OUR TEAM
The SF SAPS team is a group of passionate high school students dedicated to helping middle school students succeed inside the classroom and outside of it. With 1,000+ hours of combined experience teaching, tutoring, and coaching, our team knows how to create a safe environment where students feel comfortable and empowered to cultivate new skills. Read our parent testimonials and bios to learn more about us!
JUSTIN YIP
Founder | Executive Director
Justin Yip is in the Class of 2023 at Lick-Wilmerding High School. He is passionate about Public Speaking and Debate and has 7+ years of speech and debate training with the League of Creative Minds (LCM). Justin regularly moderates middle school debates for the LCM and teaches classes about diplomacy and debate tactics for their summer camp. He co-leads Lick's Applied AI and Ethics club and AIF (men of color affinity space on campus). During the summer of 2021, he created and taught an SF SAPS summer camp, formerly known as Debate Masters, through his local recreation department. Outside of speech and debate, he enjoys playing soccer, cooking, reading, and working on his podcast "Addressing America's Addiction".
CECI RODRIGUEZ
Director of Operations
Ceci Rodriguez is in the class of 2023 at Lick-Wilmerding High School. She is passionate about public speaking and civic engagement. Ceci currently serves as the Community Programs Director of San Francisco Ignite Leadership in Youth and teaches middle schoolers about civic issues and helps them practice self-advocacy, critical thinking, and public speaking. She works with Independent Futbol Club and coaches soccer for low-income and underprivileged youth in San Francisco. At school, Ceci started Science Cafe (a science tutoring service), is a member of ASIA Club, Girls in Tech Club, Latinos Unidos Club, and plays varsity soccer. Outside of school, she enjoys running, playing soccer, reading, and hanging out with her dog Lola.
HARUTO UESUGI
Director of Outreach
Haruto Uesugi is in the Class of 2023 at Lick-Wilmerding High School. He is currently working as the Treasurer for his school's ASIA Club (AAPI Students In Alliance) and was formerly the Outreach Coordinator. Haruto has a passion for working with children: as he has Peer Tutored at Convent and Stuart Hall’s Heart to Heart Program and has multiple years of experience coaching with the SF United FC Foundation. In his free time, Haruto enjoys running, playing soccer and the piano, reading, drawing, and more.
SOFIA STEIN
Director of Finance
Sofia Stein is in the class of 2023 at Lick-Wilmerding High School. She is passionate about fashion, business, and computer science. In school, Sofia combines these passions by leading the Girls in Tech Club and Sustainable Fashion Club and managing Lick-Wilmerding's Student Council budget as Treasurer. She currently tutors middle school students in both the LWHS Community Tutoring program and the Chinese International School After School program. Outside of school, she founded and runs her sustainable thrifted clothing business called Found & Flipped which currently has almost 16k followers on Instagram! In her free time, she loves to draw, sew, manage her small business, and run cross country.
