Faculty & Staff
Mike Orlando, Head of School
"We truly live our mission here at Dunham," says Mike. "This is a school that celebrates gifted kids for who they are."
Mike Orlando's understanding of the academic and emotional needs of gifted children make him an ideal leader in the effective education of gifted kids. Before coming to Dunham, Mike served as a middle school teacher at Presidio Hill School in San Francisco. He also worked for seven summers as a director and dean at the Summer Institute for the Gifted. Mike's professional background includes a summer Klingenstein Fellowship from Teachers College of Columbia University, and an NAIS Aspiring Head of School Fellowship. He holds degrees from Occidental College and the UCLA School of Law.
Mike Orlando's understanding of the academic and emotional needs of gifted children make him an ideal leader in the effective education of gifted kids. Before coming to Dunham, Mike served as a middle school teacher at Presidio Hill School in San Francisco. He also worked for seven summers as a director and dean at the Summer Institute for the Gifted. Mike's professional background includes a summer Klingenstein Fellowship from Teachers College of Columbia University, and an NAIS Aspiring Head of School Fellowship. He holds degrees from Occidental College and the UCLA School of Law.
Arin Wiscomb, Lower School
"Creating a classroom that is full of adventure and joy makes my job the best in the world. "
Arin has taught at Dunham since 2003. His understanding that the academic development of gifted kids is intertwined with their social growth, makes his classroom a place of safety and community for our youngest students. Arin's teaching career began as in junior in high school with an internship position at the Exploratorium. Before coming to Dunham, Arin taught at Windrush School in El Cerrito. His education includes a degree from SF State, and master's work at Sonoma State University. A fine artist by training, Arin integrates thoughtfulness and mindfulness into his teaching here at Dunham.
Arin has taught at Dunham since 2003. His understanding that the academic development of gifted kids is intertwined with their social growth, makes his classroom a place of safety and community for our youngest students. Arin's teaching career began as in junior in high school with an internship position at the Exploratorium. Before coming to Dunham, Arin taught at Windrush School in El Cerrito. His education includes a degree from SF State, and master's work at Sonoma State University. A fine artist by training, Arin integrates thoughtfulness and mindfulness into his teaching here at Dunham.
Katrina Hammer, Lower School
"When I first visited Dunham and met its students, I realized that the kind of teacher I had always wanted
to be was the right kind of teacher for this school."
Before starting at Dunham, Katrina taught 1st through 5th graders in the Vallejo City Unified School District. Katrina also spent two summers working for Marin Academy prospective students and has entered the homes of several Marin families, employed under the supervision of Marin Tutors. Her background includes training in TRIBES, Second Step, and the Center for Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning. Katrina holds two degrees and a teaching credential from Sonoma State University. "At Dunham, the students are the stars. Kids are known and cared for as individuals here."
to be was the right kind of teacher for this school."
Before starting at Dunham, Katrina taught 1st through 5th graders in the Vallejo City Unified School District. Katrina also spent two summers working for Marin Academy prospective students and has entered the homes of several Marin families, employed under the supervision of Marin Tutors. Her background includes training in TRIBES, Second Step, and the Center for Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning. Katrina holds two degrees and a teaching credential from Sonoma State University. "At Dunham, the students are the stars. Kids are known and cared for as individuals here."
Benita Stevenson, Upper School
" We don't have a canned curriculum of facts to memorize. Instead, each inquiry period we embark upon a new sea of exploration, within a clear historical context."
Benita Stevenson graduated from Bombay University with a B.A. in English and a minor in History of the West. Since moving to the United States, she has received her Child Development Master Teacher Permit, an A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education and has been involved with the GATE program in the Novato School District. Mrs. Stevenson is a talented musician and has taken senior exams at Trinity School of Music in London. She is currently in progress toward a Masters Degree in Education specializing in multiple intelligences. Mrs. Stevenson is the mother of four gifted children, two of whom are currently attending college.
