Dandelions | Sunflowers
Dandelion Teacher
Ms. Spellman is a graduate of the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training and earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of New Hampshire. She has been working with children for over 25 years. She joined the Novato Charter School Kindergarten Team in 2018.
The realm of childhood is a place of deep wonder and discovery. Tara aims to support a nourishing environment in which children can grow and thrive through imaginative play and meaningful work.
Dandelion Support/Assistant
My name is Dani Young. I was born in San Francisco and raised in Marin. I grew up in Lucas Valley, lived in Hawaii for a while and now live in Bel Marin Keys. I have been teaching early childhood education for over 30 years. I am very excited to be a part of Novato Charter School. I had the opportunity to work in the aftercare program a few years ago which gave me the chance to meet some of our wonderful teachers and families and lead me to where I am now in the Kindergarten room. In my free time I enjoy traveling with my family. Near the ocean is my favorite place to be. I like any artistic projects, painting and crafting are some of my favorite. Any chance to be outdoors exploring nature, hiking, biking and paddle boarding is a perfect day for me.
Sunflower Teacher
Ms. Gina graduated from San Francisco State University with a BS in Liberal Studies and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. She completed the Waldorf Teacher Training Program at the Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, CA.
Her experience includes nine years as a preschool teacher at the Mulberry School and five years teaching kindergarten and first grade at the Oxford School, both in Berkeley, Ca. She began teaching kindergarten at the Novato Charter School in 2009.
Sunflower Support/Assistant
My name is Madie Augusto and I am a Novato native through and through. I just recently graduated from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. There, I studied Psychological Brain Sciences with a focus on brain development and social interaction along with Human-Centered Design through the Thayer School of Engineering. While at Dartmouth, I played Division 1 softball and was able to travel around the country competing against some of the top teams in the nation. While in college, I worked for an international tutoring company which gave me the experience necessary to work with kindergartners. Aside from that, I tutored my peers throughout my four years at Dartmouth and worked for Marin Tutoring during my off term. In my free time, I coach softball and love to adventure around California! You can find me at the beach, in a lake, or by a river! I am thrilled to embark on this new adventure and rely on my previous experiences to guide me through it!