FACULTY & STAFF DIRECTORY
Karen Arcangelo
English Teacher
Faculty Information
Classes English 9, AP Literature, ELD
Contact Information
Website
School Email [email protected]
Phone 898-2121
Education
Degrees
Biography
Growing up in a small Amish village outside Scranton, Karen took her parents buggy all the way to the big city of Philadelphia where she lived with her Uncle Rocky and Aunt Adrienne working part time in a meat packing refrigerator to help pay her way through college. A seasoned teaching veteran from Diablo Valley High School, Karen will be starting her third year here at San Marin.
English Teacher
Faculty Information
Classes English 9, AP Literature, ELD
Contact Information
Website
School Email [email protected]
Phone 898-2121
Education
Degrees
Biography
Growing up in a small Amish village outside Scranton, Karen took her parents buggy all the way to the big city of Philadelphia where she lived with her Uncle Rocky and Aunt Adrienne working part time in a meat packing refrigerator to help pay her way through college. A seasoned teaching veteran from Diablo Valley High School, Karen will be starting her third year here at San Marin.
Ryan Berberian
English Teacher and Yearbook Advisor
Contact Information
Website www.theberbs.weebly.com
School Email [email protected]
Phone 898-2121
Education
Degrees BA English from UC Santa Barbara (1998)
Teaching Credential from Dominican University (2001)
Biography
Ryan began teaching at San Marin High school in the 2001-2002 school year. Now in his twelfth year at San Marin Ryan continues to enjoy his job immensely. What Ryan finds most enjoyable is that each new year brings in a new experience. Every class is a new distinct identity and this offers an experience that is always evolving. Outside of the classroom Ryan's hobbies include working in his woodshop and running.
Contact Information
Website www.theberbs.weebly.com
School Email [email protected]
Phone 898-2121
Education
Degrees BA English from UC Santa Barbara (1998)
Teaching Credential from Dominican University (2001)
Biography
Ryan began teaching at San Marin High school in the 2001-2002 school year. Now in his twelfth year at San Marin Ryan continues to enjoy his job immensely. What Ryan finds most enjoyable is that each new year brings in a new experience. Every class is a new distinct identity and this offers an experience that is always evolving. Outside of the classroom Ryan's hobbies include working in his woodshop and running.
Scott MacLeod
English and Journalism Teacher
Faculty Information
Classes English 10 Honors, ERWC (Expository Reading & Writing), Journalism
Contact Information
School Email [email protected]
Phone 898-2121
Education
Degrees A.B. cum laude, Philosophy, Harvard University
M.A.T. Education, University of San Francisco
Biography
Now in his seventh year at San Marin, Scott continues to believe that teaching is the hardest job he has ever had – and the best. Scott spent nearly 20 years in advertising and marketing, including stints as Senior Vice President at advertising agencies J. Walter Thompson and DDB Worldwide. Following a successful bout with cancer, he made the decision to pursue a path of public service which initially included working with at-risk youth and homeless people in the Tenderloin and later serving as Director of Development for a national education nonprofit helping high-potential, low-income students get on the path to college. Inspired by the power of education, Scott went to school at night to obtain a Masters degree and teaching credential. Combining his two academic loves, Scott’s Master’s thesis was titled, “Philosophical Inquiry in the High School English Classroom.”
Outside the classroom, Scott can be found playing soccer, mountain biking, snowboarding, or playing guitar and bass in a rock band called “The Role Models.”
Faculty Information
Classes English 10 Honors, ERWC (Expository Reading & Writing), Journalism
Contact Information
School Email [email protected]
Phone 898-2121
Education
Degrees A.B. cum laude, Philosophy, Harvard University
M.A.T. Education, University of San Francisco
Biography
Now in his seventh year at San Marin, Scott continues to believe that teaching is the hardest job he has ever had – and the best. Scott spent nearly 20 years in advertising and marketing, including stints as Senior Vice President at advertising agencies J. Walter Thompson and DDB Worldwide. Following a successful bout with cancer, he made the decision to pursue a path of public service which initially included working with at-risk youth and homeless people in the Tenderloin and later serving as Director of Development for a national education nonprofit helping high-potential, low-income students get on the path to college. Inspired by the power of education, Scott went to school at night to obtain a Masters degree and teaching credential. Combining his two academic loves, Scott’s Master’s thesis was titled, “Philosophical Inquiry in the High School English Classroom.”
