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 – A’s, 49ers
Favorite Drink – Diet Coke
Favorite Snack – Skittles
Favorite Fruit – Cherry
Favorite Restaurant – Red Lobster or Togos
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Pens
Favorite Places to Shop – Target
Noel Balkema
Secretary
Birthday – 9/8
Favorite Candy – Hershey’s
Favorite Scent – Vanilla, fruity
Favorite Sports Team – 49ers, Giants, Kings
Favorite Flower – Orchid
Favorite Drink – Diet Cherry Pepsi or Coffee
Favorite Snack – fruit, bagels
Favorite Fruit – Apples & Strawberries
Favorite Restaurant – Outback & Taco Bell
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Different color pens
Favorite Hobby – Crochet
Favorite Places to Shop – Target, Walmart
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 Scent – Vanilla
Favorite Flower – All
Favorite Drink – Lattes
Favorite Snack – Chex Mix
Favorite Fruit – Strawberries
Favorite Hobby – Yoga, Reading Magazines
Favorite Teacher School Supply – pretty thank you notes, seasonal foaming hand soaps from bath and body works.
Favorite Places to Shop – Nordstroms, Barnes & Noble
Stephanie Bruins
TK Teacher
Birthday – 10/22
Favorite Candy – Butterscotch disc
Favorite Scent – Cinnamon
Favorite Flower – Daisies
Favorite Drink – Iced latte with almond milk
Favorite Snack – Raw almonds
Favorite Restaurant – Hop House
Favorite Hobby – Running, Cycling
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Colored ball point pens
Favorite Places to Shop – Anthropologie
Melissa Van Voltinburg
Kindergarten Teacher
Birthday – 11/27
Favorite Candy – See’s Candy nuts and chews
Favorite Scent – Lavender or tropical
Favorite Flower – Geranium, poppy
Favorite Drink – Iced tea, diet coke, nonfat vanilla latte
Favorite Sports Team – SF Giants
Favorite Snack – Fruit, nuts, kind bars
Favorite Restaurant – Cheesecake Factory, Mikuni
Favorite Hobby – Camping, walking
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Sharpies, Flair Pens
Favorite Places to Shop – Target, Macys, Amazon
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
Kristin Evans
Kindergarten Teacher
Birthday – 12/1
Favorite Candy – Jr. Mints
Favorite Scent – Vanilla
Favorite Flower – Rose
Favorite Drink – Ice Tea, Mocha
Favorite Fruit – berries
Favorite Snack – Popcorn, kind bars
Favorite Restaurant – Panera
Favorite Hobby – Reading
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Post its, stickers
Favorite Places to Shop – Target
Lisa Bogert
Kindergarten Teacher
Birthday – 2/10
Favorite Candy – gummy candy
Favorite Scent – any non-sweet
Favorite Sports Team – SF Giants
Favorite Flower – Stargazer lilies
Favorite Drink – Diet Coke
Favorite Snack – Pretzels
Favorite Fruit – Tangerine
Favorite Restaurant – Mikuni or Chipotle
Favorite Hobby – Cooking
Favorite Teacher School Supply – no-leak Sharpie pen, not marker (small point)
Favorite Places to Shop – Target, Nordstrom
Barabara Dyas
Kindergarten Teacher
Birthday – 8/30
Favorite Candy – See’s chocolate
Favorite Scent – Ocean
Favorite Sport’s Team – SF Giants
Favorite Flower – Tulips, Sunflowers
Favorite Drink – Latte
Favorite Snack – Popcorn
Favorite Restaurant – Sushi – Asian Cuisine
Favorite Hobby – Traveling
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Flair skinny markers, scented markers
Favorite Places to Shop – Amazon
Annelise Ely
Kindergarten Teacher
Birthday: January 13th
Favorite Candy: Fast break, Snickers, Take5
Favorite Scent: sandalwood, vanilla, coconut, woodsy scents
Favorite Sports Team: SF Giants!
