Staff

I was raised here in Santa Cruz and graduated from Harbor High School. I attended Cabrillo College, Cal Poly Humboldt State, and the University of New Mexico and graduated with a BA in Ethnic Studies. I was a Social Studies teacher for many years having worked in grades 4-12 in 10 different schools and 7 different school districts. I became an administrator in 2010 as an AP at E.A.Hall Middle School, then AP at Pajaro Valley High School before becoming their Principal in the Spring of 2018. I enjoy the ocean and spend free time surfing, playing beach volleyball and camping with my family in our trailer.

Hola! My name is Kim Hanley and I am an explorer of languages and cultures in order to understand the world that surrounds me. My curiosity has taken me to many fascinating places, adventuring to study and immerse myself in human environments vastly distinct from my own origins (I grew up in Chicago and Wisconsin). It gives me immense joy to be able to share my language and cultural experiences in the classroom. Some of my adventures include: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, University of New Mexico-Las Cruces, La Universidad de Costa Rica (in Heredia, Costa Rica), La Universidad de Granada (in Spain), Oaxaca & Michoacán (in México), La Universidad de Buenos Aires (en Argentina), Uruguay, Perú, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, France and Italy. I look forward to meeting and getting to know your son / daughter in our culture and language adventure! ¡Olé!

I was raised in a small mountain town, Susanville, CA. I have been working with kids since I was a kid, starting at 15 doing summer day camp and after school care for 5 years. Loving the outdoors and playing with kids led me to pursue a Physical Education degree at Chico State. While at Chico, I met and married my husband with whom I have two children who are now 17 and 20. I’ve taught P.E. in San Jose, Austin, TX, Capitola, and Aptos. My strengths as a teacher were always connection, approachability, and helping students see their potential so I decided in 2014 to get my Masters degree/counseling credential in Educational Counseling from San Jose State. I spent my first year as a school counselor in Watsonville and then was hired at Cypress in 2017 where I found my dream job. In my free time, I enjoy exercising, being outdoors, cooking, and hanging out with friends, family, and animals.

I grew up in Riverside, a large Southern Californian city. My parents fostered in me a love of reading and a love of nature, but Art has always been my main passion. I moved to Santa Cruz to attend UCSC where I received my Bachelor's Degree in Art. After I graduated I started working at a local Outdoor Ed. Camp, running science and teambuilding based programs. This is where I discovered that I enjoyed teaching! I decided to synthesize my passions and went for my single subject Art teaching Credential at San Jose State. I was in the program with the intention of teaching High School students but I ended up in a Middle School for 5 years before I made it to Cypress in 2022.

I was born and raised in Watsonville, but moved to Santa Cruz in my twenties, and have lived here since! I attended Cosmetology School after graduating from Watsonville High. After working in the hair industry for twenty years, I decided to take time off to raise my two kids. Now that my kids are grown I enjoy traveling with my husband, gardening, and cooking. I love working with people, and I’m so happy to be a part of the Cypress family!

Born in Washington D.C. and raised in southern California, I first moved to Santa Cruz in 1991 to attend UCSC. After earning a B.A. in philosophy, I spent the rest of the 90’s traveling and working various jobs in various places, including my all-time favorite: being an “explainer” at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. After that it was off to Vermont for a masters degree in geography from UVM (and where I met my wife). I’ve been teaching at Cypress since 2005, and have been busy caring for my kids (2 boys), chickens, and fruit trees for the last decade.

I have always loved nature and science. I was “that” kid on the 3rd grade field trip that knew all the names of the random birds while on the whale watching field trip. I’ve enjoyed and taken part in the outdoors all my life; from taking a river rafting class, Rivers of California, at UC Davis as part of my Geology degree, to hiking in some of the prettiest wilderness while at Colorado State University pursuing a master's degree in Anthropology. I’ve been lucky enough to teach all science disciplines to students ranging from grade one to college undergraduate. Here in Santa Cruz, I love to be outside in my garden or training for endurance events. I also enjoy baking, traveling, and taking photographs.

Born and raised in Santa Cruz, I learned a love for books, the outdoors, and teaching. I received my BA in English through Sonoma State University where my goals of becoming a classroom teacher solidified with my service years in CalServes Americorps. I began teaching in Salinas CA in 2010, and later received my MA in Education. It wasn’t until I started teaching at Cypress that I learned I could combine all my passions with my work. I’ve found kindred spirits who appreciate the relaxing benefits of taking my yoga class or the thrill of being theatrical on stage!

I left Long Island in 1985 to attend Michigan State University where I earned a BA in Special Education. Continuing my journey west I landed in Santa Cruz in 1991 and worked for SCCS for 23 years. After earning my MA in Administration from SJSU I was Chair of Sp Ed Dept at SCHS for ten years and then transferred to SCCOE. I ran the educational program at Juvenile Hall for eight years before arriving at Cypress in 2021. Outside of school I enjoy hiking, gardening, cooking and family time.

Originally from the Midwest, my heart now belongs out West. This realization came during my time at Colorado College, where the beautiful mountains and the outdoor lifestyle won me over. Following a period of travel and living in various places in the West, my journey led me to Alaska, where I earned my MAT in teaching. From there, I went on a teaching adventure that took me to Micronesia and Paraguay, allowing me to immerse myself in different cultures and enrich my life in unforgettable ways. Throughout my teaching career, I've taught various subjects, but my favorite has always been social studies. World history, in particular, captivates me as it provides a window into the richness and complexity of humanity across time and space. Beyond my professional life, I am a proud parent, raising two teenagers and navigating the ever-evolving landscape of family life. I am genuinely grateful to be part of the Cypress community, where I have the privilege of teaching alongside a dedicated staff and engaging with a dynamic student body.

Born in Los Angeles and moved to Santa Cruz in 2009 to attend UCSC for my undergraduate degree. I majored in Gender and Sexuality Studies with minors in Education and Mathematics. I began my pathway to becoming a teacher by being a teaching assistant for Pre-Calculus and Calculus classes at UCSC. While teaching college students, I was amazed at the huge gaps in mathematical understanding by students who not only graduated high school but were accepted into the UC system. What was going on in K-12 math classrooms? I decided to become the math teacher none of us had, by interweaving social-emotional learning with rigorous mathematical instruction. My goal as a math teacher is to provide students a safe space to take risks while doing mathematics so that they can not only build their conceptual understanding but also their confidence. I am also a member of the LGBTQ+ community and am passionate about facilitating Cypress’ GSA Club. I believe in order for students to feel safe and able to learn, they need to see their identities as valued.

Meow! I live right by Cypress, and walk to Del Mar with my family's kid every day. On most days I like to spend the afternoon at Cypress, mingling with the kids and making sure everything is in order! I have no major (other than being a major cutie!) and I enjoy scratches behind the ears, patrolling the classes and trying to catch gophers in the grass field.