5th Grade Teaching Team
 Genevieve Banet-Crank 5th Grade Teacher |
I have been teaching for 27 years. I started my career as a substitute teacher in the Juvenile Court System in San Diego, and then moved on as a Title I Teacher for San Diego Public Schools. I am going into my 24th year teaching in the San Carlos School District. I’ve taught 2nd, 3rd, 4th and now 5th grade. My favorite thing about teaching is connecting with my students, learning along with them, finding ways to challenge them, and watching them grow as young people. I love being a teacher!
My favorite thing about 5th grade is the way they respond to and absorb knowledge. Conversations are always amazing, and I learn so much from my students. I also love writing, reading aloud, and art.
I grew up in San Diego, but have lived in the Bay Area for the last 23 years. I live in San Mateo with my husband and two children. My daughter Audrey is a Freshman at CalPoly San Luis Obispo, and my son Oliver is a Junior at University of Washington. I come from a big family with 5 siblings. I love to be active, swim, and spend time outdoors. I enjoy reading, traveling with my family, walking my dog, and shopping!!
My favorite thing about starting the year off is having a fresh, new and different start and perspective on teaching. No school year is the same. I look forward to new faces, and being a part of their world. |
 Kathryn Hutchinson 5th Grade Teacher |
I'm excited to join the Mariposa team this year! This will be my 11th year as a teacher. I spent the past 10 years teaching 4th and 6th grades in Milpitas. I have a background in music, and I taught chorus to 3rd-6th graders as an extracurricular for 7 years as well. I really fell in love with teaching upper elementary while I was student teaching; I had a great experience with working with a 5th grade class, so I'm excited to be returning to work with 5th graders once again!
I love working with upper elementary grades - at this age, students are discovering who they are and finding their place in the world as learners and leaders. I enjoy seeing students think originally, work with complex content, and develop confidence in their unique abilities.
I'm originally from Southern California but have been in the Bay Area since I got my Master's degree and teaching credential from Santa Clara University in 2012. My husband and I currently live in San Mateo with our 1 year old daughter and our friendly goldendoodle.
I'm looking forward to a great year ahead of getting to know the Mariposa community!
|
 Brianna Nelson
5th Grade Teacher |
I am so excited for another year at Mariposa! I love working with upper elementary students because they are becoming interested in the world around them, while also discovering things they really feel passionate about. They are also funny, curious, and willing to work hard, which makes them delightful students to teach! In the past, I spent years teaching 5th and 6th grade students at an Outdoor School in Saratoga. One of my absolute favorite things about teaching this age is a shared curiosity and love of exploring our world. When I am not teaching, I love to be outside! I enjoy backpacking and hiking, and during past summers I led groups of teenagers on trips to wild places all over California. I am also an avid reader and I love talking about books! Other hobbies include gardening, baking, painting, walking my dogs, traveling, running, yoga, and kayaking. I am looking forward to a great year! |
 Gloria Nguyen
5th Grade Teacher |
I am looking forward to another wonderful year at Mariposa! I am excited to get to know my students and their interests and support them in developing their skills and discovering their passions. I look forward to meeting all the families as well! I enjoy working with upper elementary students because they’re at the age where they’re discovering their hobbies and are very inquisitive. It’s fun following the students as they tackle complex concepts and watching them learn from them. Before I became a teacher, I worked as an Assistant Director and After School Leader for the YMCA for 5 years. This program was where I discovered my love and passion for teaching and working with kids. I am a San Jose native, born and raised. I am currently living in Daly City, but I do my best to visit my family as often as I can. My family and friends are a huge part of my life and I try to keep in contact with everyone regularly! I am a cat mama and love to spend time petting and playing with my cat, Teemo. I am a huge fan of Studio Ghibli movies, anime, reading mystery/thriller novels, and the Percy Jackson series. I have also been to Japan twice, once in 2017 and again in 2018. I hope to get an opportunity to go back again during cherry blossom season! |
|
Jason Sanchez 5th Grade Teacher |
I began teaching in 1999. I started in San Carlos in 2005 and taught at Arundel Elementary until 2019. Over the course of my career I have taught Preschool, Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grade. I was inspired to become a teacher because I loved school as a child. As an undergraduate I had an opportunity to volunteer in a classroom and immediately knew that teaching was my calling.
My favorite thing about teaching 5th grade is knowing where the children started way back in preschool and seeing how much they have achieved to get to this point in their education. I also enjoy seeing the level of ownership that fifth graders take with their education. I am excited to continue this journey with them and see where the road ahead takes us.
I grew up in Burlingame. My wife and I live in San Mateo with our cats. My wife is also a teacher. In my free time I play the guitar, I have 9 of them! I try to stay fit by riding my Peloton and doing Crossfit classes. I also enjoy going on walks with my wife and reading a good book. A fun fact about me is that my favorite band is RUSH and I have seen them in concert 39 times.
The thing I like the most about the new school year is meeting my students and their families. Every year is full of endless possibilities!
|
 Melissa Juliano Education Specialist
|
I have been a teacher for 29 years. I started my career path as a special education para educator for the San Mateo County Office of Education after I graduated from SDSU. From there, I went on to get my multiple subject teaching credential at the College of Notre Dame (which is now Notre Dame de Namur University) in Belmont. I went on to get my Specialist Credential in Special Education at San Jose State University. My first teaching job was with the San Mateo County Office of Education teaching special education until I moved over to the San Carlos School District in 2004. I have worked with grades preschool-5th grade. I continue to love what I do and could not imagine doing anything else. I truly enjoy helping students grow as learners and helping them to become the best that they can be. I enjoy working as an education specialist because I feel that I get the best of both worlds: being able to work in the general education environment as well as in a smaller group setting in the learning center.
Although there are so many things about both fourth and fifth grade, I have to say that the week that we get to spend at Outdoor Ed is by far the most memorable experience.
I am a native of San Carlos. I went to Arundel, Brittan Acres, Central and Carlmont High School. I live here in San Carlos with my family. I have 3 boys who constantly keep me on my toes! Although I love my job and my family, I look forward to my yearly girls’ weekends wherever they may take me!
I am so excited for another year with 4th and 5th graders back on campus. We have an amazing staff and I am so excited to work together collaboratively to help our students grow as learners and love Mariposa as much as we do! |