History & Social Studies
Ms. FitzGibbon, Credo History-Social Studies teacher and department chair, Senior Project advisor, and Cohort Leader, earned her B.A. in history from U.C. Santa Cruz, her teaching credentials from San Jose State University, her Waldorf Teacher Certification from the Center for Educational Renewal, and her Master’s Degree from Dominican University. She has taught in various settings, spanning early childhood through high school, and found her way to Waldorf education after becoming a mother of her beloved twins, who are now adults. Her rambunctious chocolate labrador brings her much joy, and her volunteer efforts with a local non-profit add meaning to her life.
Ms. Carciere is a History and Social Studies teacher at Credo, as well as a Senior Advisor, Leadership teacher and cohort guide. Ms. Carciere received her BA in History with a Minor in Women and Gender Studies from Dominican University, along with a Single Subject Social Studies Credential. Ms. Carciere began her teaching career at Petaluma High School in 2006, she has taught at St. Vincent High School in Petaluma and before coming to Credo helped launch the Junior High program at St. Vincent Elementary School in Petaluma. Carciere is passionate about bringing the lessons of history to life for her students, helping them to think deeply and critically about how history informs our current events. When not in the classroom you can find her enjoying time with her two daughters, often at a softball field somewhere in Northern California watching them compete with their competitive travel teams
Ms. Farais teaches Dance, History and Art. She earned her BA in History and her single subject social studies credential from Sonoma State and did her student teaching at St. Vincent’s High School. She is a riding and dance instructor and enjoys performing, historical reenactments and making visual art. Emma.Farais@Credohigh.org
English
Dr. Gordon is the founding director of the Student Press Initiative at Teachers College, Columbia University, and the former director of the New York City Writing Project. He comes from a background in small press publication that led him to the high school English classroom, first in Northern California and then in Manhattan. For eight years he was a full-time lecturer in the Teaching of English Master’s Program at Teachers College, where he also earned his doctorate in English Education. Before coming to Credo, Dr. Gordon was named Senior Fellow for Innovation at Columbia University, and in that role co-founded the multimodal learning program, Literacy Unbound. His entrepreneurial work in education has been deeply influenced by his doctoral research in design thinking. Project Archive: www.erickgordon.com
Ms. Bliquez, Credo English teacher, has a teaching credential from Sonoma State University, an MFA in English and Creative Writing from Mills College, a BA from Connecticut College and a certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of California at Berkeley. In addition to her work as an editor for Tin House literary magazine, Ms. Bliquez has taught English in Istanbul, Turkey and at various community colleges in the Pacific Northwest and the Bay Area. She is the mother of two Waldorf students, and she serves as a cohort guide for the Echo cohort.
Email: Emily.Bliquez@Credohigh.org
Mx. Lannon, Credo English and One Planet Living teacher, earned their BA in English from Southwestern University and their teaching credential from Sonoma State University. Before becoming a teacher, Mx. Lannon worked in the nonprofit sector for ten plus years in various direct care positions, from foster youth services to after-school programs in arts education. They bring their experience and passion for the social-emotional health of young people and the arts to Credo High. Mx. Lannon is an avid birder and loves exploring beautiful Sonoma County with their family and friends. Mx. Lannon is the cohort guide for Onyx.
Math
Ms. Elam, Credo math teacher, earned her BA in philosophy and her math credential at the University of California, Riverside, and an MFA in Creative Writing at Chapman University, where she was named Outstanding MFA Student of the Year. Ms. Elam has studied in the Waldorf High School Program at Rudolf Steiner College and taught math previously at Casa Grande High School for sixteen years. She has served on the Board of Directors of Live Oak Charter School and is the mother of two Waldorf students. Email: Debbie.Elam@Credohigh.org
Mr. Bojarsky, Credo math and science teacher, is a longtime Waldorf math and science teacher who comes to us from Haelakala Waldorf High School in Maui. He previously spent twelve years teaching math and physics at Natomas Charter School, seven years teaching math and science at the Sacramento Waldorf High School and six years at Highland Hall Waldorf High School in Los Angeles. Mr. Bojarsky has a BS in Chemistry, and MS in Geoscience, a Waldorf teaching certificate from Emerson College in England and single subject teaching credentials in math and physics. Mikko.Bojarsky@Credohigh.org
Mrs. Menzer, Credo math teacher, had a prior career in software development and the telecommunications industry before becoming a Waldorf certified teacher in 2013. After graduating her 8th grade class at Stone Bridge School in Napa, she joined Credo High for the school year 2022-23. Mrs. Menzer earned a MS in Computer Science from Humboldt University of Berlin (Germany), a MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the University of San Francisco, and both a multiple subject teaching credential and a math teaching credential from Sonoma State University. When not teaching, she loves to learn foreign languages and enjoys spending time with her family outdoors. Mrs. Menzer is also a Waldorf parent.
