Team Preschool
Our Preschool/Kindergarten teachers and assistants have a wonderful team spirit and are enthusiastic about teaching young children.
Heike Schmalstieg
Preschool Principal
I have been in the Bay Area for more than 20 years. I received my credentials in Early Childhood Education in Germany and have continued my studies in the US. I also received a certificate teaching another language from the University of Berkeley. I have been able to gain experience in Germany, as well as American preschools and of course at GAIS.
I started teaching at GAIS in 1994. Over the years, I have seen the preschool grow from 24 children to more than 100 and the whole school from less than 100 to more than 300 students. During my stay at GAIS, I have taken two extended leaves to stay home with my own children, until they reached preschool age and have always been excited to return to GAIS. The school has changed and evolved over the years, yet it has always kept its special appeal. The preschool has a truly unique concept, combining the need of the child to explore freely, challenging the child on all levels and providing a great balance between structured activities and free exploration. The IB Primary Years Program is inquiry based and fosters the child’s natural curiosity. It is a pleasure to run a program that provides so many opportunities and where a child can still be a child. The children in our program have the opportunity to become independent thinkers, solve their own problems and conflicts, be creative, become knowledgeable about the world around them and so much more; all while learning a second language.
However, it was not only the philosophy of the program that appealed to me, but also the teaching staff. The preschool has an amazing staff of very dedicated and enthusiastic teachers that love what they do.
Carol Ferrieri
Preschool Teacher
C arol grew up in the United States and Germany and truly considers herself “German-American” or “American-German”.
A t San Francisco State University she completed a B.A. degree in Developmental Psychology and from Canada College an Early Childhood Education Certificate.
R edwood City has been her home since 1982 and she began teaching, directing and then teaching again in the Kindergarten since 1996.
O ver the years she has also run her own child care business, taught in English language programs and “raised” two sons.
L earn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.
~Albert Einstein
Why did you choose to teach at GAIS?
Having lived outside of Germany for so many years, teaching at GAIS gave me an opportunity to teach in the German language. Other factors: the preschool philosophy and wonderful preschool environment for the children!
What are some qualities that you see within the GAIS teaching staff?
The preschool staff is very dedicated, enthusiastic, cooperative, supportive, creative and a lot of fun to work with!
Monika Oser
Preschool Teacher
I was born and raised near Stuttgart, Germany, and received my Diploma in Child Development (staatlich anerkannte Erzieherin) in Ludwigsburg in 1983. I worked in different preschool programs near Stuttgart before relocating to the United States with my family. Since 1998 I have been living in the Bay Area. After starting as a substitute preschool teacher at GAIS in 1999 I became a full-time teacher shortly after. In addition I worked at the German Saturday School for more than 10 years. Now I enjoy working in an international school environment with enthusiastic and motivated teachers.
Why did you choose to teach at GAIS?
I started working at GAIS “by accident” but within weeks I recognized the great atmosphere at the school. The teachers are enthusiastic and motivated and there is a great team spirit.
What are some qualities that you see within the GAIS students?
The students in our school are caring, thinkers, respectful and responsible. They are open to other cultures and curious individuals.
Anita Stoney
Preschool Teacher
AFRIKA
BACKEN
CHOCOLATE
DESERT
EATING
FAMILIE
GARDENING
HIKING
ISLANDS
JOGGING
KINDER
LESEN
MUSIC
NORDRHEIN WESTFALEN
OUTDOORS
PLAYING
QUARKSAHNETORTE
ROCKS
STRAND
TRAVEL
US CITIZEN
VESPA
WATER
XL
YOGA
ZIP-LINE?
Why did you choose to teach at GAIS?
I chose to first volunteer, and then teach at the GAIS pre-school about ten years ago because I felt that the pre-school program was just what young children needed for a healthy development.
How has your teaching been influenced since you started working at the school?
The IB program has influenced my teaching in that I now emphasize the aspects of student attitudes and profiles, which I find important in the development of the whole child.
Simone Campbell
Preschool Teacher
I grew up in southern Germany near the Swiss city of Basel and earned my teaching credentials from the “Paedagogische Hochschule” in Freiburg i.Br., Germany. After some years of employment with Lufthansa, I moved to the Bay Area in 1991. Ever since, I have enjoyed living in Palo Alto with my family. Before I joined the GAIS preschool team in 2003, I gained experience working with preschool-aged children being part of a co-op nursery school. In addition, I extensively volunteered at various local public schools. Presently, I am having fun keeping current with child development classes at Foothill College, and I am happy to say that teaching is one of my true passions in life.
What makes teaching at an IB school special?
“When you are inspired…dormant forces, faculties, and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” -Patanjali
Why did you choose to teach at GAIS?
