MSArts Faculty and Staff – San Francisco Middle School of the Arts

Our Faculty and Staff

Administration

Dr. Sherry Zhang

Head of School

Dr. Zhang has a PhD in Chemistry, and completed her postdoctoral work at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab conducting research on lithium-ion batteries for hybrid electric vehicles. She was a founding member of HSArts’ governing board and became Head of School in 2015. Dr. Zhang is a current member of Americans for the Arts, a nonprofit organization whose primary focus is advancing the arts in the United States.

Counselors

Dr. Shalina Fung

Academic Counselor

Dr. Fung has many years of experience working with education leaders and college admission directors. She has organized many college fairs, and has worked as the Chief Editor for a Chinese educational magazine. Dr. Fung is currently completing the Certificate Program in College Admission and Career Planning through UC Berkeley, where she also received her Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Cell Biology. She holds a Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Southern California.

Academic Faculty

Ms. Lona Lou, M.A.

Academic Director

Ms. Lona Lou received an M.A. in Finance Management from the University of Cambridge. Before coming to High School of the Arts, Ms. Lou taught Finance and Investment at Henan University of Finance and Economics, and later worked in several non-profit organizations in the Bay Area.

Mr. Lee Randazzo, M.A.

English & History Teacher

Mr. Randazzo has an M.A. in ESL teaching for all ages and is certified in general education elementary school teaching (for all subjects, K-6). He is a licensed teacher with more than 20 years of teaching experience in public and private schools.

Ms. Emily Csikszentmihalyi

English Teacher

Ms. Csikszentmihalyi received her B.A. in Political Science from Tufts University. In addition to teaching English, she brings her writing and editing skills to the school’s publications division and tutors the elementary school students in the after school program.

Ms. Rhiannon Rumble

English Teacher

Ms. Rumble completed her B.A.(Hons) English at Royal Holloway, University of London, and her G. Dip. of Education at the University of Queensland. She is currently undertaking her M.A. Applied English through the University of Nottingham. Ms. Rumble is an experienced high-school teacher and has co-authored English textbooks under Cambridge University Press.

Ms. Ginnie Wu

History Teacher

Ms. Wu graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.S. Environmental Economics and Policy as well as B.A. Chinese. She attained teaching credentials from SFU. Ms. Wu is a skilled teacher in history and economics.

Ms. Darragh Leddy

Mathematics Teacher

Ms. Leddy received a BA in Mathematics at Columbia University. She has 3 years of teaching experience at high schools in New York City and San Francisco, as well as 10 years of working with students on standardized test preparation. Ms. Leddy strives to provide students with a stellar mathematics foundation, while also developing their confidence, passion and ingenuity.

Mr. Ray Chen

Math & Science Teacher

Mr. Ray Chen received his Master of Science degree from Purdue University. He brings decades of work experience from global enterprises like Apple and Oracle, as well as years of experience from teaching previously at High School of the Arts and at other private schools.

Ms. Jenny Chang

Science Teacher

Ms. Chang holds a G.Dip. in Information Technology and a dual B.Ed. & B.Sc. in Biomedical Science & Microbiology from the University of Queensland. She has more than ten years of experience teaching math, computing, and the sciences to students in grades 6 through 12.

Ms. Dora Li

Chinese Teacher

Ms. Dora Li received an M.A. in Education Administration from the City College of New York. She studied bilingual and special education at Adelphi University and Fordham University. With many years of experience in both public and private school settings, Ms. Dora Li, has compiled and edited a Chinese language textbook set for middle and high school students, ranging from Level 1 to 7.

Ms. Min Zang

Chinese Teacher

Ms. Min Zang graduated from the Department of Chinese Teachers College and has many years of teaching experience. She specializes in teaching beginning level Chinese at HSArts.

Mr. Qining Cai

Chinese Teacher

Mr. Cai was a professor of Chinese in China before coming to High School of the Arts. He has taught Chinese language for thirty-five years. He also taught media production and also has extensive knowledge in Chinese literature and culture.

Dance Faculty

MR. DONGSHENG WEI

Honorary Artistic Director

Mr. Wei is an internationally acclaimed dancer and dance teacher. He was the principal dancer of Atlanta Ballet for 14 years. He has been teaching dance for over 25 years. He is currently the honorary Artistic Director of the dance program at the San Francisco High School of the Arts. Mr. Wei teaches ballet fundamental classes to the intermediate and advanced dance students.

Ms. Fengxuan Cao

Dance Teacher

Ms. Cao choreographs and teaches dance at High School of the Arts. She graduated from Beijing Dance Academy, the leading dance college in China, in 1997. Before she came to HSArts, she was a choreographer with Shen Yun Performing Arts Company.

