Our faculty and staff combine passion, dedication, and flexibility with the wisdom of many years spent teaching children.
Pictured: A glimpse of our enthusiasm as we prepare for our 2025-26 schoolwide camping trip—one of the many ways we build community, resilience, and joy together. We invite you to meet us!
OUR TEAM
Our School Leadership
Wendy Xa
Founding Head of School
Neuroscientist. Nature Enthusiast. Quadrilingual. Mom.
Wendy envisioned a model that blends language immersion, nature-based learning, and social-emotional growth.
At Terra, this vision thrives through a trilingual (Spanish and Mandarin immersion), inquiry-based, nonprofit forest school rooted in the IB framework. With a focus on rigorous academics, global awareness, and flexible band scheduling by skill level, Wendy’s approach ensures every student is challenged, supported, and prepared to become a compassionate global citizen.
Shauna Sullivan, M.Ed.
Preschool Director,
Vice Principal, and
IB Curriculum Coordinator
Math wiz, Avid reader and book collector. Proud grandmother.
35+ years of classroom experience. M.A. and B.A. in Education with a focus in mathematics from SFSU. Multiple Subject Clear Teaching Credential. Called the children whisperer, she is also a grandmother of three.
Lily Panyacosit, M.Ed, M.S.
Head of Elementary and
English Teacher
Clinical Herbalist, Healer, Life Coach.
M.A. in Education, M.S. in Environmental Health Science at UC Berkeley and B.A. in International Environmental Studies University of Southern California. Multigeneration Educator, Avid Student of Nature and Mindfulness, Mother of 3 daughters.
Teachers
are at the heart of our program
Teachers are at the heart of our program. With a <1% acceptance rate, we hire only teachers who can create magical learning experiences in the classroom. Our teachers have previous experience teaching in Forest, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Language Immersion schools. And small student-teacher ratios (5:1 in preschool through transitional kindergarten, 8:1 in kindergarten through 8th grade) allow our teachers to provide the personalized attention your child needs to thrive.
nuestros PROFESORES de Primaria
Yulieth Anteliz-Martin
Spanish
Chinese Painter, Artist and Epicure
7 years of expereince. B.A. in account and law from Universidad de Pamplano, Colombia.
Patricia Cárdenas
Spanish
Educator, Music Lover, Puppeteer
18 years of classroom experience: 10 years in Peru and 8 years in the United States. BA in Early Childhood Education at Inca Garcilaso de la Vega University in Peru, followed by over , “What feels like a game to the children is actually a meaningful learning experience, rich in communication, empathy, and problem-solving.”
Daniela de la Torre Garcia
Spanish
Marathon Runner, Ludophile & Avid reader
2 years of teaching experience as she is a former middle school teacher and a native Spanish speaker. Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. Former cross-country and track athlete.
Ke Ding, M.A.
Mandarin
Positive & Energetic, Cinephile, Dancer.
13 years of teaching experience. BA and MA in language education at Coventry University, UK. CDA(Child Development Associate) credential issued by The University of Pennsylvania.
Patricia Etchekan, M.A.
Mandarin
Natural athlete. Quadrilingual.
11 years of preschool teaching experience. M.A. in Chinese Language & Literature at Inner Mongolia University, China. B.S. in Preschool Education at Inner Mongolia Normal University and B.S in software engineering from Groupe Pigier, Côte d’Ivoire. Fluent in Mandarin, French, her native tongue and English. Proficient in Spanish.
Leeby Karolaay Flores
Spanish
Loves hiking and nature. Loves to cook.
Over 20 years of experience in preschool education. B.A. in English Literature from UNACHI, Panama. Prior to joining Terra, she served as Site Director at another Spanish Immersion Preschool.
Tianxing Yao, M.Ed.
conocimientos tradicionales de mandarín
Poeta talentoso. Aficionado a los parques de atracciones.
Maestría en Educación de la Universidad de San Francisco. Licenciatura en Ingeniería Eléctrica de la Universidad Xi' an Shiyou en China. 7 años de experiencia docente.
María Herrera
preescolar español
Madre de dos, amante de los perros.
27 años de experiencia con niños.
Bangting Ma, M.Ed.
Mandarin
Artist, Vocalist, Loves animals.
2+ years of teaching experience. M.Ed.in Early Childcare Education from Columbia University. He is inspired by both the arts and the natural world, once dreaming of becoming either an artist or a zoologist as a child. Originally from Shandong Province, China,
emili herrera
preescolar español
Trabajo duro. Audaz. Entusiasta.
Docente con 6 años de experiencia. Loving daughter, and friend. _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b- 136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde- 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58 d_ _cc781905-5cde- 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_
Meng (Rebecca) Tang
Mandarin
Chinese Painter, Artist and Epicure
8 years teaching experience. Bachelor's degree in Hospitality and Business Adminstration at Previous a Preschool Assistant Director.
emili herrera
preescolar español
Trabajo duro. Audaz. Entusiasta.
