About Us

Students exploring classroom activities and working on child-initiated projects.

About Us

We are a full day, full year school nestled in the Presidio of San Francisco, offering educational programs for children ages 2 - 5.

Our school supports the belief that children learn through play, exploration, and discovery within the context of nurturing and reciprocal influences of children, parents, and teachers.

SCHOOL HISTORY

Early Days of Cypress School (formerly known as Cow Hollow School)

Our school, founded in 2000 by a group of remarkable San Francisco women, was born out of the need for a creative, play-based program for young two-year-olds. The overflowing enrollments of other local preschools with programs for young two-year-olds, and the appeal of a parent participation format for very young children, convinced the founders that there was enough need and interest in San Francisco to create a new school. After much consideration and hard work, we opened with 12 children. A few years into it, the founding teachers and families came to the conclusion that our little school was important, was creating a unique experience for children and families, and needed to establish roots in the City.

Move to the Presidio

In 2003, in order to actualize and make evident our belief in children as active participating members of a rich and diverse society, we started our search for a space that would reflect our values within and outside of its walls. With the financial support of our then 39 families, in 2005 we moved into a beautiful historic building in the Presidio. Our move to the Presidio meant that enrollment could increase and our new school nestled in the forest would become accessible to more Bay Area families. The CHS community thrived in our new space for 18 years, and the Presidio became an integral and beloved part of what made our school so special.

Move to 387 Moraga Ave

As part of our Strategic Planning process in 2018, our Board identified that our part-day/part-year program, our building and even our name were barriers to addressing a citywide challenge, meeting the needs of our school community, and fully realizing our goals for inclusivity, accessibility, and advocacy. In 2023 we accomplished our five year plan and moved into our new, much larger, impressive home in the Presidio, where we now offer a full-day, full-year program. This new space amplifies and brings the Cow Hollow School/Cypress School magic into the future and opens doors to more families.

387 Moraga is surrounded by a grove of cypress trees. It’s full of large and airy rooms filled with natural light, and designed for seamless indoor-outdoor flow. Every class has independent access to the outside area and garden. We have a huge piazza, or community meeting/assembly room, that we call ‘The Meadow.’ This space houses a think tank for world-renowned educators to connect, a place for children to assemble, and for parent-to-teacher collaboration and connections – invitations for dialogue for our entire community.

Cypress School of San Francisco

While we opened our doors to 387 Moraga as Cow Hollow School, the final piece to delivering on our strategic plan was to determine a new name. Cow Hollow School, named for its earliest location and families served, no longer represented our Strategic Plan and DEI missions for the school. Returning to our (literal) roots, the symbolism of the Cypress tree — which has been part of our school’s visual mark since our move to the Presidio in 2005 — resonated strongly and emerged as the anchor point for our new name. We also aligned on the tagline “Growing in Wonder, Rooted in Community.” As of December 20, 2024, we are now Cypress School of San Francisco (CSSF).

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Our Team

Administration

Darcy Campbell

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
There is no journey more difficult, more magical, more emotional, more inspiring, satisfying, beautiful, revealing, or surprising than that of being a parent. When we park on this journey with reflection and compassion for our little one and ourselves, with mindfulness and understanding, parents, all adults in the presence of children, have an opportunity to change the world!
Katy Roybal

ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL
“When we love children, we acknowledge by our every action that they are not property, that they have rights - that we respect and uphold their rights.” - Bell Hooks
Krissi Lewis

DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS
All children are capable, equipped, and observant contributors. Our community benefits from the equity of voice of all children and families in our care.
Sasha Chalak

FINANCE MANAGER
At our school, we believe all children should be educated with love and care.
Hannah Matranga

OFFICE MANAGER
He kuleana kō kākou - A Hawaiian phrase that means we have a responsibility to take care of ourselves, one another, and our land.
Leslie Roffman

