Staff favorites
Staff Favorites
Want to know what to do for teacher appreciation week? Here are some of our staff’s favorite things.
Ryan Poulsen
Principal
Birthday – 3/20
Favorite Candy – Snickers
Favorite Scent – Pizza
Favorite Sports – 49ers
Favorite Drink – Diet Coke
Favorite Snack – Salted Almonds
Favorite Fruit – Oranges
Favorite Hobby – Movies
Favorite Restaurant – Red Lobster
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Pens
Favorite Places to Shop – Target & Best Buy
Noel Balkema
Secretary
Birthday – 9/8
Favorite Candy – Anything sour apple, Reeses PB cups, snickers
Favorite Scent – Vanilla, fruity
Favorite Sports Team – 49ers, Giants
Favorite Flower – Orchid, Carnations
Favorite Drink – iced Caramel Macciato
Favorite Snack – Jerky, fruit, meat & cheeses
Favorite Fruit – Apples & berries
Favorite Restaurant – Outback, Mikuni & Taco Bell
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Gel pens and post its
Favorite Hobby – Cooking & Baking
Chris Bigon
Secretary
Birthday – 11/12
Favorite Candy – Take 5
Favorite Scent – Vanilla bean or lavender
Favorite Sports Team – Raiders
Favorite Flower – Stargaer lily
Favorite Drink – Iced Tea or Black Coffee
Favorite Snack – nuts (no almonds please)
Favorite Fruit – All of them
Favorite Restaurant – La Fornaretta, Red Robin, Cattlemens
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Cute/pretty post it notes
Favorite Hobby – Reading, hiking, kayaking
Beth Jones
TK Teacher
Birthday – 9/5
Favorite Candy – Chocolate covered almonds
Favorite Scent – Almond, vanilla, coconut, citrus
Favorite Flower – All
Favorite Drink – Latte’s, chai or regular and iced tea
Favorite Fruit – Strawberries
Favorite Hobby – Reading books, magazines, yoga & crafting
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Pretty sets of blank thank you note cards, Paper Mate Flair pens, Fancy foaming hand soap from bath and body works.
Favorite Place to Eat – Noah’s, Panera, Starbucks, Sourdough & Co.
Melissa Van Voltinburg
Kindergarten Teacher
Birthday – 11/27
Favorite Candy – Peanut m&m’s, dark chocolate
Favorite Scent – Lavender, grapefruit..clean light scents
Favorite Flower – Succulents
Favorite Drink – Coffee with cream, ice tea, diet coke
Favorite Sports Team – SF Giants
Favorite Snack – Trail mix or cheez-its
Favorite Fruit – Any
Favorite Restaurant – Campelli’s Pizza, Leo’s Kitchen, any small biz local type
Favorite Hobby – Gardening, camping
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Flair Pens
Jill Manley
Kindergarten Teacher
Birthday – 7/30
Favorite Candy – Reese’s, gummies
Favorite Scent – Lavender
Favorite Sport’s Team – Raiders, Kings
Favorite Flower – Hydrangea
Favorite Drink – Diet Pepsi, skinny vanilla latte
Favorite Fruit – Nectarines
Favorite Snack – chips and salsa, kind bars
Favorite Restaurant – Mikuni
Favorite Hobby – Cooking, walks
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Scented Markers
Favorite Places to Shop – Macy’s, Amazon, Target
Becky Moore
Kindergarten Teacher
Birthday – 2/14
Favorite Candy – Dark chocolate
Favorite Scent – Tropical
Favorite Fruit – Peaches
Favorite Sport’s Team – 49ers
Favorite Flower - Daffodil
Favorite Drink – Nonfat Latte’s/ Sugar Free Iced teas
Favorite Snack – Trail Mix/Flavored Almonds
Favorite Restaurant – Chef’s Table and Mikuni
Favorite Hobby – Exercise and Travel
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Flair Pens & Expo Markers
Favorite Places to Shop – Ulta and Target
Laurel Purcell
Kindergarten Teacher
Birthday – 9/9
Favorite Candy – Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups & Twix
Favorite Scent - Lavender & Pumpkin
Favorite Sports Team – SF Giants
Favorite Flower – Roses, peonies, hydrangeas, gerbera daisies
Favorite Drink – Breve (half and half) latte hot or iced!
