Our teachers are committed, hard-working Jacks and Jills of the teaching trade that work together as a professional team. Each classroom at St. James Preschool has at least two teachers, and each teacher knows each and every child at the school.
Kerry Tronstad, School Director, is a lifelong educator who has worked in early childhood education for more than 20 years. She has her AA in Early Childhood Development from Cerro Coso College.
Her emphasis on community and on doing right by our children resonates deeply. Kerry partners closely with teachers to foster play-based, child-led education. She guides meaningful professional development to ensure continuing education for staff. She builds inclusive, welcoming communities. She is also a parent of a blended family of five children and two grandchildren, full of insight and wisdom drawn from that experience.
Olivia Tsang, Director of Operations, taught preschool and kindergarten along the Peninsula before finding her way here to St. James Preschool in 1998. Olivia has a BS in Early Childhood Education and a BA in Psychology at the University of Cincinnati, and more than 20 years of professional experience in the Early Childhood field. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Olivia has made San Francisco her home since 1997. She enjoys traveling, biking, hiking, and trying new restaurants in the Bay Area.
“What I love about SJP is the way my daughter peeks through the windows in the school in the morning, eager to see her teachers and classmates. She spontaneously hugs the teachers. That tells me there is a loving bond there. What better place to start learning?”
St. James Parent
Nicole Banks, Rabbit Class and Extended Day teacher, is a native San Franciscan who graduated from City College in 1996 with an AA in Child Development. Nicole began her teaching career at a Daly City preschool and worked her way up to Site Supervisor. She missed interacting with children and returned to the classroom at a co-op. In 2003, Nicole’s teaching journey led her to the preK classroom at St. James. Nicole enjoys spending her free time reading, and watching sports.
Lori Keating, Rabbit Class teacher: An East Coast native and recent transplant, Lori received a BA in English Literature from Rosemont College. Shortly after her first child was born, she began teaching Pre-K reading at a neighborhood Montessori school. After five years and another child, Lori moved on to teach kindergarten and second grade at Kent Place School in Summit, NJ. During her fifteen years there, Lori continued her education at Bank Street College of Education, took Writer’s Workshop courses at Teachers College at Columbia University with Lucy Caulkins and studied literacy, specifically Guided Reading, at Lesley University with Gay Sue Pinnell and Irene C Fountas. Outside of the classroom, Lori enjoys spending time with her family, especially reading to her grandson. She is also an enthusiastic runner and cyclist, and when she is not putting in mileage, she can be found either walking her dog, in the kitchen baking or maintaining her garden.
Satoko Feher, Turtle Class and Extended Day teacher, first joined St. James in 1999. “Toko” graduated from Niigata Women’s College in Japan with a major in Early Childhood and subsequently worked in preschools in Tokyo. After arriving in the US in 1995, Toko continued her studies in Early Childhood at City College and holds a Child Development Administration certificate and a State of California Child Development Site Supervisor Permit. On weekends, Toko enjoys reading, gardening, crafting, knitting, sewing, and spending time with her husband and two children.
Devinah Crespo, Wildcat Class and Extended Day teacher, was born and raised in San Francisco. Devinah earned her BA in Early Childhood Studies from Sonoma State University and has been teaching in the field since 2010. Before joining St. James, Devinah was the Lead Preschool Teacher at the Bright Horizons/Marin Day School’s SF City Hall Campus. In her free time, Devinah enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going on hikes around the Bay Area, traveling, and watching her Bay Area favorite teams: Giants, Warriors, and the 49ers.
Bonnie Yee, Wildcat Class and Extended Day teacher, is a native San Franciscan and first started working at St. James Preschool in 1993. She has worked in the early childhood education field for over 25 years and holds an AA in Child Development from City College of San Francisco. She continued her studies in early child development at San Francisco State University. Bonnie is married with one young son. On weekends, Bonnie and her son enjoy riding Muni all over the city, exploring new community parks, and love visits with family and friends.