Faculty

Stratford Preparatory places a high mandate on supporting our students’ visions of their future goals with confidence, care, excellence, and respect. Our teachers and staff are guided by our continuous improvement plan and united in their commitment to Our Purpose, Promise, and Principles.

Gabriel Harris
Gabriel Harris
Social Studies
Gabriel Harris
Social Studies

Degree(s): M.A., Political Science, University of South Florida
B.S., Political Science, Florida State University
B.A., International Affairs, Florida State University

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Robert Hovakimyan
Robert Hovakimyan
Mathematics
Robert Hovakimyan
Mathematics

Degree(s): B.A., Economics, University of California, Berkeley

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Rashi Jackman
Rashi Jackman
Social Studies
Rashi Jackman
Social Studies

Mr. Rashi Jackman inspires our students, primarily teaching World History, AP World History, and AP European History. With over a decade of prior experience teaching World History and the Humanities at Bay Area community colleges, Rashi brings a wealth of knowledge and a powerful global perspective to our campus. Rashi’s profound global awareness is further highlighted by the fact that he reads and speaks French, Italian, German, Croatian, and Slovenian!

Rashi’s commitment to immersive education is truly remarkable:

  • Model UN Leadership: Rashi serves as the dedicated Faculty Advisor for our Model United Nations team, preparing an amazing group of students for the most challenging and heavily attended MUN conference in New York this March!
  • Historical Immersion Trip: Rashi is organizing an unforgettable trip for AP European History students to Berlin and Krakow in May 2026, providing a vital, hands-on understanding of history.
  • Global Citizenship: Rashi’s personal experience includes working in Croatia with orphan and refugee children during the Balkan wars.

Rashi shares: “I am delighted by my colleagues and the students at Stratford and can’t imagine working anywhere else.

We are honored to have Rashi’s dedication, expertise, and profound care for global history, shaping the next generation of leaders.

Degree(s): B.A., Philosophy, University of California, Santa Cruz
M.A., History, University of Michigan

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Janakiraman, Aarthi
Aarthi Janakiraman
Mathematics
Aarthi Janakiraman
Mathematics

Degree(s): M.S., Chemical Engineering, San Jose State University

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Ashwinder Kahlon
Ashwinder Kahlon
Science
Ashwinder Kahlon
Science

Degree(s): Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital
Graduate courses in Education, Teaching and Leadership, University of North Dakota

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Maitreyee Karmarkar
Maitreyee Karmarkar
Computer Science
Maitreyee Karmarkar
Computer Science

Degree(s): M.S. CS Arizona State University
B.E., Engineering, Savitribai Phule University

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Lau, Amanda
Amanda Lau
English
Amanda Lau
English

Degree(s): M.S.W., University of New Hampshire (In Progress)
B.A., Psychology, University of California. Riverside

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Viviana Leija
Viviana Leija
Visual Arts
Viviana Leija
Visual Arts

Teacher Vivi brings more than classroom expertise, she brings real-world artistic experience that inspires her students daily. Before joining Stratford, she held diverse roles across the creative industries, including Art Specialist, Graphic Designer, Video Producer, Television Director, Editor, and more! She is highly proficient in industry-leading tools like Adobe Premiere, Photoshop, and Procreate, as well as a variety of traditional and contemporary art techniques, from foundational drawing and painting to mixed-media and experimental material exploration. 

In her fourth year at Stratford, she continues to elevate our program by mentoring students:

“I love witnessing the creativity of young students, their emotions, imagination, and intuitive compositions. Mentoring them to push boundaries and immerse themselves fully in artistic exploration is one of my greatest joys.”

Degree(s): M.F.A., University of California, Santa Barbara
B.A., Art, The National School of Art in Mexico

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Xiaozhen Li
Xiaozhen Li
World Languages
Xiaozhen Li
World Languages

Degree(s): M.A., Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, Beijing Normal University
California Teaching Credential in Single Subject: Chinese
B.A., Chinese, Minor, Education, University of California, Davis

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Peter Liu
Peter Liu
English
Peter Liu
English

Degree(s): M.A. Education, University of the Pacific
B.A., History, University of California, Davis

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Alex Lopez
Alex Lopez
Visual Arts
Alex Lopez
Visual Arts

Degree(s): A.A., Graphic Design, College of San Mateo (In Progress)

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Heather Mackewicz
Heather Mackewicz
Science
Heather Mackewicz
Science

Heather Mackewicz, is a powerhouse in our Science Department who brings 18 years of educational expertise and a deep background in clinical research to our 6th and 7th graders!

Heather is a perfect example of how professional industry experience can transform the classroom experience for middle schoolers.

From Clinical Trials to the Classroom
Before dedicating her career to teaching, Heather operated at the forefront of medical innovation. As a Clinical Research Associate (CRAII), she worked on Phase I and II clinical trials for major medical device companies like FoxHollow (now Medtronic) and Acclarent (now Johnson & Johnson).

Her work involved ensuring data integrity, protocol compliance, and even advising on device usage during human trial procedures. This high-level scientific rigor is exactly what she instills in her students today.

A Legacy of Excellence at Stratford
Heather’s impact on our community is extensive, particularly in her commitment to student achievement:

  • Award-Winning Mentorship: She has guided numerous students to success in the Santa Clara Synopsys Science Fair, resulting in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place wins, Broadcom Masters finalists, and received the prestigious Horace Lucich Award.
  • Leadership & Innovation: Heather played a key role in selecting and implementing our current middle school science platform and previously served on the Instructional Management Team (IMT).
  • Beyond the Lab: With a minor in Chemistry and a concentration in Molecular Biology, she is also a certified member of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) for Los Gatos.

Developing the “Whole Student”
Heather’s versatility is truly unique. In addition to her STEM leadership as a mentor for StemFactor and the Synopsys Club, she has a rich history in the humanities, having taught Logic, Speech, Debate, and even producing theater programs!

Her ability to bridge the gap between analytical thinking and creative expression makes her an invaluable asset to our “educator family.”


Degree(s): B.S., Molecular Biology, Minor: Chemistry, San Jose State University

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