Our School » Brittan Acres Staff

Brittan Acres Staff

Brittan Acres Elementary is proud to have an excellent team of educators. A full list of the staff and email addresses can be found on the Contact Us page.
 
 
Lisa Cesario, Interim Principal
 
Suzanne Fast, Principal
  • Principal at Brittan Acres since 2019
  • Teacher for 19 years in 1st-3rd grades in Portola Valley, CA and Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • Love working with all stakeholders to ensure equitable access to an educational program focused on the whole child
  • In spare time, enjoy traveling, mountain biking, hiking, reading and spending time with my husband and two children in the mountains.
Jenny Goines
 
 
Jenny Goines, Administrative Assistant
  • This is my first year in this role, but I have 3 kids who attend San Carlos schools and have been actively involved at Brittan Acres for many years.  
  • I worked at Gap Inc. for 11 years previously, and at Intel before that.  After filling a number of long term substitute positions last year throughout the district, I've realized how much joy being around students all day brings me (vs. being in a cubicle!).  
  • I love to bake, hike, craft, read and spend time with my family in my spare time.
  • Please stop in to the front office and say hello!
Transitional Kindergarten
Picture of Leah Erwig
Room 1
  • I’ve been teaching since 1995--20 plus years.
  • I started my teaching career at Heather. Since then I’ve taught a range of grades from 1st-4th grade. I taught in Palo Alto for a few years, but San Carlos has been my home since 2004. I’m currently teaching TK at Brittan Acres.
  • I’m happiest when I’m at the beach or lake with my kids and family. I love cooking and spending time outdoors.
 
Kindergarten Teaching Team
Picture of Pam Edgington
 
Room 2
  • I started teaching in 2003. Teaching is a second career for me!
  • I have always taught Kindergarten at Brittan Acres.
  • I love spending time in the mountains with my family and dogs, watching college football (Go Ducks, Go Blue) going on dog hikes and spending time with my friends.
Picture of Christy Lee
 
Room 3
  • I grew up on the Peninsula. I earned my teaching credential and Masters of Education at Notre Dame de Namur.
  • I have been a teacher for 16 years.
  • I have two sons, love a good cup of coffee, a shopping trip, and watching a game on tv (49ers, Warriors, Giants).
Picture of Laurie Mecchi
 
Room 4
  • I have been teaching for 33 years.
  • I started my teaching career at Central Middle School working with 6th, 7th and 8th graders, co-teaching children with special needs. I have been teaching at Brittan Acres for the past 29 years. I taught first grade for 6 years and this is my 24th year teaching kindergarten.
  • I love spending time in the mountains with my family, snow skiing and hiking. I love hanging out with my adorable pets. I have 2 cats and a dog
1st Grade Teaching Team
 
Photo of Molly Beardsley
 
 
 
 
Room 8
Voicemail: (650) 632-8752
  • I grew up on the Peninsula and graduated from St. Mary’s {Go Gaels!} 
  • I’ve taught in San Carlos since 2003
  • I enjoy spending time with my husband and son, Luke, reading anything and everything I can get my hands on, and relaxing in the mountains.
 
Picture of Lisa deBuren
 
 
 
 
Room 8
  • I have been a teacher for 30 years.
  • I started in Daly City teaching 3rd grade. I have been in San Carlos the last 25 years.
  • I love walking and playing with my fur baby. I enjoy cooking for my two sons and watching movies together.
Picture of Nancy Layten
 
 
Room 11
  • I began teaching right out of college and my first teaching job was in 4th grade here at Brittan Acres.
  • I returned to the district in 2007 after raising my two sons who attended Brittan Acres, Central, and Carlmont.
  • I was born and raised in Sunnyvale. My husband and I have happily lived in San Carlos for 36 years. We are “empty nesters.”
  • I have taught 4th, Special Ed, 3rd, and 2nd grade. This will be my 10th year in teaching first grade.
  • I enjoy reading, crafting, baking, walking my dog, and spending time with my family and friends.
Picture of Corrine Muscat
 
 
Room 6
  • I grew up on the S.F. Peninsula and graduated from UCLA. I later attended CSULB, where I earned my Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and subsequently earned a Master's in Educational Administration at NDNU in Belmont. 
  • I have taught in public, private, and parochial schools for 25 years with the majority of my teaching career in grades K-2.  
  • I live in San Carlos with my husband, my 8-year old daughter.
Photo of Brandon Roslin
 
 
Room 7
  • I began teaching in 2006.
  • I'm a Michigan transplant to the Bay Area. 
  • I've earned both my Bachelor's and Master's degree in Elementary Education. 
  • I love teaching first grade and working with the wonderful students and families in San Carlos! 
  • I live in San Francisco and escape to the mountains every chance I get.  I enjoy cooking, gardening, traveling, yoga, skiing, and the arts.
Second/ Third Grade Teaching Team
E Mencher
 
 
Room 9
  • I have been teaching since 2003.  I began teaching in Millbrae and then in the San Mateo - Foster City School District before coming to Brittan Acres.
  • I have taught 5th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st and a ½ combo class. Most of my teaching years have been in second grade.
  • My husband and I have two children.  In my free time I enjoy being with close friends, family, swimming, taking hikes/ long walks, yoga, and reading. I hope to one day have a dog.  I really like to travel and look forward to doing a lot more of it when it is safe to do so.
Picture of Marcy Corea
 
Room 15
  • I have been teaching since 1996. I started my career in Pleasanton and then moved to San Carlos in 2000.  I taught at Arundel until 2014 and then moved to Brittan Acres.
  • I grew up in Pacifica, went to Chico State for my undergrad, and received my teaching credential from San Francisco State.
  • I live here in San Carlos with my husband and our three children. My youngest is now in middle school but all of my kids went to Brittan Acres.
  • I love Lego!
  • In my spare time I love to read, spend time with friends and family,  and hang out at the beach. My favorite places to go are Kauai, Tahoe, and Disneyland. 
Photo of Dan Liner
 
Dan Liner
Room 21
  • I have happily spent half of my life at Brittan Acres.  I attended BA from 1974-1979.  I had amazing teachers who inspired me to become an educator.  My parents continue to live in San Carlos in the same house where I grew up.
  • My first two years of teaching were in San Francisco.  I began teaching at Brittan Acres in 2001 and am here to stay.  I feel fortunate to work with such amazing teachers and students.
  • I appreciate the supportive parents who make our school such a special place to be.
  • I am beginning my 6th year as the President of the San Carlos Teachers Association.  
  • I love to garden, swim, and travel. 
 
