Meet Our Teachers & Staff

Our elementary school teachers and staff are highly skilled and experienced professionals. Our staff is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of all their students. These caring adults are committed to nurturing your child, and ensuring that each child maximizes his or her emotional, social and academic development. We have the magic formula for student success!

Marci McCord
Director/Owner

<p>Mrs. McCord has been at DMP since 1990. She graduated from the University of California at Davis with a degree in economics. She earned her teaching credential from University of San Diego. She has taught kindergarten, second, third and sixth grades at Del Mar Pines. Marci and her husband have…

Christine Linxwiler
Office Manager

<p>Mrs. Linxwiler has 17 years of experience in Academic Administration. Before stepping into the world of education, Mrs. Linxwiler spent some time in the wine and retail industries, areas she still has a keen interest in as a consumer! Mrs. Linxwiler and her husband Eric spend their free time traveling…

John McCord
Admissions/Administration Assistant, 6th Grade Science Teacher

<p>Mr. McCord attended Del Mar Pines as a student from kindergarten through sixth grade. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with a psychology minor from Concordia University Irvine. He then worked in sales in Orange County for four years before returning to DMP, which has always…

Laura Murphy
Kindergarten

<p>Mrs. Murphy began working at DMP in 2002. She was the recipient of a bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in child psychology from San Francisco State University. She and her husband have three daughters. All of her daughters are graduates from Del Mar Pines School.</p>

Wendy Poyhonen
Kindergarten Reading/Math Teacher

<p>Mrs. Poyhonen started at DMP in 2005. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in special education, earned an MBA from the University of New Orleans, and completed post­graduate work in education at Tulane University. She began her teaching career in 1980, in addition to pursuing a career in corporate…

Cassandra White
First Grade

<p>Mrs. White joined Del Mar Pines in 2018 She has a Bachelor of Arts degree with an emphasis in Cultural Literature and the Arts and a minor in education from the University of Washington. She also has a Master Degree in education. Prior to coming to Del Mar Pines, Mrs….

Susan Morgan
First Grade

<p>Mrs. Morgan is in her 23rd year of teaching and joined Del Mar Pines in 2018.  She previously taught in 4th and 5th grade for five years and is excited to return this year as a 1st grade teacher.  She earned her B.S. in Behavioral Science and M.Ed. in Cross-cultural…

Michelle Hancock
Second Grade

<p>Mrs. Hancock has been at DMP since 2012. She has her Bachelors of Arts in liberal studies/sociology from Pt. Loma Nazarene University where she also earned her multiple-subject teaching credential. Prior to coming to Del Mar Pines, Mrs. Hancock taught for several years in the Oceanside School District. She and…

Tammy Colley
Second & Third Grade

<p>Mrs. Colley began working at DMP in 2013. Mrs. Colley’s credentials include multi-subject teaching credential from National University in San Diego, Paralegal Certificate from University of San Diego, and Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Wisconsin. Mrs. Colley and her husband have two daughters.</p>

Julie Canzone
Third Grade

<p>Ms. Canzone has worked at DMP from 2000-2004 teaching fourth and fifth grades and returned in 2010 to teach third grade. She graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in sociology and has a master’s degree in education from Mercer University in Atlanta. Ms. Canzone has a…

Allison Cox
Third Grade Reading/Math Teacher and Librarian

<p>Mrs. Cox started at DMP in 2017. She received a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from Arizona State University. She has taught at Leonardo da Vinci Health and Science Charter School in San Diego since 2012; Holly Drive Leadership Academy San Diego from 2009 – 2012, and was a…

Rob Kelly
Fourth Grade

<p>Mr. Kelly started at DMP in 2013. He received his Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame, and his teaching credential from the University of North Carolina. He has been a classroom teacher at the third, fourth, and fifth grade level in Washington, DC; Wilmington, North…

Nirupa Bhave
Fourth Grade Math

<p>Mrs. Bhave came to DMP during the 2017-2018 school year. She earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in history from Prune University in India. Prior to coming to DMP, Nirupa worked at Del Mar Hills Nursery School for five years. She is excited to be working with students…

Michele Damodaran
Fifth Grade

<p>Mrs. Damodaran earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from U.C. Berkeley, but after working in business for a short time, she turned to teaching and never looked back. She taught in New York City private schools while earning a master’s degree in Elementary Education. She holds teaching credentials in New…

Joanne Freedman
Sixth Grade

<p>Ms. Freedman earned both her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and her Master’s degree in Education with a specialization in Reading Management from The George Washington University. She began her teaching career in Massachusetts and, for the past two years, has been part of the Solana Beach School District. Ms….

Ryan Fortin
5th and 6th Grade Math & P.E.

<p>Mr. Fortin began working at DMP in 2014. He received his Masters of Arts in teaching, and has a Dual Credential in multi-subjects and special education from Point Loma Nazarene University. He grew up in Carlsbad, and continues to live there with his wife. He taughtP.E. at La Costa Heights…

Nicole Lewis
Upper Grade Writing

<p>Ms. Lewis joined DMP in 2020 and serves as the Upper Grade Writing Teacher and the Social Media and Yearbook Coordinator. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of New Mexico, her MFA in Creative Writing and Poetry from Naropa University, and also holds a Montessori…

Scott Spurgiesz
Music & Performing Arts

<p>Mr. Spurgiesz joined DMP in 2021. He taught general music education classes at All Hallows Catholic School and St Mary’s School for three years. He is the owner of Music Pillars which is an afterschool music and theater school. Mr. Spurgiesz has a B.S. degree in Chemistry from Northern Arizona…

Terry Sanchez
Technology

<p>Mr. Sanchez joined DMP in 2020. He previously taught photography, video/film, and digital media at Torrey Pines High School for 4 years and was a substitute teacher in various elementary schools for 5 years. He is certified in Google, Adobe Photoshop and Premiere. He has an excellent technology background and…

Tanya Robinson
Visual Arts

<p>Mrs. Robinson joined Del Mar Pines in 2005. Although she has been a resident of San Diego for the majority of her adult life, her background includes residency in three continents. Her education includes training received in British boarding schools and Francis Parker High School, culminating in a bachelor’s degree…

Catherine (Cat) Vidal
Spanish/Hands-on Science Teacher

<p>Mrs.V joined DMP in the Spring of 2025. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology in December of 2020 and spent her senior year of college volunteering for a crisis hotline and interning as a research assistant. Prior to coming to Del Mar…

Sam Geise
Aftercare Supervision/Assistant for Spanish/Science

<p>Mr. G just joined our faculty this semester. He graduated from University of Nevada Reno with a Bachelors in Human Development and Family Science. He is currently applying to master programs in school counseling with the hope of resuming his studies starting Fall 2026. He has worked in childcare during…

Mrs. Peachy
Library and Resource Teacher

<p>Mrs. Peachy excitedly joined DMP in 2024. She has experience teaching all grades K &#8211; 8th. Prior to joining DMP she taught in the Oceanside Unified School District. She received her BA and teaching credential from SDSU and Master’s Degree in Education from Chapman University. Mrs. Peachy and her husband…

Dr. Lourdes Perez
Psychologist (4-6)

<p>Dr. Lourdes Perez-Williams has been consulting at DMP since 2000. She received her Bachelor of Arts in psychology and Spanish from Rutgers University, and a master’s degree and doctorate in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. She has been in private practice since 1985, and is licensed…