Unlike most public schools where Music, Art, Handwork, Foreign Language, and Environmental Education (if imparted at all) are at best extra-curricular programs, they are central to the way each student learns at the Novato Charter School (NCS).
Music | Organic Gardening | Math | Movement | Spanish | Handwork | Special Education
Music
Mr. Blacklock completed a program in music performance, composition and arranging at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies and a Master of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities from San Francisco State University. Besides teaching music, Mr. Blacklock is a composer and a performer. He joined Novato Charter School in 2001.
Organic Gardening
Laurie Lawson
Laurie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Parks and Recreation at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. She has held a variety of roles in the Sports and Health Club Industries as well as Recreation and Camp programs for elementary age students. Prior to moving to the Bay Area, Laurie lived in Chicago, Massachusetts and also Michigan, where she grew up. During her time in Massachusetts, Laurie worked alongside Master Gardeners at Hopkinton’s Weston Nurseries, where she fell in love with learning about home gardening. Laurie moved to Novato 6 years ago and completed the UC Marin
Master Gardener Training Program in 2018. She has spent 2 years working as a garden helper at NCS and is now our Garden Coordinator.
Math
Marie-Louise Little
Marie-Louise Little teaches math to grades six through eight.
Movement
Justin Bayer studied Political Science and Creative Writing at Western Michigan University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. A long-time High School and College Basketball Coach, he was also a Physical Education instructor at Brookside Upper Elementary in San Anselmo. Justin has been our Movement Teacher since 2012.
Spanish
Born in Colombia, Liliana Castro is currently our Kindergarten through Eighth grade Spanish teacher. Maestra Liliana holds a BA in Journalism and Communications from Universidad de la Sabana in Colombia. She has completed graduate studies in Environmental Management and Social Research Studies from Universidad Bolivariana. She completed her Waldorf Teacher Training in 2014 at the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training and has taught in Waldorf schools since 2012.
Special Education
Henry Shishido received a BA in Music with a minor in Special Education from California State University, Chico. He earned his Education Specialist Mild/Moderate Credential in 2011. Henry also holds his Autism Authorization and a CLAD (Cross-Cultural Language and Academic Development). He worked as a Resource Teacher providing pull-out support as well as Co-Teaching with General Education teachers since 2012. Henry also taught a Life Skills classroom for students on the Autism Spectrum.
Ruth Rotman Paraeducator (Bio coming soon)
Rochelle Giannone is our Speech Therapist ( Bio coming soon)
