I visited several clubs before finally settling on Adlibmasters. I was so impressed with the club…read morethat I joined on my first visit. Since joining Adlibmasters, my speaking skills have improved tremendously. The club meetings are very organized. Meetings generally start off with two or more members giving speeches. The prepared speeches are followed by an extemporaneous session that gives other members an opportunity to practice their impromptu speaking skills. Finally, constructive feed back and helpful tips are given to the speakers and other participants. Everything is structured, timed and presented in a format with the end goal being to improve its member's speaking skills. I've been in this club for many years and each time I come it seems that I learn something new. I definitely have no regrets after joining Adlibmasters.

I was impressed for the first time when I visited the club. The members were encouraging me to…read morelearn and improve on my public speaking skills. They are well organized. Everyone has passion to help each other and they give sincere feedback. They encourage members to learn from their mistakes but they learn from each other throughout their stories. It is a place that I feel strongly that I could belong to and comfortable enough for me to make mistakes but also learn from it. It has been for me joining to this club for the past two years and I have never stopped attending the meetings because I *ALWAYS* learn something NEW in every meetings. It was the courage that I newly found. It is the faith I grew into. It is dedication I have learned to be accustomed to. A family that I am proud of belong to. I encourage you to come to visit couple times... then you will understand and discover you also can have passion to feel belonging to this community. It is open to the public!

If you're looking for a place to improve your leadership and speaking skills, with a special…read moreemphasis on storytelling (and, let's face it - stories move people in ways that facts and figures don't), the Silicon Valley Storytellers Toastmasters club is for you. Every meeting includes opportunities to take on a leadership role, three slots for prepared storytelling, and Tale Topics - impromptu storytelling based on a prompt you're given just before you speak. Like all Toastmasters clubs, expect to give and get constructive feedback. Visit the club on the 2nd and 4th Monday of every month - there's a no-host dinner starting at 6 (to pay for the room), and the meeting starts at 7. Guests are welcome, whether or not you have Toastmasters or storytelling experience.

I joined Public Speak Easy's 2 years ago and I'm very glad I did. This group is very welcoming, and…read moreeverybody is so approachable and fun to talk to. I feel more confident in my speaking abilities now, and it makes such a difference for me in my career. I'd highly recommend this club for beginners and shy speakers!

I joined this club in January 2017 after a very long academic struggle for public speaking. Not…read moreonly did I feel very welcomed initially but it was a safe space for me to make mistakes and grow. It's an extremely encouraging environment and very diverse as well.

BAAS is the best full service acting studio in Northern California!…read more I began studying the Meisner Technique when I finished film school about 10 years ago. I wanted to better understand actors and how to direct them. I ended up thoroughly enjoying the technique for myself but I couldn't continue and promised I'd return to Meisner in the future. Well, 10 years passed and being older and wiser, I researched every Meisner studio in Northern California. I found BAAS and appreciated everything it offered. I decided to give it a try about 1 year ago. I started with Beginning Meiser and then added Improv 1. I moved onto Intermediate Meisner and Improv 2. To date I have also taken BAAS's Actor's Reel Workshop and BAAS's Mastermind Workshop (which included a Casting Workshop with Hollywood professional Annie Grindlay). Through all of these programs, I have been thoroughly exposed to the Meisner Technique, Improvisational Acting and the acting craft in general. I now have a solid foundation for preparation, auditioning and holding my own in a scene. Through the Mastermind Workshop I learned about the industry for the perspective of the Actor and how to manage everything from attitude, self esteem, Actor promotional materials and what to expect/how to conduct myself on set and in auditions. The experienced BAAS staff is hand-picked by founder Christy English and exude her professionalism and integrity. I intend to continue with BAAS and plan to be there a long time because I want to eventually study under Mrs. English in her Master Class. Studying the craft at this studio has informed my writing for actors, my understanding and directing of actors and has enabled me to say I am an Actor. I continue to be humbled by the required focus, commitment, creativity and strength acting requires. I think that BAAS is the best full service acting studio in Northern California. It prepares the hardworking, committed Actor for both the L.A. industry and the S.F. industry (as they differ). BAAS also has a committed network of Casting Agents, Talent Agents and Voice Over Directors that visit and present workshops of their own. I intend to take these other workshops as well. It is said that the Meisner Technique is "therapeutic but not therapy." This is because it opens the heart and trains us on authenticity. BAAS embodies a big heart and authenticity particularly because Christy English studied under Mr. Sanford Meiser himself. She and her teachers both nurture and push with a rigor that meets the student where they are at. Beyond acting, the personal growth I experienced through the classes and particularly the Mastermind workshop is profound. I highly recommend BAAS for the aspiring actor or the person interested in "acting for non-actors." Lastly, I was truly impressed with the young actors from BAAS's Teen and Children's classes when I worked with them during my Actor's Reel Workshop.

