CHRIS RODENHIZER
Head of School
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BA in Art. California State University, Long Beach
Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, CSULB
MA, Education Administration. CSU, Dominguez Hills
Mr. Rodenhizer has been an educator for nearly 20 years, serving as teacher, writing coach, Title1 facilitator, assistant principal, and principal. He has taught graduate level courses to educators on school culture and instructional leadership, as well as collaborative and responsive leadership.

KALIM RAYBURN
Assistant Head/ Director of Admissions/Technology
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Kalim has a B.A. in Human Development from CSU-Long Beach, M.S. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from University of Wisconsin-Madison; multiple-subject teaching credential as well as Principal and Director of Instruction licensure. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree from the University of Southern California.

CHRISTINE DOWNIE
Director of Advancement
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Christine Downie holds a B.S. in Business Administration (International Business and Finance)  from California State University, Long Beach, a Fundraising Certificate from the University of Irvine and  received her Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) certification  in November 2008.    She started working at Westerly in 2002  as the Business/Development Office Assistant and in 2006 became the Director of Development.  In this position she oversees all aspects of fundraising and volunteering at Westerly including the Annual Fund, Annual Auction, Grants, and other funding opportunities. 

ANA JIMENEZ
Director of Finance & Operations
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Ana Jimenez earned her BA in Economics and Psychology from Yale University. Prior to joining the faculty and leadership team at Westerly as Director of Finance and Administration and Math T.A., Ana worked as a management consultant for Fortune 500 companies in vendor and facilities management, contract negotiations and program implementation.

SYLVIA FEDAK
Administrative/Admission Assistant
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BA General and Primary Education—California State University, Long Beach Administrative and Admission Assistant are matching hats worn by Mrs.Fedak who begins her eighth year in Westerly’s Main Office.

NICOLE BECKLEY
Assistant Director of Advancement
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Nicole began as an Office Assistant and has assisted in both Kindergarten and 2nd grades. Westerly has made great use of her excellent organizational and technical skills and her creative artistic talents. Nicole now works as an assistant to the Director of Advancement, Christine Downie.

LORELEI ESTRADA
Kindergarten
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BS Child Development--California State University, Fullerton
Multiple Subject Teaching Credential—California State University, Fullerton
Lorelei Estrada earned her BS in Child Development and Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from the California State University, Fullerton. This is her third year teaching Kindergarten at Westerly. Before joining the Westerly community Lorelei taught Kindergarten in the Hawthorne School District for eleven years. She believes that a safe and challenging learning environment encourages students to take the academic risks needed to become life-long learners. Her son also attends Westerly.

NANCY CHERIN
First Grade
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BA English Literature—University of Illinois
Mrs. Cherin taught at The Brentwood School in Los Angeles for 7 years and joined the Westerly faculty in the fall of 2004 to instruct our First Grade students.  Nancy has her California Credential in Early Education and is close to completing her Master’s Degree in Education.

NATALIE MORA
First Grade Teaching Assistant

 

PEDRO JIMENEZ
Second Grade
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B.A. in Psychology, University of CA Los Angeles
M.Ed. with emphasis on Cross Cultural Teaching, National University
Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, National University
Pedro Jimenez is in his fourth year as Second Grade teacher at Westerly, having previously taught K & 1st Grades at The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, CA.  Along with teaching responsibilities he enjoys assisting with educational technology and implementation of SMART software technology and assisting with the coaching of football and basketball teams.

IRMA HAMAYAN
Third Grade
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Irma Hamayan holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies-Education with an emphasis in Natural Sciences from California State University Long Beach, and is currently in the process of completing her Master’s in Education at National University. She has been part of the Westerly team for six years, has taught both second and third grades and serves as the librarian.

