Taryn Estébez is a proud SF native who has lived in LA, Europe, and South America, but can never stay away from the Bay Area too long. With a background in education and public health, she has spent the last decade serving thousands of youth in classrooms and after school programs. With six years as a Health Educator at WBA, Taryn now serves as the expert Lead Educator Trainer, focused on training and supporting all incoming educators, ensuring they’re prepared to deliver compassionate, judgment-free wellness education that promotes healthy youth development, relationships, decision-making, mental health, and overall wellness. Taryn is the kind of person who believes in a second stomach for dessert, and that there is no such thing as laughing too loud, putting a Christmas tree up too early, or being too old to have a dance party in your room. In and outside of professional settings, she holds the power and magic of vulnerability, connection, and community dear.
Sarah brings 9 years of experience as a health educator, with 5 years dedicated to her role at WBA, where she currently serves as Director of Programs and Operations. In this role, she oversees the implementation of WBA’s wellness programs and the systems that support our educator team, school partners, and day-to-day operations. Sarah holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology from UC Santa Cruz, where she first stepped into health education by leading workshops and lectures on consent and sexual health for college students. Since then, she has worked with schools, nonprofits, and advocacy groups committed to advancing comprehensive, inclusive, and medically accurate health education for all ages. Her work is grounded in the belief that prevention-focused education—beginning in childhood and supported by trusted adults—has the power to shift culture. Sarah finds deep fulfillment in working with youth and partnering with communities, families, and schools to implement programs that bring those lessons to life. Outside of WBA, you can find her cooking, reading, or swimming in the ocean.
Justin has worked in education for 8 years, first as a co-director of The David Lynch Foundation for Conscious-Based Education in Japan, and starting in 2011, as the Founder and Chief Educator of Compass Green with which he has taught over 53,000 students around the USA. Through Compass Green, Justin has focused on educating youth about the impact of conventional agriculture has on their bodies and the environment, and the ways in which they can use their power as eaters to positively influence the planet. If he’s not in the classroom or one of the many community gardens in Oakland that he manages, Justin can probably be found in the waves off Ocean Beach, or backpacking somewhere in the Sierras.
For the last 16 years, Brady Gill has been working to create safe and playful spaces for kids. This journey began with years of working at Camp Tawonga in almost every role possible (including last summer as an Assistant Camp Director), as well as 6 years being a Camp Director for Camp Galileo and directing the After School Program at Park Day Elementary. Brady has also traveled the country working for Playworks as a play consultant, teaching schools how to have a physically and emotionally safe and inclusive recess. Brady is overjoyed to be working with the Prep team again this year. He loves the opportunity to speak openly and honestly with kids about all the complicated parts of growing up and treating each other and ourselves with respect and kindness.
Autumn is a Bay Area native and a graduate of UC Santa Barbara, where she earned a Bachelor’s in Sociology and Labor Studies. While at UCSB, Autumn focused on developing sexual health curricula with a fundamental understanding of sexual education as a lifelong process. An advocate for reproductive justice, Autumn has worked as a sexual health peer mentor and hosted a world music radio show. Her experience as a camp counselor has shaped her teaching philosophy, emphasizing co-learning and the importance of listening to truly understand rather than simply respond. In her spare time, Autumn enjoys reading, not following recipes while she cooks, and dancing poorly to all kinds of music.
Maya holds a Bachelor’s degree from the School of Social Welfare at UC Berkeley. A sexual health educator for the past six years, Maya believes that comprehensive sexual health education provides youth with essential tools for self advocacy and cultivates their sense of empowerment in all areas of life. In addition, Maya has served as a community HIV rapid tester, a sexual health peer clinician, and a research assistant. She has led grant-funded research on sexual violence prevention and completed her senior honors thesis on Pornography Literacy. Maya approaches youth wellness education with a harm-reduction lens, centering on health equity. In her free time, Maya enjoys hosting a book club, swimming at Lake Anza, and making extensive bucket lists.