staff bios
Simon Kaplan
e-mail me
Education:
B.S. Theatre,
Northwestern University
Single Subject Credential in English (In Process),
Chapman University
Personal Information:
I am originally from
St. Louis, MO. I've been living in the Bay
Area for the last 15 years. I've directed over 50 shows with children and
run a musical theatre
camp in Berkeley. Also, I'm a big fan of the
muppets and anything silly.
Subjects taught:
Drama/Theatre
Began teaching at River:
Fall, 2009
Prior to teaching at River School:
I taught drama at
Malcolm X
elementary and Berkeley Arts Magnet in Berkeley for 7 years. Spent one
year teaching drama at
Miramonte High School in Orinda. I've been a
camp counselor for over 20 years, now.
What is important for you
in education?
Education should help you make choices as well as make you an informed
member of a democracy. It is also very important for me to teach that
even though sometimes learning is hard, it can also be a lot of fun.
What defines River School to you?
It is great to have a safe environment where
everyone is free to learn and express themselves. I did not have this
when I went to middle school. A small community also allows people to
feel known and not overlooked by anyone. River feels like a home to me,
and I have only been here a few weeks.