Staff

Jim Price

Executive Director

Jim is the Executive Director of TCPS.  Jim also has two children, one that is a graduate of TCPS, and one that has been here for the past four years.  Jim received his B.A. in Political Science at Washington State University, and his M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix.  Additionally, he has a certificate in Non-Profit Management from Chapman University.  Besides Jim's twenty years of business and management experience, he also has twenty years of experience working with children and teens through public schools, residential treatment facilities, summer camps, and as a club and high school soccer coach.  Jim has been a leader in the TCPS family for six years, and enjoys being here because he feels that TCPS truly prepares students for their future academic pursuits and beyond. 

Maggie Price

Principal/Kindergarten Teacher

Maggie is the Kindergarten teacher at TCPS, as well as one of the Founders and one of the Principals.  Maggie has a B.A. from American University in Washington, D.C.  She did graduate work in Human Development, Counseling, and Teaching at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, CA.  Maggie is a trained School Readiness Evaluator, and speaks in the community as an Educational Consultant about school readiness and placement.  Maggie has over 30 years experience in the teaching field and brings her expertise of early childhood education to the children of TCPS.  She has an immense appreciation and love for nature and draws upon that in her Kindergarten classroom.  Her students learn about the connectedness they share with the environment and world around them. Maggie has been with TCPS since its beginning 25 years ago! She is delighted to be a member of a school community that focuses on the students and their individual strengths and needs. 

Sherry Risch

Principal/ Middle School Language Arts Teacher

Sherry is not only one of the founders of TCPS, but also one of the principals and the middle school Language Arts Teacher.  Sherry has a B.S. in Special Education, as well as Elementary Education from Miami University, Oxford Ohio.  She also served on the Committee for Primary Assessment and Curriculum Development in Ohio.  Sherry is the founding board member of Women's Empowerment International, whose mission is to provide microcredit loans to women living in poverty.  Sherry's daughter attended TCPS for seven years.  Sherry's love for traveling has taken her to India, Nepal, Europe, South America, and Asia.  She uses these experiences to encourage her students to use creativity and an open mind while learning.  Sherry enjoys spending time with her family, as well as singing; she is a member of the MLK Choir.  Sherry has been with TCPS for its longevity; 25 years!  Sherry is continually excited about TCPS because it fosters an environment where teachers can be innovative and enthused about curriculum design, and brainstorm new and engaging ideas with the students to create classroom activities and lessons. 

Kara Mao

Assistant Kindergarten Teacher/Program Support

Kara is the Kindergarten Assistant Teacher and in charge of Program Support for TCPS.  She has a B.A. in Elementary Education from Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida.  Kara is used to the energy required to teach Kindergarteners from her experiences with rock climbing and being a classically trained ballerina.  In addition to working in the classroom and with special programs at TCPS, Kara brings her creativity to the students through art projects and programs.  Kara has been a member of the TCPS family for three years.  She loves being involved with TCPS because of the way the parents, teachers, and students work together to solve problems and improve the school. 

Debbie Rey

Grade 1 Homeroom Teacher

Debbie is the first grade Teacher for TCPS.  Debbie has a B.A. in English and a minor in Linguistics from San Diego State University.  She has her Elementary Teaching Credential from California State University, Fullerton.  Debbie is also a Certified Braille Specialist.  In addition to her nurturing attitude and knowledge of child development is her twelve years of experience as a foster parent for San Diego County.  She is also currently a court appointed advocate for foster children.  Debbie enjoys music and playing the guitar, which she regularly incorporates into her classroom instruction.  Debbie has been part of the TCPS family for two years, and loves that she is a part of a teaching team that is challenged to be creative and innovative. 

Stephanie Barnes

Grade 2 and 3 Homeroom Teacher

Stephanie is the second/third grade Teacher for TCPS.  She also has two middle school children that have attended TCPS for the past eight years.  Stephanie has a degree in Liberal Arts, and did graduate work at California State University, Sacramento where she received teaching credentials in General and Special Education.  Stephanie enjoys poetry, and shares that passion with the children in her classroom.  She has over twenty years of involvement with Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times where she has trained staff and worked with cancer patients and their families.  Stephanie is in her 8th year as a teacher for the TCPS family and is continually impressed by the way that students of all ages get to know one another and work together.   

