Faculty & Staff
Aafia Ahmad — Math, EnglishAafia spent her childhood in small-town Minnesota and her teen years in Austin, where she went on to earn a B.S.A. in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Austin. Over the course of several software engineering internships and then a full-time job that brought her to San Francisco, she realized that her true passion was working with people. Her subsequent work as a private test prep tutor helped her discover her love for teaching and showed her the immense potential of one-on-one instruction, both of which drew her to Headlands. In her free time, Aafia loves reading (mostly sci-fi), solving crosswords, gaming, playing the piano, attending board game nights, exploring the food scene in SF, and most of all spending time with her partner and their two cats.
Robin Adams — Math, ScienceRobin Adams graduated from Sonoma State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science. She's spent several years teaching CS to a wide range of students, from elementary schools to college. Robin loves working with children, and spent a few years working in childcare at the YMCA and on-site at several schools across Marin. She loves underground music, especially hip hop, and has an extensive collection of video games.
Tim has been teaching at Headlands since 2019, and currently serves as the Math Department Head, bringing over a decade of educational expertise. Dedicated to the one-to-one learning approach, he tailors lessons to students' unique needs, fostering a love for learning in the various subjects he teaches, including Science, Social Science, and History. A devoted lifelong learner, he finds inspiration in reading and writing and open-source software. In his downtime, Tim enjoys exploring diverse interests such as hiking, weightlifting, computing projects, and playing with/getting yelled at by his cat, Calvin.Tim Bearden — Math Department Chair, Math, Science, History, Social Sciences
Will Cagle — English, HistoryWill was born and raised in Northwest Ohio, but before moving to the Bay Area he spent eight years living in and around New York City. During his time in New York, he received his B.A. in Creative Writing and Socio-Cultural Anthropology from Columbia University, as well as his M.F.A. in Speculative Fiction from Sarah Lawrence College. He has taught, mentored, and advised students of all ages, from kindergarten to college. His writing centers on disability and the climate crisis across a number of genres (fantasy, science fiction, horror, magical realism) and forms (novels, short stories, poems, scripts). In a past life, he was a Podcast Script Writer, including a stint co-writing Season 3 of the climate science/justice podcast "A Matter of Degrees," and he is currently a Prose Reader and Editor for the digital literary magazine "Variant Literature." When he isn't writing or teaching, Will enjoys reading, hiking, playing tabletop roleplaying games or board games, and spending time with his cats.
Lifelong passions for language, culture, and literature along with a natural affinity for teaching led Laurel to pursue her master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, and, once earned in 2012, propelled her on an exciting journey to rural Thailand, where she taught, developed curriculum, trained teachers, and co-wrote a textbook. In 2015, she returned to the states and spent 6+ years teaching and developing curriculum as a full-time faculty member at the University of Southern California. Laurel is quick to point out that her academic success is in no way reflective of her performance in grade school. Challenges in her environment took away her confidence and led Laurel to believe that she didn't like teachers or school; but to quote Louise Penny, one of her favorite modern authors, "things are strongest where they are broken," and Laurel is convinced that her struggles as a student are now a precious resource to her skills as an educator. In her free time, Laurel enjoys portraiture, reading, writing, singing, playing guitar, yoga, mindfulness meditation, learning languages, cooking, dancing, hiking, backpacking, and doing absolutely anything with her poodle-mix, Daisy. She has traveled to more than 15 countries and has spent more than one month in Japan, Italy, Korea (6 months), and Thailand (2.5 years).Laurel Costill — English, History, Math
Stephen Crooms — English, HistoryStephen Crooms is a longtime teacher and lover of history. He was born and raised in Berkeley, California, and studied history at Columbia University. After college, he started teaching at Tilden Preparatory School in Albany, where he found fulfillment and hilarity working with teenagers. After a brief sojourn in Southern California, he returned to his beloved Bay Area to join the Headlands Prep team. In his spare time, he loves writing screenplays, practicing yoga, and meditating.