Favorite Fruit – Green Apples
Favorite Snack – Everything But the Bagel Nuts & Fritos
Favorite Restaurant – Jacks, Boudin, Zocalo
Favorite Hobby – Shopping, decorating, spin class and traveling
Melissa Grilione
First Grade Teacher
Birthday – 9/23
Favorite Candy – M&M’s
Favorite Snack – Original gold fish crackers
Favorite Fruit – Cuties
Favorite Scent – Bath & Body Winter
Favorite Restaurant – El Azteca
Favorite Drink – Starbucks mango dragonfruit
Favorite Sports Team – SF Giants
Favorite Flower – Daisy
Favorite Hobby – Hiking
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Books
Favorite Places to Shop – Amazon, Lululemon, Athleta, Bath & Body
Jennifer Julian
First Grade Teacher
Birthday – 5/6
Favorite Candy – Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Red Vines
Favorite Sports Team – UCLA Bruins, SF Giants
Favorite Flower – Sunflower, Gerber Daisy
Favorite Drink – Iced Latte
Favorite Fruit – Strawberries & pineapple
Favorite Snack – Snack Mix, cheez-its
Favorite Restaurant – Chef’s Table & Via Roma
Favorite Hobby – Going to the beach, sports, being outside with my family
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Colored pens, sharpies
Laura Marcoux
First Grade Teacher
Birthday – 3/29
Favorite Candy – Chocolate
Favorite Scent – Lemon
Favorite Sports Team – Angels
Favorite Flower – i love all flowers
Favorite Drink – Chai lattes or La Croix
Favorite Fruit – I love all fruit
Favorite Snack – Snyders mustard & onion pretzels
Favorite Restaurant – Any
Favorite Hobby – Cooking/baking
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Mr. Sketch scented markers
Favorite Places to Shop – Target, Bayabelle, Nordstrom
Jen Schacht
First Grade Teacher
Birthday – 4/29
Favorite Candy – Reese’s PB cups
Favorite Scent – Pine & Lavender
Favorite Sports Team- 49ers
Favorite Flower – Sunflower
Favorite Drink – Non fat latte
Favorite Fruit – Bananas and blackberries
Favorite Snack – Trail mix
Favorite Restaurant – Sushi
Favorite Hobby – Being with my family, reading, hiking, exercising
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Flair pens & sharpies
Favorite Places to Shop – Target, Old Navy, Home Goods
Kelli Brusaschetti
First Grade Teacher
Birthday – 9/4
Favorite Candy – Dark chocolate
Favorite Scent – Orange blossom, honey suckle, gardenia
Favorite Sports Team- 49ers, SF Giants, Warriors
Favorite Flower – Hydrangeas
Favorite Drink – Unsweetened ice green tea, black coffee
Favorite Fruit – All Fruit!
Favorite Snack – Trail mix, dark chocolate, nuts
Favorite Restaurant – Chef’s Table, Mikuni
Favorite Hobby – Reading
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Books, anything organizational, cute pens, colorful folders
Annelise Ely
First/Second Grade
Birthday: January 13th
Favorite Candy: See’s Nuts and Chews
Favorite Scent: Sandalwood, amber, palo santo, frankincense and myrrh
Favorite Sports Team: SF Giants!