Mr. Brian Nieh

Operations Manager, Arts Coordinator, Dance Teacher

Mr. Nieh holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance production from Fei Tian College in New York. An artist growing up in a family of teachers and musicians, the concert pianist turned 3rd-place winning dancer (2009 NTDTV Dance Competition) trained and toured with Shen Yun Performing Arts for 10 years, performing in dozens of cities and countries around the world. He then returned to his alma mater for several years as an instructor, teaching a variety of subjects. In 2019, he took his talents to San Francisco to join HSArts in providing quality education in arts and academics.

Mr. Mike Lai

Dance Teacher

Mr. Lai graduated from Fei Tian Academy of the Arts in New York and received a B.F.A. in Dance Pedagogy from Fei Tian College. He trained and performed with the world-renowned dance group Shen Yun for 5 years. He is an experienced choreographer and teacher of classical Chinese dance.

Ms. Alyssa Puleo

Dance Teacher

Ms. Puleo, a professional dancer and teacher, began her ballet career under Hanna Karacic in Southern California. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Dance from the University of Oregon, with a focus in Kinesiology. She has over ten years of teaching experience and specializes in preparatory ballet, folk dance and technique coaching.

Ms. Hayley Bowman

Dance Teacher

MS. HANNA ZHANG

Dance Teacher

Ms. Hanna’s love for Chinese dance began when she was only 9 years old. She graduated from Tianjin Normal University in 2019, majoring in Chinese dance. Ms. Hanna continued her education in the U.S., receiving her Master of Education (Curriculum and Instruction) from Kings College in 2020. Ms. Hanna worked at Tianjin TV Station as a dance teacher and choreographer, preparing many dances and fairy tale spectaculars for children of all ages. She has participated in CCTV’s Spring Festival Gala and the National Dance Performance competitions multiple times.

Music Faculty

Ms. Ani Bukujian

Violin Teacher

Ms. Bukujian received her Bachelor and Master Degrees from The Juilliard School. Currently, she attends the San Francisco Conservatory. She is the winner of numerous musical competitions, including three gold medals at the World Championship of Performing Arts, and first place at the Bach Competition, the ASTA Annual National Solo Competition, and the Pasadena String Festival.

Ms. Christina Simpson

Music Teacher

Ms. Simpson earned a B.A. in History from UC Berkeley, where she served as Principal Violist for the UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra for four years. Her classroom experience includes teaching English, History, and Music at the School of the Madeleine in Berkeley and the Educational Enrichment Center in Pleasanton as well as coaching chamber music at the College of Marin.

Mr. Matthew DePasquale

Trumpet Teacher

Mr. DePasquale is a talented and experienced trumpeter who also serves as Conducting Apprentice with the Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra and Assistant Conductor of the Merced Symphony. He is currently working on obtaining his M.A. from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Mr. Lucas Jensen

Tenor and Bass Trombone teacher

Mr. Jensen received his B.A. in Music from the New England Conservatory. He is an active local bass trombonist that plays in orchestras and chamber groups throughout the Bay Area. He has taught privately and in schools in Mountain View, and worked with the San Francisco Symphony’s Education Department through their Adventures in Music Program.

Ms. Shannon Wolfe

Voice Teacher

Ms. Wolfe, soprano, holds a Master of Music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where she specialized in opera and Baroque chamber music performance. Ms. Wolfe is sought after both as a voice teacher and director of musical theater for kids and teens. She now maintains a private voice studio in San Francisco's Outer Sunset district. An active cabaret performer, Ms. Wolfe delights in the art of singing and storytelling using the Great American Songbook as her muse. She is the creator of numerous solo shows including, Femmes Fatales: A Film Noir cabaret.

Mr. Evan Kahn

Cello Teacher

Mr. Kahn received his B.A. from Carnegie Mellon University and his M.A. in Chamber Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He holds principal positions in four orchestras in the Bay area, including the Silicon Valley Symphony and the San Jose opera.

Ms. Erika Miras

French Horn Teacher

Ms. Miras holds degrees from University of Southern California, University of Michigan, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She has performed with many orchestras and currently holds the position of co-principal horn in the Palm Beach Symphony.

Mr. Andrew Barnhart

Saxophone Teacher

Mr. Barnhart received a B.A. in Music from UCLA, where he also earned a minor in Music History, and a Master of Music degree from The Hartt School. He has performed with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Wind Ensemble, the Modesto Symphony Orchestra, and the San Francisco Conservatory Orchestra.

