Coach Amarillas, Notre Dame’s strength and conditioning coach since 2002, brings more than three decades of experience training junior high and high school athletes. His passion for strength and conditioning is evident as he helps young people become the best they can be. He will meet the athletes where they are and move them forward in a planned and safe manner. Coach Ammo holds two certifications (CSCS, USAW 1) from the only two nationally-accredited institutions in the country.

Coach Ali is entering her 11th season as the varsity head coach at Notre Dame High School and the founder and director of Bueno Basketball Academy. She believes all players have the potential to become great with consistent effort on the right things, quality coaches and mentors, accountability and belonging to an encouraging community. Coach Ali is a proud alum of Notre Dame and is excited to bring her passion for coaching basketball and developing leaders to summer camp!

Nick is a veteran digital media teacher in the San Mateo Union High School District, having taught there since 2011.  He received his B.A. in studio art with an emphasis in graphic design from Long Beach State University. Nick continues to work in his free time as a freelance graphic designer and amateur filmmaker, while also spending time with his two children and wife in the garden. 

Alex is a Notre Dame High School alum and splits her time between her home and business in South Africa and teaching at NDSJ. She studied urban community development and art at New York University and holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. She is the managing director and founder of Boundless City.

Patricia is a music educator with a deep passion for helping students connect with music. Originally from Montreal, Canada, she earned her Music Education credential from McGill University and has been immersed in the world of music for the past 13 years. She believes that students thrive when they learn about the music they love, fostering a deep sense of connection and fulfillment. Patricia is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Instrumental Conducting at San José State University. 

Eran is the Director of Teaching and Learning at Notre Dame and a social studies teacher.  She holds degrees in international relations and art studio from UC Davis, as well as a master's degree in teaching from the University of San Francisco.

 

Tanisha is a math teacher at Notre Dame, where she teaches the Algebra course for ninth graders. Tanisha also oversees the student leadership program. Tanisha received her degrees in math and education from UC Santa Cruz.

Susana serves as the Assistant Head of School at Notre Dame. She previously taught religious studies classes at Notre Dame and teacher education courses at the University of San Francisco. At Santa Clara University, she received degrees in sociology and Spanish, as well as her master’s degree in spirituality.

Elliott has been teaching English and drama for over a decade at Evergreen Valley High School in East Side San Jose. He has been part of many productions, including Rent, The 25th Putnam County Spelling Bee and High School Musical. He holds a B.A. from San Jose State and an M.A. from USC.

Deacon Steve has organized interfaith experiences for teenagers since 1998. He currently conducts the New Mexico interfaith immersion trip with Notre Dame students and members of the Buddhist tradition. Deacon Steve is on the Board of Directors of the Silicon Valley Interreligious Council and has participated in numerous interfaith services and activities in the Bay Area.

Jennifer is the Director of Summer Programs at Notre Dame High School and Director of the Academic Resource Center at Bellarmine College Preparatory. Jennifer is passionate about providing a supportive learning environment for students so that they can thrive in their educational experience and beyond. She loves watching their confidence grow as they embrace new strategies to help them succeed in the classroom and in life.

Emily just finished up her seventh year at ND, and she is thrilled to be teaching summer workshops in dance and creative writing. The high school classroom is where she discovered her passion for the arts and literature, and she hopes to foster that same passion in the students joining her programs. It is her goal to use English and dance as a vehicle for students to find their unique voice, both on the page and on the stage!

David holds a bachelor's of computer science from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from San Jose State. With over 10 years of Python programming experience, he’s also skilled in other languages. David loves side projects like chasing National Weather Service balloons, doing Advent of Code, DIY trail cams, 3D printing and fake fireplaces. He says, "If you want to learn something, do a project that uses it."

Caitlyn is a professional stage manager and maker who currently serves as the Co-Technical Theatre Director at Notre Dame High School. She has worked internationally with companies including Disney World Live Entertainment and the National Theatre in London as well as locally with Red Barn Productions and Playful People Productions. She received her B.A. with honors from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, Wales. 

Tania is a certified yoga teacher and mindfulness coach at various public and private schools in the Bay Area, including Fusion Academy, as well as at corporate offices, where she brings wellness practices to professionals in workplace settings. 

 

Cecilia is the Director of College Counseling at Notre Dame High School. She works with all grade levels, but her focus is on juniors and seniors and helping them prepare for and navigate the college search and application process. The college search process should be fun and exciting! Ms. Perkins loves watching students figure out what their passion and interests are and seeing students find colleges that align with these! 

Sonia’s passion for the Constitution, law and justice inspired her to teach Government and Economics for 25 years in San Jose. For almost 20 of those years, she coached Mock Trial. Sonia was inducted into the Santa Clara County Mock Trial Coaches Hall of Fame and led one of her teams to both quarterfinals and semifinals. As an ND alum, Sonia brought her skills and passion back to where her love of justice started—Notre Dame!

Yelena is the Director of Athletics at Notre Dame. She brings a wealth of experience playing competitive international volleyball for five years, teaching and coaching for 12 years and working with student-athletes for more than 15 years. Her mission is to grow women leaders through sports, fostering leadership from high school and throughout their life journey.