Directory

Hi! I am Anita, the Principal here at Webster.  This is my 13th year here at Webster, I began as the third grade GE teacher here for 8 years, moved into a literacy specialist role for three  years and last year was my first year as principal.  It’s definitely been a journey but I am very thankful to be a part of such a beautiful community.  In my free time, I enjoy shopping, traveling, hanging with my family, going to amazing restaurants, and dancing.  I am excited to continue leading this community in my second year as Principal.

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My name is Jen Caldwell, and I am the School Social Worker at Daniel Webster. This is my 5th year at Daniel Webster and my 15th year as a School Social Worker with SFUSD. At Daniel Webster, you can find me in the Wellness Center. Sometimes kids call me “the feelings teacher”. I love being a safe adult for kids to talk to and a support for parents and teachers. I also lead community circles,  teach social emotional lessons, and facilitate counseling/social emotional learning groups. In my free time, you can find me hiking, exploring the amazing Bay Area food scene, hanging with my furbaby Oliver, or binging reality TV. I am so excited to support you all and your students this year!

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Hi! I’m Anneliese, the Community School Coordinator here at Daniel Webster. This is my second year in the role. After teaching Spanish Immersion to 4th and 5th graders through the pandemic, I’ve spent the past four years working as a family liaison and community coordinator here at DW. I love teaming up with our school community and dreaming up ways to make school systems work for our students. I moved from Utah to the Bay Area 7 years ago and can’t get enough of the views, the food, and the amazing community here. When I’m not at school, you’ll probably find me running along the water or through Golden Gate park and polishing off a good run with the best pastries in around!

Hi! I am Xiomara Melendez, the Instructional Coach here at Daniel Webster Elementary School. I have been part of the Daniel Webster community since 2014. I have held various roles, from being the parent liaison and secretary to being a classroom teacher for seven years. I love this community and am very proud to be part of it. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, hiking, dancing, and reading. .

My name is Susi Brennan and I am a Math and Social Emotional Learning Coach. I’m entering my 24th year in SFUSD and have been a part of the DW community since my oldest child was in kindergarten in 2011. Over the years, I’ve taught 3rd-8th grades, been a special education teacher, an instructional coach, and am excited to integrate my passions for both math and SEL to this role. I started a mindfulness program at DW in 2015 and enjoy teaching students and supporting teachers to integrate mindfulness practices into the school day. I live in the neighborhood so you might see me on my bike, paddling at Crane Cove or walking my dog, Rocket.

My name is Cecilia McDonagh, and this is my eighth year as the teacher librarian at Daniel Webster and my 33rd year as an educator with SFUSD. I am a proud native San Franciscan and live in the city with my family.

What I enjoy most about my role is collaborating with classroom teachers and using information in all its forms to support students across the curriculum while fostering creativity in teaching and learning. I  love children's literature and strive to stay current with newly published books to bring fresh stories to our students.

Outside of school, you’ll often find me at Lake Tahoe, where I enjoy hiking, biking, and swimming in the breathtaking lake.

I was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana. Geaux (go) Cajuns! I attended college at University of Louisiana (UL) for my undergraduate degree and Louisiana State University (LSU) for my Master’s in Educational Leadership. I moved to SF about five years ago and became a part of the Daniel Webster learning community teaching the third grade GE strand. This year, I have accepted a new role as Math Interventionist, where I will continue to support students in all grades with their math confidence and competencies. In my spare time, I love to go hiking, find local eateries to enjoy, and spend time with my Sphynx cat, Ms. Shirley. 

My name is Cesar Manzano and this is my eighth year working at DW as an ARTIF. I provide targeted instruction and collaborate with teachers and other staff to ensure that all the students in the Spanish Immersion classrooms can achieve at grade level. I am from Spain and studied Art History and Education at the University of Santiago de Compostela. I lived in the Canary Islands for five years before coming to California through the Visitor Teachers program in 2001. I love traveling, music, photography, biking around San Francisco and swimming daily in the Bay.

My name is Angela Leung and I have lived in the bay area for 23 years. I speak Spanish and I was born in the Dominican Republic. I enjoy teamwork and am passionate about bilingualism. I also enjoy cooking, reading, and traveling. I have worked and volunteered for about 5 years at other schools in SFUSD and I am excited to be in Daniel Webster school staff this school year again. 

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Hello DW community! My name is Jesus Sicairos and this is my first year at Daniel Webster. I've been with the district since 2018. I previously worked at a high school in SFUSD.  I was born and raised in San Francisco. I also grew up going to SFUSD schools and I am very happy to be able to give back to the community by working with SFUSD the place I received my education. I am very excited and happy to be at DW. I look forward to many more years of great work at DW.