Mr. Kenneth Miller

Bass teacher

Mr. Miller is a San Francisco native and graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He has many years of performance experience, including with the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Opera, San Jose Symphony, and Philharmonia Baroque orchestras, as well as the Kronos and Turtle Island String Quartets.

Mr. Alden Jenks

Music Theory and Composition Teacher

Mr. Jenks received his B.A. from Yale University and his M.A. from U.C. Berkeley. He has years of teaching experience at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Naropa Institute, and the Golden Gate Philharmonic. Mr. Jenks has composed music in a wide variety of forms, and will be teaching Music Theory and Composition at High School of the Arts.

Ms. Mikako Endo

Music Composition Teacher

Ms. Endo is a talented piano teacher and composer with over twenty years of teaching experience in the US and Japan. She received her B.M. in Music education and Composition from Tokyo Gakugei University and her M.A. from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She has composed music for concert performances, computer games, and videos.

Ms. Yujing Bai

Music Theory & Composition Teacher

Ms. Bai received her M.A. from San Francisco Conservatory of Music in Composition and she also earned her B.A. from Shanghai Conservatory of Music in Music design and Production. She is an active contemporary composer based in the Bay Area. Her works contribute to a variety of instrumental, chamber, film, electronic, vocal and other collaborative directions. She has also worked with Hollywood film composers Roger Neill and Larry Groupe at the Palomar Film Music Workshop.

Visual Arts Faculty

Ms. Vera Wang

Visual Arts Teacher

Ms. Wang studied visual arts from a very young age. In 2013, she graduated with a BFA from the Kharkiv Academy of Design and Arts in Ukraine, majoring in easel painting. In 2015 she began her studies in professional illustration in the US, alongside self-studies in classical oil painting. Ms. Wang has more than five years of experience in youth arts education.

Ms. Qiu Yan Hao

Visual Arts Teacher

Ms. Hao studied fashion design at the Fine Arts Department of Hebei University of Science and Technology. Her artistic specialties are Western classical painting, traditional Chinese painting, graphic design, and sculpture. Ms. Hao worked in one of the largest state-run television stations in China for many years and has extensive work experience in stage and prop design.

Mr. John de Groot

Media Arts Teacher

Mr. de Groot is an experienced video professional with special expertise in producing, writing and editing broadcast news. He received a Bachelor of the Arts degree from UC Davis. Mr. de Groot also does freelance work as a producer and editor.

Mr. Kai Lun Qu

Visual Arts Teacher

Mr. Qu is a professional artist and the Director and Founder of CalColor Atelier in Cupertino. He graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Arts, as well as having studied at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. In 2018, He was one of twenty-six recipients chosen out of nearly 3000 entries to be awarded a Certificate of Excellence for his painting Ashton in the 20th Annual International Portrait Society of America Competition. Kai has had his work exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the US, such as the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, US Capitol Building in DC, and Crystal Moll Gallery in Baltimore. His work has also been included and published by Poets Artist Magazine and Plein Air Magazine. In 2018, Kai was featured in Southwest Art Magazine's 21 under 31 Article, where he was one of 21 artists under the age of 31 being celebrated as rising art stars from across the West and around the country.

Ms. Lucy Cui

Visual Arts Teacher

Ms. Cui is a freelance storyboard artist and illustrator. She received M.F.A of Animation & Visual Effects from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She also studied B.F.A in Century Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. In 2018, she had a reward as the Runner-up For MFA Personal Work in school of illustration in the Academy of Art University spring show.In 2019, she had a reward as The Best Category Award For Animation in school of Visual Development in the Academy of Art University spring show.

Theatre Faculty

Ms. Aimee Greenberg

Theatre Department Chair

Aimee Greenberg, MA, RDT is an award-winning veteran theatre artist whose works have been performed world-wide. She is the Founding Artistic Director of fruitlessmoon theatreworks (SD) and Heijera productions. (LA) A native New Yorker who trained with master teachers Sanford Meisner, Wynn Handman and Stella Adler, Aimee cut her teeth with several off-Broadway companies including La Mama ETC, The Medicine Show Theatre and Theatre for the New City. She has had the good fortune to collaborate with theatre icons Grotowski, Boal and Gentile. Greenberg is the recipient of multiple awards and fellowships including The Asian Cultural Council Fellowship, The Los Angeles Endowment, The Los Angeles Women’s Foundation Award, Seattle Original Works, and The Susan B. Komen Award. As an educator, Aimee has developed theatre programs and taught acting, writing and directing for theatre and film for grades for high schools, theatres, universities and international conservatories including: UCSD, CSUSM, SDSU, CSULA, and JAMU.