Alex Lopez, our Graphic Arts teacher for 8th and 9th grade has over 30 years of elite experience as an Art Director and Creative Director, Alex isn’t just teaching art, he’s teaching the future of the industry.

A Career of Icons
Before joining Stratford Prep, Alex spent decades at the forefront of the video game and entertainment industries. His portfolio includes work with giants like Disney, SEGA, 2K, and Konami.

• Helped launch the legendary NBA2K and NFL2K franchises.
• Contributed to the visual world of Magic: The Gathering.
• Award Winner: A Cannes LION Award winner for the Wendy’s “Feast of Legends” campaign, and a multi-award winner for children’s book illustration and design.

The Stratford Chapter
Since June 2024, Alex has been translating these high-level industry standards into his curriculum. He treats the classroom as a collaborative studio where real-world process meets raw creativity.

“Teaching at Stratford has been the most rewarding chapter of my career. I get to pass on real-world experience and industry standards to the next generation. What makes it meaningful is that we grow together, I learn just as much from my students as they learn from me.”

We are honored to have a Creative Arts teacher of Alex’s caliber guiding our students as they find their own visual voices!

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

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

Degree(s): BSc, University of Bombay
B. Ed, University of Bombay
LL.B, University of Bombay

Dr. Beatriz Maldonado will be joining the Language Arts Team at Stratford Prep this school year. Dr. Beatriz Maldonado was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, CA. The efforts of her migrant Salvadoran parents, coupled with the experiences of being low-income and first-generation, fueled her academic pursuits. She attended Scripps College in Claremont, CA, pursuing a dual major in American Studies and Hispanic Studies, with an emphasis in Literature. While a senior in college, she applied and was accepted into the Anthropology Ph.D. program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). While in graduate school, Beatriz completed ethnographic fieldwork in El Salvador, analyzing how families remember and forget traumas of disappearance, separation, and loss as a result of El Salvador’s civil war and its aftermath. Alongside her academic trajectory, Beatriz has worked collaboratively with college and career access programs, as well as other mentorship opportunities. Her motivation for equity and sustainability derives from the journeys and successes of students.

Degree(s):Ph.D, Anthropology, University of Illinois-Champaign
B.A., American Studies, Hispanic Studies, Scripps College

Degree(s): M.A., Archaeology of Death and Memory, University of Chester
B.A., History, Southwest Minnesota State University

Degree(s): B.A., English, University of California, Santa Barbara
B.A., Spanish, University of California, Santa Barbara

Ms. Patricia Millard is an educator whose 15-year journey with Stratford has been as dynamic and inspiring as the subjects she teaches. Currently guiding our 10th–12th graders through the complexities of AP Psychology and AP Economics, Patricia brings a wealth of unique real-world experience to the classroom.

A Journey of Growth & Grit
Patricia’s path to the front of the classroom is anything but traditional. Her background includes:

• 5 years as an Emergency Services Dispatcher, working high-stakes shifts to put herself through college.
• 14 years as a stay-at-home mom to her four daughters.
• Over a decade of teaching excellence (she even taught members of the Bezos family).

Beyond the Classroom
Patricia is a firm believer in civic engagement and lifelong learning. Whether she is volunteering for Get Out the Vote initiatives, campaigning across five states, or meeting U.S. Presidents, she models the active citizenship we hope to instill in our students.

Fun Facts & Highlights:

• World Record Holder: Part of the Guinness World Record for the largest pizza party at sea!
• Adventurer: A survivor of two half-marathons and several obstacle races.
• Bibliophile: An avid reader who loves collecting autographed books and meeting authors.
• Leadership: Former Math Olympiad lead and current DECA co-advisor.

In Her Own Words
“For well over a decade, I hoped Stratford Prep would become a reality. When the site was announced, the very campus where I attended high school and my four daughters attended middle school, I knew I had to be part of this community. What I never expected was just how much I would love teaching middle and high schoolers. It’s the best job ever!”

Degree(s): B.A., Clinical and Counseling Psychology, Minor, Economics, San Jose State University

Degree(s): B.S. Business Administration: Marketing, Georgetown University

Monali Mirel Lucas is an experienced data engineer turned STEM educator, joining Stratford Preparatory Blackford this year as the new Middle School Computer Science Teacher. Her journey with technology began in the early days of the internet, tinkering with basic HTML and CSS to customize Myspace profiles. That initial curiosity fueled a robust career in tech, leading her to earn a B.S. in Computer Science from San Francisco State University and spend over five years as a Silicon Valley data engineer building machine learning systems. However, Monali discovered that her true passion lay not in building data pipelines, but in breaking down complex concepts and empowering others to learn. Guided by her own experience as an immigrant entering the American public school system in the seventh grade, she transitioned into education to support students during these transformative years. Now holding a California CTE teaching credential, Monali brings seven years of mentorship experience to the SPB community. Her mission for the upcoming school year is to build an inclusive, supportive classroom where middle schoolers feel empowered to stay curious, think creatively, and see themselves as the future owners of technology.

