I have been in the Bay Area for the last 20 years and started teaching at GAIS in 1994. I have taken a few breaks from the preschool to stay home with my two children. I am excited to be back full time, taking over the position as preschool director from Carol Ferrieri, who had taken that position 8 years ago, when I was pregnant with my first son. The preschool has always had a very enthusiastic and dedicated staff and I look forward to working with them again.
I have taught in preschools in Germany and the US and also taught German and English as a second language to children and adults in the US as well as in Japan. I love spending time with the kids. When I get the time I love reading, hiking and skiing.
Carol Ferrieri - Preschool Teacher
I have been teaching at the German-American School Preschool since 1996. In 1999 I became the Director of the preschool program. I have a B.A. degree in Developmental Psychology from San Francisco State University and an Early Childhood Education Certificate from Cañada College, California. I have previously taught at other preschools in Menlo Park and I ran my own child care business for many years. I grew up in the United States and Germany. Redwood City has been my home since 1982, where I live with my husband and two sons.
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.
Monika (Moni) 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. Since 1998 I have been living in Menlo Park with my husband and my two children. After starting as a substitute preschool teacher at GAIS in 1999 I now enjoy working here as a full-time teacher. In addition I worked at the German Saturday School for the last 9 years.
Martina Ruetz - Preschool Teacher
My name is Martina Ruetz and I am 24 years old. I grew up in Cologne, Germany where I went to school to receive my Child Development Diploma (Erzieherin). In Cologne, I worked with children, teenagers with psychological problems and I also assisted families with social problems and who needed help with further education. Since August, I am living in San Francisco and I am excited about continuing my career at GAIS.
Anita Stoney - Preschool Teacher
I live in Belmont with my husband, Jay, and my two children, Camerone and Ella. When not at work, I enjoy being with my family, sports, arts and crafts, reading, gardening and travel. I have been teaching at the GAIS Preschool for a number of years, first as an assistant teacher and then as a teacher. I have always enjoyed working with children, and especially enjoy working and playing with preschool-aged children. I believe in our Preschool’s philosophy and enjoy learning, exploring, risk-taking, and inventing with the children. I hope to work with the preschool team and preschoolers for many years to come.
Nancy Urbach - Teacher's Assistant/After-School Care
My name is Nancy. I am a new teacher's assistant in the Preschool/After-School Day Care Center. I grew up in Erfurt (Germany). For my studies in social pedagogy / social work I went to Frankfurt/Main in 2002 where I also worked in several preschools. After receiving my degree, I worked in France in a social center for children. Until July of this year I did family childcare in England. Now, I have arrived to California. I am interested in traveling, learning languages and learning about foreign cultures, dancing Salsa and playing Djembe. I hope I will have a great time at GAIS with you and your children.
Mahbobeh (Mahbu) Vaseghi - Teacher/After-School Care
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.
Andrea Walchhofer - Teacher's Assistant
I grew up in Salzburg, Austria, where I received my Diploma in Early Childhood Education from the Austrian Teachers College. In 2004 I moved to Sydney, Australia, where I worked in a small preschool and learnt new ways of teaching. I enjoy watching children develop and assisting them in discovering their skills and abilities. I am looking forward to working at the GAIS Preschool and gaining experience with the IB Programme.
Kathrin Winter - Preschool Teacher
"The mind is a fire to be kindled, not a vessel to be filled." (Plutarch) With this quote, I would like to introduce myself: My name is Kathrin Winter and I love to dance, play music and theater. I also love hiking and biking to enjoy nature, especially the ocean. I hold a teaching degree from the University Heidelberg with an emphasis in music and theater and I want to kindle and keep the "fire" of children alive. Before I started my education, I worked as an assistant in a preschool for two years. I am very excited to work in the GAIS Preschool with the IB Programme to broaden my horizon.
Dunja Zaun - Preschool Teacher
Having grown up in a small town in Thuringia, Germany, I went to Frankfurt/Main to receive 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 have 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 last year. GAIS offers a great learning environment in all areas of children's development and I love being part of it.
Leila Mbarek - Preschool Assistant/After-School Care
Hi my name is Leila and i am 30 years old. I grew up in Berlin (Germany) and I am a new teacher assistant in the Preschool / After-School Care Center.I have my Exam as a state accredited educator in Berlin since 2001. I am looking forward working in the GAIS Preschool with you and your children. I love travelling and I am an enthusiastic and optimistic person.
