K-12 Tuition Free Public School
Meet the Facilitators
Kim Adam, SCVi Arts Director
Kim Adam is a multimedium artist and parent of a sixth grader at SCVi. Last year Kim started a visual arts program at the school and is looking forward to expanding the program. Kim is also one of our staff who has begun her International Baccalaureate training and will be bring that expertise to the classroom.
Kim currently lives in Santa Clarita Valley with her husband and 2 kids. After leaving a 13-year career in consulting that specialized in coastal zone development and management to be a full-time mother, she began sculpting and painting murals as a way to maintain sanity in her life. During the last 10 years, she has expanded and practiced her talents taking classes at the Worchester Crafts Museum in Massachusetts and informally studying artists from both the East and West coasts. She has also been sharing her passion for art over the past 4 years teaching kids in southern California, stressing the ideals that art is fun and there are no mistakes in art, as well as introducing kids to classic art genres using contemporary artists working today.
Kim is also involved in many of Santa Clarita's many arts organizations, including the Santa Clarita Arts Association and the city's Arts Commission as a member of its ad hoc Committee on Education. She can be reached at kim.adam@scvcharterschool.org
Staci Hammerschmitt, K-1 Community Facilitator & Operations Coordinator
Staci is entering her sixth year of teaching—and her second at SCVi. She comes to us from Our Community Charter School in North Hills, whose philosophy is similar to SCVi’s. She has taught kindergarten, first grade, and second grade.
Staci earned her bachelor’s degree in child development and her teaching credential from California State University, Northridge. She is currently attending California State University, Bakersfield, and working towards a master’s degree in educational administration. Throughout her years at Our Community School, Staci was trained in Responsive Classrooms, Schools Attuned, Critical Friends Group, and Singapore math.
Staci has lived in the Santa Clarita Valley her whole life, and she is the fifth generation of her family to live in Santa Clarita. In her free time, she enjoys running, swimming, bicycling, and hanging out with her husband. She is passionate about charter schools and educational reform. Staci is ecstatic to be a part of the SCVi family and looks forward to creating a classroom environment where students feel excited and empowered to learn. She can be reached at staci.hammerschmitt@scvcharterschool.org.
Jennifer Donovan Williams, K-1 Community Facilitator
Jenny is a returning SCVi teacher who has taught both kindergarten and first grade at SCVi and is now excited to teach both as part of our new K-1 Community. Jenny came to us from the Palmdale School District, where she taught kindergarten for 2 years.
Jenny earned her bachelor of arts in liberal studies from California State University, Northridge, and her credential is from California State University, Bakersfield. She also attended the University of New Hampshire as part of the National Student Exchange program. Throughout college, Jenny was active in volunteering in programs working with children. While at the University of New Hampshire, she volunteered at the Saint Charles Children’s Home. Not only throughout college, but also throughout her teaching career, Jenny has established volunteer tutoring programs.
Jenny is passionate in her love of learning and teaching. She is very excited to be a part of the Santa Clarita Valley International Charter School team. Jenny is also very proud and excited to be working with her mom at SCVi. She can be reached at jenny.williams@scvcharterschool.org.
Kimberli Lengning, K-1 Community Facilitator
Kimberli comes to SCVi with passion, dedication, and commitment to education. She has 16 years of classroom experience and considers teaching to be her life’s work. As a reading specialist, Kimberli has developed remedial reading programs for at-risk students and works for Chapman University as an instructor for the teacher credential program.
Kimberli has been married for 30 years and has 2 sons—a game warden and a teacher (at SCVi!). Her many interests include reading, writing, hiking, animals, and, of course, teaching. She can be reached at kimberli.lengning@scvcharterschool.org.
Aimee Curtis, K-1 Community Facilitator
Aimee was born and raised in San Diego. She knew she wanted to be a teacher from a very young age. She would spend her afternoons teaching all her stuffed animals the ABCs and 123s. Aimee comes to SCVi with more than 10 years of teaching experience. She started her teaching career as a K-1 teacher at Turning Point School in Culver City. Turning Point is a private school with a project-based philosophy much like SCVi's. Aimee and her husband moved to Santa Clarita when they decided to start a family. She now has two beautiful daughters, ages 5 and 3. When Aimee is not in the classroom, she is busy spending time with her family, running, crafting, and enjoying life. After moving to the Santa Clarita Valley in 2004, she continued to teach at local private schools in second, third, and fifth grades. She started out as a substitute for SCVi last year and is beyond excited to be a part of the SCVi team as a full-time facilitator.
