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 caramel with sea salt
Favorite Scent – Almond, vanilla, coconut
Favorite Flower – All
Favorite Drink – Non-fat latte
Favorite Snack – Something healthy-ish
Favorite Fruit – Strawberries
Favorite Hobby – Reading books, magazines, yoga & being in nature
Favorite Teacher School Supply – pretty sets of thank you note cards and Paper Mate Flair pens
Favorite Place to Eat – Noah’s & Panera
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
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 – Haribo gummies…watermelon, coke bottles, lifesaver berries gummies
Favorite Scent – any
Favorite Sports Team -
Favorite Flower – any
Favorite Drink – Starbucks & Diet Coke
Favorite Snack – Flavored pretzels
Favorite Fruit – Tangerine
Favorite Restaurant – Mikuni
Favorite Hobby – Cooking
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Flair pens
Favorite Places to Shop – 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
Annelise Ely
Kindergarten Teacher
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
Melissa Grilione
First Grade Teacher
Birthday – 9/23
Favorite Candy – M&M’s
Favorite Snack – Trail mix
Favorite Fruit – Strawberries
Favorite Scent – Fresh laundry
Favorite Restaurant – El Azteca
Favorite Drink – Peach mango green tea
Favorite Sports Team – SF Giants
Favorite Flower – Lily
Favorite Hobby – Paddleboarding
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Glue sticks
Favorite Places to Shop – Amazon, Target
Jennifer Julian
First Grade Teacher
Birthday – 5/6
Favorite Candy – Starburst, Red Vines, Sour Patch Kids
Favorite Sports Team – UCLA Bruins, SF Giants
Favorite Flower – Sunflower, Gerber Daisy
Favorite Drink – Latte, Mocha, lemonade
Favorite Fruit – Strawberries
Favorite Snack – Chex Mix, muffins
Favorite Restaurant – Chef’s Table, Chipotle, In-N-Out
Favorite Hobby – Being outdoors with my kids, beach, going on walks
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Colored Sharpies
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
Laurel Purcell
First Grade Teacher
Birthday – 9/9
Favorite Candy – Kitkat
Favorite Scent - Lavender, Apple Cinnamon, Pumpkin Spice, Lemon
Favorite Sports Team – SF Giants
Favorite Flower – Pink roses (or ANY flower…!)
Favorite Drink – Breve (half and half) latte hot or iced!
Favorite Fruit – Granny Smith apples
Favorite Snack – Everything But the Bagel Nuts & Fritos
Favorite Restaurant – Zocalo, Smash Burger
Favorite Hobby – Shopping, decorating, spin class and traveling
Jen Schacht
First Grade Teacher
Birthday – 4/29
Favorite Candy – Reese’s PB cups
Favorite Scent – Pine
Favorite Sports Team- 49ers
Favorite Flower – Sunflower & hydrangeas
Favorite Drink – Non fat latte-hot or iced!
Favorite Fruit – Bananas and blackberries
Favorite Snack – Trail mix & Think! Bars
Favorite Restaurant – Zakuro, Orchid Thai, Eureka
Favorite Hobby – Being with my family, reading & hiking
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Sharpies, dry erase markers, laminate sleeves
Kristen Benato
Second 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
Diane Cutter
Second Grade Teacher
Birthday – 9/16
Favorite Candy – Reese’s and Sour Gummy Bears
Favorite Scent – Fresh/clean scent
Favorite Sports Team – A’s, Raiders
Favorite Flower – Tulip & dahlias
Favorite Drink – Royal Breakfast Tea Latte, Iced Tea Lemonade
Favorite Fruit – Grapes & apples
Favorite Snack – Popcorn
Favorite Restaurant – Mikuni
Favorite Hobby – Baking
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Flair pens, cute binder clips, fun color Post-it notes
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
BJ Andrada
Third Grade Teacher
Birthday – 8/20
Favorite Candy – Chocolate – snow caps
Favorite Scent – Lemon – citrus
Favorite Flower – All
Favorite Drink – Chai Tea Latte w/ cinnamon on top
Favorite Fruit – Raspberries
Favorite Snack – Popcorn / chips & salsa
Favorite Sports Team – Raiders
Favorite Restaurant – Leo’s Kitchen & Original Pete’s
Favorite Hobby – On-line shopping/ baking/ crafting
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Flair pens & skinny Expo Markers
David Denney
Third Grade Teacher
Birthday – 1/10
Favorite Candy – Beef Jerky
Favorite Sports Team – Dallas Cowboys & SF Giants
Favorite Drink – Dark Roast, 2 real sugars, and half and half
Favorite Fruit – Blueberries
Favorite Snack – Beef Jerky
Favorite Scent – The ocean
Favorite Restaurant – High Steaks
Favorite Hobby – Golf
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Erasers of all kinds
Favorite Places to Shop – Amazon
Kelly Harless
Third Grade Teacher
Birthday – 3/30
Favorite Candy – All Chocolate, Peanut Butter Cups and Hot Tamales
Favorite Scent – Clean, floral, fresh scents
Favorite Flower – I love ALL flowers!
Favorite Drink – Chai Tea Latte (with soy milk)
Favorite Fruit – I love ALL fruit – peaches, mangos, strawberries
Favorite Snack – Popcorn, chips and salsa, nuts, cookies
Favorite Restaurant – Chipotle, Sushi Mon, Leo’s Kitchen
Favorite Sport Team – I don’t like watching sports
Lan Jackson
Third Grade Teacher
Birthday – 8/1
Favorite Candy – Peanut Butter Cups, Hot Tamales
Favorite Scent – Champagne Toast(Bath and body), citrus
Favorite Flower – Orchid and peonies
Favorite Drink – Pink Drink, Non-fat Vanilla latte
Favorite Fruit – Mangoes, peaches, apricots, fresh cherries
Favorite Snack – Spicy chips, dried mangoes, roasted nuts
Favorite Restaurant – Chipotle, Chef Table, Sushi Mon, Leo’s Kitchen
Favorite Sports Team – Oakland A’s
Caprice Cianci
Fourth Grade Teacher
Birthday – 12/13
Favorite Candy – Sour Gummies, Red Vines, Reeses
Favorite Scent – Lemon
Favorite Sports Team – Stealers
Favorite Flower – Sunflower
Favorite Drink – Ice tea, soda water
Favorite Fruit – Strawberries
Favorite Snack – Chips and Salsa, Beef Jerky, Cheese and Crackers
Favorite Restaurant – Mikuni
Favorite Hobby – Fishing, Travel, Gardening
Favorite Teacher School Supply – Expo pens
Favorite Places to Shop – Target
Stephanie Styczynski
Fourth Grade 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
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 – 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
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 – 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
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
