6th Grade Teachers

Heather Smith (she/her), Social Studies Teacher + Grade Chair

My big question: How can communication and empathy lead to a more just world?

I was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and I spent my middle and high school years in Phoenix, Arizona. After coming to the Bay Area to attend Stanford, where I received a BA in Communications, I earned my teaching credential through CalStateTeach. I furthered my education at SF State, where I earned an MA in Education, with a focus on language and literacy. My 21 years of teaching has primarily been spent in 2nd, 5th, and 6th grade classrooms. I am especially excited about the opportunity to partner with grade 6 families and the New School SF team to inspire brilliant, independent thinkers, who are emotionally intelligent and culturally competent.

I recently moved back to San Francisco to the Dogpatch neighborhood. My free time is spent trying new recipes and restaurants, listening to good music, watching bad tv, and learning to play tennis.

Morgan Malley (she/her), Science Teacher

My big question: How can we cultivate an extraordinary bond of stewardship for the environment, for our communities, and for each other?

I grew up in Seattle in a STEM-loving family. My earliest science memory is at the age of 4 when my Dad let me stay up past my bedtime so I could look at the moon through his new telescope. I moved to California to attend Cal Poly, SLO for it's "learning by doing" approach and earned my B.S in Biology. I received my M.Ed with a focus on Culturally Responsive STEM from the University of Washington. I worked as a researcher  in a conservation physiology of fish lab before moving on to teach at various environmental outdoor schools in California and Washington. I shifted into classroom teaching serving 5th Science/SS and Kindergarten at a local private school. 

I live in Outer Richmond with my dog, Big Mama. In my free time I enjoy hiking, eating dim sum, watching movies at the Balboa Theater and sleeping in. 

Rachael Maneki (she/her), English Language Arts Teacher

My big question: How do we know if we are at a turning point in our lives?

I was born in Walnut Creek and have continued to live in the Bay Area because I love it so much. I moved to San Francisco to attend San Francisco State University where I studied English Education and Psychology. I continued my learning journey at the University of San Francisco, focusing on English Education and specifically the teaching of reading. Since then I have joyfully served as a teacher and advisor for both 6th and 8th grades. This will be my second year teaching 6th grade English Language Arts at NSSF. 

 I live near Golden Gate Park with my dog. We spend many evenings and weekends walking near the Conservatory of Flowers or playing at the dog park. I enjoy spending time outside, cooking, napping, wandering bookstores, writing, and painting.

Sara Ruiz, Math Teacher

My big question: How will students use a growth mindset and a mathematics lens to improve their world?

I am excited to join the New School of San Francisco for my first year of teaching 6th grade math. I was born in San Francisco and raised in the Bay Area. I have a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco (1993) and a master’s degree in Education from Western Governors University (2017). Previous to teaching I worked for a local biotech for over 27 years with the last 10 years as a Learning Designer creating online training for adults. 

Ever since grade school I have wanted to teach. I moved out of industry and into education in 2022. I transitioned to teaching through the Marshall Teacher Residency and spent the 2022-2023 school year co-teaching high school math.

Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family - my husband, two adult children, our dog, and our bird - under the fog in coastal Pacifica.