Krista Vanuska

Biography

Born and raised in Half Moon Bay, I’m a Bay Area native and lifelong learner. My educational journey began in a Spanish Immersion elementary school on the Peninsula and eventually led me to migrate south to UCLA for my undergraduate studies. 

Though I dearly missed the perpetually foggy weather of my hometown, I was enchanted by the abundance of learning opportunities I found there. My dual passions for language and the natural world led me to major in Geography and Environmental Studies while completing extensive coursework in English literature, history, and fine arts. In a single semester, my extracurriculars ranged from coaching students in their academic essays at the undergraduate writing center, creating the first digital map of the Mathias Botanical Garden, and operating the light board for performances at the School of Music. 

After graduating from UCLA, I explored career pathways in environmental conservation and agro-ecology before settling into the field of education. I’ve since taught literacy skills to students with learning differences, guided middle schoolers in investigations of riparian ecology, and led a school garden education program for two academic school years. 

As an educator, I hold a guiding belief that all students deserve respect and meaningful autonomy in the learning process. I’ve found that 1-on-1 instruction is particularly effective in empowering students to take ownership of their own education. In my teaching practice, I’ve witnessed some of the most profound learning happen when students have space to think out loud—to stumble through ideas, make connections, and articulate their understanding in their own words. In 1-on-1 sessions, I can give each student this gift of unhurried conversation, where questions are welcomed and thinking is made visible. Whether supporting students through academic subjects or SAT preparation, I’m driven by the goal of helping them broaden their options and shape their academic future.

Beyond education, my other passions in life include backyard gardening, botanizing and birding my way around the East Bay, studying the martial arts of tai chi and qi gong, and playing music.