Hi DW families!  My name is Kathy Ward and the kids call me "Nurse Kathy".  I've been a nurse for many years, (originally from Boston), and this is my 16th year with SFUSD.  I have a Masters degree in Public Health, and I have 4 kids of my own! Your child's health and wellness is very important to me.  Not only do I provide direct care, but I also teach friendly, health education and self care as well. I look forward to partnering with you and your students this year!

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My name is Tai Owen and I’m the Culture and Climate Coordinator. This is my first year at Daniel Webster, and I’m so excited to get to know the school community and support students in the Wellness Center! After getting my BA in political science from Washington University in St. Louis, I worked as an AmeriCorps member at Tenderloin Community School before transitioning to DW. Outside of work, I like to read, hang out with cats, and go on walks with friends.

Ms. Rolfson has lived in San Francisco for 28 years, though she is originally from Los Angeles. She earned her B.A. and Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University. This is her 20th year of teaching Kindergarten and 15th year at Daniel Webster.

My name is Laura Braun and this is my 17th year teaching. I’ve taught Kindergarten and first grade and I love my job! I’m from Washington and received my B.A. from CSU in Fort Collins, Colorado. I moved to San Francisco four years ago from Austin, Tx and I love it here! Not only have I found the best city to live in but I am teaching at the best school! In my free time I love to travel, surf, hike, camp and see live music.

My name is Michaela Freebourn, and I am a new Kindergarten teacher at Daniel Webster. I just moved to San Francisco from Santa Barbara, where I completed my undergraduate degree, Masters in Education, and teaching credential. Outside of school, I love going for walks, searching for good thrift finds, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. I am so excited to be here and contribute to the wonderful community at Daniel Webster!

Mi nombre es Michaela Freebourn y soy una nueva maestra de kinder a Daniel Webster. Acabo de mudarme a San Francisco desde Santa Bárbara, donde hice mi licenciatura, maestría en educación y credencial de enseñanza. Fuera de la escuela, me encanta ir de paseo, buscar cosas buenas en la tienda de segunda mano, viajar y pasar un rato con mis amigos y mi familia. ¡Estoy muy emocionada de estar aquí y contribuir a la maravillosa comunidad de Daniel Webster!

Did you know that Miss Kim is the tallest teacher at Daniel Webster? She's from Pennsylvania and studied Elementary Education and Sociology at Penn State. For graduate school, she studied Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Instruction at Western Colorado University. Miss Kim is excited for her 5th year at Daniel Webster. Previously, she taught bilingual Kindergarten in Colorado for 5 years and worked as an Environmental Educator for 4 years. She likes to travel and has spent time in Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Spain. When she is not teaching, she can be found going for walks with her dog Walter, biking, kayaking, and birdwatching. Let her know if you see any cool birds!

¡Hola Hola! My name is Yadira Zaragoza, and this is my third year at Daniel Webster. I was born and raised in SoCal. 

I moved to San Francisco eight years ago to attend SF State, where I earned a B.A. in Spanish with a minor in Education, as well as an M.A. in Curriculum & Instruction. Over the years, I’ve grown to truly love this foggy city.

In my free time, I enjoy going to the beach, reading a good book, cooking, exploring the foodie scene around the city, watching a great movie or show, and, most of all, spending time with my family.

Ms. Molly grew up in the southern heat of Mississippi and earned her degree in Chemical Engineering before discovering her passion for teaching. She taught kindergarten for three years in Seoul, Korea, and most recently taught first grade in north San Francisco. This is her first year at Daniel Webster, and she is excited to join the community. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, drawing, drinking boba and matcha, and keeping up with K-pop.

La Maestra Molly creció en el calor del sur de Mississippi y obtuvo su título en Ingeniería Química antes de descubrir su pasión por la enseñanza. Enseñó kínder durante tres años en Seúl, Corea, y más recientemente fue maestra de primer grado en el norte de San Francisco. Este es su primer año en Daniel Webster y está muy emocionada de unirse a la comunidad. En su tiempo libre disfruta de hacer caminatas, dibujar, tomar boba y matcha, y mantenerse al día con el mundo del K-pop.

Born and raised in Stamford, CT, Mr. Russo went to Parsons School of Design and then to the Fashion Institute of Technology for a B.F.A. in Interior Design and a minor in Art History. He has been teaching for well over 20 years, with the past 19 years at Daniel Webster. He remembers the very day he learned to read and strives to create those kinds of memories for his students. Mr Russo loves the diversity of San Francisco and the Daniel Webster community.  His favorite books are all the books in the Harry Potter series. Fun Fact: He has shaken hands with five US presidents.

Maestro Santana was born and raised in rural Jalisco, Mexico. He came to SF at 18  to join his parents and three sisters. Mr. Santana got his BA  in English Lit at Cal via City College of SF. He got  his teaching credentials at SF State. This is Maestro Santana’s 6th year at Daniel Webster and he is very happy to be part of this learning community. 

