RDS :: About RDS :: Administration

Administration

Mike Riera, Ph.D., Head of School

Mike has worked in schools since 1980 as a counselor, teacher, and administrator. He is a best-selling author or co-author of five books, an award-winning columnist, and a national speaker on issues of children, adolescents, families, and parenting. Mike is also the Family and Adolescent Counselor for the CBS Saturday Early Show and a frequent guest on Oprah and NPR Radio. Previously he was the dean of students at Marin Academy, and before that the counselor at University High School.

Admin Support Staff
Admissions Office
Advancement Office
Business Office
After-school Programs
Technology
Facilities

Denise Taylor Breland, Lower School Director

Mrs. Breland taught first grade at Redwood Day School for nine years, before becoming the Interim Lower School Director. Born and raised in New York City, she attended Keuka College and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, followed by post-graduate studies in Special Education at George Washington University. In 1990 she married and moved to the Bay Area, where she received a certificate in Reading Recovery from San Bernardino University. Denise has 30 years of teaching experience, from kindergarten through eighth grade. She has taught in both public and private schools in Washington, DC; Prince Georges County, MD; Cleveland, Ohio; East Palo Alto and Oakland. Now entering her 10th year with Redwood Day School, she is delighted to have the opportunity to support the children, families and faculty of RDS as an administrator.

Warren Sepkowitz, Assistant Head of School, Middle School Director

Prior to joining Redwood Day School Warren served at Woodlawn School in south Iredell County, North Carolina. He joined Woodlawn in 2005 as the first Head of School and was responsible for the school's day-to-day operations. Warren served for 11 years as a History teacher and as an administrator at Providence Day School in Charlotte. His administrative roles there included Acting Director of Upper School, Director of Studies, and Director of Professional Development. Prior to joining Providence Day School, Warren taught at independent schools in Oklahoma City and Head-Royce in Oakland. He also served as Middle School Director at the Aylett Country Day School in Virginia. Warren holds a BA degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and a MA degree in Liberal Studies from Duke University. He and his wife, Mary Lynn, have three children, Isabel, Emma, and Amos.

Ray Wilson, Upper School Director,

Ray began working in independent schools in 1992 and has served in a range of roles; Upper School Head, Director of College Counseling, Athletic Director, Dormitory Head, Humanities teacher, Assistant Dean of Students and varsity basketball coach. He has a BA in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, an M.Ed. in Organizational Leadership from Holy Names University, and is a graduate of the NAIS/E.E. Ford Fellowship for Aspiring Heads. Ray has previously served as an active board member of Bay Area People of Color in Independent Schools (POCIS)

Administrative Support Staff

Malia Connor

Receptionist/Front Office Admin
B.A., San Francisco State University

Beth Frankland

Assistant to Head of School
B.A., Mount Holyoke College

Jeanne Coyne Song

Middle School Coordinator
Otis Parsons, Art Studies
UC Berkeley

Sandra Gray

Registrar
B.A., Saint Mary's College

Rebecca Denison

Asst to Lower School Director/ Service Learning
B.A., UC Santa Cruz

Justine Lewis

Upper School Coordinator
B.A., Occidental College

Admissions Office

Advancement Office

Diane Johnson

Director of Outreach, Admissions & Financial Aid, Interim Advancement Director
UC Berkeley Extension Certificate
Children and the Changing Family
NAIS Admissions Director Training