KINDERGARTEN ADMISSIONS SPECIALIST

administration bios

Teachers

Nichole Adrain

SUPPORT TEACHER
I believe in Teachers being flexible and fluid in their approach to their practice when working with young children.
Abby Byrne

SUPPORT TEACHER
I believe children flourish once surrounded by genuine connections to the world around them.
Angel Cage

SUPPORT TEACHER
I believe in empowering students to lead their learning. Take time early on to discover their strengths and interests. Invite them to teach each other. Stand back and watch them become more confident and competent. As a true learning community, let’s teach great teachers to help students find great in themselves.
Christina Chin

LEAD TEACHER
I believe it’s important for teachers to be lifelong learners.
Lucy Cline

LEAD TEACHER
I believe parents hold a reciprocal relationship between children, teachers, and other parents.
Cassie Fennel

LEAD TEACHER
I believe children flourish when shown love, compassion, and empathy, and in turn, teach adults to be more present and believe in the magic of life.
Cecilia Ferrero

LEAD TEACHER
I believe in parents connecting with nature so children can learn, explore, and grow in harmony with the wonders of the natural world.
Jess Gallagher

LEAD TEACHER
I believe teachers are co-researchers in learning.
Cece Gomez Del Rio

LEAD TEACHER
I believe parents partner with their children and actively learn from each other.
Cindy Grynkiewicz

LEAD TEACHER
I believe in teachers being flexible and fluid in their approach to their practice when working with young children.
Anne Marie Haro

LEAD TEACHER
I believe teachers have a responsibility to treat their students with dignity and guide them in exploring the world on their own terms.
Priscillia Indradjaja

SUPPORT TEACHER
I believe that teaching preschool is more than just a job; it is a joyful journey of discovery and growth that is unique to each individual child. Each child reveals their personal spark in their own timeline, and it’s our calling to inspire their creativity and build their confidence.
Jamie Kelty

STUDIO TEACHER
I believe Teachers who lead with curiosity and compassion ignite children’s love of learning.
Carly Kennaugh

SUPPORT TEACHER
I believe that teachers are still learning every day, especially from their students. From this learning, we adapt our teaching in the classroom to fit the unique needs of every child.
Emily Kish

LEAD TEACHER
I believe that all children deserve to be seen and heard through all forms of communication.
Katie Krebsbach

LEAD TEACHER
I believe that teachers should inspire curiosity and wonder in children.
Amy Lee

SUPPORT TEACHER
Our school believes in creating a welcoming environment so children can be their whole selves.
Jen Marquez

LEAD TEACHER
I believe children are born with so much knowledge and that we can learn so much from them.
Sienna Nobleza

LEAD TEACHER
I believe that parents should find joy and celebration in every age of raising their child/children. From early childhood all the way to adulthood.
Joelle Oxoby

LEAD TEACHER
I believe that teachers inspire children to learn, imagine, create, play, and love.
Charlotte Riedler

LEAD TEACHER
I believe parents are a child’s first teacher.
Kristin Schwartz

LEAD TEACHER
I believe that the way we speak to children has an immense impact on a child’s sense of self. All children are worthy of feeling dignity and respect.
Nichole Shen

SUPPORT TEACHER
Every child is a unique, capable, and curious learner. Through play, exploration, and guided discovery, we encouraged children to ask questions, express themselves, and take joy and learning.
Susannah Shum

SUPPORT TEACHER
I believe in encouraging and nurturing each child’s wonder and curiosity about the world, and I feel passionate about learning alongside each child.
Kelsey Slagle

SUPPORT TEACHER
I believe each child is a unique individual with innate curiosity and endless potential.
Izabela Tavares

LEAD TEACHER
I believe parents should be active participants in their children’s learning.
Amy Thomas

LEAD TEACHER
I believe children are capable of fostering their learning and development with the guidance and support of the grown-ups in their lives.
Natalie Traub

SUPPORT TEACHER
I believe children learn in many different ways, and those individualities should be celebrated.