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 | Handwork | Math | Movement | Special Education | Psychologist | RTI | Paraeducator | OT | Behaviorist | Counselor | YMCA Afterschool Care
Music
Kenny Blacklock studied 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 and a single subject teaching credential in music from Cal State East Bay. Besides teaching music, Mr. Blacklock is a composer and a performer. He joined Novato Charter School in 2001.
Gardening Coordinator | Piper Primrose
Handwork
A Marin native, Jennie graduated with her BA and teaching credential after studying art and liberal studies at Cal Poly, SLO. She spent over 10 years teaching visual art at a K-8 charter school in San Francisco and participated in community art programs with the SF Mission Cultural Center, Precita Eyes Muralists Association, the Asian Art Museum and the DeYoung. During her work as an art teacher, she expanded the visual art curriculum to include ceramics and fiber arts. In 2015, she completed her masters in Art Therapy at NDNU. When not in the classroom, Jennie enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time with her family. After taking a 6 year hiatus to stay at home with her young children, she is back in the classroom teaching handwork at NCS!
Math
Kim is our Middle School Mathematics teacher at NCS, after teaching at San Marin High School. Kim also served on the Blueprint Equity Group for NUSD, was a two-year representative for the California Language and Learning Innovation Collaboration, and led the Geometry content team at San Marin. Kim was awarded the Golden Bell Award for the 2021-2022 school year. Prior to starting her wonderful family, Kim worked for many years as an SAT/ACT Test Prep Regional Manager and teacher in the Bay Area.
Kim studied Psychology and Communications at UCSD, where she also played Women’s Basketball. Kim lives here in Novato with her husband and 4 children. She enjoys nature, watching her kids play sports, and the beach!
Movement
Ms. Wells is a Marin native and grew up in Greenbrae. Growing up Ms. Wells played numerous sports including basketball, volleyball, softball, gymnastics, skateboarding, select soccer, and was also a soccer referee. In high school she was a varsity swimmer and water polo player. Physical Education was always her favorite class and she was inspired by her experiences to one day become a Physical Education/Movement teacher!
She completed her bachelors at San Jose State University as a double major in Psychology and German. While she was a college exchange student at Tübingen University in Germany, she wanted to learn more about teaching and visited a German Waldorf school in Tübingen and spent the week with a second grade class. She was so inspired by that experience that she decided to do her graduate studies in Waldorf education in the original German language in order to have a deeper understanding of the methodology. Ms. Wells studied at the very first Waldorf school in Stuttgart, Germany at the Freie Hochschule Stuttgart, Seminar für Waldorfpädagogik. Ms. Wells trained as a Class Teacher, foreign language and Physical Education/Movement (including Bothmer Gymnastics/Spatial Dynamics) teacher for Waldorf schools.
She lived in Germany for seven years and worked at two German Waldorf Schools – Freie Waldorfschule Engelberg and Freie Waldorfschule Frankfurt. When she came back to the United States she taught ESL classes to teens and adults at Dominican University at ELS for six and a half years. For the past eight years, Ms. Wells has worked at Summerfield Waldorf School in Santa Rosa, where she taught grades 1 to 12. In her free time, Ms. Wells enjoys growing heirloom tomatoes and unusual/rare edible plants, hiking, surfing, paddle boarding, and playing ultimate frisbee. Ms. Wells also competed nationally in Germany as an ultimate frisbee player.
Special Education
Special Education Teacher
I’m thrilled to join NCS as your Special Education Coordinator. I hail from the metropolitan New York area, the daughter of first generation Jewish Americans from Syria and Poland. The sun, slower pace, and natural beauty of Northern CA lured me here in 2006.
After graduating from Harvard University, I received a Masters in Education and my certification for mild-moderate special needs from American International College. I’ve been working as a special needs educator for quite awhile! As a site and district lead on many initiatives, I’m excited to expand into a more formal administrative role. Highlights and passions include pursuing the latest, greatest ( i.e.most effective) approaches for our dyslexic learners and budding mathematicians. I draw from brain based, culturally responsive, creative and social emotional learning pedagogy. While this is my first Waldorff school, I resonate deeply with its approach.
