APT LEADERSHIP
Welcome from your President,
The Association of Pleasanton Teachers includes our fabulous teachers, counselors, nurses, psychologists, librarians, clinicians, behaviorists, therapists, speech and language pathologists, social workers, and specialists.
APT represents the best interests of our trained, highly qualified educators to promote the well-being of students, members, and our community.
Nestled in the Tri-Valley of the San Francisco Bay Area, we are home to award-winning schools, programs, teachers, and students. APT members pride themselves on the exceptional education they provide. Proudly educating our world's future, we support each other in honing our craft, building leadership, nurturing innovativeness, and advocating for a quality public education for all.
In becoming a member of APT, you join a network of dedicated professionals who inspire each other and the students we serve.
I came to the public school system in 1990 after 4 years of teaching in a private school. I have always taught primary grades K-2 and one year I taught a multiage K-2 class combined. My true joy has been teaching first graders to read. I joined PUSD at Fairlands in 2000. I have been active with APT ever since. I began my union work as a site representative in three districts: SMFC, SRV, PUSD. In 2009, I became an At-Large Rep and joined the Executive Board. Later I became Secretary and then joined the district negotiating team. I have two adult children with spouses and am grandma to Molly and Dennis Atkins. I love spending time with family including my dog, vacations, and all bay area sports. My husband and I have traveled to 15 major league ballparks on our quest to see them all!
I have enjoyed my years in the classroom and am now excited to have the opportunity to make a change and do something new, still supporting all my fabulous PUSD colleagues and our students to have the best education possible. We are better together!
Cheryl Atkins
APT President
Vice President - Sam Weaver
Sam has always taught at Amador Valley. During his tenure, he has taught 15 different courses. He grew up in Pleasanton and graduated from Amador in 2000. He lives with his wife, who is also a teacher, his two kids, and his dog, Penny. He loves cooking and trivia nights.
Secretary - Olivia Applin
Olivia is a 7th year teacher at Foothill teaching both French and AVID. She loves all things involving words and languages and hopes to pass that along to her students. With an increasingly diverse world around us, Olivia is passionate about helping her students develop a more global perspective to better navigate intercultural relationships. She also fiercely supports student success despite adversity and is a strong advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion.
Treasurer - Evan Branning
Evan Branning has been the culinary and farm to fork teacher at Village HS for the past 8 years. Evan started his teaching career at the San Jose Job Corps and has always had a passion for helping the students who face the most challenges in their education.
Elementary At-Large - Erin Salcido
Erin has been teaching at Alisal Elementary for over 24 years. She has mainly taught 1st grade but also has taught a K-1 combo with 30 students. Erin has been a long time site and head rep for her school and has also served on the APT eboard for 4 years. Erin has had a long time passion for representing her members needs, equity and value in order to provide them the best resources their students deserve. Outside of teaching, Erin’s hobbies include traveling, visiting museums and admiring art (her first love).
Middle School At-Large - Reine Anderson
Reine Anderson has been a school counselor working for PUSD for 18 years. Reine started at Donlon and later moved to PMS and then had a short stint at Harvest Park.
Reine and her husband live in Walnut Creek, and they have two adult children. Reine loves to hang out with her friends, eat, travel, and check out the local art scene.
High School At-Large and CTA State Council Rep - Karen Lord-Eyewe
Karen M. Lord-Eyewe has been a Pleasanton Teacher and APT member for 27 years. She teaches Spanish at Amador Valley High School and is the advisor for the Korean Culture Club, Key Club, and Neuroscience Club. She is one of our Executive Board Members and Alcosta Service Center Council Vice Chair. Karen also serves on the Election Committee for the California Teachers Association.
Non-Classroom Rep - Vanessa Muellerleile
Vanessa has been a school counselor for 10 years and started her career in PUSD. Serving FHS, Donlon, Lydiksen and most currently Walnut Grove, she has served in many TK-12 capacities including 2 years as a mental health clinician for our SELPA. Vanessa is passionate about advocating for student centered practices and promoting mental health and wellness. She has served on the APT bargaining team for 3 years and eboard for 2.
When she is not at work you can find her spending time with family and enjoying the outdoors.
Organizing Co-Chair and CTA State Council Rep - Michelle VerKuilen
Michelle VerKuilen has taught Transitional Kindergarten to Adults, in both general and special education settings. A Pleasanton Townie, she is a product of the Pleasanton schools, as are both her boys, who are now college graduates and successfully adulting. She enjoys the beach, traveling, friends, family, and book club!
Michelle has been a Union Leader for over ten years and works to support educators so that they have the resources, environment, and working conditions that they and their students deserve!
Organizing Co-Chair - Rachel Ensler
Bargaining Chair - Bryan Campiotti
Bryan has worked for Pleasanton Unified for the past 15 years as a Physical Education Teacher. He has taught elementary, middle, and high school and even some kindergarten when the opportunity presents itself. Bryan is passionate about communicating and representing APT member’s needs at the bargaining table to ensure Pleasanton students have the best education possible. When he’s not teaching or at the bargaining table, Bryan can be found riding his bike, traveling with his wife and kids, and spending time with family and friends.
CTA Staffer - Katherine Clarke
Katherine Clarke has been doing staff work with unions across the United States for about 10 years. She has been both an elementary and secondary teacher. In her downtime, she will find her way to the beach. Katherine believes in public education and that educators deserve all the support they can get in order to provide their students with the best. Her passion is the social justice of public education.