About Our Faculty and Staff
As faculty and staff, we work as a team. We collaborate daily to create a safe, caring environment that supports lasting, healthy growth in our girls and empowers them to be the agents of their own education. Together, we nurture the intellectual, social, and emotional development of our students with kindness and compassion, and through our own love of learning.
At the core of GMS is our extraordinary faculty. Every teacher at GMS has a passion for working with middle school girls and believes in the fundamental value of the middle school experience. They are attentive to, value, and support every girl in the school. The GMS teachers are middle school specialists and subject matter experts, bringing passion to their work and sharing it with the students.
Whatever interests a GMS girl – from physics to programming, sculpture to skateboarding, musical theatre to metal shop – there is an adult ready to help her advance that interest as far as she can go. Interested in joining our team?
Meet Our Faculty and Staff
Melissa Bamberg
Andi Barlas
MA, College of Notre Dame ATR-BC, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist BA, University of California, Berkeley
Andi is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Board Certified Art Therapist. She earned her BA from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Master's of Art Therapy/Behavioral Science from the College of Notre Dame in Belmont. Andi's experience includes over 20 years as a counselor in both public and private schools. She maintains a private practice in Palo Alto, and she is the parent of two daughters, both whom attended The Girls' Middle School.
Andi joined the faculty at GMS in 2000. Along with designing the curriculum for and teaching Social Emotional Learning (SEL) to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, she supports the girls' academic, social, and emotional growth. Andi is also a support for families and works to provide a positive experience for all students.
Hana Batio
BA, Boston University
Hana graduated cum laude from Boston University with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. During her time in college, she gained experience in education as a Teaching Assistant for several courses, including Algorithms and Data Structures. Prior to joining GMS, Hana worked as a Software Engineer at companies in the financial tech industry, like Capital One and Liberty Mutual Insurance. At GMS, Hana began her career as a Math and Computer Science Resident Teacher and then taught 6th and 8th Grade Computer Science.
Shika Bindal
MPH, Tuoro University
BA, University of California, Merced
Hau Bui
BA, University of California, San Diego
MA, University of California, San Deigo
Hau comes to GMS with over 15 years of teaching experience as our 6th Grade Math Teacher. Hau received his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Economics and his Master’s of Arts in Teaching, both from the University of California, San Diego; he also holds a single-subject teaching credential in Mathematics. Having taught pre-algebra through algebra 2 in independent and public schools, he is well equipped to support our 6th graders with their transition to middle-school math. In his most recent role at Northwest Academy in Portland, OR, Hau also supervised first-year teachers, helped to coordinate the advisory program, and served as the school’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director.
Gabriela Caraccia
BA, MEd, University of Buenos Aires
Gabriela received her Masters in Education from University of Buenos Aires. Gabriela has taught a wide range of ages in a variety of schools in Argentina and the Bay Area. She joined the GMS community in 2003.
Rodrigo Castillo
Alice Chang
BS, MS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Alice received her BS in Computer Science with a minor in Psychology and MS in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Alice has over ten years of experience at startup companies in the software industry. Her expertise is in user interaction design and cross disciplinary teams. She has also initiated training programs at the Cupertino Union School District in the area of critical thinking in mathematics, and worked closely in classrooms with teachers on various academic subjects. Alice joined the GMS faculty in 2012.