I saw the rating and thought, "Oh, this looks promising for my kid." But when I dug into the…read morereviews, I noticed a lot of the 5-star ratings came from most people with less than a handful of reviews, which made me question how legit the ratings are. I also noticed several poor reviews mentioning bad communication, which unfortunately matches my experience. I've emailed and called and can't get anyone to respond. That says a lot about a business. I almost enrolled my kid, but honestly, I'm glad I didn't and didn't waste my money.

I call the education Saint Andrew's provides love-based education. The teachers love what they do…read moreand thrive in Saint Andrew's environment because the school and community truly support them. They're encouraged to attend conferences, take classes, try new approaches, bring in fresh ideas, and leverage their networks to take learning to the next level. It's a simple formula: happy teachers, happy kids. Happy kids, happy parents. Here are just a few examples that stood out over the years: 1. The science teacher allowed students to participate in an NPR project; some of their work was even featured in the showcase library. 2. The English teacher spent incredible time and care editing students' writing. The growth and learning that came from this process were remarkable. 3. The math teachers made lessons fun, engaging, and practical. Many students who never attended outside math programs were still placed in the highest-level math class as high school freshmen. 4. Teachers prepare students for high school through thoughtful program design and daily practice. Students learn to be organized, take responsibility, know when to ask for help, and approach school seriously. 5. The athletic education team provides diverse programs that engage all students and offers life coaching based on each child's developmental needs. 6. Teachers often use their own time to help students who need extra support. At Saint Andrew's, children grow up in a community where they are loved for who they are and are taught to love others for who they are. When children know they are loved, they dare to take risks, stand up for one another, perform under pressure, bounce back from setbacks, and be generous with empathy and help. That's what real mental strength and resilience look like. As parents, it's important for us to be partners in this journey. Be kind and open with the teachers. Talk to them. Collaborate with them. When school and homework go hand-in-hand, the results are powerful. No one school fits everyone. If your child is academically far ahead or must be ranked number one in every category, you may want to explore other options. But if you're looking for a school that nurtures both the mind and heart to make an exceptional young adult, Saint Andrew's is a very special place.

Three years at Saint Andrew's: excellent kindergarten, then labeling and classroom removals without…read morerestorative follow-through Sharing our family's experience so other parents . Our child attended Saint Andrew's for three years. Kindergarten was outstanding. Miss Gaulden brought warmth and deep experience; our child thrived and we were grateful for her classroom. She left mid-year after more than 15 years--a sudden change that removed a stabilizing presence. First grade was a sharp contrast, especially in how concerns were communicated and handled. Our child later told us he was told he was "not a good student." We were not informed at the time, so we can only speak to the impact. We believe that phrasing is inappropriate for any young student. Effective feedback should name a behavior and the next action ("Here are the two steps to start," "Use the 'I need a break' card"), and if harmful language is used, there should be a restorative repair with the student. In addition, our child reports being removed from the first-grade classroom multiple times. The teacher reportedly told him "Out" to make him leave--sometimes after he repeated "silly" comments. For early elementary, removing a child from class for that kind of age-typical verbal behavior, without a consistent coaching plan and brief data, felt disproportionate to us. When we suggested teacher coaching/training to align classroom language and routines, the lower-school administration framed the situation primarily as a child issue and provided an extensive list of requirements for our child, rather than discussing staff coaching and consistency. We were told the expectation was an overnight jump to independence in first grade, rather than a developmentally typical, linear progression. In our current school that emphasizes written/visual directions, defined roles in group work, and strength-based language, our child is observed as empathetic, helpful, and an active group participant. That contrast suggests the issue was not a fixed trait in the child but the classroom approach and how behavior was defined and supported. this is our experiences.

I was one of her very first clients when I took her two day speaker course approximately four years…read moreago. She is a very charismatic, fun, and very knowledgeable person. She made me feel much more comfortable with speaking in front of the other classmates. Thanks very much, Doris!

Doris' public speaking program is highly effective at increasing your confidence and speech…read moredelivery. She pushes each person, providing constructive feedback, great tips and a safe space to practice. Highly recommend!!

