Faculty & Staff

Father Bui Tho

Lisa Harris

Principal

Email: lharris@sspeterpaulsf.org

Dr. Harris is a fourth generation San Franciscan. She has served in the Archdiocese of San Francisco for 41 years and has spent 40 of those years at SSPP. Her father, and his very large Catholic family attended SSPP. Dr. Harris has one daughter who also graduated from SSPP. When not working, Dr. Harris enjoys spending time in Lake Tahoe with family and friends, including her Aussie Shepherd, Raven.

Barbara Simons

Pre-K Director

Email: bsimons@sspeterpaulsf.org

After moving from Connecticut in 1984, Barbara Simons taught at SSPP K-8 School before co-founding The Laura Vicuna Pre-K in 1987. Over 1,000 children have started their schooling in The Pre-K, most of whom continued at SSPP School. She feels it is important for a child’s first school experience to be a positive one. Her daughter Katey is a graduate of SSPP School. She and her husband Rob are avid baseball fans. She also enjoys reading, kayaking and traveling.

Shirleen Balistreri

Pre-K Aide

She spent 8 years in the second grade and is currently assisting in the Pre-K. Her husband, Roberto, graduated from SSPP in 1989, as did their sons, Nino (2017) and Marco (2021). Nino graduated from Sacred Heart Cathedral and Marco attends SHC currently. Shirleen is a San Francisco native and cherishes time with family and friends. Especially during annual family trips to Disneyland.

Vera Bunjevic

Kindergarten Aide

Email: vbunjevic@sspeterpaulsf.org

Mrs. Bunjevic, better known as Miss B, has been at SSPP for 15 years as the Kindergarten Aide. She enjoys working with the children and seeing them grow through their years at SSPP. In her spare time, she enjoys being with family, drawing, cooking, and traveling.

Sylvana Caccia

Teacher – 4th Grade

Email: scaccia@sspeterpaulsf.org

Mrs. Caccia has been teaching at Saints Peter and Paul School for 20+ years. She attended SSPP from grades 7 through 8 after moving here from Italy. She has two children, Elisa and Dario, who are also alumni of the school. When she is not teaching, she enjoys traveling and reading.

Sister Barbara Campbell

Jr. High Religion Teacher

Jessica Carrabino

Pre-k Teacher Assistant

Ms. J is a North Beach native and a Pre-K and SSPP alum. She began working in a preschool setting 10 years ago which sparked her interest to study early childhood education.

Helen Chan

Assistant – 1st Grade

Email: hchan@sspeterpaulsf.org

Ms. Chan serves as the teacher assistant for the 1st grade. Her favorite part of her job is watching the students learn and thrive both in and outside of the classroom. She is a parent to two daughters, Kristen and Kelly, both alumni of SSPP. She enjoys taking walks with her dog Gemma and spending time with family, especially when it’s at Disneyland.

Jasmin Cuneo

Teacher – 1st Grade

Email: jcuneo@sspeterpaulsf.org

Mrs. Cuneo is the 1st grade teacher at SSPP. Every year she looks forward to watching her students' grow their love of learning. Both she and her husband, Marco Cuneo '87 are proud alumni of SSPP. Mrs. Cuneo has danced since she was 3 years old and now shares her love of dance with the kids in the afterschool dance program headed by fellow SSPP teacher Dana Wayne. When not working she loves to travel and spend time with family and friends.

Claudia Fernando

Admissions

Email: cfernando@sspeterpaulsf.org

Mrs. Fernando is a proud alumna of SSPP. She works on recruitment, marketing and event planning for the School. She has two children, Alessandra and Stefano who are also alumni of SSPP. In her spare time, she loves to cook, travel, spend time with her family.

Julie Franceschi

Teacher – 5th Grade

Email: jfranceschi@sspeterpaulsf.org

Mrs. Franceschi is a native San Franciscan who has been teaching for 25 years in the Archdiocese of San Francisco as a 4th grade, then a 5th grade teacher. Her husband, Gregg, is a PTO Board Member and Bazaar Co-Chairperson. She also has 2 daughters: Mia, SSPP Class of 2019 and Megan, Class of 2024. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her family and friends and vacation in Lake Tahoe.

Sister Kathleen Gibson

PreK Religion Teacher

Sister Kathleen teaches the PreK 3s and 4s weekly religion classes, including songs and and dances. She belongs to the school Leadership Team and the moderator for the Don Bosco Club and Marian Club for grades 3-5.

Abby Herget

Teacher – Fine Arts

Email: aherget@sspeterpaulsf.org

Ms. Herget has been a part time art educator at SSPP School for 20 years. Her son is a SSPP graduate. She is a marketing consultant to the architecture and design sector, with clients including Pfizer Real Estate, Knoll, and Gensler. Ms. Herget serves on the San Francisco Asian Art Museum Teacher Advisory Group, participates in SFMoMA Teacher Programs and has completed training with the educational nonprofit VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies).

Sister Mary Link

Liturgy Music Coordinator

Anita Manfreda

Teacher – Religion, Math, Language Arts & Social Studies

Email: amanfreda@sspeterpaulsf.org

Mrs. Manfreda is a native San Franciscan and also an alumna of SSPP. She teaches in both the lower grades and junior high. She has two children, Michael, who is an alumna of the school and Anna, SSPP class of 2025. In her free time, Anita enjoys cooking, walking and spending time chasing sunsets

Vince Manfreda

Teacher – Italian, Religion & Physical Education

Email: vmanfreda@sspeterpaulsf.org

Mr. Manfreda is a native San Franciscan and alumna of SSPP. He has 2 children, Michael (Sophomore at St. Mary’s) and Anna (8th grade at SSPP). In his spare time, Vince enjoys playing sports, drinking his coffee and reading.

