A new school year brings new faces, fresh perspectives and a wealth of experience to the School community. This year, we’re welcoming talented educators, coaches, administrators and staff members across all three divisions and throughout the School. From experienced teachers and coaches to alumni and returning community members, our newest Pirates bring diverse backgrounds, passions and expertise, and a shared commitment to helping students learn, grow and thrive.
Upper Division
Celeste López Baird
Spanish Faculty
Celeste López Baird joins our Upper Division as a Spanish teacher. Celeste comes to Stevenson School from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where she served as senior bilingual content creator, developing bilingual educational resources and collaborating across education, community engagement and communications teams to make complex topics accessible to diverse audiences.
A native Spanish speaker born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, Celeste brings a rare combination of classroom teaching experience, translation expertise and storytelling skill to her instruction. Earlier in her career, she taught bilingual second grade at Crockett Elementary School in Bryan, Texas; served as director of economic and community development at the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership; and worked as a systems coordinator for the San Francisco Giants, where she supported more than 230 Spanish-speaking employees.
Celeste holds a Master of Arts in Translation with a specialization in Intercultural Competence from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey.
William Bryant
History Faculty
Will Bryant is our new Upper Division history teacher. He will also coach Stevenson School’s cross country and track and field programs and serve on the Atwood dorm team.
Will comes to the School from Haverford College, where he served as assistant women’s cross country and track and field coach, developing training programs for middle and long-distance athletes. He has completed student and co-teaching placements at several New York City schools, including The High School for Environmental Studies, International Community School and The James Baldwin School for Expeditionary Learning, where he taught U.S. History, AP Government, World History and Economics.
Will’s background blends academic scholarship with coaching, giving him a unique perspective on student development both in and out of the classroom. He earned his Master of Arts in Teaching Social Studies with Initial Teacher Certification from Teachers College, Columbia University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Music Studies with a minor in Education from Connecticut College, where he graduated with high honors and was a member of Phi Alpha Theta History Honors Society.
Samantha Cruz
Spanish Faculty
Samantha Cruz joins the Upper Division as a Spanish teacher. She comes from Chapel Hill–Chauncy Hall School in Massachusetts, where she taught Spanish and art and acted as a dorm parent. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts and Spanish from Framingham State University and is currently completing a Master of Arts in Hispanic Studies at Boston College, where her research explores wartime and postwar cultural production in Peninsular Spain.
Outside of teaching, Samantha is passionate about photography, ceramics, running, rock climbing and spending time with her basset hound, Phoebe. She also works on sailboats in New England through the summer. Samantha looks forward to joining the Stevenson School community and exploring California’s coastline.
Jeneisy Diego, LVN
Health Center Nurse
Jeneisy Diego joins the Upper Division as the new nurse. Originally from Gilroy, Calif., she attended Unitek College, where she completed both her medical assisting and nursing programs. Jeneisy is excited for the upcoming school year and looks forward to making a positive impact in the lives of her students while helping create a safe, healthy and supportive environment for them to learn and grow.
In her free time, Jeneisy enjoys reading, baking and taking walks along the beach. She is one of three sisters and loves spending time with her dog, Skepi.
Cassie Gasper
Science Faculty
Cassie Gasper joins Stevenson School to teach Science. Originally from Merced, Calif., she moved to Monterey five years ago. She is excited to build connections with students and be part of a supportive school community this year!
Cassie earned her bachelor’s degree in Marine Science from California State University, Monterey Bay, where she continued to play softball after transferring from the University of Missouri. Cassie later earned her master’s degree in Education and the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential.
Outside of school, Cassie enjoys coaching softball, strength training, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Katrina Hancock
Learning Specialist
Katrina Hancock joins Stevenson School as our learning specialist for the Upper Division. Prior to this role, she worked as a special education teacher in North Carolina. She is excited to join the School and looks forward to furthering the Learning Center’s purpose of making learning inclusive and joyful.
Katrina holds an MS.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
Most weekends, you’ll find her hiking or camping with her husband, two dogs and a begrudging elderly cat. She is a voracious audiobook listener and an enthusiastic dabbler in a variety of crafts.
Ryan Hayes ’16
Math and Science Faculty
Ryan Hayes returns to the Upper Division to teach math. His graduate studies in nuclear engineering at the University of California, Berkeley included teaching courses in engineering ethics and conducting research on high-temperature chemistry in advanced nuclear reactor systems. Ryan brings a rigorous scientific background and a passion for hands-on, research-driven instruction to the classroom.
After his time as a Stevenson School student and later playing tennis at Lewis & Clark College, Ryan is looking forward to returning to the tennis courts after school as part of his role at Stevenson. Outside of school, he enjoys working on his golf game and playing board games.
Jesse Herzog
History Faculty
Jesse Herzog is thrilled to join the Stevenson School community. As a first-year lead teacher, Jesse looks forward to becoming an active member of the School community by contributing both inside the classroom – as a Grades 9 and 10 history teacher – and outside the classroom through the Drama department. He is eager to get to know his students and colleagues, build lasting relationships, support students in their growth, and embrace the many traditions and opportunities that make Stevenson such a unique place.