Benita Stevenson graduated from Bombay University with a B.A. in English and a minor in History of the West. Since moving to the United States, she has received her Child Development Master Teacher Permit, an A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education and has been involved with the GATE program in the Novato School District. Mrs. Stevenson is a talented musician and has taken senior exams at Trinity School of Music in London. She is currently in progress toward a Masters Degree in Education specializing in multiple intelligences. Mrs. Stevenson is the mother of four gifted children, two of whom are currently attending college.
Wendy Harder, Upper School
" The kids here love to learn, and discovering new concepts is fun and exciting."
Wendy Harder graduated Summa cum laude from U.C. Berkeley with a B.A. in Geography and was awarded Phi Beta Kappa membership. She received multiple subject and CLAD teaching credentials from Cal State Hayward and received her masters in Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego. She has specialized training in gifted education via the California Association for the Gifted (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted) and has received her GATE specialist certification.
Wendy Harder graduated Summa cum laude from U.C. Berkeley with a B.A. in Geography and was awarded Phi Beta Kappa membership. She received multiple subject and CLAD teaching credentials from Cal State Hayward and received her masters in Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego. She has specialized training in gifted education via the California Association for the Gifted (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted) and has received her GATE specialist certification.
Christine Jones, Mathematics
" The kids at Dunham dive into math with exuberance, and solving problems, puzzles and challenges is a great way to begin each school day. "
Christine Jones earned a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering degree from the University of Minnesota at Duluth, and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She has worked in engineering and product development as well as in financial modeling and analysis. A math specialist, Mrs. Jones brings essential expertise to the quantitative reasoning and analysis programs at Dunham. She has three gifted children, and loves to help the kids at Dunham leap beyond perfectionism into messy mathematical discovery.
Christine Jones earned a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering degree from the University of Minnesota at Duluth, and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She has worked in engineering and product development as well as in financial modeling and analysis. A math specialist, Mrs. Jones brings essential expertise to the quantitative reasoning and analysis programs at Dunham. She has three gifted children, and loves to help the kids at Dunham leap beyond perfectionism into messy mathematical discovery.
Jen Martinez, Spanish
Jen taught Spanish for over ten years at Spring Hill Montessori School in Petaluma, where she developed a curriculum and teaching philosophy that is highly individualized. The parent of two gifted children, Jen has a reputation among her colleagues of holding students and their needs in deep respect. She earned her BA in Mexican-American Studies and her Spanish language bilingual education credential from Sonoma State.
France-Laude Gohard, French
Madame Gohard, a native of Paris, France, has lived and taught in the U.S. for more than two decades. As well as daily exposure to spoken and written French, Madame Gohard infuses her program with rich French cultural and historical context. Children cook French cuisine from time to time and through the prism of another country they learn relevant and significant social studies appropriate to the overall theme studied in their other classes.
Tom Wright, Physical Ed and Aftercare
"Our kids have very deep feelings and intensity that makes PE a very important part of their social emotional growth and learning."
Tom handles Dunham's active kids in daily physical education classes, and supervises them at the end of the day in our popular aftercare program. Tom has many years of experience in this role, and came to Dunham from Windrush School. Tom graduated from UCLA and then New College of California School of Law, where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree. Tom had followed his true passion—kids' physical and social growth—rather than moving on to practice law.
Tom handles Dunham's active kids in daily physical education classes, and supervises them at the end of the day in our popular aftercare program. Tom has many years of experience in this role, and came to Dunham from Windrush School. Tom graduated from UCLA and then New College of California School of Law, where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree. Tom had followed his true passion—kids' physical and social growth—rather than moving on to practice law.
Claire Barnum, Administrative Assistant
" What excites me about Dunham Academy is knowing that we are filling a real need: Children here are happy and engaged, and I get to be a part of that process. "
Claire is Dunham's proverbial mother hen, taking care of everything from admissions facilitation, student tracking and enrollment, vendor negotiations and management, to the occasional skinned knee. Claire has a strong background in front office management, marketing and business development. She loves children and has two of her own to manage at home.
Claire is Dunham's proverbial mother hen, taking care of everything from admissions facilitation, student tracking and enrollment, vendor negotiations and management, to the occasional skinned knee. Claire has a strong background in front office management, marketing and business development. She loves children and has two of her own to manage at home.
