently a junior at Menlo School, spent 2 joyful years at (the former) Trinity School pre-school at Christ Church and 6 exuberant years (K-5th) at Upper Campus. In addition to serving as a Trinity School trustee, I am also a member of St. Bede’s parish.
Mary Menacho, Head of School
As she guides educators here at Trinity School, Mary keeps these ideas close: teach others as you would be taught; learn from others as you would have them learn from you. Mary is inspired to help Trinity School students flourish in mind, body, and spirit under the tutelage of inspiring and caring teachers and other personnel. She is committed to helping Trinity School be a strong institution now and for many years to come.
Dimitrios Dimitrelis, Trustee at Large
I have been involved with Trinity School since 2006. Our child was enrolled first in the Early Childhood Program at the Lower Campus and is currently attending Elementary School at the Upper Campus. I became a Board of Trustees member in 2007 and the Chair of the Development Committee in 2008.
Martha Deevy, Trustee at Large
I have a daughter who is now in 2nd grade, but since we’ve been part of the Trinity School community since she was just 3 years old, entering ECP, we consider ourselves old-timers.
The Reverend Matthew Dutton-Gillet, Rector of Trinity Church
I became a member of the Trinity School Board in August, 2009, when I became the Rector of Trinity Church in Menlo Park, one of the two congregations that own the School. It has been a pleasure for me to get to know the School and the excellent work that it does in educating children.
Edward D. (Ward) Johnson, Trinity Church Trustee
Our son, now a first grader, started with Trinity’s Early Childhood Program as a three year old in 2008, a program our daughter has just begun. I’ve had the honor of serving on the Board since Spring of 2010.
Harry V. McKay, Jr., Trustee at Large
I have had the pleasure of serving on the Trinity School Trustee Board since 2008. As current Head of School at Saint Andrew's Episcopal School in Saratoga (since 1998), I bring a a great deal of relevant knowledge and experience to the Trinity School board.
Jean Mou, Trustee at Large
This is our fifth year at Trinity School. Our daughter started at the Early Childhood Program when she was three years old and now she is in second grade. Our twin boys are in the Kindergarten class.
John Occhipinti, Trinity Church Trustee
My family has had a deep connection with the Trinity School community for over 10 years. I have two daughters that graduated from Trinity, having started in the pre-school ECP program on the Holy Trinity campus. Today, my youngest son is in the first grade. I am a Trinity Church trustee of the Trinity School Board of Trustees, serving my third term.
Judith Paulus, St. Bede’s Trustee
I am the mother of Brittany Paulus, a Trinity school graduate, who is currently in the 4th year of a PhD program in clinical psychology.
John Thibault, Trustee at Large
I am the parent of three Trinity children in Grades 4, 2, and 1 and have been affiliated with the school for 6 years. I’ve served on the Trinity School Fulfilling the Vision capital building campaign, the strategy working group, and co-head the current Legacy Fund Committee.
Jeanne Cooper, St. Bede's Trustee
I have been involved with children and youth's spiritual education since coming to St. Bede's in late 2003, most recently as coordinator of youth and young adult ministries, which led to my becoming a Trinity School chaplain in fall 2010.
Susan Griffin, TPA President
My favorite Trinity tradition is Literacy Night. It's a time when we come together as families to socialize and share the joy of reading with our children. It is remarkable to observe children of varied ages advising one another on book selections, and reading aloud to one another. Literacy Night is one of many Trinity traditions that demonstrates the unity and spirit of our school.
Malia Bates – Class of 2007
I graduated from Trinity with the Class of 2007 and I now attend Menlo High School. I love to play basketball and volleyball and had the honor to be captain of the freshmen volleyball team this year. Some of my favorite subjects are English, History and Art and I am planning to take an art elective next year as a sophomore. While at Menlo I have also found a passion for journalism and design and I am planning to join the newspaper staff next year.
Katherine Hass – Class of 2007
This spring will mark the fourth year since I have walked on the Trinity campus as a student. I have thought of Trinity often and the many gifts I received. In the years since I graduated from Trinity, I have been a student at Castilleja where I have had the opportunity to expand my repertoire of interests and extracurricular activities.
Gaby Nighan – Class of 2006
One of my fondest memories from Trinity School is the Christmas plays we used to perform every year in the chapel. I loved feeling the warmth of Christmas while the students sang and our family and friends came to watch. After six wonderful and nurturing years at Trinity school, I graduated in 2006 and entered middle school at Woodside Priory.
Gabby Occhipinti – Class of 2009
Trinity school is, and will always be a very important place to me. I started at Trinity pre-school when I was 3 years old and when I graduated in June of 2009, it was bittersweet. I was ready and excited to move on to my new school, Castilleja but sad to be leaving a place that I loved and felt loved by.
Alix Traeger – Class of 2004
After graduating from Trinity School in 2004, I went on to attend Woodside Priory School in Portola Valley. Throughout Middle and High School, I kept myself extremely busy participating in a myriad of plays, including Alice in Wonderland and Comedy of Errors. I also participated in a multitude of sports, such as volleyball and soccer.
