Laura Hendrickson, Principal
This is Laura's 2nd year as Principal at Comstock Middle School, although she was at the school as its literacy coach in 2006. Prior to Comstock, Laura was Assistant Principal at Santa Rosa High School for one year, and earlier was Santa Rosa City School's Professional Development Coordinator for four years where she worked developing and supporting teacher training in literacy and sheltered instruction. She is a certified trainer in the Language! and Prentice Hall curriculums.
Laura has a masters in education from Sonoma State University, an Administrative Credential and a Reading Specialist Credential. She was the first secondary teacher to teach struggling readers in middle school and helped develop the course while teaching at Santa Rosa Middle School.
Laura is originally from New York City where she first began teaching. She took a break from education to work as a professional singer and has also worked in advertising and marketing. She was the first high tech media planner in the Bay Area and has been developing hands-on knowledge and skills with computer technology since the late 1980's. She is excited about Comstock's cutting edge use of technology to support student skills and has been working hard to implement online learning options at the site.
Laura has a masters in education from Sonoma State University, an Administrative Credential and a Reading Specialist Credential. She was the first secondary teacher to teach struggling readers in middle school and helped develop the course while teaching at Santa Rosa Middle School.
Laura is originally from New York City where she first began teaching. She took a break from education to work as a professional singer and has also worked in advertising and marketing. She was the first high tech media planner in the Bay Area and has been developing hands-on knowledge and skills with computer technology since the late 1980's. She is excited about Comstock's cutting edge use of technology to support student skills and has been working hard to implement online learning options at the site.
Sasha Oster, Teacher: English & Digital Storytelling, Site Technology Coordinator
Maya: Comstock Therapy Dog
Sasha has been teaching at Comstock for seven years. Prior to teaching, she studied film directing at NYU Graduate Film School where she made several award-winning short films. She also spent over fifteen years in business, as a management consultant, sales executive, and as an arts programming director. At Comstock, Sasha established the Digital Storytelling class, where students shoot, produce, and edit short films such as stop-motion films, documentaries, and music videos. This year, Sasha was recommended by her principal for the Jack London Award for her work in Digital Storytelling.
Sasha also created English, Digital Storytelling, and Maker Camp websites for Comstock teachers to integrate digital media into lessons, catalogue those lessons, and collaborate within and across departments. Next year, Sasha will be collaborating with English teacher, Sue Cleek, to pilot a 1:1 computing effort using Chromebooks and Google Apps for Education at Comstock. She is also working toward Google certification and a masters in education technology.
Maya is an AKC Certified Canine Good Citizen who has been comforting and lifting the spirits of students and staff at Comstock since December, 2011.
Sasha also created English, Digital Storytelling, and Maker Camp websites for Comstock teachers to integrate digital media into lessons, catalogue those lessons, and collaborate within and across departments. Next year, Sasha will be collaborating with English teacher, Sue Cleek, to pilot a 1:1 computing effort using Chromebooks and Google Apps for Education at Comstock. She is also working toward Google certification and a masters in education technology.
Maya is an AKC Certified Canine Good Citizen who has been comforting and lifting the spirits of students and staff at Comstock since December, 2011.
Jonathan Kendall, Teacher: Special Education
My name is Jonathan Kendall, and I am a Resource Specialist Teacher with a passion for the Mild/Moderate learning disabled student populations. It is my goal to teach with regard to varying learning modalities, and to continually refine my teaching practices through collaboration and professional development. I am currently working toward this goal through involvement in a variety of school committees, as well as through ongoing dialogues with seasoned educators about the refinement of lesson plans, as well as classroom management. Each Friday afternoon I meet with the Teacher Tech Committee to further Comstock’s vision of bringing Chromebooks to the classroom, and ultimately usher 21st century tools and resources into the classroom. On all other weekdays I have the pleasure of co-coaching track and field. While working as a member of the Comstock BEST committee, and the Comstock Chill Skills committee, I was
glad to help create and implement the Comstock Chill Skills curriculum, which aims to teach and help cultivate an academic environment of emotional intelligence. When I am not working I enjoy spending time hiking with my wife, playing water polo, and relaxing after a delicious meal with good company. In each of these and other areas, I find inspiration which perpetuates a passion to seek growth as an educator, and as a person.
glad to help create and implement the Comstock Chill Skills curriculum, which aims to teach and help cultivate an academic environment of emotional intelligence. When I am not working I enjoy spending time hiking with my wife, playing water polo, and relaxing after a delicious meal with good company. In each of these and other areas, I find inspiration which perpetuates a passion to seek growth as an educator, and as a person.
Kasia King, Teacher: U.S. History
Kasia grew up in Sonoma County and is a graduate of Montgomery High School. She played competitive tennis and led Montgomery to four championships. Kasia is an alumna of the credential program at Sonoma State University. She is a dedicated mother and social studies teacher. Kasia is passionate about bringing technology into the classroom and is an active member of Comstock's "Technology Fridays." She is thrilled to be a part of the 21st Century learning team at Comstock.
Steve Murphy, Teacher: World History
Steve has been a teacher at Comstock for five years. He teachers 7th and 8th grade History. Steve is the department chair for the History department and is very innovative in his classroom. He creates powerpoint presentations for all of his units, and uses clickers to check for understanding. He has created many online assessments that students can take from computers at school or at home. He has his own website where daily lessons and assignments are posted. Steve is a native of the Fresno, CA and now loves living in Sonoma County with his wife and daughter.