The Sophomore Barber of E 28th Ave

Self-taught Jackson Lee ’25 takes his talents to school

join the lower school faculty.

In two respects, the library is the heart of the Hillsborough campus. There is its central location: overlooking the café, directly across from the I-Lab, visible during drop-offs, pick-ups, and culminations. More importantly, it is a gathering space—a home for rainy recesses, gratitude circles, and warm conversations.

But what truly brings the building alive? What is it about this space, among all other places on campus, that has become so integral to the community?

The better question would be who.

At recess, one finds the library full. Students snuggle up between the shelves, their faces buried in graphic novels, dystopias, and pastry cookbooks. While the contents differ, many will share a source: Marilyn.

After over 35 years at Nueva as a parent, librarian, and teacher, Marilyn Kimura announced plans to retire at the end of this year. In that time, she has played a pivotal role in transforming the library into the hub of community connection it is today.

“She has a book for everyone; that's how well she knows us all,” said Middle School Division Head Karen Tiegel. “She can identify a book for every person who walks into the library. After a single conversation, she can say, ‘This might be something you'd like to read,’ or ‘I've got this new title. Why don't you check it out?”

Throughout their friendship, Kimura has

“She knows that I love to explore new books. [The pile] is everything from picture books and poetry to the latest historical fiction,” Tiegel said. “That’s the kind of relationship we have; it's what I love about her.”

William F. ’23, like many other students, met Kimura on the back steps of the library, where she would organize book-read-aloud sessions, when he joined Nueva in first grade. In fifth grade, William was placed in Kimura's advisory, which affectionately referred to themselves as “Marilyn’s biker gang.” (“That’s how cool she was,” said Fisher, smiling at the memory.)

“In my eight years of advisory, she was by far the best advisor.” William said. “She would play soccer and poker with us; you wouldn't expect her energy from a librarian. She just really loved what she did.”

Lower School PE Teacher Zubin Mobedshahi ’03 first met Kimura when he was in kindergarten. At the time, the current library had not even been built yet.

“Once [in kindergarten], I was brought to tears when I realized I didn't have any money on hand to borrow a book,” Mobedshahi said. “Marilyn reassured me that checking out a book was free, and she walked me through the process. Marilyn became a very safe and loving figure from that point on.”

Zubin graduated from Nueva in the eighth grade, and returned 10 years later to

“When I first came back to work at Nueva in 2013, it was the same feeling when I saw Marilyn walking across the plaza into the new library. I was just overcome by a sense of ‘I am home, these are my people,’” Mobedshahi said.

Kimura's warmth not only infused the library, but also the programs she founded, such as the Lit Club program, a weekly book club built into the schedules of the lower and middle school where students can develop their analytical reading skills through discussion.

Molly S. ’26 met Marilyn in kindergarten and remembers spending hours in the library. For her, Lit Club was an opportunity to share her love for reading with her peers.

“When I read a book, I often find myself wanting to talk about it. For example, I really enjoy science fiction, and it was so great to get to discuss the possibilities of what could happen,” Molly said.

Tiegel also remembers Kimura's unwavering mission to bring out the best in every student and appreciate them as unique individuals.

“I love that she knows each child so well and is always thinking about their best selves,” Tiegel said. “Over the years I had lots and lots of discussions with her about children. She's so patient. She just sees each person individually and she helps all of us do that as well.”

Across from the entrance to Nueva, Jackson L. ’25 welcomed freshman Jaisimh R. to his barbershop: Landing Green Park. Spring had finally sprung, and the weather was finally good enough for Jaisimh to get his fade and undercut in Lee’s outdoor shop, on Kyne Street, facing the school.

A crowd of students coalesced, phones and camera apps out, as Jackson draped his black-and-white apron cape ($9.99 from Amazon) around Ramanan’s neck.

“The first haircut is free,” Jackson explained, clippers in hand as he lined-up Jaisimh fade. “After that, it’s $15.”

Charging for haircuts is new for Jackson— in fact, it took him seven months of “cutting missing chunks” from his own head before he had the confidence to give someone else a cut.

Jackson began haircutting during the pandemic out of necessity; the barbershops and hair salons in San Francisco that offered a good quality fade or taper were either shut down or too expensive for his allowance to cover. So he bought a $20 kit off Amazon, filled with what he thought were all the tools he needed, and set up to give himself his first self-cut fade.

The result? Well, Jackson never got around to finishing the cut, calling it quits after he had pulled his skin line—the point in which the undercut meets the fade—to the near top of his head.

“I didn’t leave the house until it grew out,” he said. “After that, I knew I had to come up with a new game plan. It was a little bit better. I wanted to keep the skin line as low as possible.”

Over the next few months, Jackson cut his hair as frequently as he could. He watched YouTube videos on the “top TEN most FREQUENT mistakes beginners MAKE,” and tutorials on how to give a proper fade. Eventually, Jackson started to see a difference. So he offered his skills to others.

STORY Samara B.