Docente con 6 años de experiencia. Loving daughter, and friend. _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b- 136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde- 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58 d_ _cc781905-5cde- 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_
Yanet Vargas
Spanish
Nurturing. Engaging. Dedicated.
10+ years of elementary and preschool experience. Originally from Michoacán, Mexico.
Yan (Keke) Zhang, M.A.
Mandarin
Chinese Painter, Artist and Epicure
13 years teaching expereince. MA in Education at San Diego State University, multisubject elementry teaching credential at Moreland University, BA in Hospitality and Business Adminstration at San Francisco State U. Previous Preschool Assistant Director.
emili herrera
preescolar español
Trabajo duro. Audaz. Entusiasta.
Docente con 6 años de experiencia. Loving daughter, and friend. _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b- 136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde- 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58 d_ _cc781905-5cde- 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_
ARTS, EARTH EDUCATION,
Aftercare & PE
Dylan Turner, M.A., Ph.D
PK Earth Educator
Avid Hiker. Preschool Teacher, Equity Advocate
Accredited Early Childhood Educator, Ph.D. in Anthropology at City University of New York. M.A. in Sociology and Social Anthropology at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada. B.A. in Anthropology and Philosophy (Joint Honors) at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. 15 Years early childcare experience.
Alek Cordeiro
PE Physical Education (Spring)
Growth Mindset, Goal-Oriented.
B.A in Psychology at Sonoma State University. 7 years experience with ages 18 months to 18 years. Will coach skills in soccer, basketball, football, volleyball, and track and field. Fluent in Portugese.
Grace Heidegger
Aftercare
Nature Enthusist, Crafter and Poet
7 years experience. Currently pursuing a BA degree in Environmental Studies at the University of San Francisco. She lives in San Francisco with her two cats, Waffle and Frankie. A caring and curious educator, Grace is passionate about creativity, nature, and self-expression, often spending her free time crafting and writing poetry.
Nuestros ADMINISTRADORES y Personal
Chloe Lechuga, MA SEL
Consultor SEL, 7-8 Inglés/Humanidades
Amante del océano. Epicuro y culinario.
Licenciatura en Desarrollo Humano y Educación Infantil de la Universidad Estatal de Sonoma. 8 años de experiencia docente con jóvenes en riesgo. Maestría en Aprendizaje Social y Emocional.
Melvin Watson
Conductor de autobús - San Francisco
Ama las bicicletas, padre de cuatro hijos adultos.
Nacido en Galveston, TX. Anteriormente operaba una tienda de bicicletas, pasó 22 años como administrador de edificios en Presidio y trabajó algunos años en otra escuela K8 en SF .
claire laurenz
Educador de la Tierra, Director de Campamento
Le encanta comer helado de limón. Esquiador acuático. Empollón organizador.
Licenciatura en Educación en Agricultura, Alimentos y Recursos Naturales de la Universidad Estatal de Michigan. Recorrido en bicicleta por todo el país para estudiantes de secundaria y siempre alienta a las personas a salir de sus zonas de confort. "Trabajo para inspirar asombro y aprendizaje de por vida".
Xavier Seguin, M.M.
Marketing
Traveler, Polyglot
B.A. (candidate) in International Business Management at Haute Ecole de Gestion, Geneva, Switzerland. Experience in marketing and business administration.
Jaz Perico
Camp Coordinator
Matcha Enthusiast, Devoted Aunt,
Dancing Fool
BS in Business Administration/ Marketing Management. Five years of experience as a Marketing Coordinator, specializing in administrative and customer support. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, dancing, organizing, and connecting with people from all walks of life.
Melvin Watson
Bus Driver and Preschool
Loves bikes, Father, Grandfather and Great grandfather
Born in Galveston, TX. Previously owned and operated a bike shop, spent 22 years as a building manager in the Presidio, and worked a few years at another K8 school in SF.
Enhui Luo
Custodian
Loves seafood and being a grandfather.
B.A. in Mechanical Engineering at Yingkou University and worked 16 years as a mechanical engineer, designing products that help clear water pollution. Grew up in Yingkou, China, which is near North Korea and is known for its fresh seafood. Worked at Terra since 2017.
Bridget Perater
School Administrator
Mother of Three & Sugarcane Farmer
BS in Information Technology from Negros Oriental State University. 8 years of experience. On the side, she has taught English on to Japanese students for 6 years and is a substitute high school teacher in her local community. Outside of work, she finds peace in gardening and caring for her small sugarcane farm.
Melvin Watson
Conductor de autobús - San Francisco
Ama las bicicletas, padre de cuatro hijos adultos.
Nacido en Galveston, TX. Anteriormente operaba una tienda de bicicletas, pasó 22 años como administrador de edificios en Presidio y trabajó algunos años en otra escuela K8 en SF .