First, there were 75 reactions to my original post plus I received many messages from families who…read morefelt mistreated. I just want to express my deep sorrow for every family who has been mislead and mistreated by this school. It has been devastating to get a glimpse of the dark reality. Final update: this school is even worse and more corrupt than before, in my carefully considered and humble opinion. We had a deeply concerning and disturbing set of interactions with the new director, Luthern. I remain proud of the way that we handled our interactions, and very bothered by the way he treated us. Furthermore, we undetstand that they are removing and/or drastically reducing the nature campus component of their program which was a huge part of the draw in the first place. We are thrilled that this chapter is permanently closed for us. We finally found the most outstanding school for our children, and we will never look back. Good riddance to a poorly run institution with what we believe is an unethical and corrupt administration. And by the way, the "Gifted Qualitative Assessment" is manipulable. It's largely based on parent surveys, and which parent searching for a school for gifted children won't see their kids as gifted? We all do. Your best bet if you're not a founding family is to make sure you have a ton of money and that you are willing to part with in their capital campaign, and always tread cautiously when it comes to expressing yourself authentically.

Having a preschool aged child, I speak to many families about their interest in Tessellations, so I…read morethought it'd be helpful to share my experiences with children in both the K-8 and preschool programs. When my son was struggling in a more traditional education setting (with boredom causing other issues), and as we thought about the skills and traits to nurture in an evolving world, we found what we wanted with Tessellations. "Challenging experiential education" is a core part of Tessellations' mission, and I see it everyday in the projects, conversations, and enthusiasm for school. I've seen the growth in my children's capability and confidence in tackling new problems, and their continued curiosity. It's amazing to me that in 4th grade, my son and his friends can talk excitedly about the latest non-fiction book they are reading, which could span many subjects. One of their favorite games just involves taking turns talking through imagined adventure scenarios. (And that's when they're not being active - I hear that most of their recess and lunch is spent playing dodgeball across many grades.) Video game addiction is pervasive in these times, but I feel we have a haven from it here. The kids have so many interests that gaming is just one of many. Social emotional learning ("SEL") is a priority at Tessellations, and though many schools now say they focus on this, it can be an elusive goal. One evidence I see is how kids (K-8) play together across many grades: this requires empathy and adjustment. I believe that this is promoted by the general culture, the kinds of kids here, and mixed grade classrooms. The preschool program, called Tessellations Children's Center (TCC), started just last year, has been equally wonderful for our younger child. The teachers, who are engaging and observant, supervise almost a full day of free choice time, play-based learning, and novel activity options. Recently they planted vegetables, learned about space, drew self-portraits, and experimented with pendulums. Note that TCC is separate from the K-8 school, and kids must go through a separate admissions process for Kindergarten. Although my kids have loved the school, I'm giving 4 stars since it's been a bumpy ride, and I feel for those who've been affected. We've had growing pains and changes in leadership as we've grown to Pre-K through 9th in just four years. Many admin (and parents) have felt stretched thin as they balance competing needs. As we evolve from a startup to a larger, more established school, there will continue to be bumps. During this time, I'm so grateful to the amazing teachers, and staff, including our new & experienced Acting Head of School, pouring their hearts into the school and mission. Even though Tessellations has grown incredibly quickly, it is just one school, and not enough to handle the tremendous demand for progressive and gifted education, especially in the Bay Area. I hope we will see more schools that cultivate the love for learning and holistic development like this one.

We live in Los Gatos and we never thought that we would consider a private school for our son until…read moreHillbrook. At first, my son joined the junior kindergarten because the public school TK program was too short. We thought it would just be a year then we would go back. Then Covid happened and the difference on how Hillbrook handled the Covid situation with that of the public schools is day and night. We feel very safe sending our son here. After 2 years at Hillbrook, my son blossomed. So by the time he entered the elementary school, it was no brainer to continue his schooling here. The school also took a proactive prevention in bullying. The teachers did such a great job, above and beyond, to protect their kids while teaching them to be able to advocate for themselves. We are entering our 4th year at Hillbrook and my son blossoms. He's a natural leader, well spoken, and he adjusts well among his peers (classroom, playground, youth sports). What I have noticed, Hillbrook school really encourages students to be independent thinker. My son is confident and has high EQ, thanks to Hillbrook method.

Although we ultimately chose a different school for our child, I want to share how impressed I was…read morewith Hillbrook's admissions process. From start to finish, the experience stood out in all the best ways. During our initial visit, I noticed something remarkable--several students came up and hugged the admissions officer. It was clear that the kids not only felt comfortable but also genuinely connected to the adults on campus. That kind of warmth and trust speaks volumes about the school culture. Throughout the process, the staff had multiple thoughtful conversations with me and invited our son to visit the campus more than once. It wasn't just about evaluating our fit for them--it really felt like they wanted to ensure the school would be the right fit for our son too. Everyone we interacted with was incredibly kind, transparent, and generous with their time and insights. What really set Hillbrook apart was how open and communicative the administration was. In a time when many schools can feel closed off or overly cautious, Hillbrook was refreshingly honest and forthcoming. That kind of openness is rare and deeply appreciated. Even though we didn't enroll, I left the process with a very positive impression of the school and the people behind it.