Favorite Flower: Peonies & Dahlias
Favorite Drink: LaCroix Sparkling Water- Key Lime& Coconut
Favorite Snack: Cashews, Cheese & Bread, Chips& Guacamole
Favorite Fruit: watermelon & oranges
Favorite Restaurant: Mikuni, Tower Cafe, Sampino’s
Favorite Hobby: Kayaking, Hiking, Art, RoadTripping
Jennifer Julian
First Grade Teacher
Birthday – 5/6
Favorite Candy – Reese’s peanut butter cups, red vines, sour patch watermelons
Favorite Sports Team – UCLA Bruins, SF Giants
Favorite Flower – Gerber daisy
Favorite Drink – Starbucks passion tea lemonade or mocha
Favorite Health Fruit – strawberries, pineapple
Favorite Snack – Snack mix
Favorite Restaurant – Jack’s Urban Eats, Chef’s Table
Favorite Hobby – Beach, being outdoors with my kids
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Markers (sharpies), bright colors
Jen Schacht
First Grade Teacher
Birthday – 4/29
Favorite Candy – Reese’s PB cups
Favorite Scent – Lavendar
Favorite Sports Team- 49ers, Giants
Favorite Flower – Sunflower
Favorite Drink – Non fat latte & Sparkling Water
Favorite Fruit – Blackberries, bananas, strawberries
Favorite Snack – Trail mix
Favorite Restaurant – Sushi Unlimited & Jack’s Urban Eats
Favorite Hobby – Reading, hiking, exercising, and family
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Dry Erase Markers, sharpies
Laurel Purcell
First Grade Teacher
Birthday – 9/9
Favorite Candy – Mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups
Favorite Scent – Lavender
Favorite Sports Team – SF Giants
Favorite Flower – Sunflowers, peonies
Favorite Drink – Starbucks breve latte, Hint Green Apple Water
Favorite Fruit – green apples
Favorite Snack – salted almonds, kind bars
Favorite Restaurant – Boundin, Zocalo, Jacks
Favorite Hobby – Spin, shopping, barre, traveling
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Target, Lakeshore
Carla Finn
First/Second Grade Teacher
Birthday – December 21
Favorite Candy – Peanut M&Ms
Favorite Scent – Lavender
Favorite Sports Team – Giants and 49ers
Favorite Flower – Tulips
Favorite Drink – Coffee
Favorite Fruit – Apples and Bananas
Favorite Restaurant – Il Fornaio, Chipotle
Favorite Hobby – Yoga and Reading
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Colored Sharpies
Favorite Places to Shop – Everywhere
Laura Marcoux
First Grade Teacher
Birthday – 3/29
Favorite Candy – anything milk chocolate
Favorite Scent – clean/lemon
Favorite Sports Team – Angels
Favorite Flower – Peonie
Favorite Drink – Chai lattes
Favorite Fruit – Apples
Favorite Snack – Snyders mustard pretzels, crackers
Favorite Restaurant – Islands, BJs
Favorite Hobby – Running
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Mr. Sketch scented markers
Favorite Places to Shop – Amazon and Nordstrom
Diane Cutter
Second Grade Teacher
Birthday – 9/16
Favorite Candy – Reese’s, peanut butter M&M’s
Favorite Scent – Fresh/clean scent
Favorite Sports Team – A’s, Raiders
Favorite Flower – Tulip
Favorite Drink – Coke Zero, Izze
Favorite Fruit – Mandarin oranges, clementines
Favorite Snack – Popcorn, pistachios
Favorite Restaurant – Mikuni, La Provence, Yard House
Favorite Hobby – Baking
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Papermate flair pens
Favorite Places to Shop – Macy’s, Target
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
Wendy Johnson
Second Grade Teacher
Birthday – 6/19
Favorite Candy – Swedish fish, junior mints
Favorite Scent – Coconut
Favorite Flower – Tulips
Favorite Drink – Chai Tea Latte or white mocha (hot or iced)
Favorite Snack – Chocolate chip cookies, goldfish crackers
Favorite Fruit – Apples, strawberries
Favorite Restaurant – Cheesecake Factory, Blaze Pizza, Chipotle, Rubios
Favorite Hobby – Hiking, travel, photography
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Post Its
Favorite Places to Shop – Target, Macys
Jessica Schwartz
Second Grade Teacher
Birthday – 6/12
Favorite Candy – Twix
Favorite Scent – Strawberry
Favorite Sports Team – Kings and SF Giants
Favorite Flower – Sunflowers
Favorite Drink – Mochas
Favorite Fruit – Clementines
Favorite Snack – Cookies
Favorite Restaurant – Cheesecake Factory