Outside the classroom, Scott can be found playing soccer, mountain biking, snowboarding, or playing guitar and bass in a rock band called “The Role Models.”
Melissa Munoz-Matheny
English Teacher
Faculty Information
Classes English 9, English 10
Contact Information
Website
School Email [email protected]
Phone 898-2121
Education
Degrees
Biography
As a peace corp volunteer/ CIA operative Melissa has helped "spread" democracy around the globe. Before her work as a teacher, Melissa spent several years in the legal world crushing the hopes and aspirations of small business owners through her work in corporate law.
English Teacher
Faculty Information
Classes English 9, English 10
Contact Information
Website
School Email [email protected]
Phone 898-2121
Education
Degrees
Biography
As a peace corp volunteer/ CIA operative Melissa has helped "spread" democracy around the globe. Before her work as a teacher, Melissa spent several years in the legal world crushing the hopes and aspirations of small business owners through her work in corporate law.
Denise Smith
Faculty Information
Classes English 10, ERWC (Expository Reading and Writing)
Contact Information
School Email [email protected]
Phone 898-2121
Education
Degrees B.A.English, Mills College
M.A. Education, Dominican University
Biography
Denise was born and raised in Massachusetts but packed a suitcase and bought a one-way ticket to California promising herself she would never shovel another driveway again. She spent twenty years in the medical field, a number of years working with families of children with disabilities, and then finally pursued her life-long dream of becoming a teacher. She has been in the Novato Unified District for ten years. She is married, has 4 children, and an old rescue dog. She is very active in the disabled community and can read and write Braille. She has had several magazine articles published regarding her experiences in the adoption of disabled and older children. She has a passion for the beach, travelling, reading, music, theatre, knitting and dancing. She is also a member of the Tam Twirlers.
Classes English 10, ERWC (Expository Reading and Writing)
Contact Information
School Email [email protected]
Phone 898-2121
Education
Degrees B.A.English, Mills College
M.A. Education, Dominican University
Biography
Denise was born and raised in Massachusetts but packed a suitcase and bought a one-way ticket to California promising herself she would never shovel another driveway again. She spent twenty years in the medical field, a number of years working with families of children with disabilities, and then finally pursued her life-long dream of becoming a teacher. She has been in the Novato Unified District for ten years. She is married, has 4 children, and an old rescue dog. She is very active in the disabled community and can read and write Braille. She has had several magazine articles published regarding her experiences in the adoption of disabled and older children. She has a passion for the beach, travelling, reading, music, theatre, knitting and dancing. She is also a member of the Tam Twirlers.
Wes Swedlow
English & Philosophy Teacher
Faculty Information
Classes English 9, English 11 , Philosophy
Contact Information
Website: http://swedlow.weebly.com/
School Email [email protected]
Phone 898-2121
Education
Degrees B.A., Philosophy, University of California, Santa Cruz
M.A. & Ph.D., Philosophy, DePaul University
Credential, English, University of San Francisco
Biography
Now entrenched in year seven of teaching at San Marin High School, Wes can only vaguely remember a time when he wasn't in school. Previously, he taught philosophy courses at DePaul University and the University of San Francisco. Noting a severe lack of critical thinking, reading, and writing skills in his college students, he entered the public school force to help new generations become well-rounded citizens of the universe. When not found staring off into the distance as he contemplates absurd philosophical propositions, Wes can sometimes be located playing guitar, reading books, and smoking his pipe (though he tends to still be staring off into the distance on these occasions, making the reading especially difficult).
