Faculty and Staff
4Senior Administration
Peter Reinke
HEAD OF SCHOOL
213-382-2315 ext. 222
preinke@SJSLA.org
B.A., History — Brown University (Providence, RI)
M.A., Education Leadership — Columbia University (New York, NY)
Peter Reinke Biography
Elizabeth Desmarais
ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL
213-382-2315 ext. 276
edesmarais@sjsla.org
B.A., Elementary Education with English concentration — Rhode Island College (Providence) M.S., Administration — Pepperdine University
Clear California Teaching Credential
Elizabeth Desmarais Biography
Emmy Gilliam
INTERIM DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS AND DEAN OF STUDENTS
213-382-2315 ext. 223
egilliam@sjsla.org
B.A., English — University of Southern California
M.Ed., Education — UCLA
M.S. Leadership in Pre K - 12 Education — Pepperdine University
Emmy Gilliam Biography
Pat Joseph Thomas, Ph.D.
DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
213-382-2315 ext. 284
pthomas@sjsla.org
B.A., Human Development — Pacific Oaks College
M.S., Community Counseling and Family Studies — Springfield College
Ph.D., Child and Family Studies — Branston University
Pat Joseph Thomas, Ph.D. Biography
The Rev. Canon Aidan Koh
CHAPLAIN
213-382-2315 ext. 250
akoh@sjsla.org
B.A., Theology — Hankook Theological College
M.Div. — Hanshin Theological Seminary
The Rev Canon Aidan Koh Biography
Rochelle Rosel
CO-DIRECTOR PRESCHOOL
213-382-2315 ext. 113
rrosel@sjsla.org
A.A., Child Development — Los Angeles Valley Community College
B.A., Child and Adolescent Development — CSUN
M.A., Human Development with specialization in Leadership in Education and Social Service — Pacific Oaks College
Rochelle Rosel Biography
Amy Schlecter
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
213-382-2315 ext. 303
aschlecter@sjsla.org
B.A., Political Science, Chinese Literature & Language — University of California - Berkeley
M.B.A., Business — University of Michigan, Ross School of Business
Amy Schlecter Biography
Faculty & Staff
Al Alvarado
SCHOOL CUSTODIAN
Photo coming soon!
213-382-2315 ext. 275
aalvarado@sjsla.org
Erika Alvarado
PRESCHOOL TEACHER – BUTTERFLIES
213-382-2315 ext. 114
ealvarado@sjsla.org
B.A., Child Development — Mount St. Mary’s Univ.
Child Development Program Supervisor & Master Teacher Permit — California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
Julie Amaya
PRESCHOOL TEACHER - DOLPHINS
213-382-2315 ext. 112
jamaya@sjsla.org
B.A., Studio Arts – California State University, Los Angeles
Child Development Teacher Permit - Commission on Teacher Credentialing
Certificate of Achievement in Preschool Associate Teacher - L.A. Trade Technical Community College
Ana Araya
COURTESY GUARD
213-382-2315 ext. 300
aaraya@sjsla.org
Kim Baudoin
KRP TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 325
kbaudoin@sjsla.org
Luisa Cartagena
KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 279
lcartagena@sjsla.org
B.M., Professional Music - Berklee College of Music
M.M., Music Education - University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Kelli Chau
KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 314
kchau@sjsla.org
B.A., Early Childhood Education — Pacific Oaks College
M.A., Education - Pacific Oaks College
Google-Certified Educator
California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
Erica Clare
KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 111
eclare@sjsla.org
B.A., Theater Arts - City University of New York
M.S., Primary Education - Cal State Los Angeles
Certificate - Site Supervisor Permit
Jonathan Dar
SIXTH GRADE TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 240
jdar@sjsla.org
B.A., History — UCLA
M.A., History — UCLA
M.A., Education and Educational Administration — CSUN
California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (K–6)
California Foundational Mathematics Teaching Credential (K–10)