Favorite Flower: Peonies
Favorite Drink: Soy Latte or La Croix
Favorite Snack: Cheese & crackers
Favorite Fruit: Pluots
Favorite Restaurant: Mikuni, Sellands, Paragary’s
Favorite Hobby: Kayaking, Hiking, Painting
Favorite Teacher School Supply: Flair Pens, Planners, Expo Markers
Kristen Benato
Second Grade Teacher
Birthday – October 14
Favorite Candy – Chocolate covered caramel
Favorite Scent – Vanilla
Favorite Sports Team – SF Giants
Favorite Flower – Succulents
Favorite Drink – Soy lattes
Favorite Snack – Trail Mix/Chex Mix
Favorite Fruit – All berries
Favorite Restaurant – Zocalos & Mikuni
Favorite Hobby – Shopping
Favorite Teacher School Supply -Papermate pens & books for the
classroom
Favorite Places to Shop – Target, Nordstrom, Amazon
Diane Cutter
Second Grade Teacher
Birthday – 9/16
Favorite Candy – Reese’s and Sour Gummy Bears
Favorite Scent – Fresh/clean scent or citrus
Favorite Sports Team – A’s, Raiders
Favorite Flower – Tulip & Roses
Favorite Drink – London Fog or English Breakfast Tea Latte, Iced Tea
Favorite Fruit – I like all fruit
Favorite Snack – Popcorn, nuts, pita chips
Favorite Restaurant – Mikuni, Chipotle
Favorite Hobby – Baking & Travel
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Flair pens, fun color Post-it notes, gel pens
Kali Richard
Second Grade Teacher
Birthday – 9/5
Favorite Candy – Starbursts
Favorite Scent – Vanilla
Favorite Sports Team – Dodgers
Favorite Flower – Orchid
Favorite Drink – Synergy,Body Armor, La Croix
Favorite Snack – Kind Bars or almonds
Favorite Fruit – Cuties
Favorite Restaurant – The Yard House
Favorite Hobby – Yoga
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Papermate flair pens
Favorite Places to Shop – Target, Macy’s
Danielle Schmidt
Second Grade Teacher
Birthday – 12/1
Favorite Candy – Reeses’s, Sour Gummy Bears
Favorite Scent – Linen
Favorite Sports Team – n/a
Favorite Flower – Orchid & Lillies
Favorite Drink – Pink Drink
Favorite Snack – Popcorn
Favorite Fruit – Grapes, strawberries
Favorite Restaurant – Chipotle & Chef’s Table
Favorite Hobby – Reading, going to the movies, crafting
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Fun Pens
Favorite Places to Shop – Amazon, Target
BJ Andrada
Third Grade Teacher
Birthday – 8/20
Favorite Candy – Non-pareil chocolates
Favorite Scent – Lemon
Favorite Flower – Daisies
Favorite Drink – Chai Tea Latte
Favorite Fruit – Raspberries
Favorite Snack – Popcorn / chips & salsa
Favorite Sports Team – Raiders
Favorite Restaurant – Leo’s Kitchen, Chipotle & Original Pete’s
Favorite Hobby – Paint by number
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Flair markers
Favorite Places to Shop – Amazon, Trader Joe’s
David Denney
Third Grade Teacher
Birthday – 1/10
Favorite Candy – Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Favorite Sports Team – Dallas Cowboys & SF Giants
Favorite Drink – Shaken espresso
Favorite Fruit – Grapes
Favorite Snack – Beef Jerky
Favorite Scent – Cologne
Favorite Restaurant – High Steaks
Favorite Hobby – Movies
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Amazon
Favorite Places to Shop – Amazon
Kelly Harless
Third Grade Teacher
Birthday – 3/30
Favorite Candy – Dark Chocolate, Peanut M&Ms, Raisinets, chocolate covered nuts
Favorite Scent – Anything clean and fresh. Floral scents are nice too.
Favorite Flower – I love ALL flowers!
Favorite Drink – Chai Tea Latte (with soy milk)
Favorite Fruit – I love ALL fruit – especially strawberries, mango…but nothing beats a summer peach.
