Education Leadership

List of 8 items.

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  Kathleen McNamara

  Head of School
  
  The Head of School at Seven Hills, Kathleen is in her 34th year as an independent school educator. Before arriving at Seven Hills in 2015, she worked in a variety of capacities at four other independent schools: Tuxedo Park School in New York, Marin Country Day School in Corte Madera, California, Rippowam Cisqua School in Bedford, New York, and The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York. She began her teaching career at The Masters School teaching Middle and High School French and English and working as a dorm parent.

   

  Kathleen demonstrates her strong commitment to professional development through active participation and speaking engagements at national and regional independent school conferences. She was invited to join the board of the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) in 2022. Charged by the Seven Hills Board of Trustees to lead the school through its diversity work, Kathleen strives to build community in each successive school year in order to create a more equitable and inclusive experience for our students and their families, as well as our faculty and staff. Kathleen earned her B.A. in French from Rutgers University and her M.A. in French Literature from New York University. She also holds a Diploma of French Studies from Université François Rabelais in Tours, France. Kathleen and her husband, Jihad, have three adult children: daughter Hannah, son Alex, and nephew Matthew. Away from school, Kathleen enjoys reading memoirs, traveling the globe, and finding things she can knit "reasonably well."

  
  Please click here to read Kathleen's blog on education and parenting.
• 

  Jase Turner

  Assistant Head of School for Strategic Priorities
  Jase leads Seven Hills’ efforts to carry out the goals set forward in our bold strategic plan, Whole Child, Whole Community, and to embed its priorities into the fabric of our program. He leads Seven Hills’ diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across admissions, hiring, curriculum, and school policy. Jase also facilitates parent education topics, oversees standardized testing, is a Middle School advisor, and works closely with Dr. Victor Llanque Zonta to advance our program aspirations in teaching and learning and professional development.

  
  

  A Bay Area leader, Jase came to Seven Hills from Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland where he served as Associate Principal for Student Life. He has an M.A. in leadership studies from Saint Mary’s College of California and a B.A. in sociology from Pomona College. From his days as a substitute teacher while playing professional baseball, to working in middle school and high school as a teacher, advisor, and dean, he is fulfilled by helping students reach their full potential. Away from school, Jase enjoys working out and playing basketball, coaching baseball, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends.
• 

  Dr. Victor Llanque Zonta

  Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning
  Victor works closely with Seven Hills teachers and educational administrators to promote excellence in teaching and learning through curricular integration, inquiry-based learning design, and instructional coaching. He also partners with Jase Turner to spearhead our professional development program for faculty. Victor supports the school’s mission in every grade level, in the classroom, on the school fields, and on trips away from campus. He works as a partner as teachers continuously refine their approaches to teaching and learning.
  
  

  Victor comes from Greens Farms Academy in Westport, CT where he served as Associate Head of School (and Director of Global Education before that), overseeing all academic departments in PreK-12th grade. Victor has extensive education from Columbia University’s Teachers College and holds a Ph.D. in International and Comparative Education, M.Ed. in International and Educational Development, and M.A. in Social Studies Education. He also earned a B.A. in Economics from Macalester College. Victor was born and raised in Bolivia and is passionate about instilling a world perspective into education. In his free time, Victor enjoys spending time with his family and friends, reading, traveling, and being outdoors.
• 

  Daphna Klugman

  Acting Director of Early Childhood Education
  Daphna leads The Seven Hills School’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) program, overseeing our Reggio-inspired Preschool (Rainbow) and Pre-Kindergarten (Red Barn) programs, licensing needs, and incredible teaching teams. With an extensive background in healing-centered and trauma-informed care, Daphna is committed to building an authentic learning community for adults and children, honoring the richness of diverse experiences and identities and creating safe spaces for risk-taking and learning.  Central to her work is cultivating collaborative partnerships with new Seven Hills families and providing attentive reassurance and support as they navigate the complexities of parenting a young child. 
  
