DIRECTOR/ Head TEACHER - IRIS DESERIO
IRIS WAS BORN AND RAISED IN BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA. Iris has been teaching for more than 10 years. She earned BOTH HER CALIFORNIA TEACHING CREDENTIAL AS WELL AS A MA IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION FROM THE BAY AREA TEACHER TRAINING INSTITUTE (BATTI), through the UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC IN STOCKTON. She was an assistant teacher in a 4th/5h grade classroom for two years while receiving her degree. Afterwards, she taught for two years each as a lead teacher in both a 1st/2nd grade classroom and then kindergarten classroom.
Iris grew UP ATTENDING CAZ FAMILY CAMP WITH HER FAMILY. SHE IS A MUSICIAN, ATHLETE, AND ENVIRONMENTALIST. SHE ATTENDED BERKELEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PLAYED COMPETITIVE SOCCER, SOFTBALL, AND FIELD HOCKEY. IRIS STUDIED CELLO UNDER THE LATE MILLIE ROSNER AND PLAYED IN VARIOUS ENSEMBLES AND QUARTETS WITH THE OAKLAND YOUTH ORCHESTRA (OYO), YOUNG MUSICIAN’S PROGRAM AT UC BERKELEY, AND SAN DOMENICO HIGH SCHOOL’S VIRTUOUSO PROGRAM.
AFTER GRADUATING UC SANTA CRUZ WITH A DUAL-DEGREE IN EARTH SCIENCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, IRIS TAUGHT GARDENING AT WILLARD MIDDLE SCHOOL IN BERKELEY AND AT HUNTER’S POINT BOYS & GIRL’S CLUB IN SAN FRANCISCO EACH FOR TWO YEARS. IN 2013, SHE COMPLETED A THREE MONTH INTERNSHIP AT GREENSTRING FARMS IN PETALUMA, CA WHERE SHE LATER SERVED AS A TEACHING ASSISTANT. Iris then decided to go back to school to get her teaching credential.
Lead Teacher - Patrizio Pellouchoud
Patrizio was born in Tokyo, Japan and raised in Berkeley. Patrizio is an artist, musician, and actor. He has lived all over the world and studied in Peru and Indonesia. He earned a BA in Art at UC Santa Cruz before pursuing a career as a visual and performing artist. Patrizio has appeared in feature films as well as on stage and his art has been featured across the United States.
In 1999, he furthered his studies in early childhood education and has been working as in early educator for the past 25 years.
Part Time Teacher and Substitute - Emily Freedman
Substitute Teacher - John Deserio
John is from Berkeley, California and danced professionally as a ballet dancer for 7 years. After dancing he earned his bachelors and two master’s degrees. John then traded in his touring suitcase and scholar’s gown to bring the world to his Preschool through 5th grade students. As a child his passion for teaching and love of knowledge catapulted him through 8 years of primary education in public and private schools. As an adult, John continues to be inspired by the Montessori preschool setting and after 5 years as a preschool teacher, now is an Elementary Teacher with Berkeley Unified School District. John strives to have all voices heard and represented in his classroom, with a special focus on hands-on discovery, art, dance, social-emotional development, and world cultures.