Julia Sylvester – Class of 2004
After leaving Trinity, I attended Hillview Middle School, and am now a senior at Menlo-Atherton High School. I have really enjoyed my time at M-A, and will be sad to leave so soon!
Rachel Landers- Class of 2004
I graduated from Trinity in 2004, and have been at the Woodside Priory ever since. I have absolutely loved the Priory, and will be sad to leave this year, as I am currently a senior in high school. During my middle school years at Priory, I participated in several sports, including basketball, soccer, and volleyball. In addition, I was heavily involved in a dance team outside of school. Throughout high school I have become very much involved in theater, and acted in Bye Bye Birdie and Pride and Prejudice my freshman and sophomore years respectively.
Jackson Siegman – Class of 2004
I'm now a senior at Menlo School. I play on the varsity basketball and track & field teams, and am a member of the chess, ultimate frisbee, and skiing clubs. I have continued to play the piano, and recently took up the guitar. Basketball is my biggest commitment, but it's the most fun because we go to LA every year and our home games are played in front of as many as 1000 people. I spent the last summer tutoring in-coming 6th graders for the Peninsula Bridge Program. I plan on studying mechanical engineering in college.
Katy Hayashi – Class of 2006
I turned sixteen a little more than a month ago, but sadly I still don't have my license. My family and I moved to Salt Lake City in the summer, leaving Chicago. My dad was elected bishop of Utah as you may know. The transition from a big public school in Chicago back to a small private school here in Salt Lake was difficult, but after a few weeks of settling in, the change didn't seem like such a big deal. I started cross country running this year and I absolutely loved the season.
The Hirschhorn Girls
Hannah and Heather - Class of 2006 & Haley- Class of 2007 We are living in Sea Island, Georgia, and all love living close to the beach. Haley is in 9th grade and we are in 10th. We are being home schooled by a former teacher, and this allows us to follow our passion...horses! We are able to train, work at the stable and show our horses. It is awesome.
Maddie Pierson – Class of 2005
I attended Trinity from Kindergarten to fifth grade. I am now enjoying my studies at Woodside Priory School. After being introduced to service projects at Trinity, I have continued my interest in community service and participated in service projects in Brazil, Mexico, and Australia. I have enjoyed running on teams since my freshman year of high school as well as traveling with my family.
Taylor Jones – Class of 2004
I am a senior at Menlo and have (finally!) just finished the college application process. (Yay!) I play Lacrosse at Menlo and with the Bay Area Wave club team. My mom and I are members of National Charity League and I am one of the senior leaders at Menlo's Knight Vision community service club. Because of my service I was graciously awarded the 2010 Gold Level President's Volunteer Service Award and was a finalist for the Chris Zider Scholarship award. Philanthropy has become one of my greatest passions, which I credit Trinity for cultivating—from the Penny Panics to the canned food drives.
Connie Tang – Class of 2007
I graduated Trinity in June of 2007 as an independent, creative, and confident individual. However, I came to Trinity as a timid and insecure preschooler. I despised leaving my family to attend school. The first few days of school, I remember I would always watch the digital clock tick slowly by as the day went on, waiting for the three o’clock bell to ring. The next few years with my class, I grew to be grateful and appreciative for all the new opportunities Trinity had given me and I still do. Both teachers and faculty are always in my heart and thoughts and without them I wouldn’t know where I would be. They were the ones who guided me down a path to reach my fullest potential as a student. They were the ones who helped me see the life I could have by working hard in school and following my dreams. Without their help, I wouldn’t be where I am.
Laura Wu – Class of 2007
I came to Trinity as an insecure, shy, preschooler. Every day, I cried when my momma dropped me off. In the beginning, I’d count down the hours till my release. As I grew older, my teachers taught me how to look at school in a different way. Instead of viewing school as a punishment, I started seeing school as a positive opportunity for growth. I can say this easily now, but nine years ago, I was a nightmare for my teachers. Through many tears, my teachers helped me to love the classroom. I couldn’t have done it without my godmother, Miss Nancy Castaneda (who teachers Spanish at the upper school), and all of the love and support from my teachers.
Rachel Siegman – Class of 2005
I am currently a junior at Menlo School feeling the pressures of second semester. I have a full seven class schedule, and am part of a number of clubs on campus. Model United Nations and Yearbook are some of my favorite school extracurricular and classes. Just as in elementary school, I love community service and working with kids. I am the Assistant Director for the Menlo Middle School plays and enjoy being in the musicals at Menlo (my favorite was last spring when we did a production of “HAIR”). I play tennis for Menlo as well as dance-from ballet to contemporary, and hip-hop, dance and music are a form of expression for me! I love being a Knight and showing my spirit at basketball, soccer, and football games! Although the rigorous course load, numerous activities, SAT prep, and college peering through on the horizon, I manage to enjoy spending time with Philo Foo, my golden retriever and gardening.
Jessica Norum- Class of 2007
“Some of my fondest memories from Trinity School were the fourth and fifth grade camping trips and the many community service projects I was involved in.”
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