Mission Hills Middle School

Ayse Kaya

Director of Education and School Founders

Mrs.Ayşe Kaya is one of the co-founders of Mission Hills Middle School. As the Director of Education, she is in charge of developing the school curriculum and ensuring that the academic needs of the students are met. Her B.A. Degree in Psychology from Stanford University, her numerous teaching & mentoring credentials, and over 25 years of teaching experience has enabled her to create a unique and truly well-balanced curriculum for the students of MHMS. Mrs. Kaya always goes the extra mile for her students, the parents, and the development of MHMS. In her free time (if she has any), she loves to watch NBA basketball with her family, spend time with her granddaughters, takes long walks, and tends to the many pets at MHMS.

Lata Nigam

Director of Operations and School Founders

Mrs. Lata Nigam is one of two co-founders at both MHMS and MHS and the Director of Operations. She holds a B.A. in Geography from the University of Delhi in India and brings extensive experience working with children aged 4-14 in the U.S. In her vital role, Ms. Lata oversees numerous responsibilities essential to both institutions' success, including program development, policy development, and staff management. Her commitment to fostering a supportive environment is evident as she remains actively engaged on campus, providing unwavering support to students, staff, and parents, reinforcing the strong community culture. She collaborates with everyone on the tasks at hand, consistently bringing a positive attitude and making sure that everyone feels valued and appreciated for their efforts.

Outside of her professional role, Ms. Lata is a devoted wife and mother to two beautiful daughters, and she treasures her new grandson, who brings her immense joy. She loves traveling and has a passion for art, as well as a more spiritual outlook on life. Her caring nature extends beyond her family; she often acts as a 'mother' figure to many students at both schools, who look up to her with great affection. Throughout her time at both MHMS and MHS, Ms. Lata has made meaningful contributions to the growth and success of these schools.

Julie Nghiem

Head of Admissions & Event Coordinator

Union City

As a parent who registered her children at MHMS, Ms. Julie immediately recognized the positive changes in her boys, and she began dedicating countless hours to volunteering at various MHMS functions and assisting in the main office. The MHMS Administration soon realized that Ms. Julie's exceptional organizational skills, technological expertise, positive attitude, and boundless energy were invaluable to the school's growth, leading them to invite her to join the Administrative Staff as the Head of Admissions and Events Coordinator. She officially started at MHMS in March 2012. In her multifaceted role, Ms. Julie serves as the Front Desk Receptionist, Administrative Coordinator, Office Manager, Registrar, and IT Support Coordinator, along with many, many, many other hats.

Outside of work, she enjoys whipping up delicious meals to share with her colleagues and indulging in shopping sprees at Banana Republic. She works hard and is dedicated to MHMS. She is consistently present at the front desk or in the main office, greeting everyone with a warm smile and ready to assist with any questions. She has all the answers as the go-to person for staff, parents, and students. Ms. Julie has been an integral part of the MHMS Staff for over 12 years.

Trish Boisseree

MHMS Counselor

Union City

She is in her 15th year as the Mission Hills Middle School counselor. Mrs.Boisseree is excited about helping build an environment supporting each child’s learning style, strengths, and talents. She adheres to a proactive and prevention model that empowers students to actively and responsibly participate in their academic learning and social interactions. She loves learning, exploring ideas, and making connections. Her degrees in counseling, psychology, social welfare, and education are a testament to her belief in lifelong learning (B.A. in psychology and social welfare from the University of California, Berkeley; M.S. in counseling and child clinical psychology from California State University, East Bay; California license as an Educational Psychologist; California Pupil Personnel Services Credential in Counseling and School Psychology). For over forty years, she has worked with students of various grade levels (preschool through college), teachers, and parents.

Neetika Nigam

Financial Administrator and

7th Grade Pre-Algebra Teacher

Union City

Ms Neetika's journey with Mission Hills School began in 2009 when the school opened its doors. After earning her Finance degree from San Francisco State University, she returned to MHMS, where she oversaw financial responsibilities for the last six and a half years as the Financial Administrator. In addition to her financial role, she teaches middle school math, allowing her to engage with students meaningfully. She prides herself on being highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong communication skills that help her connect with parents, students, and my colleagues. She's always eager to learn and grow and has had the privilege of working closely with fundamental students, empowering them to overcome challenges and build the confidence they need to succeed in math. Balancing these roles lets her embrace her love for numbers while enjoying the rewarding teaching experience.

Namrita Nigam

Office Manager &

Human Resource Coordinator

Union City

Ms. Namrita's unwavering dedication and tireless work ethic earned her a promotion to Office Administrator, during which she also pursued and received her MBA. She consistently works on her education, demonstrating her commitment to growth and excellence. Namrita is known for her exceptional dedication, often staying late to ensure everything runs smoothly. She has a great "go-get-it" attitude that resonates with everyone around her. The staff and parents love her positive and open attitude, and students and parents often want to stay late to hang out with her. Her bright smile and warm presence are a testament to the passion she brings to her work every day.

Outside of work, Ms.Namrita enjoys spending time with her family, is a picky foodie, loves hanging out with friends, and reads. She often travels around California, exploring new places and enjoying the beauty of the state. Ms.Namrita's exceptional fashion sense enhances her vibrant personality, reflecting her attention to detail and individuality.

Ashley Hernandez

Director of Operations and Admissions

Castro Valley

Ms. Ashley Hernandez is our MHS' Director of Operations and Admissions in the Castro Valley campus. She is an SJSU Alumna with a Public Relations degree and a Business minor. She received a social media certification during the COVID lockdown and continues learning different avenues to strengthen her skill set. She has a Type A personality, which means she is highly organized, detail-oriented, and has excellent communication skills. She's held various roles in different industries, including Marketing Manager, Director of Public Relations, and Marketing Assistant. Although she enjoyed her work in the tech industry, she took her career in a different direction to be more fulfilled in what she did. Over the past few years, she and Ms. Pelin have worked together behind the scenes to grow the school. They know the parents well and genuinely care for the students' education and safety. With their high energy and passion, they envision giving the school the love and attention it deserves. She enjoys dates with her boyfriend, Kenny, sunset walks with her dogs (Luna and Coco), reading, beach days, concerts, sporting events, shopping, and being around her loved ones in her free time.

Pelin LaMarche

Director of Education and Counseling

Castro Valley

Mrs. Pelin LaMarche completed her undergrad at Arizona State University with a Psychology Major and Event planning minor and earned her Master's in Counseling Psychology in Los Angeles. She began working in a school setting in 2016 as a School Counselor after her undergrad and throughout her master's program. She then was a Primary Therapist for Adolescents with Eating Disorders for over two years. She passed her licensure exam and became a licensed Clinical Therapist a year and a half ago.

Though she officially began working at Mission Hills in 2018, she feels like this school is a part of her as her parents are the co-founders of both schools. She saw both schools grow to where they are today and feels grateful to be a part of this beautiful community. As she pursued her clinical therapist career, life brought her back to Mission Hills School in 2021 as the 3rd Grade Teacher. She then became an Administrator and is now the Director of Education and Counseling. Due to her family background, she has been fortunate enough to be a part of the Education system all her life. She feels confident in helping raise young learners and cultivating a strong academic environment where the kids love coming to school!

She got married in October 2023 to the love of her life, Will, who teaches 5th grade at MHS—or “Mr. Will,” as the students know and love him! In her free time, she loves to go shopping and travel/go on adventures with her hubby!