Jesse’s passion for education began at a summer camp in northern Wisconsin, where he has spent the past seven summers working as a senior counselor and program specialist. Through this experience, he discovered the joy of building meaningful relationships with students, creating memorable learning experiences, and fostering a strong sense of community.
Jesse earned his bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University, double majoring in Education Studies and Psychology, before completing his master’s in Education and teaching credential at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Outside the classroom, Jesse enjoys playing Ultimate Frisbee, spending time outdoors, watching movies and exploring creative ways to make learning engaging and interactive.
Lindsey Hoffman (Morgan)
Doctor Driver
Lindsey Hoffman returns to our Upper Division in the role of doctor driver, after working in a variety of roles at Stevenson School since 2023.
Lindsey’s years of hands-on caregiving experience make her a trusted, compassionate presence in supporting students’ health needs. She enjoys building positive relationships, collaborating with others, and contributing wherever needed.
Outside of work, she loves spending quality time with family and making the most of life’s simple moments.
Ethan Lipson
English Faculty
Stevenson School welcomes Ethan Lipson to the English Department. He studied English literature and art history at Tufts University and has just completed his Master of Literature in Art History at the University of St. Andrew’s. He is most excited about teaching in a tightly knit community and being able to run and play team sports outside year-round.
Ethan grew up in Phoenix, Ariz., and has spent the last decade moving farther east and north in an attempt to learn about seasons. He loves trail running, cooking and watching movies (though not all at once).
Sean Raymond
English Faculty
Sean Raymond returns to our Upper Division as an English teacher and will also coach our water polo and swimming programs. He brings deep familiarity with the School, having previously served as assistant director of admissions, along with years of experience leading academic programs and teaching English at the high school level. Prior to his time at Stevenson School, he spent 15 years at York School in Monterey, where he served as assistant head of school, director of enrollment, academic dean and English department chair, teaching courses ranging from Freshman English to AP Literature.
Sean holds a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, along with a California Single Subject Teaching Credential in English.
Jen Rice
Entrepreneur in Residence
Jen Rice is the parent of a recent Stevenson School graduate and is joining the School to teach the entrepreneurship elective. Jen spent over a decade at Airbnb, where she founded the InfoSec team, led cloud efficiency and data quality programs, and prepared engineering teams for the company’s IPO.
Jen holds a Master of Science in Economic History from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Vanderbilt University.
Jen has volunteered extensively with animal welfare organizations, enjoys tennis, and has served on advisory boards for San Francisco State University and California State University, East Bay, supporting programs in data, technology and transformational leadership. She looks forward to staying connected with the Stevenson School community through this teaching opportunity.
Middle Division
Aaron “Ace” Koski
PE Faculty
Aaron “Ace” Koski joins the Middle Division as a PE teacher. His decades of experience in youth athletics and development will bring energy, mentorship and a relationship-driven approach to physical education.
Ace comes to Stevenson from the Watsonville Family YMCA, where he serves as athletic director, overseeing youth athletic and aquatics programs. For nearly 30 years, he directed the Live Like Geno Foundation’s Basketball Jones Hoop Camps, serving more than 1,800 students annually across California. He has also worked as a substitute teacher with the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and as associate faculty and assistant basketball coach at Feather River College.
Ace holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, along with a minor in Sports Management, from California State University, Monterey Bay.
Amy Wyckoff
Humanities Faculty
Amy Wyckoff is thrilled to begin teaching humanities at Stevenson School. She moved to Monterey last year after teaching middle school social studies in Chiang Mai, Thailand, for two years. Prior to that she lived in Colombia for six years, originally teaching English in universities with a Fulbright grant, and then taught secondary social studies and science for four years at a bilingual school in Pereira. Amy looks forward to meeting her colleagues, learning new things, and helping students explore different perspectives.
Originally hailing from Cupertino, Calif., she attended University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif., double majoring in International Relations and Spanish.
Outside of school, she enjoys playing guitar, learning languages and salsa dancing! As a fan of virtually every genre of music, she is also currently learning to DJ.
Lower Division
Erik Koski
Music Faculty
After relocating from Seattle, Erik Koski joins the Lower Division’s music department and looks forward to meeting everyone and bringing the community together through music during assemblies and performances.
He studied at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle and the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.
Erik loves going to concerts, gardening, reading, going on walks and hikes, and all things Disney. He is also always on the hunt for exceptional coffee and pastries.
Taylor Sweatt
Associate Teacher
Taylor Sweatt joins our Lower Division as an associate teacher after previously serving as a student teacher in Grade 2 at Stevenson School. During her time as a student teacher, she took on full instructional responsibilities and applied Responsive Classroom strategies.
Taylor’s background blends elementary teaching with environmental research, bringing an inquiry-driven approach to the classroom. She previously taught first grade and served as a long-term substitute for fourth grade at Mokapu Elementary School and conducted freshwater conservation research with the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy.
Taylor holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, where she graduated with honors.
