4th Grade Teachers

Alexis Ortega, Lead Teacher

My big question: How can I create an inclusive, safe space where all students can learn and grow?

I was born and raised in the Central Valley of California before I moved to San Francisco. I came to SF to complete my BA in Liberal Studies at San Francisco State. I loved SF so much that I decided to stay and obtain my Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. After school, I was a substitute and a long term substitute for SFUSD.

My first official teaching job was at a small private school called San Francisco Pacific Academy where I taught kindergarten and first grade for two years - right in the middle of the pandemic! I realized that my passion is in public schools, so I decided to apply to New School!

My goal as an educator is to create an inclusive, safe space where all students can learn and grow. Outside of work, I love to go on road trips, hangout at the park or beach, and roller skate! 

Meghan Bonnie, Lead Teacher 

My big question: In what ways are people’s actions a legacy for the future, and are we ultimately responsible for the legacy that we leave?

Aloha! I dreamed of the opportunity to join New School, so I’m beyond excited to join the team next school year! I am relocating to San Francisco from Honolulu, Hawaii, where I currently teach at a public charter school. I began my work in public education 14 years ago, and I am steadfastly committed to it. Most of my teaching experience is with upper elementary and middle school students, and I have a special love for teaching ELA and poetry. 

As a teacher, I aim to provide students with joyful, enriching experiences that offer windows into other cultures and diverse perspectives. I seek to encourage students to use their voice for change- creating a community that centers around acceptance, justice, equity, and love.

Asha Abrams, Resident Teacher

I grew up in Portland, Oregon, and I graduated in 2021 from the University of Oregon with a BA in Humanities. After graduating, I moved to the Bay Area and began working for St. Paul’s Epsicopal School in Oakland, where I have been a resident teacher for 7th-Grade Humanities this past academic year.

I really love working in a classroom and being able to form meaningful connections with students on an individual level, and I am thrilled to grow as an educator this year at the New School SF! My goal as a teacher is not only to impart knowledge, but also to empower students to think critically and ethically, becoming compassionate members of society.

In my free time, I can be found reading in coffee shops, exploring California parks, and attempting to write my own crossword puzzles!