Who We Are

Mission & Commitments

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Burke’s mission is to educate, encourage, and empower girls. Our school combines academic excellence with an appreciation for childhood so that students thrive as learners, develop a strong sense of self, contribute to community, and fulfill their potential, now and throughout life.

To fulfill its mission, Burke’s commits to:

List of 8 items.

Providing a Rigorous and Robust Program

tailored especially for girls, that nurtures academic, artistic, physical, cultural, and social-emotional growth.
Offering a Vibrant and Innovative Learning Environment

that develops curiosity and creativity along with the collaboration, communication, and critical thinking skills needed to succeed in a complex world.
Building a Caring, Diverse, and Inclusive School Community

that values differences as well as similarities and fosters a sense of responsibility for oneself and others.
Taking a Child-Centered Approach to Learning

that honors developmental stages, supports healthy relationships, promotes well-being, and recognizes the individuality of each girl.
Creating Ongoing Opportunities

for girls to embrace challenge, take risks, learn from mistakes, cultivate leadership, advocate for themselves, and achieve their personal best.
Sustain an Inspiring Faculty

that is passionate about education.
Partner with Parents

to support a reflective and joyful educational experience.
Striving for Continual Improvement

in a school-wide culture that celebrates meaningful tradition as a bridge from past to present to future.

Meet the Admin Team

List of 9 members.

Michele Williams

Head of School

415-751-0187, ext. 201

Bio
As the eighth Head of School at Burke’s, Michele Williams holds an extensive background in inde- pendent school education, including more than a decade as the Head of Stevenson’s Upper School. Born to a family of educators, Michele grew up in New York and received her undergraduate degree in American Studies from Smith College, where she was a varsity athlete. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management. She began her career teaching history at Suffield Academy in Connecticut. Michele joined Stevenson in 1991 and held positions of increasing academic and admin- istrative responsibility, including Director of Residence and Dean of Students, before being named Head of the Pebble Beach Campus in 1998.
Renita LiVolsi

Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

415.751.0187, ext. 329

Bio
Renita Livolsi is Burke’s Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging. She has dedicated her career to creating access, inclusivity, and community in a variety of institutions, which include non-profits, government, and education. She is also a co-facilitator for the course “How to Talk About Race” with Rise for Racial Justice through the University of San Francisco and a DEI consultant with Alma Partners. Renita is a native of Detroit and a student of Waldorf schools in Detroit and in Wilton, New Hampshire.
Natalie Mast

Director of Admissions

415.751.0187, ext. 206

Bio
Natalie Mast is in her fifth year at Burke's, leading the admissions team. She has worked in enrollment since the 2010-11 school year, having worked in both the Bay Area and Los Angeles, and most recently serving as the Dir. of Admissions and Enrollment at Stanford Online High School. She focuses on authenticity throughout the admissions process, and making the journey an enjoyable one. Natalie holds a Masters in Education, and is a Marin native.
Yukiko Meadows

Director of Advancement

415.751.0187, ext. 204

Bio
Yukiko joined Burke’s from the Alta Vista School to serve as the Director of Advancement. For the past twenty years, she has worked in the Advancement field focusing on educational fundraising, marketing, and communications. She is deeply committed to creating community through the engagement of parents, friends, and staff. Yukiko is a proud alumna of a girls’ independent school and is excited to support Burke’s mission to educate, encourage, and empower girls.
Alice Moore

Associate Head of School

415.751.0187, ext. 207

Bio
Alice is the Lower School Director at Burke’s. Before coming to Burke’s, she was a third-grade teacher, K-5 science teacher, Director of Environmental Sustainability, and Director of Curriculum and Professional Development at Marin Country Day School. Before that, she taught at an all-boys school on the East Coast. Alice has a professional background steeped in curriculum design and has spent most of her career leading change in schools using a systems thinking approach. Her expertise in strategic planning and execution has been critical to the success of the last plan at Burke’s as well as the formation of the current plan. Her own educational journey began at an all-girls school, and she is loving being back in an all-girls environment.
Patricia Neville

Director of Finance & Operations

415.751.0187, ext. 209

Bio
Patricia Neville is the Director of Finance and Operations. Patricia graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona with a BA in Science accounting. She brings to Burke's a myriad of financial and management experience in the non-profit sector; serving nonprofits both large and small. A highlight of her career is the fifteen years she served as the Vice President of Finance and Administration and Director of Human Resources of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice (formerly Asian Pacific American Legal Center) in Los Angeles.
Sheena Tart-Zelvin

Director of Upper School

415.751.0187, ext. 203

Bio
Sheena Tart-Zelvin is Burke's Upper School Director. Entering education in 2005, she spent nine years at The Hamlin School where she wore many hats, and before that she taught middle and high school students in Missouri, Texas, and New Mexico. She says, “I am grateful to work with a talented faculty that is dedicated to the school’s mission to educate, encourage, and empower. Even still - the moments that I get to spend with students like greeting them in the courtyard, stop- ping by a class, or helping to answer a question about a math assignment - are the highlights of my day and the joy at the center of my role.”
Fran Yang

Director of Curriculum and Innovation

415.751.0187, ext. 352

Bio
Fran Yang moved into the role of Director of Curriculum and Innovation in 2021 from a previous role of Makery Facilitator and Technology Integration Specialist. She has been an educator for more than 30 years, both as a K-8 classroom teacher and an instructional coach. She approaches faculty and staff professional development in a way that aims to ensure learning experiences are both timely and relevant to boost engagement, which then translates to meaningful classroom practice application. Fran oversees the library, Makery, and technology team and enjoys spreading her appreciation for technology as a tool for teaching and learning as well as supporting teachers to develop integrated learning experiences for students.
Margot Zahner

Director of Lower School

415.751.0187, ext. 215

Bio
With over 25 years as a bilingual educational leader, Dr. Zahner is a highly experienced educator and administrator devoted to creating joyful, innovative and inclusive learning communities. She has designed and innovated in K-12 schools as a teacher, coach and administrator; has led groundbreaking efforts in community-based education; and has taught undergraduates and directed programs in higher education. She most recently served as the Principal of Waterman Elementary School and previous to that as the Founder & Director of Great Oak Academy, both located in Harrisonburg, VA.

7070 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94121
Phone: 415.751.0177 Fax: 415.666.0535

Burke's mission is to educate, encourage and empower girls. Our school combines academic excellence with an appreciation for childhood so that students thrive as learners, develop a strong sense of self, contribute to community, and fulfill their potential, now and throughout life.

Burke's admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Mission & Commitments

Banner

To fulfill its mission, Burke’s commits to:

List of 8 items.

Meet the Admin Team

List of 9 members.

Michele Williams

Renita LiVolsi

Natalie Mast

Yukiko Meadows

Alice Moore

Patricia Neville

Sheena Tart-Zelvin

Fran Yang

Margot Zahner