Gabriela Vasquez (She/Her)
Associate Teacher
Gabriela Vasquez joins our Lower Division as an associate teacher. She comes to Stevenson School from the Pacific Grove School District, where she was a student teacher for fifth grade and a K-5 substitute teacher, adjusting lessons to meet diverse learning needs, including IEPs, 504 plans and English Language Learners.
Gabriela’s classroom experience across grade levels and her focus on differentiated instruction make her well prepared to support our elementary students. She has worked as a linguistic and writing tutor at the Cooperative Learning Center at California State University, Monterey Bay.
Gabriela is completing her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with an Emphasis in Elementary Education and English Learners Authorization at California State University, Monterey Bay, expected in 2026. She also holds an AA-T in Liberal Studies from Reedley College and has been on the dean’s list every year since 2020.
Cross Division
Alex Hudson
Assistant and Middle Division Athletic Director
Alex Hudson joins the School as the Upper Division assistant athletic director and Middle Division athletic director, bringing 20 years of experience in youth athletics and a strong track record of building competitive, inclusive programs.
Alex spent two years as a varsity assistant basketball coach at Stevenson School and served as the JV girls head coach this past season. Previously, he was the head basketball coach and a PE teacher at Seaside High School, where he led the program back to the playoffs after a seven-year absence and more than doubled participation. He also served as head assistant basketball coach at Palma High School, where his teams won a NorCal Division 4 championship.
His coaching and teaching experience extends throughout Monterey Peninsula schools and youth programs. Alex has also worked as a behavior technician in special education with Monterey Peninsula Unified and served as an assistant men’s basketball coach at California State University, Monterey Bay. Through these roles, he has developed a deep commitment to supporting student-athletes both on and off the court.
Administrative
Samuel Bolanos
Grounds Crew Member
Samuel Bolanos joins the facilities team as a grounds crew member, bringing more than 10 years of landscaping and construction expertise to the School. He most recently worked as a project site manager for Cagwin & Dorward in Salinas.
Kim-Ha Ho
Controller
Kim-Ha Ho joins Stevenson School as Controller. Kim-Ha brings more than 20 years of financial leadership experience across independent schools, higher education and nonprofit organizations.
Kim-Ha most recently served as chief financial officer and acting head of school at Tessellations School, where she directed finance, operations and governance for a $16 million operating budget. She previously served as deputy director for finance and strategy at Catalyst Family Inc., overseeing a $120 million budget and leading five finance divisions; and as senior accountant at Santa Clara University, supporting a $25 million planned giving portfolio.
Kim-Ha holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Leading Innovative Organizations from Santa Clara University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from San Jose State University.
David Lee
Director of Development
David Lee joined Stevenson School’s advancement team as director of development in March 2026, bringing experience across donor relations, alumni engagement and boarding school admission.
David comes to the School from Los Angeles, where he worked in donor relations at the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and in advancement and alumni relations at his alma mater, Harvard-Westlake School. Earlier in his career, he served in the admission offices at George School in Pennsylvania, Cranbrook Schools in Michigan and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
David graduated from Brown University, where he studied psychology and education and played baseball.
He enjoys most sports, including golf, along with Korean barbecue and spending time with his two daughters. He looks forward to exploring the Monterey Peninsula, from its renowned golf courses to its scenic hiking trails.
Dev Panchal ’20
Alumni Relations Coordinator
For Dev Panchal, returning to Stevenson School feels like coming home. A member of the Class of 2020, Dev joins the School as its new alumni relations coordinator, giving back to the community that shaped his personal and academic growth.
Dev graduated from the University of California, Davis, with a degree in international relations.
A Peninsula native, Dev enjoys staying connected to the arts, exploring the natural beauty of the Central Coast and spending time with friends and family. He looks forward to welcoming students back in the fall and seeing campus come alive with the energy of a new school year.
Jaicee Russo, RN
Health Center Nurse
Jaicee Russo joins the Upper Division as a health center nurse. A registered nurse, she recently graduated from Hartnell College with highest honors, gaining experience caring for patients across a variety of health care settings.
Originally from the Monterey area, Jaicee is excited to begin her nursing career supporting Stevenson School students and hopes to create a welcoming environment where they feel cared for and empowered to thrive.
Outside of work, Jaicee enjoys staying active at the gym, spending time with family and friends and getting outdoors.
Nicole Shedd
Assistant Director of Admissions, Upper Division
Nicole Shedd joins our Upper Division as assistant director of admissions, bringing a deep experience in student life, admissions and program leadership across boarding schools and statewide education initiatives.
Nicole comes from the Education Alliance for New Hampshire, where she served as project director for GEAR UP New Hampshire, leading a statewide college access program across 30 schools and 11 districts and administering a multimillion-dollar federal grant budget. Earlier in her career, she held admissions and residential life leadership roles at The White Mountain School, The Athenian School, Holderness School and Eaglebrook School, including serving as associate director of admission at both Holderness and Eaglebrook, where she interviewed and evaluated candidates and built admission pipelines.
Nicole is completing her Ed.D. in Leadership, Learning and Community, and holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Plymouth State University, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Concordia University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oregon.
