Our Teacher Mr. Ballesteros

Mr. Ballesteros comes to us from the Big Island of Hawaii. A long way from home, Mr. Ballesteros grew up on the beaches of Hawaii, though much of his time was spend playing competitive soccer, tennis, baseball, and golf. When not in school he spent much of his time doing community service projects and serving his local parish as an altar server and greeter. A tennis scholarship brought him here to San Francisco to attend Dominican University of California. After graduating with his degree in Elementary Education Mr. Ballesteros worked in the first and fourth grade classrooms of West Portal Elementary School. In 2003 Mr. B headed off to Lopburi, Thailand to teach English for two years. While there he instructed Elementary, Secondary, and University students in Listening and Speaking as well Conversational English. In his spare time he taught at private institutions as well as Thai Army Bases, and a Chicken factory. Two of Mr. B's most memorable treks through Thailand included riding elephants down the Bridge over the River Kwai, and hiking into underground Temples in Northern Thailand. Upon his arrival back in San Francisco Mr. B excepted a pre-kinder position for Marin Day Schools. That year he received the "Most Creative Curriculum" award for the Western Regions Pre-K program. In 2007 Mr. B taught Kindergarten at St. Anthony Immaculate Conception School in the Mission district before coming to St. Mary's School. Mr. B has now been the kindergarten teacher at St. Mary's for 5 glorious years. When Mr. B is not teaching, he is busy hosting the school luau, assisting for the school's Italian Night, and putting on the ever popular Fall Festival Haunted House for Students as well as Families and Friends. Our Kindergarten Teacher Mr. B also coaches tennis at Sacred Heart Cathedral, gives private tennis lessons at public courts, and tutors students.