Favorite Hobby – Reading
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Colorful whiteboard markers
Favorite Places to Shop – Target, Barnes & Noble
David Denney
Third Grade Teacher
Birthday – 1/10
Favorite Candy – Beef Jerky
Favorite Sports Team – Dallas Cowboys
Favorite Drink – Dark roast coffee with cream and real sugar
Favorite Fruit – Bananas
Favorite Snack – Beef Jerky
Favorite Restaurant – Yard House and Mikuni
Favorite Hobby – Golf
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Pencils and erasers
Favorite Places to Shop – Amazon
Danielle Schmidt
Third Grade Teacher
Birthday – 12/1
Favorite Candy – Chocolate
Favorite Scent – Fresh Linen, Lemon
Favorite Flower – Peony, Orchid
Favorite Drink – Diet Coke, Sparkling Water
Favorite Snack – Chocolate covered pretzels, popcorn, anything salty and sweet
Favorite Fruit – Grapes, mangoes
Favorite Restaurant – BJ’s, Cheesecake Factory, Chipotle
Favorite Hobby – Watching movies
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Thin colored sharpies, colored pens
Favorite Places to Shop – Amazon, Target, Trader Joes
Kelly Harless
Third Grade Teacher
Birthday – 3/30
Favorite Candy – Reese’s peanut butter cups, See’s Nuts and Chews, Hot Tamales
Favorite Scent – Clean scents, flowers and lavender
Favorite Flower – I love flowers of all varieties
Favorite Drink – Soy Chai Latte (hot or cold), iced tea, sparkling water
Favorite Fruit – Any and all – peaches, apples, plums, mandarins
Favorite Snack – Popcorn, chips and salsa, chocolate chip cookies
Favorite Restaurant – Chipotle, Cheesecake Factory
Favorite Hobby – Reading and movies
Lan Jackson
Third Grade Teacher
Birthday – 8/1
Favorite Candy – Dark chocolate
Favorite Scent – Anything fruity
Favorite Flower – Orchid
Favorite Coffee or Tea – Vanilla latte
Favorite Fruit – Mango
Favorite Snack – Anything
Favorite Restaurant – Chef’s Table
Favorite Hobby – Reading
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Expo markers
Favorite Places to Shop – Charming Charlie, H&M, Amazon
Niccole Pulis
Fourth Grade Teacher
Birthday – 3/8
Favorite Candy – Sour gummies, red vines
Favorite Scent – Anything from Bath & Body
Favorite Flower – Orchid or gerber daisy
Favorite Drink – Coke, Starbucks vanilla latte
Favorite Fruit – Fuji apple, strawberries
Favorite Snack – Almonds, popcorn
Favorite Restaurant – Mikuni
Favorite Hobby – Photography
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Colored pens or Mr. Sketch markers
Favorite Places to Shop – Target, Marshalls
Caprice Cianci
Fourth Grade Teacher
Birthday – 12/13
Favorite Candy – Gummies (sour), Peanut Butter Cups, Peppermint Patties
Favorite Scent – Lemon
Favorite Sports Team – Stealers, 49ers, OU
Favorite Flower – Sunflower, succulents
Favorite Drink – Ice tea, flavored soda water
Favorite Fruit – Watermelon, cherries, apples
Favorite Snack – Beef Jerky, Kettle chips, nuts
Favorite Restaurant – Mikuni, Zocolo, Jim Boys
Favorite Hobby – Fishing, board games, cooking
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Expo pens, glue sticks
Kristen Benato
Fourth Grade Teacher
Birthday – October 14
Favorite Candy – Anything
Favorite Scent – Vanilla
Favorite Sports Team – SF Giants
Favorite Flower – Orchids
Favorite Drink – Skinny Caramel Macchiato
Favorite Snack – Sweet and Salty treats. Trail Mix/Chex
Mix
Favorite Fruit – Grapes and berries
Favorite Restaurant – Jack’s Urban Eats, Mikuni
Favorite Hobby – Cooking, reading, anything to do with my little
boys
Favorite Teacher School Supply – New books for the classroom
library
Favorite Places to Shop – Target & Nordstrom
Dawn Bews
Fifth Grade Teacher
Birthday – 4/5
Favorite Candy – Red Vines, anything with nuts
Favorite Scent – Fresh Scents, floral
Favorite Sports Team – SF Giants, Kings
Favorite Flower – Lilies, daisys
Favorite Drink – Vanilla latte or Sparkling Water
Favorite Fruit – Any
Favorite Snack – Nuts, popcorn
Favorite Restaurant – BJ’s, Krush Burger, In & Out
Favorite Hobby – Softball, baseball
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Flair pens
Favorite Places to Shop – Target, DSW
