“I inspire greatness for a better world by teaching my children three key characteristics: confidence, risk taking and grit. Confidence for a kindergarten student is instilling that ‘Yes, I can’ attitude in all endeavors. There are innumerable opportunities on a daily basis for risk taking, a key component for successful innovators. Grit, the ability to stay with a task until completion regardless of challenges or frustration, will serve them in their future.”

Terri Zimmerman brings energy and enthusiasm to her classroom. She creates a vibrant and exciting learning environment. This environment sparks students’ curiosity and inquisitive nature. Ms. Zimmerman has taught junior and senior high school students and junior kindergarten, but kindergarten is her passion.  

Ms. Zimmerman graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa. She served as director of a tutorial center in San Diego before joining the staff of La Jolla Country Day School in 1987. Her hobbies are horseback riding and hiking.

The strong sense of community is what inspired Christina Zupanc, Ed.M., to join LJCDS in 2022. She works with students, faculty and caregivers across all divisions, and integrates service experiences and reflection into the lives and learning of students. Ms. Zupanc believes in the importance of teaching social justice and that education is not simply a pursuit of knowledge and truth, but also the development of an awareness of the world around us. 

Ms. Zupanc attributes her joy and motivation for service work largely to her international education and diverse upbringing. Through a co-op with child protective services during her undergraduate studies at Northeastern University, Ms. Zupanc developed a passion for working with unaccompanied refugee minors. That passion led her to found an initiative to advance educational access for refugee children during displacement. Ms. Zupanc’s research has been published in academic journals and her work was recognized by organizations, including the Clinton Foundation. 

In her professional roles, Ms. Zupanc has shared her love of community engagement with schools across the country, including DREAM Charter School, MiraCosta Community College and Columbia University in New York. She earned a Master of Education in Human Development and Education from Harvard University.