Favorite Snack – Nuts, dried fruit, fresh fruit, popcorn, guacamole, hummus
Lan Jackson
Third Grade Teacher
Birthday – 8/1
Favorite Candy – Peanut Butter Cups, Hot Tamales
Favorite Scent – Champagne Toast (Bath and body)
Favorite Flower – Orchid and peonies
Favorite Drink – Pink Drink
Favorite Fruit – Mangoes & peaches
Favorite Snack – Anything spicy (chips, crackers, beef jerky)
Favorite Restaurant – Chef’s Table
Favorite Sports Team – None
Favorite Hobby – Being outdoors
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Erasable pens
Kirsten Ratliff
Third/Fourth Grade Teacher
Birthday – March 10
Favorite Candy – Marzipan, twix, dark chocolate
Favorite Scent – Clean scents or Christmas scents (like Balsam)
Favorite Flower – Sunflowers
Favorite Drink – Caramel iced coffee or chai tea latte
Favorite Fruit – Pineapple
Favorite Snack – Goldfish, beef jerky, salty things (except for peanuts, allergic to them)
Favorite Restaurant – Sushi or Chipotle
Favorite Sports Team – Don’t have a favorite but I enjoy Crossfit!
Favorite Hobby – Baking/decorating cakes, hiking
Caprice Cianci
Fourth Grade Teacher
Birthday – 12/13
Favorite Candy – Gummy bears, and dark chocolate
Favorite Scent – Lemon
Favorite Sports Team – Stealers
Favorite Flower – Sunflower
Favorite Drink – Flavored Soda Water & Ice Tea
Favorite Fruit – Strawberries, Watermelon & Grapes
Favorite Snack – Nuts, Beef Jerky, Chips and extra hot salsa
Favorite Restaurant – Mikuni, Chef’s Table and Taco Bell
Favorite Hobby – Fishing, Travel, Cooking, & Photography
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Expo pens & Sharpies
Jacee Lempner
Fourth Grade Teacher
Birthday – 9/11
Favorite Candy – Skittles or Sour Watermelons
Favorite Scent – Anything vanilla or fruity (nothing floral)
Favorite Flower – Daisies
Favorite Drink – Iced vanilla latte
Favorite Snack – Hot cheetos
Favorite Fruit – Watermelon
Favorite Restaurant – Chili’s
Favorite Hobby – Cooking or gardening
Favorite Teacher School Supply – I’m not sure yet!
Favorite Places to Shop – I’m not much of a shopper but I do like target or Ross.
Niccole Pulis
Fourth Grade Teacher
Birthday – 3/8
Favorite Candy – Anything gummy & red licorice
Favorite Scent – Anything from Bath & Body
Favorite Flower – Orchid or hydrangea (but really anything!)
Favorite Drink – Non-fat vanilla latte (hot), Carmel Crunch (cold)
Favorite Fruit – Anything but grapefruit…
Favorite Snack – Almonds, fruit (dried or fresh)
Favorite Restaurant – La Provance, Eureka, Camlita’s, Red Robin
Favorite Hobby – Photography
Dawn Bews
Fourth Grade Teacher
Birthday – 4/5
Favorite Candy – Gummies
Favorite Scent – Fresh Scents
Favorite Sports Team – SF Giants
Favorite Flower – Lilies
Favorite Drink – Cold: Caramel Macchiato Hot: Skinny Vanilla Latte
Favorite Fruit – Any
Favorite Snack – Nuts, popcorn
Favorite Restaurant – Blaze, Chef’s Table
Favorite Hobby – Softball & boxing
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Flair pens
Favorite Places to Shop – Target, DSW
Jake Swisley
Fifth Grade Teacher
Birthday – 9/9
Favorite Candy – Jojo’s dark chocolate
Favorite Scent – Peppermint in the diffuser or something else that is good
Favorite Sports Team – 49ers, Sacramento Kings, NY Yankees, Placer Hillmen
Favorite Flower – California Poppy & Dandelions
Favorite Drink – Water or my green smoothie
Favorite Snack – Raw organic sprouted pumpkin seeds
Favorite Fruit – Organic apples, organic berries – any berries
Favorite Restaurant – My kids love IN n’ OUT!
Amanda Morgan
Fifth Grade Teacher
Birthday – 11/20
Favorite Candy – Chocolate of all kinds and flavors!
Favorite Scent – Coconut or lavendar
Favorite Sports Team – Not really a sports person
Favorite Flower – Tulips
Favorite Drink – London Fog tea latte
Favorite Snack – Cheeze-Its, popcorn
Favorite Fruit – Pineapple, but I love all!
