OUR TEAM
Our faculty and staff combine passion, dedication, and flexibility with the wisdom of many years spent teaching children to achieve their potential.
Pictured above: Our in-person professional development training with our teachers, two weeks prior to the start of the 2023-24 school year (come meet us as we are ready to inspire).
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), project-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
Cat & child whisperer. Math wiz, Avid reader and book collector. Proud grandmother.
M.A. and B.A. in Education with a focus in mathematics from SFSU. Multiple Subject Clear Teaching Credential. 25+ years of classroom experience. Cat and children whisperer. Grandmother of three adorable preschoolers.
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.
Elementary GUIDES
Tianxing Yao, M.Ed.
Mandarin TK/Kindergarten
Talented poet. Amusement park enthusiast.
M.A. in Education from the University of San Francisco. B.A. in Electrical Engineering from Xi’ an Shiyou University in China. 9 years of teaching experience.
Sandra Aranda, M.S.
Spanish
Poetess, musicophile and star observer.
Master of Science in Neuropsychology and Education and B.S. in Speech Pathology and in Mexico City. My love for children started from being raised in a big Mexican family. I am excited to make connections with the incredible the people and California nature.
Josephine Mong, M.A.
K-4 Literacy Specialist
Avid Hiker. Owned a theater company for 20 years, working with at-risk teenagers.
MA in Interdisciplinary Education-Reading Emphasis and BA in multisubject from Santa Clara University, CA. Has K-8 Multiple Subject Clear Teaching Credential. 20+ years teaching experience.
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Lily Panyacosit, M.S.
English 1-2nd grade
Clinical Herbalist, Healer, Life Coach.
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.
Ke Ding, M.A.
1-4th Grade Mandarin & Homeroom Teacher
Positive & Energetic, Cinephile, Dancer.
BA and MA in language education at Coventry University, UK. CDA(Child Development Associate) credential issued by The University of Pennsylvania. 8 years of teaching experience.
Angela Perez, M.A.
1-4th Grade Spanish & Homeroom Teacher
Music lover. Avid reader. Anthophile,
Native Mexican. MA in Pedagogy and BA in Preschool Education at Universidad Panamericana. With 35+ years of experience in teaching. Teaching is my passion, and I find great joy in supporting children’s growth and learning. ​
Preschool GUIDES
Boyan Harlie Li, M.A., PhD
Marin Mandarin Preschool
Cat Lover. Professional Photographer
Ph.D. in Education and M.A. in Education and B.A. in of TESOL at at Lee University Cleveland, TN.
Ana K Escobar
Spanish
Epicure. Dancer.
B.S. in Education at Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla in Mexico. 8 years of experience with preschool, elementary, and college level teaching. My mother was also a preschool teacher, and my father was a teacher too.
Yan Zhang, M.A.
Mandarin Preschool
Chinese Painter, Artist and Epicure
Bachelor's degree in Hospitality and Business Adminstration at San Diego State University, and a Master's degree in Education at San Francisco State U. Previous a Preschool Assistant Director.
Shan Li
Marin Mandarin Preschool
Hiker, Epicure, Mother of a Preschooler
Bachelor degree in Child and Family Development from San Diego State University and have 5+ years experience "Although I earned a degree in Early Childhood Education, working at Terra has shown me how the Reggio Emilia approach truly elevates both intellectual growth and executive functioning at an early age. While I guide and teach the children, I find that I am constantly learning from them as well."
Xuan Luo, MD
SF Mandarin Preschool
Healer, Organizer, Mother of a Preschooler
Bachelor degree in Medicine from Changsha Medical university and have spend 10+ years as an acupuncturist and pediatrician. "After having my baby girl five years ago, I realized that moving into Early Childhood Education was the best decision I ever made. Never underestimate the importance of early childhood education — it takes tremendous effort to thoughtfully build a curriculum that supports each child's ability to comprehend, process, plan, and grow. It is deeply rewarding to see how naturally and quickly children adapt and learn when given the right environment."
Liliana Chavez
Spanish Preschool
Folklore Dancing, Fiction reader,and digital Graphic Designer
B.A. in Early Childcare Education at Escuela Norma del Estacio de Sonora.Have five years of experience as a preschool teacher.
ARTS, EARTH EDUCATION,
Aftercare & PE Teachers
Aurora Mora
Aftercare
Epicure. Nature Hikes and Love spending time with family
Currently at City College of SF. 3 years of experience with children. "Children are truly wonderful — they are genuine, open-minded, and naturally find the positive in every situation. Their forgiving nature reminds us of the important lessons we can all learn: to stay open, optimistic, and compassionate."
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 and Member of Marin Primary chapter of SEED, a peer-led professional development program that creates conversational communities to drive personal, organizational and societal change toward greater equity and diversity.
Alek Cordeiro
Physical Education (rejoining Terra Marin in August)
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.
Our ADMINISTRATORS & Staff
Johanna Cervantes
Admissions
Marathon runner & standup comedian.
BA in Environmental Studies and Theology & Religious Studies from USF. Fluent in English and Spanish.
Michael Pastor
Bus Driver - Marin
Served in the Navy, Has a grown daughter
San Francisco native. Punctual, 17 years as a bus driver. Previously, served as a building and property manager.
Mitch Harris
IT
Tech Geek. Cosmologist. Philosopher.
A Northern Arizona Honors Program Graduate in Psychology and English, Mitch helped folks with their computers in college and never stopped. For fun, Mitch likes music, poker, and debating the nature of reality.
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
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.
Melvin Watson
Bus Driver - San Francisco
Loves bikes, father of four grown children.
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.