St. Mark’s Nursery School is home to a team of wonderfully experienced and loving teachers.  Every one of our teachers is trained in early childhood education.  In addition, many of our teachers have elementary school teaching credentials and experience.

Karen Mankowski, Director,
received her degree and credential in Early Childhood Education from Southern Connecticut State University.  She taught for eight years at Del Rey Elementary School in Orinda.  Karen and her husband Ted live in Lafayette and have four daughters in their twenties.  She became acquainted with St. Mark’s when her twins were students at the Nursery School.  Karen has also been an active volunteer for the Lamorinda community and schools.  She has been at the Nursery School since 1997.

Patricia Mahoney, 3’s & 4's Teacher, has completed her Early Childhood Education Training at Diablo Valley College, and is pursuing her teaching credential.  She lives in Orinda with her husband Mark and three children.  She is an active volunteer at Santa Maria Church and Del Rey Elementary.  Her two youngest children attended St. Mark’s, and she also served two years on the Parents’ Board.

Kristan Torres,
Developmental Kindergarten,
has taught kindergarten for 8 years. She received her Master in Teaching English as a Second Language at the University of Massachusetts and has a B.A. in Music from the University of Colorado. She lives in Orinda with her husband and two children and has been an active volunteer at Del Rey School and a singer and board member of the Women Sing Choir. After graduating from the first DK class at St. Mark’s last year, her son is excited that his mommy will be the new DK teacher.

Patricia Przekop, 3’s and 4’s Teacher, received her degree in Political Science from Chapman College and has completed Early Childhood Education training at Diablo Valley College.  Pat has successfully completed the California C-Best exam.  She is currently pursuing a Master Teacher certificate at DVC.  She has been an active volunteer in childhood education at Del Rey Elementary School and Santa Maria Church, both in Orinda.  She lives in Moraga with her husband, Mike, and her
2 children.  Pat’s youngest child attended St. Mark’s Nursery School.

Meryline Nyberg, 4's teacher, received her degree in Liberal Studies from Cal State University, Hayward.  She has completed her Early Childhood Training at Diablo Valley College and plans to continue her studies with a Masters Degree in the same field.  She has been an active volunteer for the Lamorinda community, including St. Marks Nursery School, Del Rey Elementary School, and Orinda Intermediate School for over 10 years.  Meryline lives in Orinda with her husband and youngest teenage daughter.  Two of her children attended St. Marks Nursery School