I enjoy being part of a learning environment that allows one to inspire and be inspired as well, a place where values like caring, respect, tolerance and integrity aren’t just empty words but lived.
Dunja Zaun
Preschool Teacher
Having grown up in a small town in Thuringia, Germany, I went to Frankfurt/Main to study for a diploma in hotel management. I then worked as a housekeeping manager in a first class hotel in the vibrant city of Berlin. After moving to the US with my husband in 2000, I started volunteering at the German-American International School and other non-profit organizations working with young children. I enjoyed this work very much and decided for a career change. So, I took classes in early childhood education and earned the Child Development Teacher Certificate from Foothill College.
Why did you choose to teach at GAIS?
GAIS offers a great learning environment in all areas of children’s development and I love being part of it.
What are some qualities that you see within the GAIS teaching staff?
The GAIS preschool team works closely together, shares ideas and experience, supports each other and models many IB attitudes and attributes of the learner profile.
Michaela Coan
Preschool Teacher
I live in Redwood City with my husband, my twin daughters and my son. I moved here from Germany in 1999 to be together with my now husband. In 2004 I started volunteering at GAIS while my twins went to preschool there until my son was born. That was when I realized how much I love working with young children and was starting to think about a career which involved young children. Rather than going back to my old profession as an environmental/landscaping engineer I went to Canada College to get my degree in Early Childhood education.
I joined the GAIS team in 2008 and love working here. I believe that learning in a preschool should be fun, play based and hands on. In my free time I love to spend time with my family, going camping, spending as much time in the outdoors as time allows and all kinds of crafts and building.
Anja Blum
Preschool Assistant
I was born near Detroit, Michigan, but grew up in Koblenz, Germany. After having received a diploma in Architecture from ‘Technische Universitaet Darmstadt’ I went on to work as a designer first in Hamburg, Germany, and from 1999 on, in San Francisco. I have enjoyed living in Palo Alto ever since.
After my son was born in 2003 I began teaching art and architectural design classes and workshops for children at the Art Center in Palo Alto and the CSMA in Mountain View.
I always enjoy seeing kids working creatively and expressing themselves through their artwork.
I also work at the German Saturday School and am excited about having the opportunity to join the team at GAIS.
Karin Voelker
Preschool Assistant / After School Care
I am originally from Frankfurt, Germany and came to the United States 12 years ago. I have travelled to many places as a flight attendant, but I left my heart in San Francisco. I recently earned my master’s degree in psychology. Since I am 16 years old, I have been passionate about working with children age 6 months to 6 years. I have been an Au Pair, nanny, and babysitter continuously while studying and working here in the Bay Area. I am currently taking evening classes to continue with my studies in early childhood education.
In October 2008, our son Jannik was born, so I am familiar with taking care of children from the perspective of a parent as well.
If I find some free time in my busy life, I love being creative. I paint and I sew birthday crowns, toys, costumes, and decorations.
My philosophy is play-based with a focus on creativity and imagination in the early years of development. I am excited to have joined the GAIS team, and I really enjoy providing a fun, loving, and safe atmosphere for the preschool kids!
Katarina Kuhlke
Preschool Assistant/After School Care
I was born in Croatia, but I grew up in Waldzell, Austria.
I studied Educational Science (Pädagogik) at the University of Vienna from 2005 to 2010. From August 2007 until August 2008 I took a year off from university and worked as an Au Pair for a family in Pacifica, CA.
I came back to San Francisco in 2010 after graduating from University to be with my now-husband Matthew. I have always been very interested in child development and education, therefore I’m very excited about the opportunity to work at GAIS as a preschool assistant.
In my spare time I like to travel, read and listen to music.
Mahbobeh (Mahbu) Vaseghi
Site Supervisor After-School (Hort)
I am married with two grown children. In my homeland Iran, I studied psychology and law. I worked for an oil company as a paralegal and at the same time as a psychologist at an orphanage. In 1986, I moved from Iran to Germany where I worked for three years as a preschool teacher and in after-school child care. I relocated again in 1995 to California and immediately started working at GAIS.
Zeinab Mukhaiche (Mahbu) Vaseghi
After-School (Hort) / Break-Coverage for Teachers
My name is Zeinab Mukhaiche. I was born in Beirut (Lebanon) but was raised in Baden-Wuerttenberg (Germany). I received my Child Development Diploma (Erzieherin) in Stuttgart 2003. I taught in a Preschool for a couple of years in Germany. Between 2006 – 2008 I was an AuPair in the Bay Area and during this time I fell in love with this country. That’s when I decided to work as a teacher in an international school here in America. I am glad to be a part of the GAIS and very excited about this opportunity.