Science
Heather earned her BA in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology, Magna cum Laude, at UC Santa Cruz. She went on to earn her Masters in Molecular Biology Lehigh University. She has taught at a wilderness school (NAWA Academy), program for children experiencing homelessness (New Horizons), special education program (San Francisco Hearing and Speech), vocational school (Institute of Technology Redding), and college-prep high schools (The Marin School) for close to 20 years. Heather also founded and runs a nonprofit horse therapy program, called Hooves for Harmony, working with a group of high school volunteers who take children with special needs on horse rides every weekend.
A longtime Waldorf math and science teacher, Mr. Bojarsky has a BS in chemistry; a MS in Geoscience; Waldorf Teacher Certification from Emerson College in England; and California single subject teaching credentials in math, physics, and geoscience. Mr. Bojarsky is a certified California Naturalist, has worked as a teacher trainer for the American Meteorological Society, and has a special interest in the geologic history of California.
Dr. Shaw teaches physics, chemistry, woodturning, robotics and the electric vehicle and design elective. He grew up in England, where he earned his BS in Chemistry from the University of Exeter and his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Bradford. He spent four years as a post-doctoral research fellow at King’s College, London, focusing on methods and applications of magnetic resonance, then moved to San Diego, where he worked as a physicist in private industry, developing magnetic methods and devices for the detection of contraband and explosives in concealed locations. In 1995, Dr. Shaw moved to Sebastopol to pursue his lifelong love of craft as a blacksmith and woodturner, and in 2004 he inaugurated the green woodworking program at Sebastopol Independent Charter School, where he taught for eight years. Dr. Shaw earned his teaching credentials in Physics and Chemistry from Sonoma State University. He is the father of a Credo graduate.
World Language
Ms. Mintzer earned her BA in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin., studied at the University of Madrid & Bordeaux and earned her Bilingual Teaching Credential through CSUSB. She has taught in international, public, private and rural schools in the States as well as in Mexico and Ecuador. She brings her lifelong love of language, creative process, culture and co-collaboration to her learning communities. Email: Kimberly.Mintzer@
Mr. Vela has Master of Arts in Spanish from San Francisco State University. Bachelor of Arts in Spanish (with an emphasis on teaching) and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a History minor from San Diego State University. He previously taught Spanish for 17 years at Saint Vincent de Paul High School. In his free time he enjoys conversations, chess, tennis, philosophy, running, cycling, reading, guitar and exploring.
Ms. Zimmerman, Credo Spanish teacher, earned her BA in history from Princeton University and briefly taught English to French Baccalaureate and International Baccalaureate students at the French-American International School in San Francisco. After staying at home to raise three wonderful kids, Ms. Zimmerman is excited to return to the classroom and looks forward to being part of the Credo community.
Ms. Chang teaches Mandarin at Credo High School. She earned her BA and MA in History Education from Southwest University in China and taught high school for five years before moving to the U.S. She spent the past year teaching middle school Mandarin in Southern California and brings her passion for language, cultural exchange, and meaningful communication into the classroom. Ms. Chang is excited to be part of the Credo community.
Visual & Practical Arts
Tanya Alva is the sculpture and drawing teacher. She received her fine arts degree and credentials in single and multiple subjects at Humboldt State University. At Credo’s inception, Mrs. Alva created the curriculum for the Printmaking and Choir classes. Before and during her time here, she also taught RTI, watercolor painting, and music at Woodland Star, along with leading the academic coaching team at Live Oak Charter. Mrs. Alva has also taught Permutations and Combinations, and supported students in the Directed Studies classes. Outside of teaching, Mrs. Alva enjoys coaching for River Town Racers, a sprint kayaking club in Petaluma.