California School Administration Credential (Tier 1)
Michelle Deiotte
PRESCHOOL TEACHER – BUTTERFLIES
213-382-2315 ext. 283
mdeiotte@sjsla.org
Child Development — Pasadena City College
Melissa De Guzman
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO HEAD OF SCHOOL AND TITLE IX COORDINATOR
213-382-2315 ext. 285
mdeguzman@sjsla.org
A.S., Healthcare Administration — West Coast University
B.A., Healthcare Administration — West Coast University
M.A., Healthcare Administration — West Coast University
Karen De Vore
PRESCHOOL TEACHER - BUTTERFLIES
213-382-2315 ext. 324
kdevore@sjsla.org
A.A., Early Childhood Education - Santa Monica College
B.A., Human Development - Pacific Oaks College
Master Teacher Credential - Santa Monica College
Catherine Diaz
SPANISH TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 224
cdiaz@sjsla.org
B.A., Spanish - UCLA
M.A., Administrative Leadership - Cal State Los Angeles
National Board Credentialed Teacher
Bilingual Certificate (USC)
Nick DiPasquale
PHYSICAL EDUCATION & HEALTH TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 251
ndipasquale@sjsla.org
B.A., Political Science — University of Southern California
Brian Duggan
FOURTH GRADE TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 248
bduggan@sjsla.org
B.A., History — Georgetown Univ. (Washington, D.C.)
Neilah Fleisher
KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 315
nfleisher@sjsla.org
B.A., Literary Criticism — Gallatin School of Individualized Study, New York Univ.
Sean Fleming
PLAYGROUND TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 316
sfleming@sjsla.org
A.A., English/Creative Writing – American River College (Folsom Lake)
B.A., English – California State University - Sacramento
Josh Friedman
ART TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 239
jfriedman@sjsla.org
B.A., Studio Art — Goucher College (Baltimore, Md.)
M.F.A., Ceramics/Mixed Media — Cranbrook Academy of Art (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.)
Certificate — La Sorbonne (Paris, France)
Chenelle Geoffroy-Lindsey
PHYSICAL EDUCATION & HEALTH TEACHER
DIVERSITY COORDINATOR
213-382-2315 ext. 257
cgeoffroylindsey@sjsla.org
B.S., Exercise Science & Nutrition – Queens College (Flushing, N.Y.)
M.S., Exercise Physiology – Brooklyn College (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Nicéfero Guzman
FACILITIES ASSISTANT
213-382-2315 ext. 275
nguzman@sjsla.org
Nicole Hamilton
SECOND GRADE TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 319
nhamilton@sjsla.org
B.A., Ethics, History, and Public Policy — Carnegie Mellon Univ. (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Alenoosh Hartouni
PRESCHOOL TEACHER – BUTTERFLIES
213-382-2315 ext. 328
ahartouni@sjsla.org
A.S. Child Development, Glendale Community College
Ed Hermeno
K-6 MATH STRATEGIST
213-382-2315 ext. 242
ehermeno@sjsla.org
B.S., Environmental Engineering with English Literature minor – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge)
M.S., Environmental Engineering – UC - Berkeley
M.A., Education – Loyola Marymount
California Single Subject Teaching Credential, Mathematics – Loyola Marymount
Maritza Jimenez
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER
213-382-2315 ext. 304
mjimenez@sjsla.org
B.A., Latin American Studies —UCLA
Christine Kasem
ASSISTANT TO ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL/FAMILY RELATIONS ASSOCIATE
213-382-2315 ext. 249
ckasem@sjsla.org
B.S., Human Services – University of Phoenix
Robert Krueger
FIFTH GRADE TEACHER/CO-DIRECTOR OF SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM
213-382-2315 ext. 244
rkrueger@sjsla.org
B.S., Elementary Education — Abilene Christian University (Abilene, Texas)
Alice Kuramoto
THIRD GRADE TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 245
akuramoto@sjsla.org
B.A., Home Economics — Cal State L.A.
