Foreign Language

Elsa Williamson, Language Coordinator

Elsa has worked with students in grades K-5 since 2000, teaching second through fifth grade for six of those years in private centers. She has also tutored high school foreign language students at several private schools. She has a B.A. in English literature from California State University, Northridge and has completed graduate studies in linguistics. 

While Elsa was born in California, her family is native to El Salvador. Elsa lives in Castaic with her husband of four years and their one year old son. She works to inspire all of her students with her passion for literature and education. She can be reached at elsa.williamson@scvcharterschool.org.

Marlene Flores, Spanish Language Facilitator
This is Marlene's third year with SCVi and her second teaching Spanish to our learners. "I also have the benefit of working one-on-one with an ambitious second grader" she says. "It brings me a lot of satisfaction watching her grow and learn throughout the year."

Marlene is currently attending Pierce College and will soon transfer to CSUN, where she will continue to pursue her child development degree.

When she's not at SCVi, Marlene enjoys spending time with family and being active - boogie boarding in Newport Beach, snowboarding, hiking, and traveling. In addition, she enjoys watching sports like basketball and football with her husband and occasionally attending Dodgers and Lakers games. "I am thrilled to teach Spanish to our bright learners and look forward to having another great year", she says.

Sarah Galemmo, Chinese Language Facilitator
Mrs. Sarah Galemmo graduated from FuZhou University in China, and she received a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. Mrs. Galemmo had been teaching in college for nine years. Currently she is teaching Chinese in grades 7 through 10. She also teaches Chinese in Santa Clarita Valley Chinese School.

Mrs. Galemmo came to United States in 1995, and two years later she got married, and now she lives in Stevenson Ranch with her husband and two beautiful children: daughter Amanda at age 13 and son Nicholas at age 10. Mrs. Galemmo is passionate about teaching, and she is very excited to start her 2^nd year teaching at SCVi. Mrs. Galemmo loves children, and she enjoys teaching the kids in SCVi.

Sonia Kurfess, Foreign Language Facilitator

Sonia Kurfess is honored to join the SCVi team!  Sonia is currently teaching Spanish language and culture to multiple grades and facilitating learners out on the yard.  She has worked with children and adolescents in the educational setting for over 10 years.  From 2005 to 2009, she taught Special Education students with emotional disturbance and Autism at the high school level.