Saree Zweifel

Grade 4/5 Homeroom Teacher

Saree is the Grade 4/5 Homeroom Teacher at TCPS.  She attended the University of Minnesota where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with a specialty in Communication, Arts, and Literature.  She is also in the last phase of her Master's Degree in Education through the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.  Upon receiving her degree, Saree traveled and worked as a Special Education Teacher in New Zealand, and later returned to Wisconsin where she worked as a seventh grade Language Arts teacher.  Saree was also a member of the University of Minnesota Track and Field team, and incorporates her love of fitness into running Youth Fitness Circuit Training programs.  Saree has been a member of the TCPS family for one year, and appreciates working in an environment that not only successfully educates students, but also teaches the students to be good people.

Vickie Jenkins

Music/Asst. Classroom Teacher

Vickie is the TCPS Music Teacher, as well as an assistant in the second/third and fourth/fifth grade classrooms.  Vickie earned her Bachelor's degree from Scripps College in Claremont, CA and her teaching credential from the University of San Diego.  Before teaching at TCPS, she taught Language Arts for San Diego City Schools.  Vickie spent many years acting and singing in musical theater, and is now a professional musician and a piano teacher.  She is also involved in Renaissance and Medieval musical performance.  In addition to being a teacher here, Vickie teaches music during the summers at Gateways Summer School.  She also has a son who is a graduate of TCPS.  Vickie has brought her love for music, instruments, singing, and poetry to the students attending TCPS for the past 16 years.  She is continually amazed at the musical creativity the students possess when given the time to foster their talents. 

Diana Hock

Grade 6 Homeroom Teacher and Math Teacher

Diana is the Math Teacher for grades three, five, six, seven, and eight.  Diana graduated from Ohio University with a B.S. in Education and will graduate from San Diego State University with her Master's in Math Education in Spring 2010.  Diana enjoys teaching her students to explore the meaning of Math concepts, not just the memorization of them.  Diana loves traveling, and even spent a year living in Australia.  She has shared her passion for travel with students by being a 2008 summer group leader for People to People in Japan.  Diana delights in the active and warm lifestyle San Diego has to offer, and has been a teacher in the TCPS family for three years.  She loves the warm, welcoming feeling she has experienced since the first day she stepped into the TCPS hallways. 

Donny Kim

Middle School History and Research Teacher

Donny is one of the middle school Teachers at TCPS.  He teaches History for the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, as well as the Research course.  Donny also teaches photography and computer electives for the seventh and eighth graders.  Donny has his B.A. in History from UC Santa Barbara, as well as his Single Subject Credential from Sonoma State.  He has Web Design and Graphic Design Certificates from UC San Diego.  His knowledge base in photography comes from passion as a professional nature photographer.  Adding to Donny's experience is his twelve years of experience in outdoor education for the Catalina Island Marine Institute, where he taught marine ecology, geology, astronomy, underwater photography, and was the SCUBA Divemaster.  Donny has been a part of the TCPS family for 8 years.  His favorite thing about TCPS is the amazing connection he feels between the students, parents, and staff; and not just for the grades he teaches, but across all grade levels. 

Nichole Frazier

Middle School Assistant Teacher

Nichole comes to us from Virginia where she taught Language Arts at Luray High School.  Nichole attended Virginia Commonwealth University where she earned a Master of Teaching with a concentration in English Education.  Along with assisting Ms. Risch, Nichole will bring her expertise on using technology in the classroom to all of our classes at TCPS.