Ms. Ali was born and raised in Austin, TX where she was teaching prior to joining Daniel Webster. She recently moved to San Francisco this year and is looking forward to exploring the city. Her interests and hobbies include cooking, walking (even though she is still getting acclimated to the San Francisco hills), and watching Formula 1. She's excited for her first year at Daniel Webster and joining the community.

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Mr. Vargas was born in Honduras, Central America but was raised in California’s Central Valley. He got his BA from Chico State and his MA in Education from the University of San Francisco.  This is his 16th year teaching 3rd grade at SFUSD, and his 5th year at Daniel Webster.  Mr. Vargas loves jogging along the Embarcadero with his Aussie Doodle, laughing with friends, and traveling with his husband.

My name is Laura, and at school you’ll hear the kids call me Ms. Laura or Maestra Laura. I was born in a small city in Spain called Santander, and I moved to San Francisco three years ago. I studied two degrees at the university: Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education, as well as a specialization in PE. I’m a third-grade teacher in the bilingual program, and this is my second year at Daniel Webster. I’m passionate about education and I always enjoy researching and discovering new materials and activities to bring into my classroom. In my free time, I like walking on the beach, reading a book, going to yoga class, and traveling around the world!

Ms. Garcia was born and raised in San Diego, CA. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Stanford University and her Master’s in Education and Teaching Credential from the University of Southern California. This is her ninth year teaching at Daniel Webster Elementary! Her goals for this year are to engage her students in meaningful learning in the subjects she teaches and to inspire them to discover what will cultivate their love of learning. “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” (Benjamin Franklin) She loves to dance, listen to music, read, and watch sports. She also loves anything and everything related to Marvel, Disney, Kpop, and Broadway Musicals. Her favorite food is anything with noodles and her favorite book series is Harry Potter. She is excited to still be part of this educational community. DW Owls – Hoot Hoot!

Ms. Shimoda grew up on O’ahu, Hawai’i and has lived in San Francisco since 2009. She received her Bachelor’s in Japanese Studies as well as her Master’s in Education and Teaching Credential from the University of San Francisco. She has been teaching in SFUSD since 2015,  and has been teaching at Daniel Webster since 2022. When she’s not at school, Ms. Shimoda enjoys dancing, going to the beach, and hiking with her dog and her husband.  

Ms. Iriana was born and raised in San Francisco. She grew up in the Excelsior district. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Ethnic Studies from Mills College. She completed the Urban Education & Social Justice Program at University of San Francisco. This is her third year teaching.  In her free time she enjoys spending time with her dog Mochi, reading, hiking, and traveling.  

Mr. Inaki was born in the north of Spain and it is his fourth year in San Francisco. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language and his Master’s in Bilingual Education from the University of Valladolid. He has been working as a teacher for the last 9 years. His goal for this year is to help the kids to be successful students and inspire them to become better citizens. Apart from teaching, he enjoys reading books, traveling and experiencing other cultures, and practicing sports, especially playing soccer, snowboarding and running trail races. He is so excited to be part of the Daniel Webster community! 

Benjamin Gonzalez Bursey was born in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, Spain. Teaching runs in the family—his mom is an English teacher, and so is his younger brother. After completing his degree in Primary Education at the University of La Laguna, he taught for 12 years at a local state-aided school before moving abroad.

In 2018, he was selected to teach in California through the Visiting Teachers Program. Just a few weeks later, he joined Cleveland Elementary School in San Francisco, where he worked for six wonderful years. During that time, he also served as Arts Coordinator and DLeaF coordinator, promoting the importance of Art, Music, and Technology as essential tools for students’ growth, creativity, and self-expression.

Now, he is excited to join the Daniel Webster Elementary team as a 4th/5th-grade bilingual teacher. With 19 years of experience in early childhood and primary education, he brings a passion for interactive, hands-on learning. His philosophy has always been to make classes fun and meaningful, addressing every student’s needs and, hopefully, touching their hearts. He strongly believes in teamwork, building solid foundations, and fostering each child’s personality and creativity.

Outside of school, Benjamin enjoys playing basketball, going to the beach, watching movies, and spending time with friends.

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Hi! I’m Coach Sean, the PE teacher here at Webster! I was born and raised in San Francisco and attended SFUSD schools. After going to college at UCLA, I returned to my family back in the bay. I am proud to be on my 9th year teaching the community that I grew up in. You can find me cheering for our Bay Area teams at their next home game or doing some marathon training around the city. 

Hi everyone! I am so excited to be dancing with Webster this year. A little about me: I graduated from USF (Go Dons!) with a Master’s in Teaching and a California Dance Credential. I have been dancing since age 3 through a variety of forms like Jazz, Hip-hop, Ballet, Modern, and Samba. When I am not teaching you can find me reading, jogging, or taking a dance class in the city.