Meet Our Staff

Principal

Ms. Dana Sudduth - phone (510) 597-4967, email: dana.sudduth@ousd.org

Dana Sudduth comes to us from Oakland Community Day School where she served as Principal.  Prior to that, she was at Oakland Technical High School where she was an Assistant Principal for 5 years.  Before that, she was an Assistant Principal at El Cerrito High School in the West Contra Costa Unified School District and an Assistant Principal at Newark Jr. High School in the Newark Unified School District. She earned her Administrative Credential and MA in Educational Leadership at Cal State East Bay. She is a 30-year veteran in the OUSD. She has taught at both the elementary, and middle school levels. As the AP at Oakland Tech, she had the honor of supervising the Upper Campus and the Fashion and Art Design Academy. 

Main Office

Irma Sanchez, Administrative Assistant - phone (510) 879-3145 *0, email: irma.sanchezsalmeron@ousd.org

Ms. Irma became an Oakland resident 15 years ago. Entering OUSD in 2019 as an Attendance Specialist at Reach Academy for 2 years. Now entering her 4th year as an Administrative Assistant at Peralta Elementary. She enjoys working with children, and in her spare time she loves practicing Holistic Healing, enjoys being out in nature, and taking walks on the beach. 

Asha Washington, Attendance Specialist - phone (510) 879-3145 *1, email: asha.washington@ousd.org

Ms. Asha is a proud North Oakland Native who also attended OUSD schools. She loves working with children and has been a part of the Peralta Community for twenty years.

Julie Macon, RN, Health Specialist

Teachers

Transitional Kindergarten

Dedra Hunt dedra.hunt@ousd.org

Ms. Hunt is an Oakland native and attended elementary, middle and high school in Oakland.  She has worked for Oakland Unified School District for over eleven years as an Instructional Staff Support in the Special Education Department providing support to all grade levels with the majority of her time spent working with high school students. In addition, she taught Kindergarten for three years.  Ms. Hunt earned her BS in Apparel Design and Merchandising and BA in Black Studies from San Francisco State University as well as Teaching Credential from California State University East Bay. She is so excited to be working with the “littles” and all the curiosity and energy they bring. She likes reading and gardening.

Kindergarten

Camille Calica camille.calica@ousd.org

Camille Calica is an Oakland native. She has a BA in fine arts from UC Santa Cruz, a teaching credential, and a MA.Ed. with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education both from Mills College. In her 30 years of working in education, Camille has co-directed a preschool, was adjunct faculty at Merritt College in the Child Development Department, taught art to children pre-k through middle school, has coached teachers in project-based learning, and designed and led professional development for teachers all over the bay area. This is her 11th year teaching kindergarten at Peralta where she focuses on cultivating meaningful relationships with her students and creating hands-on, arts-integrated learning experiences in the classroom. She is married with two children, ages 18 and 21. In her spare time, she enjoys curling up with a good book, gardening, and spending time with her family and friends.

Sonia Rio-Perez “Super Sonia” sonia.rio-perez@ousd.org

Sonia Rio-Perez has been a part of the Peralta community for over 13 years, half of those years as faculty working with grades K-5. Ms. Perez enjoys cycling and loves spending time with her two daughters at the beach!

First Grade

Stephen Davis stephen.davis@ousd.org

Stephen (pronounced Stefen) Davis was a Philosophy major in college and he now ponders how to best teach a classroom full of first graders. After 25 years in the teaching profession, he has narrowed down his educational tenets to a combination of kindness, humor, rigor, novelty, and joy. He is obsessed with playing music, performing magic, and telling jokes in the classroom. Stephen loves to travel whenever he can, whether it is a day trip in the Bay Area or an international vacation. He has visited over 40 countries. Stephen’s favorite sedentary activities include reading, playing guitar, and solving one of his many Rubik’s cubes. His favorite physical activities include hiking, biking, and playing basketball. Stephen and his wife are now empty nesters and have a daughter at a university in Europe. He has two exotic shorthair cats to keep him and his wife company. 

