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.
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Mr. Griffin Hargiss is a dedicated educator who has spent nearly a decade helping our students find their voices and navigate the complexities of Language Arts.
A Decade of Academic Excellence
With 12 years of experience in education, Griffin’s background is rooted in high-level mentorship. Before joining Stratford, he spent years guiding students through the rigorous college application process, helping students secure spots at top-tier institutions like UC Berkeley and Yale.
Since joining the Stratford family nine years ago, Griffin has taught every level of our Middle School Language Arts curriculum, bringing a deep understanding of how to bridge the gap between middle school fundamentals and high school readiness.
Beyond the Classroom
Griffin’s expertise is as diverse as it is impressive. From assisting in university psychology research labs to collaboratively writing stories, he brings a unique, multifaceted perspective to the 8th-grade classroom.
In His Own Words
Reflecting on his time at Stratford, Griffin shares:
“Watching this campus and its community grow over the years has been enormously gratifying. Assisting the students in becoming mature and functional individuals ready to take on the world in high school and beyond is a task worthy of the immense pride that it brings.”
Please join us in celebrating Griffin Hargiss for his 9 years of dedication, insight, and the profound impact he’s had on our students’ futures!
Degree(s): B.A., Psychology, University of California, Riverside
Degree(s): M.A., Political Science, University of South Florida
B.S., Political Science, Florida State University
B.A., International Affairs, Florida State University
Degree(s): B.A., Economics, University of California, Berkeley
Stratford Prep is thrilled to welcome a familiar face into a new role this year! Everett Huo, who has spent the past year as a vital member of the Stratford Prep Blackford Extended Care Team, will be stepping in to cover for Ms. Whatley while she is on maternity leave, as well as serving as a versatile floater teacher across campus.Everett brings a wealth of knowledge and unique real-world experience to the classroom. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in Economics. Prior to his time at Stratford, Everett worked in public service for San Francisco State Senator Scott Wiener, offering our students a firsthand perspective on civic leadership and governance. His history with Stratford actually runs even deeper than his past year on staff, Everett was a Stratford student himself from Kindergarten through 2nd grade! “I am incredibly excited to get started with teaching History so that I can impart my passion for the subject onto our students,” Everett says. “My own teachers had a massive, positive impact on my life, and I hope to be that same guiding light for our future leaders.” Please join us in congratulating Everett on his new role and wishing him a fantastic school year!
Degree(s): B.A., Political Science, University of Pennsylvania
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:
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
Before transitioning to the classroom, Weiya spent many years conducting biological research in the Bay Area. She earned her Ph.D. in Comparative Biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, where her research focused on vitamin A metabolism. She later completed postdoctoral research at the University of California, San Francisco, studying vascular biology using mouse models. Throughout her research career, she found the logical reasoning and mathematical problem-solving at the heart of scientific discovery to be the most rewarding aspects of her work.
Inspired by her passion for teaching and the experience of raising her own children, Weiya earned her Mathematics Teaching Credential from San José State University. She is dedicated to helping students discover the connections between mathematics, the real world, and other academic disciplines. In her classroom, she fosters a design-thinking mindset that encourages curiosity, creative problem-solving, and the confidence to take intellectual risks in a supportive learning environment.
Degree(s): Ph.D. Comparative Biochemistry, University of California at Berkeley
B.S., Biological sciences, Fudan University, China
Single Subject Math, San José State University
Certificate of Data Science, University of California at Berkeley Extension
Degree(s): Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital
Graduate courses in Education, Teaching and Leadership, University of North Dakota
Degree(s): M.S. CS Arizona State University
B.E., Engineering, Savitribai Phule University
Kevin serves as our SPB Physics and Robotics teacher with a deep passion for science and technology. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Physics from UC Berkeley and his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Texas at Austin before completing a Master of Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His academic background reflects a strong interest in understanding the physical world and finding creative ways to solve technically challenging problems.
Kevin has taught science, physics, and mathematics from elementary through university levels, including teaching undergraduate physics at UT Austin. He has also worked as a substitute and long-term science substitute teacher at The Harker School. His experience in experimental physics, scientific instrumentation, and programming brings a hands-on perspective to the classroom. He hopes to inspire students to explore, experiment, and develop a lasting appreciation for science and technology.
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
Ms. Xiaozhen Li is a founding faculty member of Stratford Preparatory Blackford and a powerhouse in the world of Chinese language education!
With over 13 years of experience across California’s public and private sectors, Xiaozhen has spent the last four years at Stratford Prep Blackford helping build our high school program from the ground up. Her expertise spans AP, honors, and heritage language instruction, and she has established the National Chinese Honor Society making her a vital asset to our academic community.
A Legacy of Leadership
Xiaozhen’s impact extends far beyond her own classroom. Throughout her career, she has consistently stepped into pivotal roles that shape the student experience and support her colleagues. Her previous roles include:
As Stratford’s K–12 Chinese Subject Chair, she continues this legacy by leading our New Teacher Academy, providing coaching and curriculum planning to educators across all campuses.
National Recognition & Professional Excellence
Xiaozhen was instrumental in Stratford School receiving the 2025 CLASS Outstanding K–16 Chinese Program Award, a prestigious national honor. Her professional credentials further highlight her dedication to the field:
You may have also seen her featured on NBC Bay Area during Teacher Appreciation Week for her meaningful contributions to AANHPI Heritage Month in 2024!
In Her Own Words
“One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is seeing how students develop not only in their Chinese language proficiency, but also in their confidence, maturity, and curiosity about the world.”
Degree(s): Ed.D., Educational Leadership (in progress), San José State University
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
Degree(s): M.A. Education, University of the Pacific
B.A., History, University of California, Davis