Our Team
Senior Leadership
Shawn Benjamin believes that education opens doors and opportunities for students to have access to the careers and lives they want to live. She was born in Michigan and grew up in the Bay Area, primarily Marin. Her favorite subject in school was Psychology. She has a BA from UC Berkeley, and two MAs in Education: one from the University of Pennsylvania, and one from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is currently learning about dog training, obedience, and behavior modification. She loves trail running (and sand dunes at the beach!) with her dog.
Shawn Benjamin, Executive Director
Elisabeth LaMotte-Mitchell joins Invictus Academy of Richmond with nearly two decades of heart and hustle in school leadership. She's led schools to "A" ratings for academic growth, cut teacher turnover by more than half, and helped a struggling school climb from an F to a C — all by building teams that believe in the mission and in each other.
Most recently, she coached principals across five KIPP NorCal schools and supported district leaders nationwide as a consultant with TNTP. Elisabeth has trained with some of the field's most respected leadership programs, including Building Excellent Schools, RELAY's National Principal Supervisor Academy, and E3 Executive Education Experience Fellowship. She is excited to bring that blend of strategic vision, staff development, and relentless focus on excellence to Invictus.
Elisabeth believes every student deserves an excellent school where they feel belonging and pride and she can't wait to build that with the Invictus community.
Elisabeth LaMotte-Mitchell, Principal
Maren Kato has over 14 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit sector, developing diverse teams in educational and behavioral health organizations. In 2012, she earned her MAEd in Adult Education and Training to enhance her understanding of the adult learner. For six years, Maren taught GED classes to adults with serious mental illnesses (ages ranging between 18-68!). Observing the challenges that her adult students brought with them to their learning spaces, she created and implemented programs that addressed the underlying barriers to education including stress management, trauma recovery, executive functioning impairments, and access to resources. Finding a passion for this work, she pivoted to team development and leadership roles within behavioral health, crisis work, charter school staff sustainability initiatives, and Special Education. She advocated for bringing therapeutic interventions to vulnerable populations AND the professionals who serve them. Maren is committed to improving the student experience by empowering the adults who serve them while approaching complex issues with curiosity, fairness, equity, empathy, and vision.
Maren Kato, Head of People & Compliance
Brittany has personally experienced the transformative power of a college education. She is committed to ensuring that students in underserved communities have similar opportunities to earn a college degree, fostering economic mobility and well-being for themselves, their families, and their communities. Brittany grew up on a farm in West Virginia and later moved to California to pursue her bachelor's degree in Political Science with a minor in Education at Stanford University. To follow her passion for education, she completed Stanford's Teacher Education Program (STEP), earning both a master's degree in education and a teaching credential. Brittany taught and served as a teacher-leader at Robertson Continuation School for six years. Looking to expand her leadership in education, she went on to earn a second master's degree in Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship from Harvard. Brittany’s favorite subject in school was history, and in her free time, she enjoys watching Formula 1 and playing video and board games.
Brittany Martino-Weinhardt, Head of Accountability
Born and raised in Oakland, Chris Washington is a passionate advocate of college access and high quality public education. As a first-generation college graduate, he has experienced the uplifting power of mentorship, one-on-one support, and rigorous coursework. He holds a BA in Philosophy from UC Santa Barbara, and a Masters Degree in English with a specialization in TESOL from San Francisco State University. Chris has spent the past decade designing curricula and supporting faculty as an Assistant Dean and Program Director at Hult International Business School, and most recently as the Managing Director of Academics at Noodle, an online program management firm. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking (and cooking shows), live music, video games, and hanging out with Mariah Carey and Nina Simone (his cat and dog).
Christopher Washington, Director of Operations
Leadership Team
Megan Carter believes that quality education and being able to make informed choices about your future is a right for every child, not a privilege. Megan loves building relationships in the school community and seeing students grow and thrive! Megan grew up in London, and then Essex, in England. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Durham, UK, and more recently her graduate study at UC Berkeley, CA. Megan enjoys reading fiction, writing, traveling, and sports -- especially Arsenal FC!
Megan Carter, Assistant Principal
Robyn Shapiro, Director of MTSS
Janice Galindo, Assistant Principal
Nick Gordon, Dean of Students
Celeste Hoffpauir, Assistant Principal
Teachers
Melinda Boettcher, High School Spanish
Tobias Childs is an educator because of his High School Art teacher, Mr. McCabe, who instilled a love of art and creativity in Tobias who now wants to pass on that passion and education to more future artists of California. Tobias grew up in the mountains of Washington State where he studied art, theatre and creative writing. When he is not painting, drawing, writing or producing a comedy show, he is climbing, skiing, running, cooking or gardening.
