Our Teachers
Bonnie McFadden, MA • Founder and Director
Bonnie founded RHS in 1981. Over the years she has developed an innovative art–integrated curriculum, using extended learning projects to teach holistic transitional kindergarten readiness skills. She incorporates the best of the best of early childhood curriculums and techniques into Russian Hill School's open classroom format. Bonnie prides herself on individualizing with each child, she leads the TK special project curriculum annually, and enjoys teaching teachers how to teach through the arts. Director McFadden holds an MA in Early Childhood Education and a BA in Education and Fine Art.
Alex Brownlee •Head of School
Teacher Alex is both an artist and a teacher and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Child and Adolescent Development (Policy and Advocacy) from San Francisco State University, and Illustration with a minor in Advertising from the Academy of Art University. He returned to RHS to take over as Head of School after taking time away to raise his son, who has also joined our classroom! He is excited to rejoin us as Russian Hill School continues for another 40 years as a leader of exceptional early childhood education, and for his son River to learn and experience the RHS magic.
Matt Burns • Teacher
Teacher Matt is a native of Watertown, New York and has called the Bay Area home since 1997. He holds a Master of Fine Art from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (K-6) from the State University of New York, College at Oswego. Teacher Matt joined Russian Hill School in 2012 where he was Lead Core Teacher until 2014, when he accepted a five-year position as Director of Friends of the Sharon Art Studio, handling all facets of programming and curriculum for a large range of learners (from elementary age to adults and seniors). Teacher Matt brings many years of teaching experience to RHS. Teacher Matt is committed to reaching students to build technical confidence, self-expression, and creative connections to the larger world.
Hend Abdelwahhab • Teacher
Hend is our very own San Francisco native. She earned her A.A. degree with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education, and has been using her talents & knowledge at RHS since 2008. Also a mother of three, she is well versed with the ranges of child development and brings her experience to the RHS community. Her unique art contributions to the school feature stain glass pieces ranging from four–door screens to hanging installments. As a women of diverse background, Hend is constantly introducing the students and her colleagues to multiple facets of culture through a variety of mediums.
Demi Botello• Teacher
Demi is a college graduate with a bachelors degree in communication. From a young age she aspired to work in an art related field. After moving to San Francisco from Southern California she continued with her schooling at city college to further explore her passion for arts and child psychology. She enjoys ceramics, rock climbing, and live music.
Vanessa Sharif• Teacher
Vanessa is a San Francisco State University college graduate with a Bachelor's in Music. Originally from San Diego, Vanessa moved to San Francisco in 2021 to pursue her passion for music. She participates in different musical groups like the Afro-Cuban Ensemble at SFSU, the All-Women's Salsera Band at the Mission Cultural Center of Latin Arts, and a local SF jazz band called "Pistachio Fever". Vanessa chooses to spend her free time working on music production, composition, and songwriting. Her goal is to inspire kids to become the best they can be whether it's in music or other hobbies.
Olivia Competente• Teacher
Olivia Competente is instructor of all things sparklies, a native of San Francisco. With a love of all things jewelry she is versed in metal smithing and her first love of dichroic glass (glitter glass). Olivia taught at the Sharon Art Studio Art In The Park summer program for over 10 years and as jewelry manager for 10 years She loves all things sparkly and colorful.
Kirsten Hove • Specialist Instructor
Kirsten has 15 years of teaching experience in and out of the classroom focusing on toddler aged development. Kirsten started her teaching career at her mother’s daycare and preschool, Ladybug School located in the Marina District. Along with her degree from San Francisco State University, where she earned her BA in Child Adolescence and Development, Kirsten studied Fine Arts in Santa Barbara where her love of Fiber Arts developed. Kirsten’s passions are her family, spending time on the bay, cycling, and making hats! Kirsten was among the first students to graduate from Russian Hill School. Her son graduated from RHS in 2018 and her daughter graduated in 2021.
RHS Staff
Katharine Threlfall, PhD • Assistant Director
Kate literally grew up in the school. Bonnie is her mom (in case you didn’t know!). Kate was a Teaching Assistant at RHS in high school and college, and eventually became a teacher after graduating from UCB. Since then Kate has shifted her focus to school operations. She is the Vice President of the RHS Board of Directors and holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in child and family.
Pranita Prasadi • Office Manager
Pranita is originally from the Fiji Islands. She graduated with a Bachelors in Business Management/ Administration from California State University, Bakersfield. Before joining RHS, she worked at Mercy High School in San Francisco. She has been a long-standing resident of San Francisco since 1994. Pranita is married and a proud Mom of her two sons. She very much enjoys spending time with her family enjoying the unique culture and diversity of the City of San Francisco.
Christine Regan • Admissions and Community Director
Christine holds a BFA in Photo/Media from California Institute of the Arts and is happy to call the Bay Area home after living in the LA area, Seattle, and Berlin. She enjoys gardening, espresso, and supporting the wonderful Russian Hill School community.
“All of the projects that the kids work on are fantastic, but what my children remembered best from RHS are the teachers - working together to create art and learn new concepts in such a nurturing (and fun!) environment created a lasting experience that they still talk about.”
– Sally, Mom of Shelby and Miranda –
