Faculty and Staff Directory

The La Jolla Country Day School faculty, administration and staff are strong, diverse and talented individuals who have been drawn together for a common purpose. Ours is a vibrant community with an exciting charge—to create a stronger, better place where our children and those of future generations can grow to become excellent individuals, citizens and adventurers of the world.

Below is a list of the administration, staff and faculty. To locate a member, click on the drop-down menus below to search by division, department or last name. Faculty and staff bios are also available below.

Faculty/Staff Directory

  • Ashley Schorr
    Coach - Soccer
    (858) 453-3440
  • Heather Shershun-Varner
    (858) 453-3440
  • Photo of Jim Short
    Jim Short Ph.D.
    Middle and Upper School Performing Arts Educator
    (858) 453-3440 x245
    Bio
     
    “I inspire greatness for a better world by using theater and the arts as a tool for building connections and fostering empathy. For both young performers in my productions and spectators of all ages, I call on our community to recognize the intrinsic humanity showcased in our plays. Witnessing and understanding shared values, struggles, goals and fears helps all of us to foster new relationships with our neighbors.”

    Jim Short, Ph.D., believes strongly that arts education is integral to developing the whole human. Whether the student has a passion for storytelling, a penchant for Shakespeare, a thirst to make others laugh and cry, or simply a desire to build an ensemble with their peers, theater offers a special place to nurture the soul inside of every individual. As a theater educator and director, Dr. Short focuses on the process of theater-making to help students reach their potential as both artists and young people.

    Dr. Short earned his doctorate degree in theater and drama from the University of California San Diego (UCSD), where both his practice and research focused heavily on theater with youth, comic studies, masking and embodiment, and performances of risk. Before joining LJCDS in 2022, he taught as a lecturer and adjunct professor at UCSD and San Diego State University.

    In his free time, Dr. Short enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter and exploring new hiking trails across the state.
  • Photo of Bob Simon
    Bob Simon
    Educator, MS Design and Innovation; Coach - Golf
    (858) 453-3440 x415
  • Photo of Lillian Sung
    Lillian Sung
    Educator, MS and US World Language
    (858) 453-3440 x320
    Bio
     
    “I inspire greatness by immersing my students in a foreign language and culture.”
    Lillian Sung believes her experience and training have enabled her to evaluate diverse teaching styles from a unique perspective. In her own teaching, she strives to strike a balance between traditional and liberal methods. While Ms. Sung places a high value on maintaining classroom discipline and fostering hard work, she also tries to create an environment where students take joy in learning and feel comfortable participating in class. Ms. Sung appreciates the opportunity to give back to the community by sharing her knowledge and cultural heritage with students at La Jolla Country Day School.
    Ms. Sung grew up in Taiwan, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She came to the United States to pursue her master’s degree in linguistics, with a focus on teaching Chinese as a second language. She later received a California single-subject teaching credential in Mandarin. Prior to joining LJCDS in 2011, she worked as a Chinese instructor at Palomar College.

    Ms. Sung’s favorite quote is by Scott Hayden: “Teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners and the love of bringing the first two loves together.”
 

Faculty and Staff Spotlights

La Jolla Country Day School

9490 Genesee Avenue
La Jolla, CA 92037
858-453-3440

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