Tobias Childs, High School Art
Asiyah Darwish, MS Teacher
Jiayi Ding grew up in Shanghai, China. She attended elementary school through high school there. Ms. Ding then applied for universities in the United States and earned her Bachelor of Science degree from UC Davis. In her spare time, she enjoys video editing and creating animations, which allow her to express her creative thoughts. These hobbies have also helped her develop valuable technical skills.
Jiayi Ding, High School Math
Jeff Grossmann loved his Engineering classes, where he got to work on a team and build projects. But, he didn't get to experience this until college, so he’s excited to help our students build their creativity and problem-solving confidence in a hands-on way in high school. His favorite subjects are Physics and Algebra. He grew up in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, has a BA in Engineering from Dartmouth College, and would like to learn more Spanish. Outside of work he spends time with his family, including 2 young daughters, and riding his bike.
Jeff Grossman, High School Science
Julie Hostetter's passion for education stems from a desire to inspire curiosity, foster a love of learning, and help students discover their interest in science. Her own high school chemistry teacher instilled in her a love for the subject, and she strives to make a similar impact on her students. She is originally from the East Bay and holds a BS in Chemistry from UC Santa Barbara as well as an MS in Polymer Science from Cal Poly SLO. Outside of school, she enjoys long distance running, hot yoga, and watching the latest drama series on TV.
Julie Hostetter, High School Science
Julia Martien, High School Math
Maria Reyes, High School Biology
Lucia Rios is passionate about working in education because she wholeheartedly believes that we all deserve a high quality education regardless of our background. As someone who grew up in Richmond, she has seen the impact that a caring and dedicated teacher can have on a students. Having an educator who can truly understand a student’s experience and perspectives truly makes a positive impact on students. This impact lasts throughout high school and beyond, influencing the decisions and paths we take. Ms Rios’s educators pushed her to reach the goals she set for herself. Their guidance led her to Williams College where she studied American Studies and concentrated in Latinx Studies. She was heavily involved in student organizing within her affinity groups and leading the Latinx dance team on campus. Her educators equipped her with the skills and confidence to pursue her interests in and outside of school.
Lucia Rios, High School Ethnic Studies
Olivia Robertson grew up in San Luis Obispo, California, where she started tutoring at her school’s after-school math lab in seventh grade. Through middle and high school, she had fantastic teachers who nurtured her love for math, even as she struggled with the subject sometimes. Ms. Robertson attended UC Berkeley to study mathematics, while also continuing to work as a math tutor. It was through this work that she first fell in love with education. She is passionate about working in education because she knows what it feels like to struggle in math class, and also knows that math is for everyone. She wants to pass on her love for the subject to her students, and give them the same problem-solving tools and confidence that her math teachers encouraged in her. In her free time, she enjoy cooking and baking, reading speculative fiction, playing board games, and going on long walks with her rescue dogs.
Olivia Robertson, Middle School Math
Mr. Schauss focuses on teaching concepts that will be useful to humans, not only in the classroom, but in the course of everyday life. It is his calling to teach students how to locate those concepts in literature, especially when the source material belongs to a different historical moment than ours right now. Though born in San Francisco, Mr. Schauss spent his childhood years in Spain and England. He has a PhD in Philosophy from the New School for Social Research, where his favorite classes were on the history of Western thought and architectural design. Outside the four walls of the classroom, you can find him watching soccer (Hala Madrid!) and on East Bay playgrounds with his six-year-old.
Philip Schauss, High School English Language Arts
Ms Sparks was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and spent her childhood moving around and attending a plethora of different schools. For a while, school felt like the only constant she had since she knew what to expect when walking into a classroom. It was her senior year of high school when it clicked for her that she wanted to teach. Ms Sparks wanted to contribute to the lives of students in a way that enables them to meaningfully contribute to the world they live in. She is passionate for teaching English because she believes when students learn to read, write, and think critically they can accomplish anything they put their mind to. They can advocate for themselves and their communities. She received her undergraduate degree in English Literature and studied African and African American History at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She then went on to get her masters in Creative Writing with a focus in poetry at San Francisco State University. She has lived in The Bay Area now for three years and hope to continue to be here for a long time. In her free time, she likes to do trivia games, read, and play magic the gathering or dungeons and dragons. She is truly a homebody.
Zoe Sparks, High School English Language Arts
Mr Zhang is a Bay Area native who loves hiking, gaming, chess and cultivation. Nothing clears his mind like exploring nature trails. A wise person once said "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" (Google it). As a teacher, he pushes students to approach problems from different perspectives because the best solutions often come from unexpected angles. Whether outdoors, at the board, or in the classroom, he believes curiosity and adaptability make life rewarding. His goal is to build a solid foundation for his students so they are ready to take their first step in society.
