​Jennifer Larson
​Program Director and Founding Parent

Jennifer has a passion for effective education. For over 20 years, she developed & implemented innovative programs for major global retailers that empower Technical Designers to act independently in product design and manufacturing cycles. She has traveled the world to implement effective programs that use multiple teaching techniques to educate professionals in advanced Technical Design. Jennifer has instructed design at The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in San Francisco where she recognized the power of experiential learning and saw firsthand the positive impact of teaching with this approach.

This experience led Jennifer to seek out the most effective teaching methods for her own daughter with LD.  Jennifer identified the “Spark” program as an important element of MCS, grounded in the view that “our youth are not vessels to be filled, but fires to be lit.”  Jennifer is a member of PEN, and CHADD organizations, is My City School's Founder and Program Director, and has spent the last 15 years developing programs for visual processing, writing, executive functioning, and critical thinking interventions that can be applied in the classroom setting. You may find Jennifer leading a math or class wellness unit or an Engineering Design challenge while sharing her contagious enthusiasm for learning with students and other teachers. Jennifer offers professional development and trainings to educators and parents whose children struggle with learning. 

Jennifer frequently attends trainings to lead The Whole Child Foundation such as Brain Gym, The Nurtured Heart Approach by Howard Glasser, Dr. Tina Payne Bryson's Brain-Based Strategies, PESI training on Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, and Dyslexia.  She lives in the East Bay with her daughter and loves riding her bike, hiking, the outdoors, and the ocean. 

Jennifer Smith
SPED Teacher, Social Studies Lead

Jennifer joined MCS in 2019 as a support instructor for Math, Science, Literature, and Social Studies. Since 2022, she has been the lead teacher for Social Studies, and she continues to support in other classes. Jennifer has been working as a multiple subject tutor and learning specialist for over 10 years. She obtained a master’s degree and teaching credential in Special Education at SF State. She has received training in the Lindamood-Bell On Cloud Nine math program, Making Math Real, Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), and Social Communication Emotional Regulation Transactional Supports (SCERTS). She is also a certified yoga teacher. Jennifer believes in individualizing curriculum, finding the approach that works best for each student, and making learning meaningful and fun. When she isn't teaching, Jennifer can be found reading, camping, doing yoga, or playing board games with friends.

Victoria Piontek
Ed Therapist, Writing and Reading Learning Specialist 

Victoria Piontek is an educational therapist and an author. She began her teaching career as a Teach for America Corps member in New York City, working with middle school students as an English and Social Studies teacher. After her children were born, Victoria stepped back from classroom teaching but never lost her zeal for education. She worked as an adjunct professor of Education at Pace University in New York City. When her children were diagnosed with learning differences, she embarked on a journey to learn everything she could about advocating and supporting students and parents struggling to navigate learning differences and the education system.

Victoria is also a middle-grade author. Her novels have been chosen as Bank Street College Best Books of the Year and landed on several state reading lists, including the Iowa Reader’s Choice Award and the Sunshine State Young Readers Award. Writing is one of Victoria’s passions, and she is always working on a novel.

She holds an MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hollins University and an MST in Education from Pace University. She is completing coursework for a Certificate in Educational Therapy from the University of California Santa Cruz. Victoria is a member of the Association of Educational Therapists (AET) and The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

Jeremy Kantor
Reading and Writing Learning Specialist 

Jeremy has studied at Universitat Pompeu Fabra and the University of British Columbia where he graduated with a B.A. in Spanish & Hispano-European Studies. Prior to MCS, his experience working in education includes mentoring and tutoring students in Middle-School and High school at Lydian Academy, SFUSD, private tutoring as a language specialist, and autobiographical writing with adults in the prison system.  Currently teaching Spanish, English, Social Studies, and Math, he loves nothing more than having conversations in which all parties learn something new, no matter the subject.  Avoid bringing up the topics of soccer, vintage clothing, and public transportation with Jeremy if you’re in a hurry to be somewhere.  

Arielle Gordon-Rowe
Writing Specialist

Arielle is currently pursuing her Masters of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education at the University of San Francisco. In 2018, she received a BA in English Literature from Dartmouth College. She has experience working with many grade levels in both traditional and non-traditional educational settings, including a Montessori school and a Dual Immersion Public Charter school. Prior to teaching, Arielle worked in Copywriting, where she developed her skillset and love for writing and editing. She is passionate about helping students progress as writers and instilling confidence and comfort around the writing process. When she’s not teaching or in class, she loves to rollerskate, make jewelry, and spend time with her dog.

Beth Powell
Learning Specialist and Cognative Development Trainer

Beth Powell loves working with students who hate math! She is passionate about finding the approach that allows students to understand math and gain confidence as a math student. Beth has worked in math education for 25 years, and continues to explore how people learn mathematics and how to heal and prevent math anxiety. She received her BA in Math at SJSU, where she tutored math in programs that helped first generation college students successfully complete STEM majors.  While getting her masters in Transformative Leadership, she focused on math education and the assumptions underlying how we teach math. After this incredible journey, Beth has successfully developed a model used by MCS, which instructs teachers and parents to identify where learning breaks down in math, and understand how to better support students. 

As a learning specialist, Beth is trained in a variety of multisensory programs and cognitive therapies such scientifically based reading, writing, and math interventions, ISTE training, integrated into executive functioning coaching and brain training (FastForward and Cogmed). Currently, she teaches graduate courses at UCSC Extension for the Educational Therapy Department, where she speaks internationally training teachers on the best practices in delivering an individualized education. Beth has also worked with Making Waves Empowerment Program and Lindamood-Bell, as well as The Reading Clinic’s Director where she had the opportunity to work with hundreds of students in reading, comprehension, expression, writing, and math.
She attended the Slingerland Institute, studying under Nancy Cushen White and currently updates a math centric blog at  https://transformingmathclass.org/

Advisors 

My City School is grateful for the advisory support of local experts, including:

Dr. Sandy Newmark, MD
   Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, UCSF
   About Doctor Newmark
   ADHD Without Drugs

Mia Elsberg, M.A. ET/P, Educational Therapist

Dr. Nadine Agosta, SFSU Child and Adolescent Department

Diane Provo

Board Members 
​Dr. Jonathon Bell
Mindy McHugh, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Patricia Henery, M.Ed, Educational Therapist
Dave Borders
Elizabeth Gamarra