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.

Peter Abboud

Peter Abboud works as an assistant principal at Vintage High School. Prior to that, he worked as a math/science teacher and instructional coach at New Technology High School where he worked deeply with students and staff in a technology rich environment. He holds a bachelors degree from UC Davis, masters degree from Touro University, and a doctorate from Brandman University. Peter is a Google Certified trainer and teaches the Google Apps course for Napa Valley Adult Education. 

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.

Chef 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.

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.

Chef Eric Magnani

Chef Eric Magnani has over 35 years of culinary experience and is a graduate of the esteemed Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. After earning his second Culinary degree he focused his attention on the Luxury Resorts of the Relais & Chateau collection. His work history boasts a who’s who of Luxury resorts and exotic locations throughout the U.S. and Caribbean. Originally a wine country native, he has held Chef positions at Pebble Beach, Piatti (Sonoma), Auberge du Soleil, and the Carneros Inn. After six years of manning the helm of one of the largest catering companies in San Francisco, where he was fortunate enough to be part of events such as Dreamforce, Outsideland’s, and fundraisers for the POTUS, Chef Magnani has returned to his wine country roots and now resides in Napa with his wife, two sons, and trusty hounds. Recently he was able to give back to the culinary community through his work as Head of Culinary for Homeward Bound of Marin, a non-profit that works to find solutions to homelessness and often uses some of his graduates with his private chef work creating new and innovative menus with local boutique wineries.

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.

Kimberly Olson

Kimberly Olson has taught ESL, High School Education, Academic Basic Skills, and Instructional Assistant classes for NVAE since January 2016 and teaches Post-Secondary Transition on the campus of Valley Oak High School. She is a Ph.D. candidate in General Education and holds a M.S. and teaching credential in Special Education with specializations in Autism and ESL. She also earned a B.A. in English/Creative Writing, plus pursued grad studies in Corporate and Organizational Communications. She has three adult children and lives in Napa with her husband, dog, cats, chickens, boa constrictor, and a bearded dragon.

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 a CTE Coordinator and an ESL teacher.

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.

Erik Trekson

After a 27 year career in information security technology with a large financial services corporation, Eric Treskon now enjoys sharing his passion working in the CNA healthcare field at NVAE. He is also an advance class amateur-radio operator as well as a private pilot who prefers flying low wing aircraft. Eric resides in Napa with his wife and two very goofy Doberman Pinchers.

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.