Meet the Extension Programs Team
Dr. Ryan Carey, Director of Extension Programs and Experiential Education - welcome to the team, Dr. Carey!
Ryan Carey joined St. Margaret's Episcopal School in the summer of 2024 after 12 years at the Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he was a faculty in history and the Upper School’s experiential education program coordinator. When he's not making pancakes for his family, he spends his time reading history and exploring the coastline and mountains of the Pacific Slope.
Eva Kammerer, Assistant Director of Extension Programs & Summer at St. Margaret's - 16 years at St. Margaret's
Mrs. K, as students call her, has been at St. Margaret's since August 2008 and been involved in many aspects of Extension Programs, as well as the Lower School. Mrs. K has been a long term Lower School substitute, taught after school clubs, and assisted with Upper School summer courses. When not at SMES, Mrs. K loves to spend time with her two college age kids, her pets (three cats and a dog), and her husband, exploring SoCal, gardening, reading, or crafting. Some of her favorite places to explore are local nurseries, beaches, and restaurants.
Kris Brown, Extended Day Teacher, Team Leader, and club teacher - 5 years at St. Margaret's
Ms. Brown has been an integral part of Extension Programs for four years. She started as a substitute teacher for the Lower School and now wears many hats - Extended Day teacher, assisting Mrs. Kammerer with clubs, Summer at St. Margaret's, special events and teaching enrichment classes! In her free time, Ms. Brown enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, friends, her dog Hazel, shopping, trying new restaurants, Pilates, listening to audiobooks, and walking. Ms. Brown loves coming to work every single day to enjoy spending time with your children! She is grateful for every one them!
Kendra Sims, Grade 2 Co-teacher and Extended Day Teacher - 3 years at St. Margaret's
Meet Kendra Sims - Kendra is a second grade co-teacher. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Science degree in Child and Adolescent Development and a Master of Science degree in Education with an emphasis in instruction and curriculum. She is passionate about social emotional learning, forming lasting relationships with students, and creating an inclusive environment for students. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, baking, and exercising. When she isn't having fun with students at Extended Day, she teaches Cooking Club after school to teach students fun and easy recipes that they can recreate at home.
Roxanne Hammond, Extended Day/Library and substitute teacher - 6 years at St. Margaret's
Meet Roxanne Hammond, retired Lower School recess supervisor and now all school substitute teacher as well as Extended Day teacher. Roxanne spent 15 years as a PE and health teacher, and adapted PE and swim coach, special Olympics swim coach, private swim instructor, head life guard and water safety instructor, and nurse assistant. Roxanne is a lifelong learner who has has her BS in Kinesiology and has been a teacher in Taiwan through Taipei ROC.
Julie Cohen, Extended Day Teacher - 1 year at St. Margaret's
Mrs. Cohen joined St. Margaret's in the Fall of '23. You can find her every day at Extended Day and even sometimes as a substitute teacher in the classroom. She has degrees in Psychology & Criminal Justice . Mrs. Cohen has 19 years experience in local schools working and volunteering in a variety of levels of academics, sports, and administration. She absolutely loves her time here at St. Margaret's with the amazing students who always make her smile. When not at St. Margaret's, she loves to spend time with her friends, her huge extended family, and her 4 favorite people, her husband Jake and their 3 adult children, Andrew, Suzanne and Bryan. They are the world to her. In addition, she also loves her kitties, sunsets, playing the piano and photography.
Alysa Wheelock, Extended Day Teacher, substitute and club teacher - 5 years at St. Margaret's
Alysa Wheelock has been
a part of the St. Margaret’s family since 2019 in various positions.
She worked full time in the 3rd grade until she had her first son in 2022.
Now she loves staying connected to St. Margaret’s kids through art, extended
day, subbing, and tutoring while also spending time at home with her little
boys, Bennett (age 2) and Samson (born in April). Mrs. Wheelock loves spending time in
nature, going to concerts and collecting records, gardening, and reading. Her
favorite trip this summer was hiking in Mammoth and Yosemite.
David Beshk, Summer at St. Margaret's Gear Up and Day Camp Coordinator - 23 years at St. Margaret's
Mr. Beshk is the Grades 2-5 Lower School Science teacher. Mr. Beshk has been at St. Margaret’s for 23 years and taught Grade 9 Science, Grade 5, Grade 1, and coached soccer in the Middle and Upper School athletic departments. In addition to teaching science, Mr. Beshk is the Summer Gear Up and Day Camp Coordinator. His interests outside of school include swimming, golfing and spending time with his family.
Sharon Benedetto, Summer at St. Margaret's Early School Camp Coordinator - 11 years at St. Margaret's
Meet Sharon Benedetto, E4 Lead Teacher in the St. Margaret's Early School with over 40 years of teaching experience. She brings her passion for experiential learning and hands-on activities to the Early School Summer Program by providing a rich environment of activities that are only limited by the children's imagination.
Zach Hanna, Summer at St. Margaret's Innovation Stage Coordinator - 11 years at St. Margaret's
Zach Hanna is in his 11th year at St. Margaret's. He is the not only the Lower School Music Teacher, Director of of the Lower School Musicals, but also the Innovation Stage Coordinator. Before joining St. Margaret's, Zach was an actor performing on Broadway as well as many National tours and in television, commercials and film. Outside of St. Margaret's, Mr. Hanna loves to be outdoors, hiking, swimming, surfing and spending time with his son Everett and wife, Michelle.
Diane DeBilzan, Extended Day/Library - 1 year at St. Margaret's
Diane DeBilzan joined SMES in August 2023. She is a co-teacher in 2nd grade with Mrs. Moore. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary and Early Childhood Education and earned her Teaching Credential from the State of Florida.She has 19 years of teaching experience in public and private schools. When she's not in the classroom, she loves spending time with her son Ryan and grandchildren Lukas and Eloise. She also enjoys spending time in nature, hiking, walking on the beach and watching the sunset.