Ami Stair ami.stair@ousd.org 

Ms. Stair is stepping into her 8th year in Oakland and is excited to be joining the Peralta Elementary community for the first time, bringing curiosity, care, and a splash of sunshine from her Miami, Florida roots. She earned her BA in Psychology and minor in Education from UC Berkeley and an MS in Reading and Literacy from Cal State East Bay, but her favorite lessons often come from her students. She loves sparking joy, wonder, and growth in her students. When the bell rings, you’ll likely find her running trails, cycling, playing soccer, or collecting passport stamps with her family on their latest adventure.

Second Grade

Diane Colquhoun diane.colquhoun@ousd.org

Diane Colquhoun is a Bay Area native and grew up in Sunnyvale. She has a BA in English from UC Irvine and MA.Ed from UC Berkeley. She has been teaching elementary school for eleven years. She strives to help all of her students develop a love of learning through creating experiences where students have the opportunity to collaborate and engage in meaningful tasks. In her spare time, Diane loves to read and go hiking. She lives with her husband, daughter, and cat.

Claire Stockwell (she/they) claire.stockwell@ousd.org

Claire Stockwell grew up in Humboldt County, CA and has lived in the east bay for 8 years. She studied Environmental Biology, Education, and Food Systems at UC Berkeley and is currently earning her credential and MA from Reach University. She first joined Peralta as the garden teacher and this will be her fifth year teaching in OUSD. She comes from many generations of teachers and loves to incorporate food, gardening, and hands-on science into the classroom. When she’s not at school you’re likely to spot her biking around, shopping at the farmer’s market, or at the library checking out books!

Third Grade

Karen Famous karen.famous@ousd.org

Karen Famous is in her fourteenth year of teaching at the elementary school level. She completed her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership at Cal State East Bay in 2010. Prior to teaching, she was Executive Director of a local non-profit called Wardrobe for Opportunity and served as a Peace Corps. Volunteer in the Dominican Republic. She loves volleyball and earned a scholarship to play at UC Berkeley where she completed her business degree at Haas. She is married with two school-aged children, and she loves the outdoors, dogs, and seeing that spark when children are engaged in learning.

Heather Peguero heather.peguero@ousd.org

Heather Peguero grew up in Marin County and has lived in Oakland since moving back to the Bay Area from Los Angeles. She studied Music History and Music Industry at UCLA.  She got her teaching credential and Masters in Education from Mills College. She started teaching in Oakland in 2017 and made the move to Peralta in 2024. During the 2020-2021 school year, Heather was a teaching fellow with Agency by Design, Oakland finding creative ways to introduce maker based learning into the distance learning classroom. She loves building a community with her class and discovering all the many different ways people can learn and work together. When not at school you can find Heather hanging out with her cats, hiking with friends or reading a book.

Combo Third/Fourth Grade

Phoebe Sauter phoebe.sauter@ousd.org

Phoebe Sauter has a passion for working with youth and educational experience in a variety of roles. Ms. Phoebe started at Peralta in 2021 as our PE teacher and moved into her current 3rd grade position in 2022. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and completed her Masters in teaching at USF with a focus on Urban Education and Social Justice. She was born and raised in Rockridge. When she can, she spends her time away from school baking, reading, hiking, skiing, playing ultimate frisbee, doing yoga, and trying to surf. Hopefully, by the end of the year she will successfully stand up on the board!

Fourth Grade

Kate Besocke katherine.besocke@ousd.org

Kate Besocke earned her Masters of Educational Leadership and teaching credential from Saint Mary’s College. She has 21 years of experience as an elementary teacher and educator and joined Peralta in 2019. She strives to create a classroom where students grow as creative and critical thinkers and embrace the joy of learning each day. Kate enjoys painting, long road trips with her family and fostering dogs in need of a good home.

Samantha Greenberg samantha.greenberg@ousd.org

Ms. Greenberg has been teaching at Peralta since 2020 and loves being part of this vibrant community. She earned a Master’s in Education from the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute (BATTI) and a BA in Fine Arts from UC Santa Cruz. She loves creating a joyful, inclusive classroom and has continued to grow through Responsive Classroom and Restorative Justice approaches and training. When she’s not teaching, you may find her chasing after her spirited toddler Juniper, snuggling with her cat Bodie, watching the latest Star Wars content, or getting lost in a great sci-fi novel.

