Our faculty.
A dynamic, kind team of gifted educators who help our kids thrive.
Nichole Bond
“Being at GATE is so much fun! The kids are inquisitive and interested — with freedom to explore deeply, nothing ever gets boring or repetitive. Our faculty is dynamic, kind, and a great team helping our kids thrive!”
Nichole holds a PhD in Molecular Genetics from UNLV and completed five years of postdoctoral work at the NIH and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. A lifelong teacher, she uses her scientific background to inspire GATE’s next generation of thinkers, scientists and leaders.
Kristen Huang
“I thrive balancing excellent plans and teachable moments in inquiry and project-based environments.”
Kristen earned her bachelor’s in Educational Psychology at UT Austin and her master’s at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her path spans directing a preschool in Texas, teaching in the Navajo Nation, Massachusetts and Novato, and serving as a Marin Master Gardener.
Roland Johnson
“Daily PE gives our GATE kids tools for life — sportsmanship is self-management, connection, responsibility, resilience and adaptability.”
Coach Johnson brings over 25 years of experience in physical education across public and private schools and afterschool programs, with an extensive background in hip-hop dance. He teaches conflict resolution and mindfulness alongside movement.
Tracy Mardigian-Kiles
“It’s a tremendous pleasure to nurture students’ enthusiasm and help them reach their very high potential!”
Tracy holds a BA in International Relations/Economics from Tufts and an MA from Johns Hopkins SAIS. Before teaching she worked at the UN Development Programme, the U.S. State Department and the World Bank. An avid writer, she loves language arts and creative writing.
Bee Schlotz
“I love teaching at GATE because it’s an environment where kids with unique social and educational needs can flourish.”
Bee holds a BA in Linguistics and an MA in Education from UC Santa Cruz, with postgraduate work in Educational Therapy. A Bay Area native, she has taught for 15 years, working primarily with gifted and 2e students.
Theo Knox
“GATE is a wonderful place for hands-on experimentation, lots of questions, and excitement about our world.”
Theo holds a BFA from Alfred University and has taught for fifteen years in Marin. He develops project-based curriculum that combines art and science as a starting point for observing and understanding the world.
Cherstin Nash
“I love to learn, and here at GATE I can learn along with my students!”
Cherstin earned a BA in Early Childhood and Adolescent Development from San Francisco State. She grew up in West Marin attending non-traditional schools, and believes everyone should be able to learn at their own pace.
Sandy Jacklin
“GATE’s students, teachers and parents create the most wonderful community of learners — the students are engaged, and most of all, happy.”
Sandy graduated from San Francisco State in Early Childhood Education and taught preschool for many years. A former President of the Marin Association for the Education of Young Children, she now serves on the Marin Childcare Commission.
Julia Amber Adams
Trained with Marin Dance Theatre and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Julia brings years of dance education and adaptive-dance experience to GATE.
Joan Pont, MD
A retired internist (Wellesley, Harvard Medical School) turned farmer, Joan mentors 8th graders through their culminating Hearts’ Desire inquiry.
Dawn Madole-Nkomonde
An accomplished violinist performing with the Marin and Vallejo Symphonies, Dawn was named the Marin Symphony’s Private Music Instructor of the Year in 2019.
Virginie Biolay
Educated at Rennes University and the St. Germain university of languages in Paris, Virginie has taught students around the world and across Marin for thirty years.
Chris Alexander
Chris holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Modern and Medieval Languages from Cambridge and has taught language arts and ethics for many years.
Sita Venkataramani
With four decades as a software engineer and degrees from IIT Delhi, Sita is passionate about passing on his love of logic and analytical reasoning.