Aimee received her BA from Chico State in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in child development. She has an MA in education from Pepperdine University. She can be reached at aimee.curtis@scvcharterschool.org.
Ana Donovan, 2nd Grade Facilitator
Ana is a returning teacher at SCVi who came to us from the Keppel School District. She is a graduate of Chapman University and is currently working on a master’s degree in education.
Ana is the mother of 2. She has always been actively involved in her children’s education, and she is excited to be part of the SCVi team. She can be reached at ana.donovan@scvcharterschool.org.
Linda Krystek, 2nd Grade Facilitator & Curriculum Instructional Specialist
Linda is excited to be starting her thirteenth year of teaching. Two years ago, she returned to the state where her teaching career began—and came to work for SCVi. After teaching kindergarten in California, she had moved to Texas and Colorado, where she taught kindergarten, first, and third grades. Linda’s true passion is teaching in the primary grades, where she can witness those magical moments of awakening in reading, writing, and math.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Redlands, Linda enrolled in a master’s of education program at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. She also obtained a gifted and talented certification in addition to participating in numerous hours of professional development to continue to grow as a teacher.
Linda is a lifelong learner and is passionate about developing a love of learning in each of her students. Her desire is that students would grow academically, socially, and emotionally in a caring and stimulating environment that is responsive to their diverse needs.
During her free time, Linda can be found hiking, working in her garden, reading, or spending time with her husband and children. She is thrilled to be a part of the SCVi team and looks forward to the opportunity to help make the school’s vision a reality. She can be reached at linda.krystek@scvcharterschool.org.
Jennifer Doiron, 3rd Grade Facilitator
Jennifer has been teaching for over 6 years. She entered the education field first as a substitute teacher for grades K-8, special education, and the juvenile court system. The following year, Jennifer worked as a full-time Resource Specialist Program (RSP) teacher. When a fourth grade teaching opportunity presented itself in 2004, Jennifer eagerly accepted, and she has continued teaching ever since.
In 1999, Jennifer earned a bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. She later obtained her multiple subject teaching credential from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California. Jennifer also has her master’s degree in education. In Jennifer’s experience, both colleges promoted and used project-based learning, teams, portfolios, and reflection in the heart of their curriculum. It is this kind of program that Jennifer enjoys presenting to her own students because it creates learning moments that are long-term, student-centered, and interesting for a wide range of students.
It is SCVi’s emphasis on project-based learning and innovative style that attracted Jennifer, and she is looking forward to another year as part of an inspirational team of educators. She can be reached at jennifer.doiron@scvcharterschool.org.
Marla Jensen, 3rd Grade Facilitator
Marla is ecstatic to begin her first year of teaching at SCVi. Born and raised in the Santa Clarita Valley, Marla knew she wanted to be a teacher very early on and strived to fulfill her dreams. Marla received her bachelor's degree in liberal studies and her multiple subject teaching credential from Loyola Marymount University. She spent her first year out of college substituting and tutoring, which allowed her to eventually stumble upon SCVi. Marla knows that every learner is different, and she strives to meet each learner's needs. She has a true love and passion for education.
During her spare time, Marla loves to keep busy and active. If she is not teaching swim lessons, biking along the beach, or practicing yoga, she is searching for her future home on HGTV's House Hunters International show. In the winter months, Marla loves to escape to Lake Tahoe and spend hours snowboarding across Heavenly Valley. She hopes to bring her own love for exercise and the outdoors to your learner. She can be reached at marla.jensen@scvcharterschool.org.