Fifth Grade

Helen Choi helen.choi@ousd.org

Helen Choi joined Peralta in 2024 as a 5th grade teacher.  She is enjoying getting to know the Peralta community–especially the wonderful individuals who populate Grade 5.  When away from Peralta, she enjoys reading, cooking, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Jeff Gaulin jeffrey.gaulin@ousd.org

Jeff Gaulin grew up in Massachusetts and started his college journey in Rhode Island. Nine years ago he traveled to the Bay Area to attend a UC Berkeley teaching program and still hasn’t left! He started teaching in 2016 and joined the 5th grade team at Peralta in 2018. Mr. Gaulin strongly believes that a classroom of empowered students will create an enriching, nurturing, and productive learning community. When not in the classroom, he enjoys hiking, gardening, and desperately trying to keep up with his two young kids.

Specialists and Support Staff

Fatima Aldabshi, Paraeducator

Pilar Beccar-Varela, Instructional Assistant

Lisa Beyer, Kindergarten Instructional Assistant

Lisa has been at Peralta as a classroom aide since 2017 and was here before that as a parent of Peralta students). Lisa has an MA in anthropology and museum collections management and loves how her past museum and fine arts work tie into Peralta’s art focus. When out of the classroom, she loves spending time with her family, walking her dog and reading. When she was a kindergartener, her favorite thing about school was asking questions!

Aaron Burnham, Vocal Music, Grades TK-2 

Aaron Burnham is a lifelong musician, vocalist, pianist, and guitarist who is thrilled to join Peralta Elementary in its mission to provide arts-integrated education to students. With a rich and varied background in the music industry, Aaron has worked as a music tutor, performer, recording engineer, live sound technician, and radio DJ. He now brings his deep-rooted passion and experience into the classroom.  Aaron studied Music at UC Berkeley and holds a degree in Sound Arts from Ex’pression College for Digital Arts. He is excited to inspire the young minds of Peralta to discover their unique voice through the joy and power of music.

Katie DeFriez, Kindergarten Instructional Assistant 

Lola Dvorak (she/her), School Librarian lola.dvorak@ousd.org 

Lola joined Peralta in 2019 as a parent volunteer and as staff in 2022. She has a passion for community building, championing youth, and fighting for systemic change. In addition to her role at Peralta, she supports school libraries for the Oakland Literacy Coalition. She has a BA in conservation biology and a MS in water resource management from the University of Wisconsin, and worked for 20 years as a writer for environmental nonprofits. Lola lives just down the street with her wife, daughter, dog, and cat, who all compete with an endless pile of books for her attention. When she’s not reading or helping a student find Dogman, she loves traveling and camping. More here. 

Jennifer Everhart (she/her) Teacher on Special Assignment (Curriculum and Instruction) jennifer.everhart@ousd.org

Jennifer Everhart earned her BA in communications with a minor in Spanish from UC Davis and her teaching credential from CalStateTEACH. After working in the private sector for nearly a decade after college, Jennifer followed her heart to enter the education field. She quickly discovered a passion for developing student agency in the classroom. Jennifer taught 4th grade before joining Peralta in 2018 as the enrichment teacher, focusing on Social Emotional Learning, technology, and developing a maker mindset with the students. During the 2019-2020 school year, Jennifer was a teaching fellow with Agency by Design, Oakland. Jennifer moved into the Teacher on Special Assignment role in 2023. Jennifer loves traveling and going on bike rides with her husband and son.

Sapphire Fein, Speech Language Pathologist sapphire.fein@ousd.org 
Sapphire has been with Peralta since 2023. She spent her early childhood across three different continents, but mostly grew up in the South Bay. She received her BA in Psychology from UC Berkeley and her MS in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from NYU. She hopes her students think coming to the speech room is fun and engaging. In her spare time, she enjoys reading science fiction, singing in a local a cappella group, enjoying the tree-lined streets of Rockridge, and spending time with her wife and cat. 

Zee Jaquez-Brewer, Resource Specialist zee.jaquezbrewer@ousd.org

Maggie Johnson (they/them), Garden Teacher maggie.johnson@ousd.org 

Maggie (aka Farmer Maggie) grew up in Culver City (LA) and earned their BA in Environmental Studies and Biology from UC Santa Cruz in 2021. During college, they studied abroad in Costa Rica and partook in their first Agroecology class which sparked a new interest in food sovereignty and systems. At UCSC they helped coordinate Produce Pop-Up, a student-led group which supplied free local produce to on-campus students. Some time after graduating they moved to San Francisco, on a whim, to be a Garden Teacher at Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary through Climate Corps. Here they developed a deep passion for hands-on learning in nature and fell in love with the Bay! Maggie moved to Oakland (searching for more sun) and joined Peralta in 2024. They look forward to another year of bug hunts, salamanders, fairy houses, and garden dumplings at Peralta! 