Brian Baker is one of the practical arts teachers at Credo; currently teaching freshman and sophomore woodworking classes. He earned his BFA and MFA from the University of Missouri, Columbia with a concentration in ceramic sculpture. Brian went on to teach ceramics and 3D design at the University of Missouri, Anne Arundel Community College, Maryland Institute College of Art and Sierra College before he decided to choose a path in Natural Building; becoming well versed in earthen and straw bale construction. While working as a museum exhibition fabricator at Weldon Exhibits, Brian earned his substitute teaching credential to fill in the gaps between projects. After several years of teaching in 11 different school districts in Sonoma county, Brian rediscovered his love of teaching and he eventually found a home at Sunridge Charter School in Sebastopol as the woodworking teacher before making his way to Credo. Besides being a Credo parent, Brian also runs The COB Project; a sustainable community development project based around building and using earthen, wood-fired ovens.
Shannon O’Neill Creighton teaches History through Art and Photography and is a Senior Project Advisor and the Department Chair of Personal Sustainability. Shannon earned her Masters in Fine Arts in Creative Inquiry and Interdisciplinary Art at California Institute of Integral Studies and her Single Subject Teaching Credential in Art from Sonoma State University. Before Credo, Shannon taught abroad in Tanzania for Carpe Diem Education, an accredited gap-year program for young adults. She is also a freelance artist and designer. She is passionate about the intersection of arts and social justice.
Jordan Pennington@Credohigh.org
Carla Schaareman was born and raised in Delft, The Netherlands. She studied sculpture, textile arts, printing and fine arts before receiving a B.A-MA. in Fine Arts at The Academy of Beeldende Kunst in Rotterdam, NL. Next to developing her personal work as an artist, she worked as a graphic designer and on commission works such as portraits, murals, educational material, and more.
In 1995 she became a mother to her first daughter and in 1997 was graced with a second daughter. Through her children she was introduced to Anthroposophy and Waldorf education. Through volunteering in the classroom, she was inspired to embark on a journey to become a Waldorf teacher. She studied at the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training and graduated in 2006. After graduation, she taught black and white drawing, printmaking and clay sculpture, oil painting, veil painting, figure drawing, and stone carving at The East Bay Waldorf High School until it was disbanded in 2008. She then moved to The San Francisco Waldorf High School where she taught for 15 years before joining Credo.
Performing Arts, Music
Maria Ana Bija holds her Master of Music and International Dalcroze Teaching Certificate from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy from UMASS Amherst, and a lifetime of devotion to music artistry and teaching. Ms Bija loves her choir and intro to keyboards classes at Credo, and has taught, performed and recorded extensively, having held a contract with Challenge Records International and an award with Parents Choice. When not teaching at Credo or visiting her family in Europe or New England, she loves adventuring the local trails and cafes, Latin dancing and performing at Bay Area farmer’s markets– her favorite venue for community togetherness.
Paul.Romer@Credohigh.org
Special Education
Physical Education
Ms. Farais teaches Dance, History and Art. She earned her BA in History and her single subject social studies credential from Sonoma State and did her student teaching at St. Vincent’s High School. She is a riding and dance instructor and enjoys performing, historical reenactments and making visual art.
Counseling
Claire.Lampson@credohigh.org
Ms. Wuerthner was born and raised in the Bay Area and is a parent of two Waldorf kids. She has seven years of experience working in schools with students of all ages, from kindergarten through graduate school, and has been working in Waldorf schools in the Bay Area since 2016. Ms. Wuerthner joined Credo High School in 2020 as college counselor and enthusiastic advisor for the Tioga Cohort. She genuinely enjoys helping students find colleges that are right for them, where they will thrive. She is dedicated to supporting students through the process of applying to colleges, while reminding them, also, to breathe.
Trained as an historian and librarian, Ms. Wuerthner’s specialties are researching, curating, and presenting complex information in clear and coherent ways. Her professional interests include equity and access to quality higher education for students whose access has historically been and continues to be restricted. She is a passionate advocate for these students, skilled at recognizing their specific needs and connecting them with information and resources to succeed and to feel safe in their educational environment.
I believe that each person holds the innate wisdom and courage to meet life’s many challenges. My aim is to support you through the tough times, with respect, warmth, and empathy so that you do not have to face those challenges alone. I am excited to meet you and accompany you on your journey. Interests: Sculpting and painting, camping and gardening, dancing and live music, community building
Education: MFT Intern, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Sonoma State University (2023)
