Our Teachers

Kelly Bower, Director and Pre-K Teacher

I have been at Bunker Hill since 1999 and have been teaching preschool since 1986 in California. I have a BA in Child Development from Humboldt State University and a Masters of Public Administration from Notre Dame in Belmont. I also hold a California Child Development Director's Permit.

I am married and have three children, two sons and a daughter. We are Bunker Hill alumni, recently participating in the pre-k program with our youngest son. We enjoy tent camping, cross-country road trips and live theatre. We rafted the Colorado River this summer and toured Hoover Dam.

I am a Girl Scout Leader, I love to use and learn sign language, and I have many pets. An avid reader, I have stacks of books in my bedroom, bathroom, and even in my car for those long sporting events my children participate in. I just finished the book The Life of Pi. It has the greatest ending.

At Bunker Hill I enjoy working with families and the great teaching staff. The outside areas create inspiring curriculum and motivate me, as a teacher, to explore learning in our natural environment. At Bunker Hill the home/school bond is strong and valued and working with families, not just children, makes a huge difference in the quality of education provided. I am proud to be part of such a great community.

Juliana Bruno, 3-Day Teacher

When my daughter started at Bunker Hill I knew this is where I was meant to teach. I have been with Bunker Hill since 2007, first as a parent and now as teacher. I am married and I have 2 children- 4 and 2 years old.

I have a BS in Education from São Paulo State University, a specialization in School Administration, and a degree in Human Resources Management from Berkeley University. Also, I hold a California Child Development Permit. I have been working in an education field for 5 years.

When I am not working, I love to spend time with my family around nature (exploring parks, hiking and playing sports). Also, I love to read and I am constantly looking for great books for myself and for my children. Music and dancing bring joy to my life, so I am always listening to a great music.

I love listening to children, watch them grow, and see their eyes light up when they really get something for the first time. I love to be the one to smile and encourage children and tell them that they are special. I love the sense of community we have in our school and I believe children blossom under Bunker Hill's philosophy. Helping children develop positive self-esteem is very important to me. I am a firm advocate of the belief that a child social and moral development is essential for academic success in kindergarten and beyond. I feel lucky to be part of this community.

Roberta Templeman, 2-Day Teacher

I am looking forward to working with the parents and children of Bunker Hill School! I have heard BHS praised by many over the years and I understand now what was behind those positive comments. My own background in Early Childhood Education extends back 35 years ago when I gave birth to my first son, David, followed almost 3 years later by my daughter Charlene, and then 18 months later by Andrew. In 1982 I became a Montessori preschool teacher and worked for 8 years at Children's Day School in San Francisco. The following 11 years I ran my own family daycare program, as well as attended and presented parent education workshops and took many Early Childhood Education classes at SF State University during that time. In the fall of 2000 I was hired at Little Wonders, a parent/child center in San Mateo where I continue to teach 3 classes weekly. From 2003 to 2008 I also taught two days a week at A Child's Way, a play based program in Burlingame.

My life experiences have contributed to many of my educational interests. They include being raised in a large family - 10 children with 3 sets of fraternal twins of which my sister Rita and I are one set. I have been in a parenting partnership with my husband Bob, and then a single parent after his death in 1980, and realize the need for support in both of those parenting situations. I am interested in learning about the available resources for parenting couples and sharing that information to help enhance and nurture the primary relationship in the family. I also am concerned about the sometimes undervalued, yet critically important role of the father in the family. As a grandmother of 3 ½ year old Kieran, my first and only grandchild at this time, I totally enjoy this new role and am happily supporting my son and daughter-in-law's parenting goals.

Reflecting on my experience with parent education, I realize that I l have learned as much from the wonderful parents I have been privileged to know as they from me. I've learned that parents who seek out education are sincere parents who are trying to hone their parenting skills in a society that doesn't always support families, children or parents. I strive never to judge parents, but to offer possible choices of more effective ways to interact with young children. I am looking forward to being a member of the Bunker Hill School community and to getting to know your children and your families.