Words about Erik from his coworkers: 
"Erik is the definition of team player.  He helps things run smoothly on campus across so many grade levels!  His calm yet engaged demeanor resonates with students and staff alike. My students literally erupt in cheers when he comes in to lead morning circle!"

"Oh Mr. Pfeifer is so awesome! Has there ever been a time where he hasn’t bent over backwards to home in anyway he can. He has been so wonderful to work with this year. He is generous with his time, always willing to listen to share and his calm positive and professional presence has made all the difference in the world. We are sooo lucky to have him!"

"Erik is such a wonderful, calm, and reliable co-worker and friend! He is always willing to lend a helping hand and does it with such a positive attitude. We are so lucky to have him at Caliber. :)"

"Erik is amazing! He is the definition of team player. The relationships he’s built with students and staff across campus are so strong and we cannot wait to have him in middle school in the computer science role."

"Erik is an amazing team player and is always willing to lend a helping hand! Our kiddos love him, we love him... he  is such an asset to team Caliber!"
​
"Mr. Pfeifer is such a kind, earnest spirit.  He has done so much for our community that is beyond his job title and supported so many staff members over the course of this past year.  He is such a team player and we are so excited for him stepping into a new role with CMA next year!"




​
A recent interview with Erik: 
What is your favorite thing about  Caliber?
My favorite thing about working at Caliber is working with our dedicated staff to give the students the support they need to grow and learn. Everyday I come to work happy , feeling privileged and excited to work with such an amazing staff.

What was your favorite subject  in school and why?
My favorite subject in school was computer science. I loved working on developing programming that could help people in a variety of ways.

What is your favorite memory associated with music (maybe a memorable concert, or playing an instrument yourself!)?  
I once had the privilege to attend a Dave Brubeck concert. I grew up in the Bay Area and he has had a tremendous impact on jazz in the 50's and 60's. The performance Brubeck gave was amazing, more than a few times the audience gave a standing ovation. I was relatively young when I saw him perform, and up to that point I was basically only seeing rock concerts. This was a defining moment for me that allowed me to reflect on different genres of music that I grew to appreciate.

If you could go on a dream vacation, what would you do + where would you go?
I would go travel the world to hear different types of music and performances.

What is your favorite thing about the Bay Area (or specifically Vallejo)?
I moved to Vallejo a couple of years ago and I am really impressed with the number of gems found around town, everything from the preserve on Mare Island where you can spend the night in a yurt, to the number of great restaurants and eateries. I also enjoy biking to the downtown farmer's market on Saturday mornings.

What is one fun fact that most people don't know about you?
Most people know I love going outdoors and doing outdoor activities, such as skiing, surfing and hiking. What a lot of folks don't know, is that I really enjoy backpacking. Once or twice a year, I'll venture on a 20-40 mile journey. California is surrounded by so much beauty, its hard to resist venturing out and stepping out into divine wilderness.

​

Words about Michelle from her coworkers: 
Michelle is a bright light at CMA. She brings energy and joy with her everywhere she goes. I am always blown away by her creativity and attention to detail. She takes a complicated subject, Computer Science, and breaks it down in a way that makes it accessible and fascinating to her lower school kiddos. We are truly lucky to have her at CMA!!!

Michelle is so bright, creative, open and enthusiastic. She is always willing to meet people big and small right where they are and be incredibly helpful. She is “mad professor” and perfect for the “Makers Space”.


​
A recent interview with Michelle: 
What is your favorite thing about  Caliber?
There are many favorites to choose from! I feel as though everyone deserves honorable mention, from the teachers, admin, parents, and especially the students. It has been such an amazing experience being welcomed and integrated into the Caliber community this year. It really feels like I've joined a family of over 1,000 people!


What was your favorite subject when you were in school and why?
This will probably sound far-fetched, but I loved ALL subjects growing up in elementary school. I had an amazing Kindergarten teacher named Mr. Felder who helped me to learn that making mistakes and working through problems was the BEST way to learn! As I got older and went through high school, I developed a strong love for the humanities (and accidentally got a History degree in College! Whoops!) 


What is your favorite memory associated with music (maybe a memorable concert, or playing an instrument yourself!)?  
Many who visit the staff lounge know that I am HUGE music fan. Hahaha. My favorite memories associated with music are centered around my family. I grew in Miami with a very traditional Cuban family and can remember from a young age the importance of playing music at giant parties we would throw. To this day, I really love salsa dancing and listening to any kind of Caribbean music! I also had a father who was adamant that my brother, sister, and I had a thorough music education. TO THIS DAY my family still plays the "WHO SINGS THIS?!" game.


If you could go on a dream vacation, what would you do + where would you go?
My dream vacation would be traveling the Silk Road! The Silk Road was an ancient network of trade routes that connected the ancient Eastern and Western civilizations of China, the Middle East, and Europe. It was central to cultural interactions of art, philosophy, education, and religion between then from 207 BCE - NOW! It was said that in it's heyday, "You could walk across one end of the Mongol Empire to the other with gold on your head without the fear of being robbed." CAN YOU IMAGINE?!


What is your favorite thing about the Bay Area (or specifically Vallejo)?
I love that I can drive in any direction to find amazing hikes to go on! There are so many beautiful parks, hiking trails, and natural wonders to discover here. I can't wait to travel to Humboldt County this summer to see the old growth redwoods!


What is one fun fact that most people don't know about you?
I was REALLY into JROTC in high school. I competed in all the drill meets (in both rifle spinning and cadet marching), performed in the Color Guard for indoor football games, kept inventory of all supplies, etc. In my senior year of high school, I was offered a scholarship through the military to become an officer, but turned it down to become a liberal arts Dance and History major at a local college in NC!! I've never looked back!