Funding Spotlights.
SchoolCare works alongside AUSD to bring staff positions and student focused funding.
Denise Schwab - Wellness Coordinator - Cornell Elementary
Denise Schwab, Cornell Elementary’s Wellness Coordinator (a position funded by Albany SchoolCARE) provides students with critical social-emotional support throughout the school day. Working closely with Principal Catherine Floresca, Denise offers a calming wellness room where students can reset, access mindfulness tools, and find a safe space to express their feelings. Whether students need assistance in de-escalating emotions, managing conflicts, or simply seeking support, Denise is a trusted presence who helps them build essential coping strategies for navigating school and life. Denise also collaborates with teachers on conflict management and behavior mediation techniques they can use in their classroom. She also actively monitors outdoor recess areas, hallways, and other school spaces to help create a safe, positive atmosphere for students, staff, and families. The impact of Denise’s work is deeply felt across Cornell Elementary. Students eagerly use the wellness room and appreciate having another trusted adult in the school dedicated to their emotional well-being. Her support has helped build a culture where students feel valued, supported, and receptive to learning essential mindfulness techniques, fostering personal growth and a sense of community. Denise’s passion for education shines through her commitment to helping children discover and celebrate their unique gifts. Her goal is to provide students with tools to cultivate resilience, creativity, and self-expression, empowering them to be their authentic selves in a safe, supportive environment. Outside of school, Denise lives in the redwoods, where she enjoys crafting herbal medicines and deepening her connection to nature. She shares this love with her mini-Goldendoodle, Juno, whom she plans to train as a therapy dog. |
A sign assures students that they are in a safe space and encourages them to be themselves
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Adrienne Denning - Math Intervention - Cornell Elementary
Adrienne Denning is a dedicated math intervention teacher at Cornell School, a position funded by Albany SchoolCare. In her fourth year in this role, Adrienne works with 1st through 3rd grade students, providing small group, hands-on math instruction to bolster core classroom learning. She supports students who need additional help with foundational math concepts, which vary by grade level but are crucial for long-term success. Adrienne’s instructional approach is centered on active, engaging learning. She incorporates number cubes, games, and visual aids, helping students visualize mathematical concepts and solve problems creatively. This supportive environment is tailored to boost each student’s confidence and engagement, ensuring they feel capable and resilient in their math journey. For 1st graders, Adrienne emphasizes "number sense," helping students understand basic concepts such as greater-than and less-than relationships, number lines, and place value. In 2nd grade, she builds on this foundation by deepening students' understanding of addition and subtraction, especially with two-digit numbers, and practicing "friendly 10s"—number pairs that add up to 10, aiding mental arithmetic. By 3rd grade, Adrienne's focus shifts to larger, three-digit addition and subtraction, along with introducing multiplication and division as strategies for managing equal groups—essential skills for later math proficiency. Originally from Albany and an alumna of Albany High, Adrienne has a deep-rooted connection to the community. She enjoys spending time outdoors in the Bay Area with her family and her cat, Django. Her commitment to her students and her community reflects her passion for teaching and her dedication to nurturing young learners’ potential in mathematics. |
Students use tiles to learn about multiplication hands on
Another problem helps students with division
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Yael Bloom - Math Intervention - Marin Elementary
Yael Bloom is a Math Intervention Specialist at Marin Elementary, a position funded by Albany SchoolCARE. Yael works with students from Kindergarten through 5th grade who need extra math support, identified through Fastbridge assessments (a district-wide math and reading assessment tool) and collaboration with classroom teachers. In her role, Yael creates a welcoming, small-group learning environment where students receive individualized attention and practice key math skills. Through engaging group activities and math games, she helps students fill in gaps in their understanding while fostering a love for math. Yael’s impact on her students and the school community is profound. Her sessions emphasize building foundational skills in a way that makes math accessible and fun. By using movement, manipulatives, and strategy games, she helps students feel confident in their abilities, shifting their perception of math from challenging to enjoyable. Yael’s goal is for students to leave each session stronger in math and more self-assured in their skills. Yael finds great fulfillment in her work, especially when she sees a concept click for a student. Watching students realize they can be "good at math" is deeply rewarding for her. Outside of the classroom, Yael is an avid backpacker and has spent the last 20 years exploring the Sierra Mountains with friends. Nature and outdoor adventures are her passions, and she loves sharing this appreciation for the outdoors with her family. |
Posters on the wall of a math classroom provide helpful tips
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Micaiah Bell - School Community Coordinator - Ocean View Elementary
Micaiah Bell is the School Community Coordinator at Ocean View Elementary, where she plays a central role in supporting students, families, and staff. In this position, Micaiah facilitates restorative conversations between students to resolve conflicts and helps develop behavior support plans for individual students. She also works with families to address challenges such as school refusal, and oversees the Coordination of Services, bringing together teachers, support staff, students, and families to implement targeted interventions for academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and attendance concerns. Micaiah’s work has a positive and far-reaching impact on the school community. Families rely on her as a compassionate and effective resource, and her collaboration with the school principal strengthens support for students and staff. Her efforts also help the school collect valuable data to evaluate and improve how students and families are supported. For Micaiah, working in education is about building meaningful connections with students and witnessing their growth. In her time at Ocean View, she has seen progress in the students she has worked with, which fuels her passion for the job. She is inspired daily by their creativity and resilience. Outside of her professional role, Micaiah enjoys a range of interests. A former competitive swimmer and dancer, she still pursues both activities for fun. She’s also a proud dog owner to Scotty, a shy but loving companion. Her love of travel has taken her to destinations like Amsterdam and China, which are among her favorite adventures. Micaiah’s dedication, empathy, and holistic approach make her an invaluable part of the Ocean View Elementary community. |
