STAFF

Natacha Matute

natacha_matute@nvusd.org

B.S. International Business, California State University, Los Angeles

M.A. Counseling , Loyola Marymount University 

Credential:

Pupil Personnel Service

Adult Education Teaching Credentials:

Business Management

Social Sciences  

Elementary and Secondary Basic Skills 

I empower students to achieve their academic and career goals.

Madri Bienenfeld

Madri Bienenfeld is the Lead Teacher for Parent Education and has been teaching for 15 years. She also advises teens at Vintage High School and coordinates FIRST STEP (a summer kindergarten readiness program). She was selected as Napa Valley Adult Education Teacher of the Year in 2010. In 2008, First Step was awarded the prestigious Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association.

Sheila Culver

Born in Liverpool, England, I studied Spanish Language and Literature at Sheffield University, England. After graduation, I moved to Seville, Spain and began teaching ESL at a private language school. After living and teaching in Spain for about 8 years, I moved to the United States  and obtained my MA in TESOL from San Francisco State University. I then taught ESL at City College of San Francisco for more than 17 years. My husband and I recently moved to Sonoma and I am now very excited to have the opportunity to work with all of you at Napa Valley Adult Education.

Maureen Eckert

Maureen Eckert has managed the Napa Valley Adult Education Workplace Training Institute Program for more than twelve years and co-created our Career Academy Workshop Program. She has a BS in Recreation Administration along with a minor in Business from California State University, East Bay and a certificate in Training and Human Resources from U.C. Berkeley. She also holds an Adult School Teaching Credential. Maureen loves working with students, staff and businesses to insure Napa Valley Adult Education provides continuing education to all.

Paul Fields

Paul Fields has​ ​spent​ ​the​ ​last​ ​25​ ​years​ ​in​ the ​Napa​ ​Valley,​ ​where ​he has  developed​ ​a​ ​deep​ ​appreciation​ ​for​ ​quality​ ​food​ ​and​ ​wine.​ His experience  ​includes​ ​an​ ​eight​ ​year​ ​tour with the Pebble ​Beach​ ​Company​ ​(including​ ​Pebble​ ​Beach Food​ ​and​ ​Wine,​ ​Silverado​ ​Country​ ​Club,​ ​Mandarin​ ​Oriental​ ​Hotel​ ​in San​ ​Francisco​ ​while acting as​ ​personal​ ​Chef​ ​to​ ​several​ ​local​ ​Napa​ ​Wineries).​ Mr Fields continued​ ​honing​ ​his ​culinary​ ​skills​ ​at​ ​Oenotri,​ ​recognized​ ​as​ ​one of​ ​the​ ​Bay​ ​Area's​ ​top​ ​100​ ​restaurants​ ​by​ ​the​ ​San​ ​Francisco Chronicle.​ As ​the​ ​Executive Chef​ ​at​ ​the​ ​prestigious​ ​Inn​ ​on​ ​Randolph,​ ​he ​was​ ​able​ ​to​ ​produce some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​freshest​ ​and​ ​most​ ​inspired​ ​local​ ​cuisine​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Bay Area.​ Most​ ​recently​ Paul was named the ​Culinary​ ​Director-Instructor​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Napa​ ​Valley Training​ ​Academy​ offered in conjunction with Napa Valley Adult Education and ​located​ ​at​ ​The​ ​Salvation​ ​Army,​ ​Napa.

Allen Isidro

Instructor, Allen Isidro was a student of the Jim McDonald School of Line Dancing and the Rudy Paquette School of Ballroom Line Dancing. Later, his keen interest developed into a passion. He has been teaching American Line Dancing in Napa Valley and in the Bay Area since 2006.

Karla Jensen

Karla has taught various undergraduate and graduate business classes at both Sonoma State University and Brandman University.  She also has extensive experience as a Human Resources professional working for both private and public sector employers.  Karla has a full professional Adult School Teaching Credential.   She graduate from Sonoma State University with a BA in History and a Masters in Business Administration.  Karla earned her Doctor of Education from Brandman University.  She loves imparting knowledge, exploring opportunities and  sharing experiences with adult learners.