Favorite Restaurant – Yard House
Favorite Hobby – Reading
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Flair Pens
Favorite Places to Shop - Target, Bayabelle, Amazon
Jennifer Williams
Fifth Grade Teacher
Birthday – 6/30
Favorite Candy – Junior Mints & red vines
Favorite Scent – Beach scents
Favorite Sports Team – None – I like them all
Favorite Flower – Tulips & orchids
Favorite Drink – Unsweetened ice tea
Favorite Snack – Chips & salsa
Favorite Fruit – Apples & pineapples
Favorite Restaurant – Taco Bell
Favorite Hobby – Going to the movies & baking
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Flair pens & Mr. Sketch markers
Desmond Hanson
P.E. Teacher
Birthday – 6/30
Favorite Candy – Score bar
Favorite Scent – Eucalyptus
Favorite Sports Team – Lakers
Favorite Flower – The kind that goes in pancakes!
Favorite Drink – Coffee with cream and splenda or ice coffee with milk and sugar free vanilla
Favorite Snack – Jerky, Peanut Butter and celery
Favorite Fruit – Apples
Favorite Restaurant – Villa Roma
Favorite Hobby – Pickleball, reading, gardening
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Wet One antibacterial hand wipes
Chris Cazneaux
Music Teacher
Birthday – 4/13
Favorite Candy – Chocolate, straight up chocolate
Favorite Scent – Eucalyptus
Favorite Flower – Bird of Paradise
Favorite Drink – Mocha Frappe
Favorite Snack – Cookies
Favorite Fruit – Nectarines
Favorite Restaurant – Pizza places!
Favorite Sports Team – SF Giants
Favorite Hobby – Making music or anything outdoors
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Chalk
Favorite Places to Shop – Ross
Michelle Derryberry
Speech Teacher
Birthday – 11/28
Favorite Candy – Snickers
Favorite Scent – Lavender, anything fresh
Favorite Flower – Tulips
Favorite Drink – Iced chocolate almond espresso
Favorite Snack – Wasabi Almonds
Favorite Fruit – Fuji Apples
Favorite Sports Team – King’s
Favorite Restaurant – Garden of Eatn’, Tang’s, Chipotle
Favorite Hobby – Cooking, working out, many creative things
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Pentel EnerGel pens (blue)
Carolyn Trexler
RSP Teacher
Birthday – 8/10
Favorite Candy – Reese’s PB cups
Favorite Scent – Vanilla
Favorite Sports Team – Giants
Favorite Flower – Lily
Favorite Drink – Coffee
Favorite Snack – Lara Bars
Favorite Fruit – Strawberries
Favorite Restaurant – Chipotle
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Dry erase markers
Favorite Places to Shop – Athleta
Rachael Enos
Librarian
Birthday – 6/23
Favorite Candy – Chocolate
Favorite Flower – All of them
Favorite Scent – Vanilla
Favorite Drink – Lightly sweetened vanilla latte with almond milk
Favorite Snack – Gluten free pretzels
Favorite Fruit – Berries, Apples, Grapes
Favorite Sports Team – Giants
Favorite Restaurant – Pushkin’s
Favorite Hobby – Reading
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Post it notes
Favorite Places to Shop – Target
Cody Black
Instructional Aide
Birthday – 2/17
Favorite Candy – Reese’s cups
Favorite Scent – Magnolias
Favorite Sports Team – AZ Cardinals
Favorite Flower – Iris or orchid
Favorite Drink – Starbucks
Favorite Snack – Pretzels or goldfish
Favorite Fruit – Watermelon
Favorite Restaurant – Taco Bell
Favorite Hobby – Reading and camping
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Dry erase
Favorite Places to Shop – TJ Maxx, Safeway
Stephanie Harada
Instructional Aide
Birthday – 4/13
Favorite Candy – Gummies, snickers, heath
Favorite Scent – Fruity
Favorite Sports Team – San Jose Sharks
