The people who know your child.
Our teachers and staff are highly skilled, experienced professionals dedicated to making a difference in the lives of their students. These caring adults are committed to nurturing your child and ensuring each one maximizes their emotional, social, and academic development.
Administration
Leadership & Office
Marci McCord
Mrs. McCord has been at DMP since 1990. She graduated from the University of California at Davis with a degree in economics and earned her teaching credential from the University of San Diego. She has taught kindergarten, second, third, and sixth grades at Del Mar Pines. Marci and her husband have a daughter and a son who graduated from Del Mar Pines.
Christine Linxwiler
Mrs. Linxwiler joined DMP in 2024. She has 17 years of experience in academic administration. Before stepping into the world of education, she spent some time in the wine and retail industries. Mrs. Linxwiler and her husband Eric spend their free time traveling to visit their two adult children who live out of state, and exploring all this amazing world has to offer.
John McCord
Mr. McCord joined the DMP staff in 2025, having attended Del Mar Pines as a student from kindergarten through sixth grade. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a psychology minor from Concordia University Irvine, then worked in sales in Orange County for four years before returning to DMP, which has always been his second home. He is excited to serve as Admissions Coordinator, Administration Assistant, and the teacher for 6th grade science.
Classroom Teachers
Kindergarten – 6th Grade
Laura Murphy
Mrs. Murphy began working at DMP in 2002. She received a bachelor's degree in psychology with an emphasis in child psychology from San Francisco State University. She and her husband have three daughters, all graduates of Del Mar Pines School.
Wendy Poyhonen
Mrs. Poyhonen started at DMP in 2005. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in special education, earned an M.B.A. from the University of New Orleans, and completed post-graduate work in education at Tulane University. She began her teaching career in 1980, alongside a career in corporate sales and marketing. She and her husband have two sons who graduated from Del Mar Pines.
Cassandra White
Mrs. White joined Del Mar Pines in 2018. She has a Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in Cultural Literature and the Arts and a minor in education from the University of Washington, along with a Master's degree in education. Prior to coming to Del Mar Pines, she taught first grade in Washington state.
Ashley Smirnoff
Ms. Smirnoff joined DMP in 2026. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in sociology, with a minor in special education, from the University of Oregon, and her Master of Arts in Teaching from the Pepperdine Graduate School of Education. She has been teaching elementary students since 2021, mostly in first grade.
Michelle Hancock
Mrs. Hancock has been at DMP since 2012. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies/sociology from Point Loma Nazarene University, where she also earned her multiple-subject teaching credential. Prior to Del Mar Pines, she taught for several years in the Oceanside School District.
Tammy Colley
Mrs. Colley began working at DMP in 2013. Her credentials include a multi-subject teaching credential from National University in San Diego, a Paralegal Certificate from the University of San Diego, and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Wisconsin.
Julie Canzone
Ms. Canzone worked at DMP from 2000–2004 teaching fourth and fifth grades, and returned in 2010 to teach third grade. She graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in sociology and holds a master's degree in education from Mercer University in Atlanta.
Allison Cox
Mrs. Cox started at DMP in 2017. She received a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from Arizona State University. She has taught at Leonardo da Vinci Health and Science Charter School and Holly Drive Leadership Academy in San Diego.
Rob Kelly
Mr. Kelly started at DMP in 2013. He received his Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame and his teaching credential from the University of North Carolina. He has taught third, fourth, and fifth grade in Washington, DC; Wilmington, North Carolina; and San Diego. Before teaching, he was a systems analyst at Merrill Lynch in New York City.
Nirupa Bhave
Mrs. Bhave came to DMP in 2017. She earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in history from Pune University in India. Prior to DMP, Nirupa worked at Del Mar Hills Nursery School for five years.
Michele Damodaran
Mrs. Damodaran joined DMP in 2022. She earned a bachelor's degree in economics from U.C. Berkeley, but after working in business for a short time, she turned to teaching and never looked back. She taught in New York City private schools while earning a master's degree in Elementary Education, and holds teaching credentials in New York, New Jersey, and California.
Joanne Freedman
Ms. Freedman joined DMP in 2025. She earned both her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and her Master's degree in Education with a specialization in Reading Management from The George Washington University. She began her teaching career in Massachusetts and was part of the Solana Beach School District for two years.
Ryan Fortin
Mr. Fortin began working at DMP in 2014. He received his Master of Arts in teaching and holds a dual credential in multi-subjects and special education from Point Loma Nazarene University. He grew up in Carlsbad. Mr. Fortin and his wife are the proud parents of 7 children.
Specialist & Ancillary Teachers
Arts · Languages · Wellness
Nicole Lewis
Ms. Lewis began working at DMP in 2020. She serves as the upper-grade writing teacher, yearbook coordinator, and social media coordinator. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of New Mexico, her M.F.A. in Creative Writing and Poetry from Naropa University, and her Master of Arts in Education from National University. She also holds a California Single Subject Teaching Credential in English and a Montessori teaching credential.
Scott Spurgiesz
Mr. Spurgiesz joined DMP in 2021. He taught general music education at All Hallows Catholic School and St. Mary's School, and is the owner of Music Pillars, an after-school music and theater school. He holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Northern Arizona University and an M.B.A. from UC Berkeley, and is also a professional pianist.
Terry Sanchez
Mr. Sanchez joined DMP in 2020. He previously taught photography, video/film, and digital media at Torrey Pines High School and directed live evening newscasts for KUSI-TV News for 12 years. He has a double major in Economics and Visual Arts Media from UC San Diego, is certified in Google, Adobe Photoshop, and Premiere, and is a licensed pilot.
Tanya Robinson
Mrs. Robinson joined Del Mar Pines in 2005. Her education includes training in British boarding schools, a bachelor's degree in communication and visual arts from UC San Diego, and a master's degree in telecommunications and film from San Diego State University. She is the founder of ASK, an image and protocol consulting firm.
Susan Peachy
Mrs. Peachy excitedly joined DMP in 2024. She has experience teaching all grades K–8. Prior to joining DMP she taught in the Oceanside Unified School District. She received her B.A. and teaching credential from SDSU and a Master's degree in Education from Chapman University.
Susan Morgan
Mrs. Morgan is in her 24th year of teaching and joined Del Mar Pines in 2018. She earned her B.S. in Behavioral Science and M.Ed. in Cross-cultural Teaching from National University in San Diego, along with her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential.
Dr. Lourdes Perez-Williams
Dr. Perez-Williams has been consulting at DMP since 2000. She received her Bachelor of Arts in psychology and Spanish from Rutgers University, and a master's degree and doctorate in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. She has been in private practice since 1985.
Gabrielle Serna
Ms. Serna joined DMP in 2026. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Applied Arts and Sciences from San Diego State University, and her Master of Arts in Teaching with a Multi-Subject Credential from the University of Southern California. She is a native Spanish speaker and has been teaching elementary-aged students since 2021.
Tom McDonald
Mr. McDonald joined DMP in 2026. He has worked in the hospitality industry since 2012 and has been teaching English to international students online since 2025. He comes from a family of educators and is excited to work with our students and community.
Come meet them in person.
The best way to understand Del Mar Pines is to walk the campus and see our teachers and students in action.
Schedule a Tour →