Faculty Information
Classes English 9, English 11 , Philosophy
Contact Information
Website: http://swedlow.weebly.com/
School Email [email protected]
Phone 898-2121
Education
Degrees B.A., Philosophy, University of California, Santa Cruz
M.A. & Ph.D., Philosophy, DePaul University
Credential, English, University of San Francisco
Biography
Now entrenched in year seven of teaching at San Marin High School, Wes can only vaguely remember a time when he wasn't in school. Previously, he taught philosophy courses at DePaul University and the University of San Francisco. Noting a severe lack of critical thinking, reading, and writing skills in his college students, he entered the public school force to help new generations become well-rounded citizens of the universe. When not found staring off into the distance as he contemplates absurd philosophical propositions, Wes can sometimes be located playing guitar, reading books, and smoking his pipe (though he tends to still be staring off into the distance on these occasions, making the reading especially difficult).
Shannon Ward
English Teacher
Faculty Information
Classes English 9, English 10
Contact Information
Website
School Email sward@nusd.org
Phone
Education
Degrees
Biography
A Mixed Martial Arts professional with several title belts to her name, Shannon has decided to give back through her work as a public school teacher. She has also spent some time in the Republic of Georgia as a goat rancher.
English Teacher
Faculty Information
Classes English 9, English 10
Contact Information
Website
School Email sward@nusd.org
Phone
Education
Degrees
Biography
A Mixed Martial Arts professional with several title belts to her name, Shannon has decided to give back through her work as a public school teacher. She has also spent some time in the Republic of Georgia as a goat rancher.
Adam Williams
English & Social StudiesTeacher
Faculty Information
Classes AP Language, Creative Writing, GL.AC. Social Studies
Contact Information
Website www.englishawilliams.weebly.com
School Email [email protected]
Phone 898-2121 x
Education
Degrees B.A. English, San Francisco State University
M.A. English, San Francisco State University
M.A. Education, San Francisco State University
Biography
Adam will be starting his thirteenth year teaching at San Marin high school in 2016, where he has also served as the Department Chair for the last eleven years. Adam has helped to build a robust Independent Reading Program, implement common core, better serve ELD students, develop Project Based Learning units, collaborate on best practices between grade levels and schools. His Creative Writing students publish every year in the Marin Poetry Center Anthology and AP Language students have on average a 70-80% pass rate on the AP exam. Recently adding a social studies credential, Adam has helped start SEA the Social and Environmental Justice Academy. He was awarded Teacher of the Year by the Novato Rotary in 2010.
Born "wild", Adam was raised by feral cats in the Santa Ana river bed in southern California near Huntington Beach. Besides a love for personal grooming, shiny objects, and birds, Adam discovered his passion for literature while reading "Ode to a Greecian Urn" with an inspired English teacher. He studied literature and writing at San Francisco State for his Bachelors degree and later completed a Masters in English(TESOL) and a Masters in Education(Educational Administration). He enjoys running, surfing, and hiking with his wife Meredith, also a teacher, and his young boys Sam(9) and Max(5). He has run 20 marathons and 4 ultra-marathons.
Faculty Information
Classes AP Language, Creative Writing, GL.AC. Social Studies
Contact Information
Website www.englishawilliams.weebly.com
School Email [email protected]
Phone 898-2121 x
Education
Degrees B.A. English, San Francisco State University
M.A. English, San Francisco State University
M.A. Education, San Francisco State University
Biography
Adam will be starting his thirteenth year teaching at San Marin high school in 2016, where he has also served as the Department Chair for the last eleven years. Adam has helped to build a robust Independent Reading Program, implement common core, better serve ELD students, develop Project Based Learning units, collaborate on best practices between grade levels and schools. His Creative Writing students publish every year in the Marin Poetry Center Anthology and AP Language students have on average a 70-80% pass rate on the AP exam. Recently adding a social studies credential, Adam has helped start SEA the Social and Environmental Justice Academy. He was awarded Teacher of the Year by the Novato Rotary in 2010.
Born "wild", Adam was raised by feral cats in the Santa Ana river bed in southern California near Huntington Beach. Besides a love for personal grooming, shiny objects, and birds, Adam discovered his passion for literature while reading "Ode to a Greecian Urn" with an inspired English teacher. He studied literature and writing at San Francisco State for his Bachelors degree and later completed a Masters in English(TESOL) and a Masters in Education(Educational Administration). He enjoys running, surfing, and hiking with his wife Meredith, also a teacher, and his young boys Sam(9) and Max(5). He has run 20 marathons and 4 ultra-marathons.