  Beginning as a Seven Hills Red Barn classroom teacher, Daphna has been instrumental in our Reggio-inspired program, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and developing strong relationships with our broader community. She received her M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from Sarah Lawrence College, is an endorsed Advanced Transdisciplinary Mental Health Practitioner in Alameda County, and has had over 20 years of experience serving children in private, public, and non-profit schools and agencies. Away from school, Daphna enjoys dance, wildflower and mushroom hunting, creating dinner out of “everything but the kitchen sink,” singing duets with her husband to their young daughter, and staying up way too late reading.
• 

  Jennifer Arnest

  Head of Lower School
  In her role as Head of Grades K-5, Jennifer focuses on overseeing and refining a dynamic, rich, and relevant academic curriculum, as well as strengthening the social and emotional wellbeing of students, families, and faculty. Paying attention to communication and relationships is integral to Jennifer’s work as she partners with faculty and administration to support the school's mission, instill a strong sense of purpose, and ensure the highest possible quality of student life. Initially attracted to Seven Hills by the “whole child” and “each child” approach—the commitment to children in mind, body, and spirit—she works in close collaboration with faculty and families as we strive to meet all children where they are. She works to guide the team and program so that each child is known and valued in a community that inspires them to be courageous and lifelong learners.
  
  

  This is Jennifer’s first year at Seven Hills, following 14 years at San Francisco Friends School. Jennifer and her partner, Martin, have two teenage children and a little bulldog named Olive. Outside of school, you can find Jennifer at a weekend farmers’ market, cooking good food, and spending time in the hills of Oakland with family and friends.
• 

  Dan Meyers

  Head of Middle School
  With 20 years of research-driven educational experience, Dan partners with Middle School students (and their families) in their developmental journey towards high school, and mentors faculty and administrative colleagues to lead the program forward. He believes that learning is a social process; through fostering community with Middle School students, he helps students feel important, safe, engaged, and ready to explore ideas and fail freely. He was drawn to Seven Hills’ strong programs, bold whole child philosophy, and mission grounded in equity and service.

  
  Prior to Seven Hills, Dan served as Assistant Head of School/Dean of Faculty at The Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, CT. Over his career, he has held roles as Associate Head of School for Academics, AP United States History teacher, and Speech & Debate Director. He has a B.A. in History from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Santa Clara University. Dan and his wife Andrea are California natives, and have two young children who keep them busy. Away from school, Dan likes to spend his time long-distance trail running, devouring new music, all things baseball (go Giants!), cooking with the entire family, and hiking/backpacking.
• 

  Muhammad Ramadan

  Director of Technology
  Muhammad advances Seven Hills’ vision of instructional technology, promoting innovative uses of EdTech in classrooms that point back to the school’s mission. He is a solution-driven communicator who leverages technology to enhance learning, support innovative thinking, and facilitate collaboration with divisions, grade-level teams, and departments. His aim is to empower learners, educators, and all members of the community to reach their positive potential through technology.

   

  Before shifting into technology administration at Thaden School in Arkansas, Muhammad spent 15 years designing and teaching a wide range of history and social science courses for grades 6-12. He also taught in a variety of independent school settings from Minneapolis to La Jolla to Tampa. He holds a graduate certificate in information technology from the University of Cincinnati, as well as an M.Ed. in social studies and a B.A. in psychology from the University of Minnesota. Away from school, Muhammad enjoys casual bike rides, playing Ultimate Frisbee, reading fantasy and nonfiction, and spending time with his wife and two sons.
• 

  Dr. Cyrell Roberson

  School Counselor
  As our school counselor, Cyrell provides individual counseling, group counseling, consultation and resources to teachers and families, and administrative support to the school. Cyrell is available to students, teachers, and parents across all grade levels to help navigate interpersonal and intrapersonal challenges and concerns, as well as behavioral and learning challenges. In addition, Cyrell also teaches Restorative Justice and Conflict Resolution for our 7th graders. Outside of Seven Hills, Cyrell also provides neuropsychological and neuroeducational evaluations and therapy for children and adolescents at Summit Center in Walnut Creek.

   

  Cyrell earned a Ph.D. in School Psychology at UC Berkeley where his research focused on the psychosocial development of underserved gifted students. His work has been published in several journals including the Journal of Advanced Academics and the American Psychological Association. Cyrell has a wide range of experience in K-12 public, independent, and charter schools in the Bay Area. His previous professional experience also includes working at Educational Testing Service (ETS) on the Fairness Review, teaching education and psychology courses at UC Berkeley, and interning at The White House where he worked on education policy and advocacy initiatives of the Executive Office of the President. He earned a B.S. in psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana and an M.A. in education from UC Berkeley. Away from work, Cyrell enjoys live music, visiting art museums, running, and traveling.