Jessyca Ng

Assistant Director, Laura Vicuna Pre-K

Email: jng@sspeterpaulsf.org

Jessyca graduated from Sts. Peter and Paul School in 2009. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education and is Assistant Director of Laura Vicuna Pre-K and head teacher in the Pre-K 3's. In her free time, she likes to travel with friends and family.

Shirley Ordona

Teacher – 3rd Grade

Email: sordona@sspeterpaulsf.org

Mrs. Ordona has been teaching for 30+ years, all spent in the 3rd grade. She is an alumna of SSPP and has two children, Alexis and Matthew, who are also alumni of the school. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and her dog, Lucy.

Lisa Perez

Teacher – 6th Grade, School Counselor

Mrs. Perez has taught for over twenty years in Catholic schools. She serves as the School Counselor and the Junior High Literature Teacher. Mrs. Perez likes to build confidence in her students. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and cheering on the San Francisco Giants.

Diana Phung

Teacher – Pre-K 4

Email: prek@sspeterpaulsf.org

Ms. Phung has been with the Pre-K since 2006. She came to SSPP with previous experience teaching at The Hamlin School. She is a graduate of The University of California at Santa Cruz and has her early childhood education certification from Vanguard University. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and listening to music.

Paul Riley

Teacher – 7th Grade

Email: priley@sspeterpaulsf.org

Mr. Riley has been teaching Math and English in SSPP's middle school since the fall of 1996. He challenges students to improve and grow in all curricular areas and as global citizens. He enjoys time spent talking, cooking and traveling with family and friends.

Lucia Rojas

Pre-K Aide, After School Care

Email: prek@sspeterpaulsf.org

Mrs. Rojas has been working as a teacher's aide at Laura Vicuna Pre-K for 6 years, her son Anibal Joey graduated from SSPP in 2012, and her step-granddaughter Tatyana is an alumni of the school. Mrs. Rojas is a Colombian immigrant, and in her spare time. She loves gardening, and spending time with her family.

Dea Smeed

Pre-K Aide & After School Care

Mrs. Smeed has been working at SSPP for two years. First, starting with After School Care and now at Laura Vicuna Pre-K. Her daughter, Lily, is a student at SSPP, Class of 2026. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Dea enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, hiking, biking, attending concerts, Crossfit, and olympic weightlifting.

Yvonne Soracco

Teacher – Kindergarten

Email: ysoracco@sspeterpaulsf.org

Mrs. Soracco is an alumna of SSPP and she has been teaching Kindergarten at SSPP for 43 years. Each year she looks forward to teaching a new group of kindergarten children. Her 3 children, Jessica '03, Kevin '07 and Mia '17 are also alumni from SSPP and so is her daughter-in-law Brandi '09. She enjoys spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and going on walks. CBS Bay Area profiled Mrs. Soracco's dedication to teaching in a recent segment. 
Watch it here

Mrs. Joselyn Staley

Lunchroom Coordinator

Maria Tam-Gunter

Teacher – 6th Grade

Ms. Gunter is a proud alumna of SSPP and enjoys the wonder and challenges of teaching middle school Science, Technology, and Robotics. She believes that a scientist resides in all students and strives to bring that out in her lessons and activities. She has two children, Jordan, '13, a recent nursing school graduate, and Zachary, '17, about to begin his college life. In her free time, Ms. Gunter enjoys cooking, crocheting, and most of all, spending time with her family.

Louisa Tang-Toy

Finance / Administrative Assistant

Email: ltoy@sspeterpaulsf.org

Mrs. Toy has been working at Saints Peter and Paul School since 1983. She looks forward to coming to school everyday to work with the children and their families. She also works with Dr. Harris, faculty and staff in supporting the school's daily operation. In her leisure time, she likes to spend time with her family, gardening and taking walks.

Erlinda Te

Office Assistant

Email: ete@sspeterpaulsf.org

Mrs. Te is a support staff for the faculty and administration. Her husband Edward is a Deacon of SSPP church. She has also worked at the church rectory. In her spare time she loves to do Legos, word and Mosaic puzzles.

Dana Wayne

Teacher – 8th Grade

Email: dwayne@sspeterpaulsf.org

Ms. Wayne is a fourth generation San Franciscan. She has been dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul School as a junior high math, social studies, and language arts teacher for 33 years. Ms. Wayne has deep ties to the SSPP community as her father attended many years ago and later her son. Ms. Wayne, a classically trained dancer, ushered in SSPP’s state of the art dance program 25 years ago bringing a love of movement to students of all ages. When she’s not dancing or teaching, she enjoys spending time in Lake Tahoe with friends and family.

Ashley Wiggins

Teacher – 2nd Grade

Email: awiggins@sspeterpaulsf.org

Mrs. Wiggins loves teaching second grade! She previously taught in Charleston, SC and Berkeley before joining SSPP in 2014. She is passionate about developing a love for learning. She has three young children who can't wait to join the SSPP family. She loves whales, swimming and gardening.

Christine Wong

After School Care

Mrs. Wong has worked with the SSPP students in the After School Care program since 2001. Her love and caring for young children come from raising her 2 children, who are SSPP alumni, and from her growing up and education in Taiwan. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, exercising, and reading.

Ms. Vanessa Ye

After School Care

As an alumna of Saints Peter and Paul School, Class of 2011, I am thankful for the opportunity to give back to the school. I enjoy working with the students and love sharing what I have learned & experienced with them.

Bruce Yelaska

Teacher - Art in Action

Email: byelaska@sspeterpaulsf.org

Bruce Yelaska received his degree in Graphic and Industrial design from the University of Illinois at Chicago. His work includes logo design, branding, print, advertising, and websites. In addition to lending his art skills at SSPP, Mr. Yelaska has taught at the UC Berkeley Extension.