David Kirby

David Kirby, MBA, is a commissioned Notary Public and is co-owner and founder of the California Notary Training Center. He has been teaching notary training courses since 2009 and is a seasoned course instructor, having taught various training courses for 20 years.

Liz McAdams

Liz Sanchez McAdams is a native Spanish speaker who enjoys teaching all levels of Spanish. Liz emphasizes having fun while learning the language. In her class the student will also study Spanish culture, songs and more. Bienvenidos!
 

Liz Sanchez - McAdams ha enseñado clases de educación para los padres de habla hispana durante 16 años. Ella enseña actualmente las clases de Técnicas Efectivas en centros escolares y comunitarios y también enseña español para el programa de “Older Adults” y ha enseñado nutrición/cocina y clases de alfabetización familiar.  Liz fue nombrada como Maestra del Año en el 2009 para la Escuela de Adultos.

Jean Stancliff-Murphy

With 25 years as a clinical medical assistant and instructor Jean comes to our staff with a variety of skills to share with our students to be successful in a medical career. Engaging with each student to develop professional administrative and clinical skills. She brings a unique enthusiasm  to the classroom experience and encourages each student to apply themselves to the best of their abilities. 

Joa Rhorer

Joa Rhorer has been an instructor for Napa Valley Adult Education for over 15 years in the Computer and Business Applications training program. She holds a California Vocational Education credential, is certificated as a Microcomputer Specialist, and is certified in Microsoft Office. She received the Napa Valley Adult Education Teacher of the Year Award in 2001 and the California State Teacher of Excellence Award in 2002. As a graduate from the program herself, Joa understands the importance of lifelong learning and not only identifies with the obstacles her students face everyday but helps each student effectively achieve his/her career goals. 

Rhonda Slota

Rhonda Slota, MA, earned her "Ayurvedic Diet & Lifestyle Counselor Diploma" in 2009 and her "Ayurvedic Practitioner Certification with Honors" in 2010 at Mount Madonna Institute’s College of Ayurveda where she studied with world renowned Ayurvedic masters including Dr. Vasant Lad, Dr. R. H. Singh, Dr. Sarita Shrestha, and Dr. John Douillard. She is a Certified Yoga Teacher, registered with Yoga Alliance, having studied with numerous master teachers. She currently teaches Yoga at Vallejo Yoga and provides private Ayurveda & Yoga consultations and workshops in Vallejo and Napa.

Peggy Squires

Peggy Squires has worked for Napa Valley Adult Education as an ESL teacher since 2004. She holds a Multiple Subject CLAD teaching credential from the University of Phoenix, a Bachelors Degree from Sonoma State University Hutchins School, Liberal Studies, an Associate of Arts in, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Social and Behavioral Sciences, from Napa Valley College. She is currently an ESL coordinator and teacher. Peggy believes in lifelong learning and enjoys the companionship of her Irish Wolfhound.

Carolyn Staats

Carolyn received her degree for Psychiatric Technician in 1981, and her Registered Nursing Degree from Napa Valley College in 1989. She worked for the State of CA for 33 years working as a floor nurse, then received her Full Time Teaching Credential, teaching 16 years as the lead instructor in the CNA program, as well as staff instructor in the Psychiatric Technician program. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Public Health Nurse though the University of Phoenix. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, being with family, and playing bassoon in the orchestra.

Diane Wilson

Diane's work experience includes being a Landman for the oil and gas exploration industry, IT support at UC Davis and an instructor in Adult Education. She has taught Adult Education for 11 years, including CTE (Career Technical Education) and High School Diploma, in addition to developing online classes for High School. Diane has taught MS Office suite applications for 2007, 2010, 2013 and Office 365; MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and Google Docs, Calendaring, and Job Search Preparation. She is excited to work with students and teachers at NVAE and to continue to help individuals reach their goals.