M. Ed. Curriculum & Instruction - Concordia University
Alexa Laffen
SECOND GRADE TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 234
alaffen@sjsla.org
B.A., Global Studies with Italian minor — UC - Santa Barbara
M.Ed. – UC - Santa Barbara
California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential — UC - Santa Barbara
Kathleen Lalap
HEAD OF SCHOOL OFFICE ASSISTANT/FAMILY RELATIONS ASSOCIATE
213-382-2315 ext. 278
klalap@sjsla.org
Mei-Ling Leonard
FIRST GRADE TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 237
mleonard@sjsla.org
B.A., Theater with Education minor — Swarthmore College (Swarthmore, Penn.)
M.F.A., Theater Management — Wayne State Univ. (Detroit, Mich.)
Eura Lim
SECOND GRADE TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 247
elim@sjsla.org
B.A., Liberal Studies — CSUN
California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential — CSUN
Wendy Mares Sixtos
ASSOCIATE TEACHER - KINDERGARTEN
213-382-2315
wmares@sjsla.org
B.A., Liberal Studies - California State University Long Beach
Multiple Subject Credential - California State University Long Beach
Ashlee Morales
THIRD GRADE TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 322
amorales@sjsla.org
B.A., Liberal Studies - California State University Northridge
California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential - California State University Northridge
Christina Olague
LIBRARIAN
213-382-2315 ext. 274
colague@sjsla.org
B.A., English Single Subject Teaching Option – Cal State - LA
M.L.I.S. – UCLA
Karen Oquendo
LEARNING SPECIALIST
213-382-2315 ext. 280
koquendo@sjsla.org
B.A., Psychology — St. Francis College (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
M.S., Education — Brooklyn College (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Erik Orozco
FACILITIES ASSISTANT
213-382-2315 ext. 275
eorozco@sjsla.org
Eileen Payoyo
CURRICULUM SPECIALIST
213-382-2315 ext. 231
epayoyo@sjsla.org
B.A., English - University of California Irvine
M.A., Education - National University
Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential
Sujatha Periasamy
ACCOUNTING MANAGER
213-382-2315 ext. 301
speriasamy@sjsla.org
M.Com., Accounting — Madras Univ. (Chennai, India)
Lauren Reynoso
SECOND GRADE TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 321
lreynoso@sjsla.org
B.A., Art & Technology — Cal State San Marcos
Dionne Riddle
ADMISSIONS ASSOCIATE/REGISTRAR
213-382-2315 ext. 255
driddle@sjsla.org
Pacific Oaks College
Theppong Sae-Low
THIRD GRADE TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 246
tsaelow@sjsla.org
B.A., History with Teacher Education Program minor — UCSD
California Single Subject Teaching Credential, Social Science — Cal State LA
Ashley Samuels
SIXTH GRADE TEACHER/CO-DIRECTOR OF SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM
213-382-2315 ext. 323
asamuels@sjsla.org
B.S., Elementary Education West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Christine San-Cobb
PRESCHOOL TEACHER - DOLPHINS
213-382-2315 ext. 302
csancobb@sjsla.org
Dr. Bryan Sanders
ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST
213-382-2315 ext. 272
bsanders@sjsla.org
B.A., Literature - UC Santa Cruz
M.A., Education - Loyola Marymount University
Education Leadership for Social Justice - Loyola Marymount University
CA State Teaching Credential
National Board Certified Teacher
Rebecca Sarver
KRP TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 329
rsarver@sjsla.org
Yesi Urrea Castro
PRESCHOOL TEACHER – KRP
213-382-2315 ext. 326
yurrea@sjsla.org
B.A., History with Classical Studies minor — Cal State - Long Beach
Daniel L. Trevizo
ADVANCEMENT OFFICE ASSISTANT/FAMILY RELATIONS ASSOCIATE
213-382-2315 ext. 306
dtrevizo@sjsla.org
Richard Yi
FIFTH GRADE TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 243
ryi@sjsla.org
B.A., Economics with Computer Science minor — Boston University
California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
Google-Certified Educator
A.A., Education – University of Phoenix
Chris Zapata
LEAD PLAYGROUND TEACHER
213-382-2315 ext. 313
czapata@sjsla.org