Robby Kendall, School Psychologist robby.kendall@ousd.org

Myongah Kim, Resource Specialist myongah.kim@ousd.org 

KC Kirsey, Art Teacher kc.kirksey@ousd.org

Sara Kobylczak, Instructional Assistant

Julia Landau, TK Tutor

Christina Means, Community Schools Manager christina.means@ousd.org 

Christina joins the Peralta team from the nonprofit sector, where she co-founded an organization dedicated to creating spaces where women and families can thrive. Through partnerships with over 45 local organizations, she supported services for vulnerable communities. Christina served as PPTG Chair from 2021 to 2023 years and has been a proud Peralta parent since 2021. A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, she is always excited to lend a hand with creative projects. Drawn to Peralta’s incredible teachers and its commitment to art integration, she is passionate about supporting staff and families in her role.

Katherine Ramos-Thompson, Paraeducator

Jessi Ratigan, Literacy Tutor 

Jessi has been teaching for over a decade in classrooms of grades K-3 and currently enjoys her part-time role as Instructional Assistant. Through the years (Ms.) Jessi has spent time working in many roles at school; as an English subject teacher in a bi-lingual program, as a Head Teacher second and third grades, and as an support staff working with specific students on their independence in the classroom. She looks forward to supporting students each day to think deeply, ask questions and feel confident to share findings as they explore the world.

She is married to her wonderful husband and has two young children (both students at Peralta!) and loves to spend time hiking, reading and having craft days with friends.

Jill Rogers, Vocal Music, Grades 3-5

Jill Rogers is a professional musician, fronting local bands Ex-Juncos and Crying Time, and performing as vocalist for Orchestra Nostalgico. She’s been a credentialed teacher since 2010 and taught 4th and 5th grade for a number of years – including two at Peralta – before transitioning to 1:1 tutoring. She earned a Masters of Fine art at SF Art Institute, and a teaching credential and Masters of Science in Education with an emphasis in curriculum development from Cal State East Bay. She’s been teaching vocal music at Peralta since 2018, with a curriculum that includes grade-level specific songs and lessons, and a focus on “American music” – music created and performed by immigrants, enslaved people and their descendants, and indigenous people.

Valerie Roland, TK Paraeducator

Jennifer Rosen, Enrichment Teacher

Jennifer Rosen was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and received her B.A. in Fine Art from Wayne State University. After a long stint overseas, which included 6 years of teaching in Japan, Jennifer settled down in Oakland. Here, she spent some years as a photographer, and the past 3 years teaching grades K-2 in Oakland. Jennifer has a strong passion for Art History, studio art, and the local arts scene. She strives to implement art into the curriculum whenever possible. In her free time she enjoys yoga, reading, stand-up comedy, and painting and drawing.

Mike Sabel, Instructional Assistant

Prior to working at Peralta, Mike worked in urban planning, emergency management and did Salesforce consulting for nonprofits. But when dropping his son off at Peralta for kindergarten every morning, Mike discovered that he didn't want to leave the school. Eventually he realized elementary education was a great fit for him. Mike lives in Oakland with his wife and son (a fourth grader at Peralta). In his spare time, he likes to play drums and improve his Spanish. He has a BA from Tufts University and an MA in urban planning from UCLA. 

James Saunders, Head Custodian

James Saunders came to California from Louisville, Kentucky. He has been working in OUSD for 26 years, with the past 6 at Peralta. Mr. James loves working with kids because they “keep him young.” He’s enjoyed doing the bumble bee dance in the multi-purpose room and likes building positive relationships with the kids. In his spare time, Mr. James enjoys roller skating and basketball. He used to do gymnastics and was a two-time Golden Glove boxing champion.

Sherice Tyler-Brown, After School Enrichment Program Coordinator, Noon Supervisor and Family Navigator

Ms. Sherice Rocks!

Updated: 8/26/25