Tina Navarro, 4th Grade Facilitator
Tina is very excited to start her second year of teaching at SCVi. She grew up in Santa Clarita Valley, constantly involved in sports and graduating high school as a 4-year basketball player. She has worked with children from the ages of 3 months to 14 years for the past 7 years as a health club’s child center supervisor. During this time, she organized field trips and extracurricular activities, developed childcare programs, organized summer camps, and coordinated birthday parties. She graduated from California State University, Northridge, where she received her multiple subject teaching credential, and a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies with a concentration in Chicano studies. She considers herself fortunate to have been placed at SCVi for her second semester student teaching experience and to have found a school whose philosophies, values, and ideas coincide with her own.
Tina is very passionate about physical fitness and providing students with opportunities to be healthy and active. In her free time, she can be found running on the streets of Santa Clarita and spending time with her friends and family. She is thrilled, eager, and honored to begin this second year as part of a wonderful team of educators who are committed to making the learning experience for students worthwhile! She can be reached at tina.navarro@scvcharterschool.org.
Christine Orth, 4th Grade Facilitator
Christine is a returning founding staff member. She is very excited to be teaching at SCVi again because she loves the philosophy and family atmosphere of the school.
Christine has 10 years of experience working with children. She holds a black belt in tae kwon do and spent her teenage years as a martial arts instructor, teaching students from ages 3 to adult. It was during this time that she decided to become a teacher. Christine never gets tired of witnessing her students working hard to reach their goals and feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment.
After graduating from Saugus High School, Christine enrolled in the Integrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP) at California State University, Northridge. She graduated with a bachelor of arts in liberal studies with a concentration in language and diversity and her multiple subject teaching credential simultaneously. Christine feels that her experience was extremely worthwhile at CSUN, where she learned of the importance and effectiveness of project-based learning and interdisciplinary projects.
In her spare time, Christine enjoys seeing good movies, listening to catchy music, going to museums and educational sites, and spending time with her closest friends and family. She is learning how to cook as many delicious things as possible and has a newfound love for traveling to exotic and beautiful places. She can be reached at christine.orth@scvcharterschool.org.
Joanne Hwang, 5th Grade Facilitator
Joanne is excited to join the SCVi family this year. She began her teaching career at Our Community Charter School in North Hills where she taught fourth grade.
Joanne’s passion for education began in high school, when she worked with disadvantaged children through the Red Cross and the Boys and Girls Club. After graduating from Saugus High School, Joanne enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania, where she continued to explore her interest in education as an undergraduate student. During college, Joanne worked as a teacher’s aide in low-income schools around west Pennsylvania and studied at UPenn’s School of Education. She was able to observe firsthand the lasting impact of learning on children’s lives. It soon became clear that Joanne was destined to teach. In 2009, she enrolled in Stanford University’s School of Education and graduated with a master’s degree.
Outside of teaching, Joanne enjoys playing guitar, hiking, and spending time with her family. She is truly excited to be joining the SCVi team and looks forward to a successful school year. She can be reached at joanne.hwang@scvcharterschool.org.
Allison O’Hare, 5th Grade Facilitator
Allison and her husband recently moved here from Berkeley, California, where she had taught sixth grade for 2 years at King Middle School. Prior to that, she taught sixth grade in Ventura County.
Born and raised in Santa Clarita, she is very excited to be returning to teach in the area where she went to school. She graduated from Valencia High School, where she played softball for four years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, Bakersfield, in 2005 and her multiple subject teaching credential from the same school in 2006. She can be reached at allison.ohare@scvcharterschool.org.
Dustin Lengning, 6th Grade Facilitator
Dustin, or “Mr. L,” as many learners refer to him, has a love for education, sports, and becoming submerged in projects (a fact he learned here at SCVi). He received his bachelor’s degree in social sciences with an emphasis in psychology from Chapman University in Orange, California. He continued his education through Chapman to receive his teaching credential and is currently 2 classes from earning a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in curriculum and design.
Being a hands-on learner himself, Dustin knows the positive results that occur when an instructor allows learners to discover their own education through projects. Not only is it the discovery of education but it is also a love for learning that last throughout one’s life. He is proud to have been given the opportunity to be a part of SCVi’s team. He firmly believes in the philosophy of education by which the school serves, and he hopes to instill the love for knowledge in all of his students. He can be reached at dustin.lengning@scvcharterschool.org.