 
 
Room 10

➸ This will be my 14th year teaching at Brittan Acres. 

➸ I’ve taught in several counties across the greater Bay Area in grade levels Kindergarten through 5th. 

➸ I love the ocean, mountains, gardening, yoga, art, music, reading, off roading, nature and cooking. 

➸ I enjoy spending time with all my four legged critters, friends and family.

 
Picture of Deana Hawkins
 
  • I come from a family of teachers, including my husband. 
  • I have taught kindergarten through 3rd grade, including all possible multiage combinations of those grade levels too!
  • Mrs. Lansing and I were actually in the same cohort of the same teacher credentialing program, but we didn’t become friends until we both began teaching at Heather School.  Now we can’t be separated by anything- unless you count the doorway in our classroom.
  • I love to read, ride my bike, visit Disneyland and Hawaii, entertain people at my house, make things, and read to kids.
  • I live with my two young daughters, my husband, and our adorable dog Honey Bear.
Photo of Alison Lansing
 
 
  • I’m a Bay Area native and grew up just up the peninsula in Millbrae.
  • I’ve taught for 16 years in the San Carlos school district and have taught all grades from kindergarten to third grade.  
  • I co-teach with my best friend which makes everyday extra fun.
  • I live in San Carlos with my husband and two children.
  • I love to exercise, travel, and visit Disneyland with my family.
Photo of Greg Zillmer
 
Room 5
  • I am a proud native Iowan (that’s corn not potatoes), but have been a California resident since 2000. 
  • While my undergrad degree is in Business Administration and Psychology, I discovered my real passion for teaching post-grad and received my Masters in Education in 2008.
  • In 2009, I began teaching in second grade and have since journeyed through several years of teaching middle school Science, Math, and Design before making my way back to the friendly faces of primary students here at BA in 2019.
  • I live in San Carlos with my wife and two young children.
Nicole Stier
Room 16
  • I grew up in Southern California, where I also  received my BA in Communications from Cal State Long Beach (Go Beach!)
  • After 20+ years in PR and Marketing, I attended CalStateTEACH and earned my multiple subject teaching credential.
  • Both of my daughters attended Brittan Acres, and during that time I have been a room parent, classroom volunteer and PTA executive board member. This school is home to me.
  • When I’m not in the classroom, I enjoy baking, hiking and hanging out with my husband and two daughters (4th and 6th grade).
 
Special Services Team
 
Photo of Kim Arasato
Kimberly Arasato, School Counselor
  • I started my career as a teacher and taught 6th grade for 7 years before becoming a school counselor.
  • I have been a school counselor for 21 years at the middle school and elementary school levels in OH, TX and CA. This is my 8th year as a school counselor for SCSD.
  • I have a BS in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology and a MEd in School Counseling from Bowling Green State University in OH. I have PPSC credentials.
  • I love to travel and have been to 24 different countries.  I am a portrait artist currently experimenting with abstract painting. I also enjoy hiking, beaches, nature, family, and the Ohio State Buckeyes football.
 
 
Photo of Diane Regonini
 
 
 
Diane Regonini, Speech and Language Pathologist
  • I have been the Speech Language Pathologist at Brittan Acres since 2019 and practicing in the field since 2009.
  • I am a Bay Area native and have not strayed far, collecting degrees at Stanford, Cal and SFSU.  This is my second and best career!
  • I have three grown children and enjoy camping with my husband in our vintage VW van.  My first job out of college was working as a ranger at Yosemite.
 
Amanda McKim
 
Amanda McKim, Educational Specialist
  • This is my second full year teaching special education, but my 5th year working at Brittan Acres. I started at BA as a paraeducator.
  • I graduated from Notre Dame de Namur University with a BA in Liberal Studies, and I am currently working towards my mild/moderate teaching credential.
  • Fun fact: I grew up in San Carlos and attended Brittan Acres and Central Middle School many years ago!
  • I live in Redwood City with my husband and boxer dog, Riley.
  • In my spare time, I love to cook, go shopping, travel, go to concerts, watch football (Go Bills!) and spend time with my family and friends.
Jade McMahan
Jade McMahan, School Psychologist
 
  • I attended San Diego State where I received my BA in psychology and counseling. I then went on to attend San Francisco State where I received my MS in School Psychology.
  • I have worked with all grade levels around various districts in the Bay Area, and love the unique aspects of each group.
  • I enjoy practicing mindfulness, baking and listening to audiobooks.
Karen Ha
Karen Ha, School Librarian
 
  • I attended UC Davis and have traversed several career paths but I saved the best for last and am happy to start my 5th year as the BA librarian.  

  • I have two girls who attended San Carlos Schools and one is now a Sophomore at Cal Poly and the other a Senior at Sequoia.

  • I’d like to have a goat but for now am happy with my cat, dog and two bunnies.
Sebastian
Sebastian Cisneros, Lead Custodian