Genevieve C. Friend
Co-founder, Treasurer , Board Secretary & Instructor
Genevieve is always thinking outside the box and finding creative ways to do everything. She has established GSES as a thriving Non Profit. She is our go-to gal for anything administrative and teaches Kinderstars - 2nd grades. She is also Mom of former student(s) at GSES.
Teresa Hulvey
Assistant Administrator
Teresa is the organizational backbone of GSES, expertly handling billing, accounts receivable, and registration. She also manages our school software systems, ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. With her keen eye for detail and dedication to efficiency, Teresa keeps our administrative processes streamlined — making sure families and staff alike can focus on what matters most: learning and growth.
Ari Silverman
Instructor
Ari Silverman grew up in the South Bay and recently completed his bachelor's in Human Biology at UCSD. He substituted for GSES in 2024-2025 and this year returns in a new role as our Pokémon Plus instructor. He loves cats, hockey, and card games and board games. He is excited to share his love of Pokémon and hands-on science with Golden Star youth, helping them build academic skills, develop meaningful friendships, and gain confidence.
Julianne Hamilton
Teacher
Julianne is our 3rd Grade teacher with bachelor's degrees in Liberal Arts and Early Childhood Education and over 25 years of experience in both teaching and school administration. She is passionate about helping students grow in confidence and knowledge through engaging, supportive learning. Outside the classroom, she enjoys gardening, surfing, eating Italian food and spending time with family and friends.
Mark Jordan
Instructor
"For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them."
-Aristotle
Mark earned his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with a specialization in Logic from the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, holds a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and completed specialized graduate coursework in Early Childhood Education at UCLA Extension and Special Education at Arizona State University. Originally from the United Kingdom, Mark relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a successful career in music before discovering his true calling in education. He brings extensive classroom experience across local South Bay public schools—including serving as a Lead Transitional Kindergarten Teacher—where he naturally weaves his deep musical background into daily lessons to make learning dynamic and joyful. Now settled in the South Bay, Mark is passionate about building strong foundations in literacy and mathematics through creative, hands-on strategies. He is thrilled to help GSES students build confidence, solve problems, and connect coreacademic concepts to real-world skills in an engaging, supportive environment.