Keith Faulkner, 6th Grade Facilitator
Keith is entering his seventh year in the teaching profession. He received his bachelor of arts in history from the California State University, San Bernardino, and obtained his teaching credential through Chapman University. He is married and has one daughter.
Keith set out on his teaching journey intending to teach at the college level. After substitute teaching in middle school and primary grades, Keith discovered this is where he could make a difference. Keith has a passion for history. As a Civil War reenactor, he found that living history was the ultimate way to learn about history.
Keith is currently working on his master’s degree in educational leadership through Chapman University. He is thrilled to have the opportunity to help the students of SCVi to reach their full potential. He can be reached at keith.faulkner@scvcharterschool.org.
Elizabeth Rydall, 6th Grade Facilitator
In first grade, Elizabeth attended a one-room schoolhouse located in the cornfields of Minnesota. It was a wonderful experience, and she appreciates the love of learning that was instilled in this small setting. It is her goal to continue that learning with the students of SCVi.
"Ms. E," as she is called by her students, has been teaching one thing or another for more than 20 years. First, in college at Moorhead State University in Minnesota, she danced professionally and taught dance. Then, after several years in Hollywood as an actor, she became a member of the teaching staff at Playhouse West. Acting also afforded her the privilege of working in film, television, theater, and commercials, and acting live in educational role-plays for large corporations, such as Disney, ABC Television, and American Express. When her children came along, Elizabeth decided to stay home and began teaching homeschool classes as well as painting murals for businesses and families. She became a teacher for Gorman Learning Center as well as the director of art and performing arts at Huckleberry Center for Creative Learning.
Presently, Elizabeth is studying for her master's degree in education and enjoying her new position as a sixth grade teacher of language arts and drama at SCVi. Her children attend AOC and SCVi and are the loves of her life, along with her husband, who is a published author and screenwriter (you may have seen his recent movie Beethoven's Big Break).
Lynn Ryan, 7th Grade Facilitator
Lynn is entering her second year of teaching at SCVi. Three years ago, she moved to California and went to work for the Ninth Grade Academy at James Monroe High School. She partnered with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, Planet Green, and Friends of Ballona Wetlands to provide project-based, relevant learning experiences for students. Additionally, she worked as the school’s science instructional coach, a position in which she developed meaningful instructional programs and personalized activities for students and their families.
Lynn began her teaching career 10 years ago at Baker Middle School in Tacoma, Washington. There, she taught seventh and eighth grade science before moving to a multiage, self-contained gifted program, where she taught all subjects to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders through a project-based learning curriculum she developed. She chose teaching because she wanted to give back to the community and thought it was a good way to make a difference. Plus, she loves working with kids.
At SCVi, she loves the freedom of choice and the ability to design learning opportunities that are meaningful for her students. While state standards are important, Lynn likes to focus on critical thinking and problem solving in the classroom.
April Meraz, 7th Grade Facilitator
April is entering her fifth year of teaching and her first year at SCVi. She comes to us from Castaic Union School District, where she taught at both the elementary and middle school levels. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, Northridge, and her teaching credential from National University. She is currently working on her master’s in education with an emphasis in cross-cultural teaching.
April believes in facilitating hands-on, engaging learning experiences that impact the whole child, including academic, social, and emotional development. She is committed to individualizing education and does not believe in a one-size-fits-all model. She is a dedicated teacher, with high enthusiasm and passion for creating a learning environment where all children can feel valued and successful.
In her spare time, April enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family. She also enjoys attending Dodger games during baseball season and going to the lake as often as possible in the summer. She is looking forward to a wonderful school year and can be reached at april.meraz@scvcharterschool.org.
Tim Alves, 7th Grade Facilitator
Tim comes to SCVi with four years of teaching experience. He has taught seventh and eighth grade math, history, and science for Keppel Union School District. Additionally, Tim spent a year volunteering through Harvard University's WorldTeach program to teach English as a foreign language on a tiny island in the Marshall Islands.
Tim earned his bachelor's degree and teaching credential through California State University, Chico. He is currently working on his master's degree in teaching through USC. He can be reached at tim.alves@scvcharterschool.org.
