About Us

Yasaman Sohrabi (Yasi) was born and raised in Tehran, Iran, and moved to the United States at the age of nineteen. With over thirteen years of experience teaching at Golestan, she has worked with various age groups, honing diverse teaching skills and continuously learning from her students. Currently, Yasi teaches 2nd/3rd grade at Golestan and serves as the After-School and Summer Camp Coordinator. She is passionate about creating academically engaging learning experiences in an environment that promotes creativity, curiosity, and kindness. Yasi earned her BS in Clinical Nutrition from San Francisco State University and a Master's in Curriculum Development and Instructional Design. In her free time, she enjoys nature walks, creating art, traveling, reading poems, singing, and snowboarding.

Nessa Mahmoudi, School Director, has been teaching elementary-aged children for fifteen years. She holds a BA in Art History and Spanish/Latin American Culture from New York University, as well as an MA and bilingual teaching credential from UC Berkeley’s Developmental Teacher Education program. Nessa also studied ballet and contemporary dance at the North Carolina School of the Arts. In Spring 2016, she traveled to New Zealand as part of the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program, where she had the opportunity to observe and interview indigenous Maori teachers in bilingual schools. There, she learned how they incorporate the Maori language, cultures, values, and worldview into their curriculum.

Nessa taught for eight years at Melrose Leadership Academy in East Oakland as a Spanish dual-immersion teacher, before coming to Golestan to help build the elementary program. She has taught kindergarten through third grade both at Melrose and at Golestan, and currently serves as the Director of Teaching of Learning at Golestan. She loves to cook, dance, sing karaoke and marvel at nature on solo walks. Nessa is fluent in Persian, Spanish and English.