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  • Photo of Kelly May
    Kelly May
    Mathematics Teacher
    Bio
     
    Ms. May joined the Sage Hill mathematics department in 2010 after teaching at Fairmont Preparatory Academy in Anaheim. In 2017, she received Sage Hill's Fiona Fraser Teacher of Excellence Award. She was honored as a 2018 Teacher of the Year by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce. She began her teaching career in 2000 and earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics with an emphasis in mathematics education from California State University, Long Beach. Over the course of her career, she has taught courses ranging from Algebra I to AP Calculus AB.
  • Photo of Tina McDaniel
    Tina McDaniel
    Admission Coordinator
    Bio
     
    Ms. McDaniel joined Sage Hill School in 2009 as the Admission Office Coordinator with an extensive background of administrative support. She has worked for top executives of companies such as Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, CKE Restaurants (Carl's Jr.) and Nike, Inc.
  • Photo of Brian McMahon
    Brian McMahon
    Arts Department Chair, Digital & Visual Arts Teacher
    Bio
     
    Mr. McMahon joined the Sage Hill faculty in 2004. In 2015, he won the school's Fiona Fraser Teacher of Excellence Award, and he was Ninth Grade Dean for many years. He previously taught at the high school and college levels. His areas of expertise include glass making, sculpture, digital art, ceramics, drawing, and painting. He has exhibited his artwork at solo and group exhibitions around the country. He earned his BFA from Rhode Island School of Design.
  • Photo of Patricia Merz
    Patricia Merz
    Head of School
    Bio
     
    Patricia Merz is a seasoned independent school administrator whose career spans more than 25 years. She joined Sage Hill as Assistant Head of School in 2007 and, based on her successful and inspirational leadership, was appointed Head of School in 2014. Among her many accomplishments since joining the administration are:

    •    Developing and refining Sage Hill's innovative and dynamic college preparatory curriculum
    •    Introducing Spring at Sage in the 2010-11 school year and overseeing its on- and off-campus programming
    •    Instrumental in developing the vision and guiding the completion of the Lisa Argyros and Family Science Center
    •    Launching Sage Connected, Sage Hill’s hybrid online courses and digital library, which has received national recognition
    •    Instrumental in Sage Hill receiving the 2014 E.E. Ford Foundation Grant to fund the Sage Connected initiative
    •    Enhancing and expanding Summer at Sage, including credit course offerings, Sage Connected, workshops, and camps
    •    Bringing middle school programming to Summer at Sage
    •    Expanding funding and opportunities for professional development for faculty
    •    Creating new leadership opportunities for faculty
    •    Developing and securing funding for the Sage Center, which houses Sage Hill’s signature programs
    •    Overseeing the completion of the physical plant, including the Brett Connor Jordan & Family Tennis Center and Aquatics Center

    A native of Minnesota, Ms. Merz has worked as a teacher, coach and administrator. She came to Sage Hill from the Nichols School in Buffalo, New York, where she was Head of the Upper School. She also held positions at Santa Catalina School in Monterey, California; the Breck School in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Faribault, Minnesota. A graduate of Kenyon College with a bachelor’s degree in English, Ms. Merz also earned a master's degree in English from Middlebury College, and a master’s degree in education administration with a focus in private school leadership from Columbia University's Teachers College, Klingenstein Center. 

    While at Columbia University, Ms. Merz was the recipient of the Barnes Fellowship, the Mentoring Scholarship and the Teachers College Scholarship, each in recognition of academic excellence. Ms. Merz has also been awarded the E. E. Ford Fellowship for aspiring school leaders from the National Association of Independent Schools. Among her many professional pursuits, Ms. Merz participated in the S.E.E.D. (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) Project, dedicated to developing inclusive curricula, and has presented at educational technology conferences, CAIS and NAIS.  In June of 2021, she was selected to serve a four-year term on the CAIS Board of Directors. Ms. Merz currently serves on the El Sol Foundation Board of Directors.

    A mother of three young children, Ms. Merz resides with her partner, also an educator, in South Orange County.
  • Photo of Nate Miller
    Nate Miller
    Mathematics Teacher
    Bio
     
    Mr. Miller joined Sage Hill as a founding faculty member in 2000, after working for eight years at Lake Forest Academy in Illinois. At Sage Hill, he has taught all levels of math from Algebra I to AP Calculus BC and also served as the school’s Athletic Director from 2001-2007. Mr. Miller has also coached the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams, served as head coach for the track and field team, and has been recognized several times as Academy League Coach of the Year. In 2008, he was awarded the Elizabeth A. Resnick award for his contribution to the life of Sage Hill School. Mr. Miller is a graduate of Pomona College with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics.
  • Photo of Annalise Miyashiro
    Annalise Miyashiro
    Associate Director of College Counseling
    Bio
     
    Ms. Miyashiro joined the Sage Hill college counseling team in 2017. Previously, she served as an Assistant Director of Admissions at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, and taught 10th grade English in her home state of Hawai‘i as part of the Teach for America program. She earned a bachelor’s degree in human and organizational development from Vanderbilt University and a master’s of education in teaching from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.
  • Tom Monroe
  • Photo of Joseph Moody
    Joseph Moody
    Director of Middle School
    Bio
     
    Dr. Joseph Moody joined Sage Hill in 2024. He most recently served as Head of Middle School at The Lovett School in Atlanta. Over a 30-year career in education, Dr. Moody previously worked as a Science Teacher, Middle School Dean of Student Life, and Football and Track & Field Coach. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology from Presbyterian College as well as a master’s degree in Psychology and doctorate in Educational Psychology at Walden University.
  • Photo of Nicole Morello
    Nicole Morello
    Controller
    Bio
     
    Nicole Morello joined Sage Hill in 2017 as the Controller. Most recently, she was assistant controller at Western Dental Services, Inc. and Quality Systems, Inc. She has extensive experience in accounting and financial reporting. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from California State University, Long Beach.
  • Photo of Lynn Mountain
    Lynn Mountain
    School Counselor
    Bio
     
    Lynn Mountain joined Sage Hill as a school counselor in 2019. She is a licensed marriage family therapist (LMFT) and has been in private practice for over 20 years in Newport Beach. Ms. Mountain was previously a health educator at The University of Southern California and a personal guidance counselor at Cornelia Connelly High School in Anaheim. She holds a bachelor's degree in health science with an emphasis in marketing from San Diego State University and a master's degree in counseling psychology from National University, Irvine.
Sage Hill School complies with Federal Transparency in Coverage regulations by providing a link to machine readable files related to the health plans offered to our employees. The machine-readable files are formatted to allow researchers, regulators, and application developers to more easily access and analyze data including negotiated service rates, and out-of-network allowed amounts between health plans and healthcare providers. Click here for the Blue Shield of California - Health Plan Transparency in Coverage.

Sage Hill School

20402 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Coast, CA 92657
Phone: 949.219.0100  |  Fax: 949.219.1399
Sage Hill School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and athletic and other School administered programs.