Dan Molik, 8th and 9th Grade Facilitator
Dan is starting his tenth year as a teacher and his second year at SCVi. Prior to becoming a teacher, Dan served for 4 years in the Air Force at Edwards, California, and 9 years with Northrop Grumman B-2 Flight Test Program. After earning his bachelor's degree in environmental chemistry from CSUN, he worked for 3 years with U.S. Borax at Boron, Valencia, and Wilmington, California.
Married, with 3 sons currently aged 12, 13, and 15, Dan left the corporate world to become more involved with his children’s education. He received a multiple subject and a single subject teaching credential (chemistry, of course!) from CSUB. Dan firmly believes that differentiation of the core curriculum is the key to student success. Over the past 8 years, he has taught RSP, ELL, and GATE students in grades 3 through 8. Most recently, for 3 years, he has taught algebra and physical science in eighth grade and an after-school science enrichment program for grades 4 and 5.
Dan sees technology as a way to reach students resistant to traditional teaching methods. He has attended the NECC, CAG, and CUE conferences for many years and has provided technology mentoring for fellow teachers.
Dan's enthusiasm for science education stems from his desire to explore, understand, and preserve the natural world we all share. He grew up in rural southern Illinois and still spends summers there with his family. He seeks to convey his excitement for learning to his students, that they may view science not as a subject to be learned in school but rather as a tool to answer their own questions as they explore and learn about their ever-changing world. He can be reached at dan.molik@scvcharterschool.org.
Lauren Jenkins, 8th and 9th Grade Facilitator
Lauren is new to the SCVi team and will be our eighth and ninth grade history facilitator this year. Lauren earned her bachelor of arts degree in history at California State University, Chico, and her single subject teaching credential through California State University, Bakersfield.
After spending time as a substitute teacher and a middle school history teacher at multiple grade levels, Lauren came to SCVi because she realized she could really make history come alive for learners here. Teaching is her passion, with history coming in at a close second. She can be reached at lauren.jenkins@scvcharterschool.org.
Cheryl A. Sena, 8th and 9th Grade Facilitator
Cheryl is a working mom who rejoined the teaching profession after an 8t-year break to apply her educational experience firsthand as a stay-at-home mom. Cheryl hails from the East Coast. She earned her bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and her master’s degree in English literature from Hofstra University in New York. By a stroke of luck, Cheryl was recruited to work at Cal State Los Angeles 19 years ago, and it was there that she realized her passion for teaching. While working in the housing department, she earned her teaching credential. From 1995-1999, Cheryl taught language arts, English language development, and technology classes at Temple Intermediate School in Rosemead.
Prior to finding SCVi, Cheryl was concerned that all the fun had been taken out of learning, because she’s not a “teach to the test” kind of gal. Trained in cooperative learning techniques as well as being a participant of the California Literature Project, Cheryl believes that students learn better how to effectively communicate in English when they are engaged in projects that utilize the skills they are required to learn. Cheryl looks forward to working with this year’s staff and students to develop more engaging and worthwhile projects.
Cheryl is married to Peter Cario, whom she met at Hofstra and convinced to move to begin their lives’ journey. They have 2 daughters, Gabby and Bella, who both attend SCVi. Cheryl is an avid reader who discovered the Harry Potter books way before they became cool. Give her a good science-fiction or fantasy story, a comfy chair, and a glass of iced tea and, well, let’s just say that’s Cheryl’s idea of the perfect afternoon. One of her unrealized goals is to publish a book before she turns 100! She can be reached at cheryl.sena@scvcharterschool.org.
Allison West, 8th and 9th Grade Facilitator
Allison decided to start teaching after graduating from UCLA with a degree in mathematics-economics. She wanted to inspire students to enjoy math through gaining a deeper understanding of its many applications.
After teaching for 2 years at James Monroe High School and completing her credential, she decided to follow her passion for travel and move to a small town in the south of Spain. She worked with Virgen de la Caridad Secondary School, team-teaching and developing their bilingual program.
Allison is thrilled to be back in the United States and begin her first year at SCVi. She is looking forward to working with a passionate, innovative community focused on empowering students. She can be reached at allison.west@scvcharterschool.org.
