8th Grade Teachers
Claudia Martinez (she/her), English Language Arts Teacher
My big question: How can books teach me about myself, others, and the world around me?
I am thrilled to join The New School as the Founding 8th Grade ELA Teacher! I was born in Cuba and grew up in Miami, FL. As a former English Learner and now bilingual adult, I bring a deep understanding and connection to this important work of building a love of reading and writing. My journey in education began through Teach for America.
I have taught 6th through 12th grade English Language Arts and ELD and have held a variety of teacher leadership and coaching roles in the vibrant communities of Little Haiti in Miami, Watts in South LA, and East Oakland.
I am excited to bring a passion for writing, project-based learning, equity, and restorative justice to The New School. I have a Bachelor’s in Psychology and English Literature from Florida State University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Florida International University, as well as credentials in English, K-12 English Language Development, and K-12 Reading Instruction and project-based learning from The Buck Institute. After school you can find me reading (my goal this year is 50 books!), painting, embroidering, or hiking around the Bay Area with my partner, Greg!
Charlotte Eilbert (she/her), Math Teacher
My big question: How can mathematical thinking and problem-solving help us fight injustice?
Teaching math has been my passion for 10 years because I believe that every child can be a brilliant math learner, and that developing strong mathematical problem-solving skills will unlock essential doors of opportunity in their futures.
I discovered my own love for math while studying Economics at Stanford University, after which I earned my teaching credential and MA in Mathematics Education at the Stanford Teacher Education Program.
I taught 7th and 8th grade math for three years in my hometown of San Jose, CA, and then I moved here to San Francisco and taught 8th grade math for three years at Everett Middle School. For the last four years I have been an instructional coach at Everett, working closely with the school’s leadership team to drive toward our vision of equitable academic outcomes for all students.
When I’m not teaching math, you can find me reading a book in the sun, cooking and eating delicious food, or spoiling my adorable dog Georgie!
Ben DeVries (he/him), Social Studies Teacher
My big question: How can we build classrooms that foster critical discourse so that students feel prepared to take on the challenges of the real world?
After graduating from the University of Nebraska, I taught english as a second language in Spain for two years. I spent 4 years teaching middle school Special Education in New Orleans. During that time, I also completed my Master in Education at Johns Hopkins University. Last year, I worked as the Dean of Scholar Support at KIPP Morial in New Orleans East.
I’m elated to be teaching Social Studies. Social Studies allows us to critically examine the past and understand its impact on the present. I look forward to investigating and exploring these ideas with students.
When I’m not at work, I like to be active by playing sports, hiking, biking, and walking or running with my amazing dog Oso. I love relaxing by watching sports or binge watching great TV shows. I can’t wait to see what the year ahead holds!
Ben Yurman-Glaser, Science Teacher
My big question: Who am I?
Education runs deep in my family. I grew up in upstate New York and received my undergraduate degree in education and psychology from Cornell University. After graduating I joined the New York City Teaching Fellows program where I taught elementary school and received a Masters Degree in teaching from Pace University.
I then decided to move to California and worked in local politics mostly in the San Jose area.
I spent four years as an education and environmental policy analyst for the Mayor of San Jose and was able to see first hand how policy connected with my everyday classroom experience.
I then decided to return to classroom teaching and have taught middle school math and science for the past decade in Daly City. I believe science should be interesting, exciting, and most importantly relevant.
Logic and critical thinking skills are a continued thread to all I do in the classroom. When not teaching I enjoy music (both playing and listening), being outdoors, and spending time with my wife and three sons.