Recovering from an inability to sit still and be quiet in class, Jim managed to enter the University of Florida’s Invitational Honors Program and eventually graduate with a BA. He went on to do lab tech work for USDA and then earned a Primary Certification from the AMI, Montessori’s international organization. Jim mixed teaching in private and public schools with tutoring and subbing as well as jobs for fun, like soda jerk, movie usher, and professional magician. Jim has a Masters in Education from Dominican, and certifications in Math and Science. He prefers working with students one-to-one, in partnership. He also paints and creates bonsai.Jim Fish — Math, Science
Jordan was born and raised in Sacramento, California, and graduated from UCLA in 2019 with a B.A. in political science. Shortly after graduation, he moved to Buenos Aires to teach English as a foreign language. He is excited to continue his journey in education here at Headlands Prep. In his free time, he enjoys chess, studying music, playing video games and board games, and playing with his baby kitten, Mombo.Jordan Fox — English, History, Spanish
Born in San Francisco, but raised in Philadelphia and Omaha, David has a B.A. in English with minors in Philosophy and Religion from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. David has taught preschool, elementary, middle, and high school in public, private, and charter schools throughout the Bay Area, working with students in general education, special needs students, and gifted populations. Additionally, David has also tutored extensively, done CAHSEE and SAT prep, taught STEM courses for middle schoolers, and helped aspiring teachers pass CSET and CBEST tests. David’s greatest academic joy is teaching history. Among his many pursuits, David enjoys meditation, hiking, exercise, playing guitar, songwriting and recording and he performs throughout the Bay Area and beyond.David Goodlett — English, History
Toby Griffin — English, HistoryToby Griffin has been teaching at the elementary, middle school, high school, and college levels for the past twenty-eight years. He enjoys the creativity of teaching critical writing as well as fiction and poetry. In addition to this, history is a particular passion of his. He is a short story writer, novelist, poet and scholar of Renaissance literature. He is a lifelong musician who enjoys songwriting and soloing on the electric guitar. His hobbies include fly fishing, hiking, drawing, and filmmaking. He is thrilled to be working at a school that emphasizes what he considers to be the most effective method of teaching, namely one-on-one instruction.
Susie Haas — EnglishAfter graduating from UC Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Psychology & Women’s Studies, Susie spent her time in Budapest teaching English to locals. Three years later, she returned to California where she pursued an MA in English at Sonoma State University. While obtaining her MA, Susie tutored in the Writing Center and was a Teacher's Assistant in a Basic Composition class for first year students. She taught a college level English course for one year before finding her true calling of working one-to-one with students. This realization led her to become an instructor at Lindamood-Bell for four years where she taught children with various learning differences and enabled them to thrive and feel successful in an academic environment. Susie loves working with students at Headlands and truly believes that literature can be transformative. In her free time, Susie enjoys reading, socializing with friends, and traveling.
Sebastián was born and raised in Santiago, Chile, but lived in the Bay Area as a child during the early '90s. He received his B.S. in Geology from Universidad de Chile, where he also got his Ph.D. in Earth Sciences, specializing in geologic and geodynamic processes that led to the formation of the Andes mountains. Sebastián has worked as a Teaching Assistant at Universidad de Chile and as a Research Intern at Yale University, and for many years has been a Math, Science, and Spanish tutor for middle and high schoolers. He believes that combining theory with practice and experience is fundamental in every learning process. He is happy that life led him back to the Bay Area, where he enjoys mountain biking, hiking with his family, collecting graphic novels, and exploring the wilderness.Sebastián Herrera— Science Department Chair, Math, Science
Kyle Kennedy — Math, Science, English, History, Social SciencesKyle F. Kennedy is an experienced and dedicated educator with a passion for teaching a wide range of subjects. Kyle’s diverse professional background includes engineering and cybersecurity in addition to several years of teaching experience in elementary, middle and high schools. Kyle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, an MBA, and an MS in Homeland Security/Emergency Management. Committed to student success, Kyle fosters an engaging and supportive learning environment that encourages critical thinking and curiosity. Drawing on his interdisciplinary knowledge, Kyle helps students make meaningful connections between subjects, preparing them for academic achievement and lifelong learning. Whether he is teaching math, science or humanities, Kyle’s goal is to inspire curiosity and critical thinking in every student.
Michael Lopez — English Department Chair, English, HistoryMichael holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University, and an MFA in Writing from the University of San Francisco. Michael gravitated towards poetry and song at an early age and is an active member of the San Francisco literary arts community; you can find him hosting literary open mics, reading at open mics, and performing as a poet at private events with the Haikuists across the Bay Area. He has several poems published with various print and online literary journals; and is always sending his newest poems out for review and publication. Michael is the founder of Lone Mountain Literary Society and chief editor of its magazine, The Nature of Things. Michael is as passionate about a lifetime of learning as he is about teaching; he has worked as a substitute teacher with SFUSD, as a graduate Teacher’s Assistant while attending USF, and as a private English tutor. Michael also loves the culinary arts, and has nearly 20 years of professional restaurant experience. In his free time he enjoys playing disc golf, being in nature, biking, playing guitar, listening to philosophy podcasts, going to concerts, and is a lifetime player of strategy card game, Magic: The Gathering.
Allie Mages — English, Math, ScienceBorn and raised in Marin County, Allie received her B.A. in Psychology from Mills College, focusing especially on cognitive psychology but also pursuing interests in biology, computer science, and literature. Allie began her professional career at Autistry Studios, a San Rafael-based makerspace and academic day program for teens and adults on the autism spectrum, where she held several roles over eight years, including Program Director of Education. Autistry fostered Allie's love of working with students with complex cognitive profiles and convinced her of the power of individualized approaches to learning. After leaving Autistry, Allie taught Math, Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, and Psychology at Headlands, where she was taken in by the school's community and commitment to student growth. During the 2021-22 school year, Allie worked as the STEAM Integration Specialist at San Domenico School in San Anselmo, where she taught computer science and tinkering, helped run and develop the school's makerspace, and assisted teachers in grades K-12 in bringing making and project-based learning to their classes. Now, given her passion for and commitment to working directly with individual students, Allie is thrilled to return to Headlands. In her spare time, Allie loves reading, ballet and modern dance, science fiction and fantasy, and games of all kinds.
