Fourth Grade

Jean Rodriguez

Jean Rodriguez attended Western Washington University where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree. She earned her Elementary Teaching Credential at Sacramento State University. Mrs. Rodriguez has been in education for 13 years as an instructional aide and teacher. She also taught for six years at the graduate school level. Mrs. Rodriguez is currently one of St. James’ two Fourth Grade teachers.

Mrs. Rodriguez was drawn to Catholic education for a variety of reasons including to foster a love for learning, to continue to be a lifelong learner herself, and to work with other people who love to learn. Her daughters attended St. James School and her family drew her to work at a Catholic school.

Mary Gibbons

Mary Claire Gibbons was awarded her Bachelor of Arts in English with a specialization in Elementary Education from UCLA in 1998 and an MEd Masters in Education from UCLA in 2000.

Mrs. Gibbons has been in education for 20 years where she was a Kindergarten teacher at Foshay Learning Center in Los Angeles from 1999-2003, a First Grade teacher at Addison Elementary School in Palo Alto from 2004-2008, and St. James School’s Librarian and Fourth Grade teacher since 2019.

Mrs. Gibbons' three children attended St. James School, and she was drawn to Catholic education because she loves reading, sharing books with young people, and watching children learn and grow in their development.

Shelly Dirksen

Shelly Dirksen received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a Minor in Reading Instruction from Dordt University, Sioux Center, Iowa in 2001. She has been in education for 23 years serving as a Special Education paraeducator, teacher, reading and writing tutor, substitute teacher, and Children’s Ministry Director grades TK-12 for Christ Church in Davis. Mrs. Dirksen is our Education Achievement Specialist (EAS), a position she has held for 3 and a half years. She is currently working toward her California Clear Teaching Credential.

Mrs. Dirksen has always known her skill set was geared toward teaching and working with children. She loves to help students reach their goals and realize how capable they truly are. She feels it is a true privilege to participate in the moment a child learns something new.

St. James is Mrs. Dirksen’s first experience teaching at a Catholic school. She loves Catholic education and finds it a joy to combine her two loves: faith and teaching.

Kari Fisher

Kari Fisher received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology from UC Davis in 1995 and her Masters in Counseling from UC Davis in 2002. She has over 20 years of experience as a psychotherapist working in private practice, community, and school settings. She has additional training in emotionally focused therapy, trauma therapy, and therapies with children and families.

Mrs. Fisher is in her first year as our School Counselor. She chose Catholic education because her son attended St. James and she fell in love with the community as a parent. She has always loved working with children as a psychotherapist and feels blessed to be able to combine her work with a community she holds great fondness for.

Chris Payne