Favorite Flower – Tulips
Favorite Drink – Flavored cold brew, white mocha, caramel macchiato
Favorite Snack – Beef jerky, Trail mix, Chips, any Crumbl cookies
Favorite Fruit – Pineapple, watermelon
Favorite Restaurant – Yard House, Old Town Pizza
Favorite Hobby – Trying different ethnic restaurants, support small businesses around me
Tami Lowden
Instructional Aide
Birthday – 7/22
Favorite Candy – Reese’s, Almond Snickers
Favorite Sports Team – 49ers and SF Giants
Favorite Flower – Anything purple
Favorite Scent – Berry
Favorite Drink – Iced chai latte with almond milk
Favorite Snack – Fruit and veggies
Favorite Fruit – Any berries
Favorite Restaurant – Panera, Texas Roadhouse
Favorite Hobby – Crafts and sewing
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Post its
Favorite Places to Shop - Target
Heather McClure
Instructional Aide
Birthday – 9/24
Favorite Candy – Twix, Snickers
Favorite Scent – Floral
Favorite Sports Team – none
Favorite Flower – Orchid
Favorite Drink – Iced Green tea Latte/Iced Chai latte
Favorite Snack – Cheese and crackers
Favorite Fruit – Strawberries
Favorite Restaurant – Lazy Dog
Favorite Hobby – Anything arts and crafts
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Gel Pens
Favorite Places to Shop – Hobby Lobby, Target
Renee Silva
Instructional Aide
Birthday – 3/20
Favorite Candy – Dove dark chocolate with almonds
Favorite Scent – Anything citrus
Favorite Sports Team – SF Giants
Favorite Flower – Gladiolus
Favorite Drink – White mocha with almond milk
Favorite Snack – Pistachios
Favorite Fruit – Grapes
Favorite Restaurant – The Chef’s Table
Favorite Hobby – Working out
Favorite Teacher School Supply – N/a
Favorite Places to Shop – Nordstrom
Kelly Dockswell
Instructional Aide
Birthday – 1/29
Favorite Candy – Peanut butter cups, ginger chews, hot tamales
Favorite Scent – Lemon, citrus, cinnamon, ocean
Favorite Sports Team - Sac Republic, Kings, Giants, Padres
Favorite Flower – Tulips
Favorite Drink – Cold brew w/sf syrups, sparkling water
Favorite Snack – Nuts, fruit, protein bars, pork rinds, popcorn
Favorite Fruit – Watermelon, grapes, pineapple, banana
Favorite Restaurant – Tang’s, Via Roma
Ken Kikosicki
Teacher on Special Assignment
Birthday – 8/17
Favorite Candy – Mounds Bars
Favorite Scent – Lavender
Favorite Flower – Poppy
Favorite Drink – Skinny Iced Chai Latte( Starbucks), Iced Yin Hao Jasmin Tea (Peets)
Favorite Snack – Granola
Favorite Fruit – Pear
Favorite Sports Team – Dallas Cowboys
Favorite Restaurant – Auburn Alehouse
Favorite Hobby – Gardening
Favorite Teacher School Supply – White board markers
Favorite Places to Shop – Macys
Veronica Billhimer
Meal Duty Supervisor
Birthday – 11/16
Favorite Candy – M&M Peanut
Favorite Scent – Eucalyptus
Favorite Sports Team – Dodger or LA Rams
Favorite Flower – Daisy
Favorite Drink – Pete’s Coffee
Favorite Snack – Popcorn
Favorite Fruit – Pineapple
Favorite Restaurant – Cheesecake Factory
Favorite Hobby – Sewing, reading, running, gym
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Facial tissues
Favorite Places to Shop – Old Navy, Barnes & Nobel, Kohl’s, Bath and Body Works
Jill Brown
Meal Duty Supervisor
Birthday – 7/22
Favorite Candy – Gummy anything
Favorite Scent – Lavender
Favorite Sports Team – Cubs
Favorite Flower – Daisy
Favorite Drink – Lemonade
Favorite Snack – Popcorn
Favorite Fruit – Strawberries
Favorite Restaurant – On the Border
Favorite Hobby – Sewing
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Flair pens
Favorite Places to Shop – Target, Sur la Table