Jennifer Williams
Fifth Grade Teacher
Birthday – 6/30
Favorite Candy – See’s chocolate (no peanuts)
Favorite Scent – Beach scents
Favorite Sports Team – Giants
Favorite Flower – Tulips
Favorite Drink – Vanilla latte
Favorite Snack – Nacho doritos
Favorite Fruit – Apples
Favorite Restaurant – Cheesecake Factory
Favorite Hobby – Going to the movies
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Lakeshore
Favorite Places to Shop – Target
Rachael Enos
Librarian
Birthday – 6/23
Favorite Candy – Skittles
Favorite Flower – All of them
Favorite Drink – Decaf iced tea
Favorite Snack – Gluten free pretzels
Favorite Fruit – Pineapple
Favorite Restaurant – Starbucks, Cheesecake Factory
Favorite Hobby – Paddle boarding
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Post it notes
Favorite Places to Shop – Target
Lori Burkhead
P.E. Teacher
Birthday – 6/30
Favorite Candy – Caramel, chocolate, 100 Grand
Favorite Scent – Lemon, cinnamon
Favorite Sports Team – Dodgers
Favorite Flower – Tulips, daffodils
Favorite Drink – Mocha
Favorite Snack – Cheese, crackers, chips
Favorite Fruit – All
Favorite Restaurant – Chipotle
Favorite Hobby – Pickleball, traveling, hiking
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Pencils, Sharpies
Favorite Places to Shop – Unique odds & ends type stores
Michelle Derryberry
Speech Teacher
Birthday – 11/28
Favorite Candy – Snickers & hot tamales
Favorite Scent – Lavender
Favorite Flower – Tulips
Favorite Drink – Coffee with half & half, La Croix (cherry limeade)
Favorite Snack – Pretzel crisps & hummus
Favorite Fruit – Cherries, seedless grapes
Favorite Restaurant – Mikuni
Favorite Hobby – Cooking, crafting
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Super Duper Inc, Speech Corner
Favorite Places to Shop – Macy’s, Home Goods
Brienne Reid
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
Kim Gilley
Instructional Aide
Birthday – 5/27
Favorite Candy – Chocolate
Favorite Scent – Clean
Favorite Sports Team – Dallas Cowboys
Favorite Flower – Orchid
Favorite Drink – Iced Chai Tea
Favorite Snack – Chocolate, salty snacks
Favorite Fruit – Strawberry, grapes
Favorite Restaurant – Yard House
Favorite Hobby – Spending time with my kids
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Pens, markers
Favorite Places to Shop – Macy’s, Target
Amanda Cory
Instructional Aide
Birthday – 11/19
Favorite Candy – Goobers
Favorite Scent – Gardina, Apple
Favorite Sports Team – 49ers, Michigan Wolverines
Favorite Flower – Orchid
Favorite Drink – Dutch Bros
Favorite Snack – mixed nuts
Favorite Fruit – Strawberries
Favorite Restaurant – Olive Garden
Favorite Hobby – Watching sports or watching my kids play sports
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Markers
Favorite Places to Shop – Target, Hobby Lobby, Dicks Sporting Goods
Amy Malone
Instructional Aide
Birthday – 11/12
Favorite Candy – anything milk chocolate
Favorite Sports Team – Minnesota Vikings
Favorite Flower – Daisy
Favorite Drink – Dr. Pepper
Favorite Snack – Almonds
Favorite Fruit – Oragne
Favorite Restaurant – My Thai Kitchen
Favorite Hobby – running, napping
Favorite Teacher School Supply – smelly markers
Favorite Places to Shop - Target
Tristan Javier
Instructional Aide
Birthday – 9/23
Favorite Candy – Chocolate and gummy bears
Favorite Scent – Citrus, fruity, freshly baked cookies
Favorite Sports Team – none
Favorite Flower – all
Favorite Drink – Matcha Latte (hot)
Favorite Snack – Smart food white chedder popcorn
Favorite Fruit – Strawberries
Favorite Restaurant – Cheesecake Factory, Starbucks
Favorite Hobby – Walking, journaling, watching TV series
Favorite Teacher School Supply – none
Favorite Places to Shop – Cotton On, Forever 21, Target
Kerri Hall
P.E. Aide
Birthday – 10/27
Favorite Sports Team – Yankees
Favorite Drink – Water
Favorite Snack – Lara Bar
Favorite Fruit – Grapes
Favorite Restaurant – My Thai Kitchen
Favorite Hobby – Hiking, climbing mountains
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Sneakers
Favorite Places to Shop – American Eagle
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