Degree(s):B.S. Computer Science, San Francisco State University
CTE Credential

With 28 years of experience in education, including 20 years as a High School Biology teacher, 8 years as a middle school math teacher. and 4 years leading engineering clubs, Tannaz brings a unique, interdisciplinary perspective to the classroom. Her passion for the sciences and mathematics is matched only by her commitment to fostering a lifelong love of learning in every student she meets.

A Legacy of Scientific Excellence
Tannaz’s background in biological research and biotechnology is truly world-class. Her accomplishments include:

• International Recognition: She was awarded certificates for oral presentations at the First International Congress of Stem Cells (2016) and the International Congress of Embryology (2015).
• Competitive Mentorship: She has extensively coached and mentored students for the Biology Olympiad, guiding them through high-level competitions and helping them develop innovative projects in biotechnology.
• Engineering Leadership: Her experience as an Engineering Club teacher highlights her ability to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and creative, real-world applications.

Empowering the Next Generation
At Stratford, Tannaz believes that a great education does more than just teach content, it equips students with the critical thinking, communication, and creative problem-solving skills they need to navigate an ever-changing world.

“I believe that a good education lays a solid foundation upon which children can build an understanding about themselves and the world,” says Tannaz. “It allows them to chart out their own paths in a world to which they feel connected and invested.”

Dr. Anuradha Murthy is a founding faculty member and dynamic leader in our High School Biological Sciences department at Stratford Preparatory Blackford! Dr. Murthy brings a distinguished academic background, holding a Doctorate in Biology from New York University.

With over 20 years of experience spanning middle school to college, and a background in cutting-edge Postdoctoral Research at Stanford University and PAMF, Dr. Murthy brings a rare blend of academic rigor and real-world scientific mentorship to our students.

For over 10 years at Stratford, Dr. Murthy has been pivotal in building our science program:

• Role: High School Biological Sciences Teacher, AP Mentor
• Courses: AP Biology and Advanced Applications in Biomedical Sciences (Post-AP)
• Achievement: She successfully grew the AP Biology program, culminating in the 2025 score of 4.86/5, a testament to student dedication and exceptional instructional quality.
• Innovation: Dr. Murthy created our innovative Post-AP curriculum for students interested in Biomedical Sciences and has helped implement our foundational Biology curriculum.

As an AP Mentor, she supports colleagues’ pedagogical development and actively guides multiple student clubs, including Neuroscience, Genes in Disease and Symptoms (GIDAS), and Science Fair. Her dedication ensures students gain exposure beyond the classroom through arranging university workshops and speaker events.

Reflecting on Her Time at Stratford: .

“As one of the founding high school teachers at Prep, it has been an incredible privilege to guide our very first Stratford Preparatory High School graduating class. I am so proud of who they have become and all they have achieved across so many different subjects. I will always cherish the memories of their laughter and goofy moments as I watched them mature into thoughtful, capable young men and women discovering passions in art, writing, math, world languages, economics/ business, healthcare, science, and for many, in all their classes.”

Degree(s):PhD Biology, New York University
M.Sc. Microbiology, India
M.S. Biology, New York University

Dr. Nair has been instrumental in shaping the minds of our future engineers and physicists. With over 22 years of experience spanning India, Kuwait, and the USA, she brings a truly global perspective to our classrooms.

A Legacy of Academic Rigor
Dr. Nair isn’t just a teacher; she is a lifelong researcher and leader. Her impressive background includes:

• Expert Instruction: Teaching AP Physics 2 and AP Physics C (Mechanics & Electricity and Magnetism) with a focus on inquiry-based learning.
• Deep Research: A PhD in Physics from the University of Mumbai, specializing in sensor-based embedded systems for detecting seismic events.
• Proven Leadership: Former Science Department Chair and ISO Quality Management Director.
• Published Author: Gold Medalist in MSc Physics and author of the textbook Engineering Physics.

Beyond the Classroom
At Stratford, Dr. Nair’s impact extends far beyond the whiteboard. She is a driving force behind our Science Olympiad team, the Physics Club, and competitive exams like the Physics Bowl and US Physics Olympiad.

She also developed our Honors Physics curriculum, ensuring our students have a rock-solid foundation for advanced university-level studies.

In Her Own Words:
“I thrive on creating ‘light bulb’ moments where students gain conceptual clarity and confidence. I especially cherish my time at Stratford guiding our founding seniors. Seeing them grow from sophomores in AP Physics 2 to seniors tackling AP Physics C has been a journey of witnessing their grit, confidence, and love for learning.”

Please join us in thanking Dr. Jayalakshmi Nair for her dedication, her passion for innovation, and her commitment to helping our students push beyond their limits!

Degree(s): Ph.D., Physics, Mumbai University
M.Sc, Physics. Mumbai University
B.Sc., Physics, Mumbai University