Entrance to Ocean View Elementary School welcomes students of all types
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Jaime Harari - School Community Coordinator - Marin Elementary
Jaime Harari serves as the School Community Coordinator at Marin Elementary School, a role funded by Albany SchoolCare. In this role, Jaime works with students who require additional academic and social-emotional support, coordinating and communicating between families and classroom teachers to develop plans that encourage success for these students. Jaime works one-on-one with students in the classroom and at recess, managing positive-behavior plans and ensuring that each student’s needs are understood and met holistically. This specialized intervention provides students with an additional trusted adult they can turn to as well as enhanced classroom engagement. Her position provides vital support across the school community—she assists teachers in their classroom goals, fosters an inclusive environment, and helps students thrive. Jaime joined Marin in 2024 and her positive impact is already felt throughout the school. One student, in particular, has shown remarkable improvement in classroom behavior through Jaime’s support. Jaime is excited to see more students benefit from this coordinated support as the year progresses. Jaime's passion for education stems from their love of building relationships with students and watching them learn and grow throughout the year. Outside of school, Jaime is an enthusiastic cook with a knack for culinary projects, from baking sourdough and fermenting foods to crafting homemade hot sauces. This creativity and dedication to nurturing growth, whether in the classroom or the kitchen, reflects Jaime's commitment to supporting Marin Elementary’s vibrant community. |
Mural on the wall at Marin Elementary
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Mariflo Hudson - Sixth Grade Counselor
Funds from SchoolCARE supported the hire of Mariflo Hudson, the 6th-grade counselor at Albany Middle School. Mariflo works with more than 330 students, providing individual counseling and classroom lessons on social-emotional learning, as well as managing 504 plans for students needing accommodations. She also co-leads the "Where Everyone Belongs" (WEB) program, fostering connections and leadership among 6th and 8th graders. Having a dedicated grade-level counselor ensures that students can easily address academic and emotional challenges. Your donations to Albany SchoolCARE makes this vital role, and so many others, possible! |
Mural above the counseling office encourages students to have hope, inspiration, and courage
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Margaret Niles - Art Teacher
Margaret Niles is in her sixth year as an art teacher at Albany High School. With a rich background in art education—including teaching students from pre-K through adults, museum programs, afterschool initiatives, and UC summer programs—Margaret brings a wealth of experience and passion to her role. She especially enjoys working with high school students, whose dedication to their artistic growth and creativity continually inspires her. In the classroom, Margaret prioritizes fostering a supportive and dynamic environment. Her curriculum highlights multicultural artists, integrates the latest media resources like Art 21 video clips, and incorporates social and emotional learning. She also connects students with professional artists to deepen their understanding of the art world. By encouraging student choice through open-ended prompts, personalized music playlists, and opportunities to request materials, Margaret ensures her students feel engaged and empowered in their learning. Beyond her classroom, Margaret actively pursues professional development, connects with guest speakers, and volunteers with environmental organizations. She also serves as a course facilitator at Pt. Reyes Field Seminars, where she combines her passion for education and environmental advocacy. Margaret’s multidisciplinary background informs her empathetic and inclusive teaching approach, particularly in supporting transfer students and English Language Learners as they build connections and confidence. She looks forward to contributing to sustainability initiatives at AHS and seeing updates to the art facilities. |
Easels in Margaret's classroom at Albany High School
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Sean Morris - Computer Science Teacher
Sean Morris brings passion and innovation to Albany High School as the Computer Science teacher, making technology accessible and exciting for students. In his role, Sean not only teaches a variety of Computer Science courses and an Electronics Workshop but also goes the extra mile to engage students beyond the classroom. He facilitates a program where high school students teach Marin Elementary second graders how to program robots—a program he hopes to expand to other schools. Sean also advises the STEM and Programming clubs and encourages students to take on creative "extra" projects, providing them with opportunities to deepen their skills and explore new ideas. Sean believes his work has a meaningful impact, inspiring students to use Computer Science as a tool for creativity and equipping them with unique cognitive skills they won’t encounter elsewhere in their education. His dedication reflects his love for the connections, challenges, and joy that come with teaching. Outside of school, Sean channels his energy into CrossFit. His enthusiasm, both in and out of the classroom, makes him a vital part of the Albany High community. SchoolCARE is proud to fund electives like Computer Science at AHS! |
Students in Morris's classroom get hands on experience with programming principals
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Albany SchoolCARE
1569 Solano Ave. #537, Albany, CA 94707 | 510-898-6767 | [email protected] Tax ID (EIN): 91-2153262 |