David Maynard — History Department Chair, Math, Science, English, History, Social SciencesAfter attending a STEM-focused high school in Nashville, David switched gears to the ALPHAS (arts, literature, philosophy, history, anthropology, and semiotics) receiving his B.A. in Classics from Carleton College. His career path has meandered from coffee shops to accounting firms to educational behemoths—working at both Pearson and ACT—but he always returns to teaching and tutoring and now has over twenty years of experience working with students of all ages and backgrounds. As an independent scholar, David has published on satire, finance, and independent filmmaking, and in his free time he plays chess and enjoys the beauty of the Bay Area.
Roanan was born in Minneapolis and was raised there until moving to the Bay Area when he was a teenager. A recent college graduate, Roanan received his degree in History from the University of Santa Cruz. Roanan has always been passionate about History and the tools it provides to help us understand ourselves and the material world around us. Outside the classroom Roanan enjoys listening to and playing music, taking in the awe-inspiring scenery of the Bay Area, spending time with his family, and supporting the local professional baseball and basketball teamsRoanan McCaa — English, History
Jesus Ramos — Math, ScienceJesus was born in Berkeley, CA but raised in Richmond, CA so he is very familiar with the East Bay Area. While attending University at San Francisco State University, Jesus discovered he had a passion for teaching. He spent all 4 years tutoring students K-12 while working on his Bachelor’s in Chemistry. During his summers he ran science and coding camps for younger kids. He has always had a love for gaming and computers which is why on his down time he builds PCs. Outside of his very STEM involved life he enjoys watching movies and tv shows. He also loves to support his favorite basketball team, LA Lakers.
Mark graduated from the University of Tulsa with a BA in Mathematics and Philosophy. He continued his studies at the Philipps University in Marburg, Germany, where he did research in Mathematics and lectured in a graduate seminar. Returning to the United States, he graduated from the University of Illinois with an MA in Mathematics, and continued his studies at the University of California, Berkeley. He then pursued a career in consulting; over his career he became a partner in two firms, leading consulting teams for major corporations across the United States. Taking early retirement, Mark retired to his first love -- teaching. After over 10 years at Tilden Preparatory School in Albany, he joined Headlands Prep in Sausalito. Mark believes in the deep connection of Mathematics and the Humanities -- with contributions to Philosophy, Music, and Art -- as illustrated by the motto over the entrance to Plato's Academy: "Let no one enter here ignorant of Geometry".Mark Rowles - Math, Science, History, German
Todd attended Tufts University for International Relations. He studied Spanish for more than 20 years. His love and passion for the language inspired him to move to Madrid, Spain where he immersed himself in the culture and lived with a Spanish family who spoke no English. Todd has worked for Stanford University's Online High School for many years. As a result, he has a unique perspective on the rigorous demands of pre-collegiate students who strive to excel. He brings individualized attention to each student and welcomes all students, regardless of status. He has taught intensive Spanish classes and has tutored Spanish conversation since 2000.Todd Snyder — English, Spanish
Chizuki Squiers — JapaneseChizuki Squiers was born and raised in Japan and graduated from Meiji University with a B.A. in English Literature and acquired her teaching license in TESOL in 1993. After teaching in Japan, Chizuki moved to the U.S., where she graduated from San Francisco State University with an M.A. in Mass Communication. Additionally, Chizuki wrote for the Hawaii Pacific Press newspaper as a journalist/columnist during her time in Hawaii and later in Oregon. Currently, she lives in Sausalito, CA with her husband and two daughters, and has been teaching at San Francisco Japanese school since 2014. In her free time, Chizuki enjoys playing piano, listening to music, reading, cooking, and walking her dachshund.
Oliver Thompson — Visual & Performing Arts Department Chair, English, Math, ScienceOliver received his B.A. in Biological Anthropology from the University of California Santa Barbara with a minor in Art. Both his passion for teaching and art started at UCSB, where he was introduced to the College of Creative Studies, a subdivision of the college where he took painting courses and developed his senior thesis. It was through this program that he gained attention from the school and was featured in the school newspaper for helping others tap into their creativity. Oliver maintains homeostasis in his life by painting and researching scientific articles. He lives by the quote “art and sciences are branches of the same tree” by Albert Einstein. Oliver started tutoring students in math, science, and English while attending college and continued tutoring students in group homes after he graduated. To keep spreading his love for art, he teaches plein-air painting courses at a summer camp in the East Bay. Oliver has also written an autobiography as well as a book of short stories. To stay active, Oliver enjoys skateboarding, hiking, surfing, playing volleyball, and soccer.
