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

  • Photo of Tara Peace
    Tara Peace
    Program and Outreach Librarian
    (858) 453-3440 x407
    Bio
     
    “I inspire greatness for a better world by encouraging and teaching students to be lifelong learners and highlighting how the library can create a community. The library is a place where we can come to learn, to grow and to connect.”

    Tara Peace joined LJCDS in 2021 to help build and strengthen an engaging library community. Hailing originally from Virginia, Mrs. Peace traveled to California over a decade ago, earning a master’s degree in history at California State University, East Bay. She holds a Master of Library Science from the University of Alabama. With her educational and people-focused background, she hopes to engage with students and faculty to create a dynamic and collaborative library experience. 

    Mrs. Peace is an avid reader—her favorite book is The Overstory by Richard Powers. In her free time, she loves to cook and travel—and particularly enjoys camping. All of this is done with her husband, Kevin, and their daughter Cheyenne '35, who became a Torrey in 2022.
  • Photo of Michael Peveich
    Michael Peveich
    Educator, MS and US Technical Theater
    (858) 453-3440 x323
    Bio
     
    “I Inspire greatness for a better world by empowering the well-educated minds of our children to be collaborators in the creative process. Technical theater requires innovative solutions to unknown problems, and the easiest way to innovate and solve problems is to fall back on experience and knowledge. I expect my students to be contributors, innovators and problem solvers because these traits will serve them well beyond the theater and their years at LJCDS.”
     
    Mike Peveich believes that theater and its design present people at their most vulnerable and allow the most authentic self to be laid bare before an audience. In the shop, it’s critical that the designers and technicians feel capable of safely expressing their authentic selves in their designs to best serve the production, the author and the audience. 
     
    Mr. Peveich began his technical theater career in college at Belmont Abbey, where he served as the assistant technical director. Following his graduation, Mr. Peveich served as technical director and designer at Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte before returning home to Ohio to work as the technical director and designer at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson. Since arriving at LJCDS, Mr. Peveich has helped numerous students find their passion for theater and gain acceptance into prestigious theater schools such as The University of Michigan, Carnegie Mellon, USC and more.

    In his free time, Mr. Peveich enjoys golfing, cooking, and spending time with his wife, Megan, son Benedict ’34, a husky dog, Brutus, and a cat named Jawa. 
  • Photo of Leigh Pierce
    Leigh Pierce
    (858) 453-3440 x349
    Bio
     
    “I inspire greatness for a better world by using my enthusiasm and scientific skills to illuminate the possibilities that science has to offer. My goal is to challenge and stimulate discovery of new skills and knowledge and immerse students in an educational environment that energizes them.”
     
    After 25 years working in the biotech industry, founding and running her contract development and manufacturing company, and being a global leader in single-use technology for the production of biologic medicines, Leigh Pierce sold her business. After the sale, she realized she had a unique opportunity to make science come alive for students.

    By creating a new course that offers a hands-on educational experience with the same techniques used in industry to make medicines, students will be able to take the theoretical and make it practical by utilizing different fields of science to make a biological medicine from live cells. Her goal is to challenge and inspire students by teaching them how to make a medicine and create that “A-HA” moment when a connection is made between a student and a new idea.
     
    Ms. Pierce is a native San Diegan and graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science in biology. Her career has included gene discovery, cancer and infectious disease research, process and technology development, biologics manufacturing for human clinical trials and the founding of two companies. Ms. Pierce has two daughters at LJCDS and enjoys photography and tennis.
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  • Joey Portugal
    Coach - Baseball
    (858) 453-3440
  • Photo of Ronnie Power
    Ronnie Power
    Learning Specialist
    (858) 453-3440 x155
  • Photo of Riley Pratt
    Riley Pratt
    Educator, MS Math Grade 7
    (858) 453-3440 x475
    Bio
     
    “I inspire greatness for a better world by preparing the next generation of problem solvers. I encourage students to view themselves as mathematicians, developing creative solutions and deeply analyzing problems while utilizing multiple strategies. Students in my classes practice critical thinking skills that can be applied to any future education and career pathway.”

    Riley Pratt has always appreciated the beauty in mathematics, and her role is to inspire students to see the many applications of math around us. She believes that all students can succeed and works to develop students’ growth mindsets. Her classes center on inquiry as students explore and discover the mathematical methods necessary to solve new problems.

    Mrs. Pratt is from Portland, Oregon. She graduated from the University of San Diego with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and her teaching credential. Later, she earned her Master of Science in education from Johns Hopkins University. Before joining LJCDS, she taught high school mathematics for four years ranging from Algebra 1 to International Baccalaureate Calculus.

    Outside of teaching and math, Mrs. Pratt enjoys hiking with her dog and playing board games.
  • Photo of Chad Przymus
    Chad Przymus
    Educator, Middle and Upper School Band and Percussion
    (858) 453-3440 x192
    Bio
     
    “I inspire greatness for a better world by bringing my passion for music education and performance to each classroom and ensemble. Quality music education provides experiential learning that cross-sections cultures and countries. I strive to blend that broad musical scope in a collaborative and cooperative environment.”

    Chad Przymus believes that music is one of the rare disciplines that integrates creativity, communication, critical assessment and commitment within an expressive art form. These attributes can be found in many subject areas; however, music does not make them optional but a fundamental necessity from the first note performed. His comprehensive band program strives for this excellence each day.

    Prior to joining La Jolla Country Day School in 2013, Mr. Przymus was a band director and percussion instructor in the Upper Midwest for 25 years. He directed concert, jazz and marching bands of all ages and sizes, and developed award-winning programs in Iowa and Minnesota.

    Mr. Przymus enjoys running and almost every kind of drumming, especially taiko drumming. After being awarded an artist grant to study in Japan, he continues to instruct, compose and perform taiko drumming in the San Diego community.

La Jolla Country Day School

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

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