Hao Zhang, High School Social Science
Matt Taylor is passionate about working in education because of a sincere desire to contribute meaningfully to the next generation's growth and development. Mr. Taylor was born and raised in Gainesville, GA and graduated from Middle Georgia State University in 2017. He migrated west for work and found himself landing in California over 10 years ago. He fell in love with the state and has never looked back. When he is not teaching Government and Economics, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing with his dog, reading (especially fantasy and sci-fi), and gaming (at a computer or around a table).
Matt Taylor, High School Social Studies
For Soren Tjernell, any other job seems boring in comparison to education! His favorite subjects were literature and government. He grew up in Marin County, holds a BA in Literature from Claremont McKenna College, and is currently learning French. Outside of school he enjoys building forts with his son!
Soren Tjernell, High School English Language Arts
Samantha Trujillo, MS Teacher
Student Supports
Emma Aguilar
Emma Aguilar, Academic Counselor
Rae Taylor, Education Specialist
Chris Diener
Chris Diener, Education Specialist
Rachel Freeburg grew up in Berkeley and went to schools there. She has been an instructional aide for 18 years and loves what she does. Some of her hobbies include reading, doing arts and crafts, walking with her dog, spending time with friends/family, and listening to 90’s R&B, pop, and hip hop. Ms. Freeburg loves working with young people and seeing the world from their unique perspectives.
Rachel Freeburg, Instructional Aide
Jackie Gaytan-Regalado, College Access Counselor
Ben Graber is passionate about working in education because he believes in the transformative power of learning- especially when young people are given tools to question, explore, and shape the world around them. Education is not just about mastering content, but about helping students find their voice, their confidence, and their sense of purpose. He is committed to creating spaces where every student feels seen, challenged, and supported, and where their diverse identities and lived experiences are honored in the classroom. Mr Graber grew up in Berkeley, California and earned my AA from Laney College before earning an BA and MA from San Francisco State University. His academic and teaching career has centered on amplifying voices often left out of traditional narratives, with a focus on oral history work in partnership with California tribal communities. Outside of the classroom, he enjoys stargazing, exploring old bookstores, tutoring students in a range of subjects and spending time with my family. He’s also presented research at conferences across the state and maintain a permanent exhibit on Alcatraz Island about the 1969 Occupation. At heart, he is a storyteller, a listener, and someone who never stops learning.
Ben Graber, SPED Program Specialist
Ms. Hansleben is passionate about working in education because it is a field that, for her, provides a perfect combination of challenge and reward. She loves the challenges and rewards of building and being part of a learning community that can serve to improve lives and create opportunities for young people and families. She is also passionate about her personal interests and feels it is her job to inspire others to try new, challenging activities no matter what age or skill level. Personal interests and activities have significantly enriched her life and those of her students; some of her favorite activities include flow arts and juggling, garden science and ecology, paddleboarding, hiking, and rollerskating. Ms. Hansleben grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and attended Columbia College for her undergraduate degree in Social Work. Shortly after earning her bachelor's degree, she moved to Arizona and attended Northern Arizona University and earned a Master’s Degree in Special Education.
Tina Hansleben, Education Specialist
Henry Lincoln, Restorative Justice Coordinator
Meka Tull was exposed to the educational field at a young age because her mother was a Speech Pathologist and worked with severely disabled individuals. In high school she wasn’t sure she’d be working in education, but after completing her undergraduate program, her mother proposed she consider a job in school psychology believing it’d be a good fit for her personal and professional goals.
In high school she took a memorable physiology class and in college, she loved Black Studies courses, particularly classes related to civil rights issues, and at one time wanted to become a Civil Rights Attorney. Her BA is in Black Studies and Sociology from UCSB and her MA is in School Psychology from Howard University. She recently adopted a rescue dog so has a current interest in getting good at dog training! She was born in Oakland and grew up in El Cerrito/SF Bay Area and outside of work enjoys cooking, cycling, and spending time with family and friends.
Meka Tull, School Psychologist
Operations
Molly Gonzalez, School Operations Manager
Ryan Guzhnay, Enrollment & Family Liaison Manager
Christian Nieves
Christian Nieves, Tech Coodinator & OPS Assistant
Sophia Ramirez, Front Office Manager
School Leadership Contact
Elisabeth LaMotte-Mitchell, School Principal
elamotte-mitchell@invictusofrichmond.org
Phone: (510)-560-6983
Office Hours: 8:30-9:25am on Mondays and Thursday or by appointment
7150 Portola Drive
El Cerrito, CA 94530