My educational WHY is to facilitate student empowerment and dream making. I seek to do this by lovingly meeting students where they are and thoughtfully taking them far beyond what even their/our imaginations might envision!
It’s already been a great start to the year for me; thank you all for your wonderful and warm welcome. Here’s to a fabulous year!
Psychologist
Tammy grew up in the Bay Area and earned her undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley. She went on to complete a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at the University of Arizona. Tammy began her career in education as an elementary classroom teacher, working with students from kindergarten through sixth grade. While raising her family in Auburn, she served as a school psychologist, supporting children from preschool through high school.
After retiring from her role as a Special Education Director, Tammy settled into her dream home in Winters, California, with her husband. However, her passion for supporting children never faded. She has found renewed purpose at Novato Charter School, where she now serves as the school psychologist.
Tammy is the proud mother of four children and grandmother to five. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading, hiking, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Brooke began her journey toward becoming a speech language pathologist right across the bay at UC Berkeley, majoring in Linguistics. From there she went on to obtain a second bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Washington before moving on to Cal State University Northridge for her master’s degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences. For nearly the last decade, Brooke has served families in Marin and Sonoma Counties in private practice. Brooke is thrilled to be joining the NCS community back in her hometown of Novato. Outside of work, when she’s not busy chasing after her young son and dog, you can find her at the farmer’s market or sneaking off to work in her garden.
Response to Intervention
RTI Teacher
Amy Hester is a Silicon Valley native and has been living in Marin County for the past 17 years. She earned her B.A. from San Diego State University and her Teaching Credential from the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, CA. She has over 15 years of experience in the educational field, predominantly working with K-5 students. Her biggest strength is being able to establish close bonds with her students and their families. She always aims to ensure that students feel safe, respected, and heard. Amy has a 21-year-old daughter and a sweet dog named Rosie. She enjoys hiking, watching the sunset, listening to live music with friends, and spending time with her family.
Paraeducator
A founding parent of the Novato Charter School, Ruth studied Child Development at CSU Sacramento. She has worked with children since 1977 in non-profit preschools, as a home daycare provider when her own children were young and, from 1998-2020, as a Kindergarten Assistant at the Novato Charter School.
At the beginning of the 2020-21 school year she stepped into a new role, now supporting students as an RtI provider and paraprofessional in our Special Education program.
OT | Meghan Shellooe
Behaviorist | Paul Zaporteza
Instructional Aide
Hayden is a Marin County native with deep ties to Novato Charter: his father, Steve, was a longtime middle school teacher, and Hayden himself is an NCS alum. Hayden holds a B.A. in English from Reed College, as well as an M.A. in English from Sonoma State University. Previously at SSU, Hayden has been a writing tutor, taught courses in composition & rhetoric, and served as the Assistant Director of the Writing Center.
In his current position Hayden serves as an RTI provider and paraeducator. A lifelong learner himself, he is passionate about supporting students in a variety of subjects through the frustrations and joys of the learning process. Hayden lives in Petaluma with his partner Kim and their dog Peach. In his free time, Hayden loves to read, explore the North Bay, and watch the Giants, Warriors, and 49ers.
Paraeducator
Vanessa holds a Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis on Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Sonoma State University. Growing up in Southern California, she developed a deep passion for teaching, spending many years working in Special Education.
Vanessa is a dedicated educator with a particular appreciation for the Waldorf approach, which aligns with her values of a holistic and nurturing learning environment.
Outside the classroom, she values quality time with her family, spiritual growth through meditation, and connecting with nature.
Counselor
As a counselor, I’m passionate about the whole-child approach—supporting students in discovering who they are, embracing it fully, and finding the courage to advocate for themselves and others. I see behavior as a form of communication and aim to understand the “why” behind it, so we can respond with empathy, support, and meaningful solutions. Rooted in a student-centered and solution-focused mindset, I strive to meet students where they are developmentally and emotionally, while nurturing their strengths, sense of agency, and belonging in a way that honors their unique rhythm and needs.