Sharla Short

Science Teacher

Sharla holds a Masters of Science in Cell Biology from Texas Tech University.  Prior to coming to TCPS, Sharla taught science at Cardiff Elementary School.  In addition to teaching at Cardiff Elementary, Sharla taught science at Ray Kroc Middle School where she was also the Department Chair for the Math and Science Department

Marvin Santiago

Physical Education Teacher/After School Director

Marvin is the Physical Education Teacher at TCPS, as well as the athletics coach and the Aftercare Director.  A native of Hawaii, Marvin, "Coach," went to the University of Northern Colorado and graduated with a B.S. in Kinesiology, with an emphasis on Physical Education.  After graduating from college, Coach returned to Hawaii and was the Head Basketball Coach for boys and girls varsity teams.  Coach believes that it is crucial for physical activity to be a part of a healthy lifestyle and encourages his students to "get out there and play!"  In addition to teaching and directing the aftercare program, Coach runs the competitive sports programs at TCPS, and is an active dad to two little ones.  Coach has been a part of the TCPS family for the past three years, and loves being in a place where he can motivate the students to try their best and have fun doing so. 

Ms. Sanchez

Spanish Teacher

Ms. Sanchez is the Spanish Teacher for all ages at TCPS.  She teaches Spanish to adults as well.  Ms. Sanchez received her B.A. from San Diego State University in Spanish with a minor in Child and Family Development and a focus in domestic violence.  Ms. Sanchez spent a semester studying in Panama and Costa Rica, where she continued to perfect her knowledge of the Spanish language.  She also lived in Toronto for two years where she did mission work and taught English.  Ms. Sanchez enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and helping others to be better speakers of both English and Spanish.  Ms. Sanchez has been a part of the TCPS family for the past two years, and loves that the school lets kids be kids, and that they work on cross-age group projects.

Jenny Belk

Librarian

Jenny is the knowledgeable and charismatic Librarian for TCPS.  Jenny attended the University of Arizona where she received her B.A. in Liberal Arts.  Not only is she a staff member at TCPS, but also a parent to two TCPS students.  Adding to Jenny's knowledge of literature are her travel adventures; she has made many trips to India, Sonora, Mexico, and Tucson with her family.  Besides her love for literature, ranging from cookbooks to non-fiction novels, Jenny loves to be outside at the beach with her family.  Jenny is also part of The Parent Group here at TCPS, where she works to make TCPS the best place possible for learning and growing.   Jenny is in her 3rd year as part of the TCPS staff, and is always excited to work in a place where she can share her favorite stories with the students. 

Jan Landt

Executive Assistant

Jan is the Executive Assistant here at TCPS.  She received a B.S. in Dietetics from University of California Davis.  Jan spent the first part of her career as an Administrative Dietitian in Boston and Berkley, CA.  She also was the Secretary for All Saints Episcopal School, and worked with their lunch program for 25 years.  Jan is an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Society of Mayflower Descendants, as well as the Senior Leader of Children of the American Revolution at local, state, and national levels.  Jan keeps everyone smiling at TCPS with her baking skills, as well as with all of her creativity in handicrafts.  Each year Jan coordinates participation of TCPS in Naturalization Ceremonies for new citizens. Jan is in her third year with TCPS and loves the daily interaction with the students, staff, and parents.    

Kelly Roberson

Communications Assistant/After School Care

Kelly Roberson is the Communications Assistant and one of the Aftercare Leaders at TCPS.  Kelly attended Arizona State University and worked as a Marketing Assistant for Team Enterprise, Inc.  She eventually moved back to San Diego and worked with After School All Stars and Camp Cahito, while also continuing her education at San Diego City College.  Kelly enjoys being active and running, so working with the students during the aftercare program is right up her alley.  Kelly loves being able to combine her interests in Marketing with her love for working with children.  This is Kelly's first year as part of the TCPS family, and she loves working in a place where the parents and staff truly come together to make a difference in the children's lives. 

Lorenda Ballard

Admissions Assistant

Besides having two children that attend TCPS, Lorenda is also the New Parent Liaison.  Lorenda attended Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts.  Prior to being involved in admissions at TCPS, Lorenda was the Assistant to the Director at Sandy Hill Nursery School.  In addition to her work with TCPS, Lorenda volunteers for her children's sports and music programs.  Lorenda has also been a member and committee chair for The Parent Group.  Lorenda enjoys being with her family and participating in the active lives of her children.  She has been a member of the TCPS staff for three and a half years, and loves educating others on the student-centered philosophy TCPS embraces.