Meet the team
Staff DirectoryAdministrators
Fernando Aguilar
Director
Fernando earned a BA at Humboldt State University and an MA in education at the University of San Francisco. His 14 years of teaching experience include work at the Hawthorne School in Oakland; the River East School in East Harlem, NY; Ryder Elementary School in Brooklyn, NY, and CACS. In his spare time, Fernando likes spending time with his family, going to the beach, and trying to find good pizza.
Ann Ledo-Lane
Director of Arts Programming and Resource Development
Ann leads with 20 years of education experience, commitment and passion in developing inclusive, innovative, and arts-integrated project based curriculum. She received her Masters in Special Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Prior to her work in San Francisco, Ann served as an inclusion, special education and arts specialist in Washington, DC, and New York City, and is currently an adjunct instructor in the School of Education at SF State. She believes that the arts are essential in teaching and learning. Ann loves to make things with her family and explore nature as much as possible.
Specialists
Jennie McClelland
SFUSD Resource Specialist
jmcclelland@creativeartscharter.org
Jennie McClelland, SFUSD Resource Specialist
Jennie holds a BA in History and Secondary Education from Boston College. After moving to San Francisco in 1995, she taught social studies and served as assistant principal at a small, private, alternative high school for 13 years. While caring for her young son, Jennie earned her Masters Degree in Special Education, Special Education Mild/Moderate teaching credential, and Educational Therapy certificate from San Francisco State University in 2009. She has worked in multiple elementary schools throughout the district. She started at teaching at Creative Arts in 2013. She recently completed the Seeing Stars program by LindaMood-Bell. During her free time, Jennie enjoys spending time with her family, eating out, going on urban hikes, and reading.
Maggie Dale
Literacy Specialist
Teachers
Alexis Markavage
Teacher KA
amarkavage@creativeartscharter.org
Alexis graduated from the University of Southern California in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art and Graphic Design. In 2014, after leading an after school program at a Title 1 elementary school, she decided to switch gears to become a teacher. She received her 2042 Multiple Subject Credential from Dominican University of California and is currently in the process of obtaining her MA in Education from Dominican. She has always been interested in problem solving through the creative lens of a designer. She believes that, like graphic design, teaching requires critical thinking, trial and error, and creativity. She enjoys helping students reach their creative potential and use design-thinking to solve everyday problems. On the side, she practices illustration, inspired by the artwork of her students.
Regina Famiano
7th Grade Humanities
rfamiano@creativeartscharter.org
Gina Famiano grew up in Michigan and received her B.S. in Education at Central Michigan University with a major in English & Language Arts and a minor in Earth Science. During Gina’s early teaching years, she was drawn to traveling and learning through first-hand experiences. This ultimately landed her in California via Colorado. Gina also attended the University of Northern Colorado to earn her endorsement in Linguistically Diverse Education.
Besides education and working with youth, Gina absolutely loves snowboarding and being outdoors! Some other favorite activities include reading/writing, attending challenging yoga classes, camping and backpacking, exploring new restaurants and events, and traveling out of the country.
Maddy McGuire
Teacher, 4th & 5th
mmcguire@creativeartscharter.org
Maddy McGuire holds a B.A. in Art History, and earned her teaching credential and Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute (BATTI). Before coming to CACS, Maddy taught 5th grade at Peralta Elementary, a small, arts-integrated public school in Oakland, and the 3rd and 4th grades at Town School for Boys in San Francisco. She brings a love of stories, both real and imagined, and a constant stream of questions and curiosities to her teaching practice. Before finding her home in the classroom, Maddy worked at the Bay Area Discovery Museum, where she developed an interest in child-directed, play-based education. Maddy studied the arts in college, and while she still has a visual arts practice outside of the classroom, her passion for the arts lies in the learning experiences they facilitate for children, and is thrilled to be joining the community at Creative Arts.
Ron Buchanan
Teacher KB
rbuchanan@creativeartscharter.org
Ron earned a BA and MA in English literature and later a teaching credential at San Francisco State University. In 2000, after numerous years teaching in early childhood, he joined the staff of Creative Arts, where he has taught Kindergarten and 1st grade ever since. Ron is committed to fostering a learning environment that grows the whole child, taking into account social, emotional, physical and academic needs. Ron and his wife have two teenage children who attended Creative Arts. In his spare time, Ron enjoys traveling, reading, listening to music and playing basketball.
Laura Farley
5th Grade
lfarley@creativeartscharter.org
Laura holds a BS in Environmental Science from Santa Clara University and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction through the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute (BATTI). Before joining CACS, she worked as an Associate Teacher at Katherine Delmar Burke School. Other past work experiences include directing the after school program at Presidio Hill School and teaching as a naturalist for San Joaquin Outdoor School in the Santa Cruz mountains. Laura enjoys designing and implementing creative curriculum that engages multiple learning styles. Outside of school, she enjoys hiking, camping and traveling, as well as spending time with friends and family.
Dylan Brock
4th Grade
dbrock@creativeartscharter.org
Dylan earned his BA in History from San Francisco State University, his Teaching Credential and MA through the Bay Area Teachers Training Institute (BATTI). He is beginning his second year working at Creative Arts. Prior to working at CACS he was a substitute teacher for Chinese American International School, Live Oak School, and Children’s Day School. Previously, Dylan worked as an assistant teacher at The San Francisco Friends School. As a professional musician Dylan spent numerous years performing, recording and touring throughout America. He enjoys hiking, traveling, looking at art, trying the many restaurants in San Francisco, shopping at thrift stores for that perfect cardigan sweater, playing various stringed instruments and collecting vinyl.
Nicole Evashenk
6th Grade Teacher
cevashenk@creativeartscharter.org
Coco earned her BA from University of California, Santa Barbara double majoring in History and Sociology. She received her teaching credential from the University of San Francisco and is currently finishing her Masters in Education there this Fall. She is more than thrilled at the opportunity to be teaching at Creative Arts Charter, as she is a huge proponent of project based learning, and believes art and creativity are an imperative part to learning and creating and should be an integral part of all aspects of life. When not at school, she loves being outdoors, getting lost in music, creating visual art pieces and experimenting in the kitchen.
Brooke Nagel
Lower School Administrator
bnagel@creativeartscharter.org
Brooke holds a BA in Literature and a BS in Elementary Education from Boston University, and an MA in Art and Art Education from Columbia University Teachers College. She is passionate about advocating for the arts in public schools as tools for educational equity, and believes in creating joyful learning experiences for all children. Brooke’s teaching experience includes 7 years of classroom teaching at CACS and 5 years of teaching bilingual students in east San Jose. When she’s not at school, Brooke can be found hiking, seeing live music, camping, creating and viewing art, exploring, dancing, and traveling.