LAUREN TAKII
Fourth Grade
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BA Speech Communication—California State University, Long Beach
Mrs. Lauren Takii spent 4 years as a teaching assistant in both grades 4 and 5.  She now commences her 3rd year as our Fourth Grade Teacher.  Mrs. Takii has filled in as a substitute teacher in co-curricular areas at all levels and is the Student Council Faculty Advisor.  She has a multiple subject teaching credential and is pursuing a Masters of Education. 

 

GINA ASHWORTH
Fifth Grade
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BA Finance—Loyola Marymount University
Mrs. Ashworth brings with her a multiple subject teaching credential from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and twelve years teaching experience in both private and public school programs. Beginning her 4th year at Westerly, Mrs. Ashworth is a certified teacher and has teaching experience at the 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade levels. She has taught in the Los Angeles Unified School District. In addition to her skills as a classroom teacher, Mrs. Ashworth is an advocate of Outdoor Education and has coached and played volleyball, basketball, and softball.

Dr. Elizabeth Willis
Middle School Humanities / Eigth Grade Homeroom
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PhD in American History—University of Southern California
BA in Biology and History—Loyola Marymount University
MA in American History, University of Southern California
Gender Studies Certificate—University of Southern California
Dr. Willis has taught Social Studies grades 6-8 and developed American, World and Ancient history curricula.  She has been a research assistant and a teaching assistant at the university level and a visiting lecturer in the Department of History at Loyola Marymount College.  Dr. Willis is an enthusiastic educator with extensive experience teaching various age levels in a variety of subjects.

LAUREN PALADINO
Middle School Science / Seventh Grade Homeroom
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MS in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences—University of California, Los Angeles
BS in Integrated Science and Technology - Information and Knowledge Management and Telecommunications—JamesMadison University
Ms. Paladino has held positions at UCLA as a teaching fellow, instructor, and researcher.  In these capacities she has led undergraduate tutorial/discussion sections for various courses involving the atmospheric environment, global climate change, and evolution, in addition to a master's thesis project investigating regional paleoenvironmental and vegetation changes in an 8,500 year old lake core.  Ms. Paladino is an active member of the UCLA Bruin Master's Swim Team, and her athletic skill has served her well in assistant coaching the UCLA Bruin Kids Swim Club. She has also worked as a network administrator for a leading defense contractor.

ALLYSON MCCLOUD
Middle School Mathematics / Six Grade Homeroom
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CYNTHIA VILLANUEVA
Spanish
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MA Latin-American Contemporary Literature and Golden – Age Peninsular Literature
BA Spanish and Italian Literature and Language
Ms. Villanueva has written articles for the La Palabra magazine and was the founder and editor of Sol y Luna, the first Spanish student-ran magazine at CSU, Long Beach.  She tutored students in grades 6-12 in the Math, Engineering and Science Achievement program while studying for her BA at UC Davis.   While at CSULB, Ms. Villanueva taught an undergraduate Spanish Grammar course.  Her most recent teaching position has been at the Northstar Learning Center, LLC. 

ANTHONY ZUNIGA
Physical Education
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BS Public Administration—University of Southern California
Teaching Credential—California State University, Los Angeles
Mr. Anthony Zuniga begins his second year as the Athletic Director in charge of Physical Education.  His love of sports complements our after school sports program.  He has enthusiastically served as coach and umpire for Westerly sports teams.  He taught at Humphreys School for 7 years and previously taught fourth grade at Westerly for three.

KEVIN DOHERTY
Visual Arts - Lower School
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Kevin is a renaissance man whose work life includes making and teaching art, acting as an period style architectural consultant and designer and performing 1920's acoustic Blues and Jazz on period style guitars at folk clubs, house concerts and schools. He writes articles for various publications and is sometimes engaged as a guest presenter throughout Southern California speaking on topics related to the arts. He has taught art to children for over twenty-five years and continues to find great fulfillment in facilitating self-discovery and simple joy in his students through the act of making all things as well as possible.... with love.

JANNE LARSEN
Visual Arts - Middle School
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BA in Philosophy from DePaulUniversity, Chicago
MFA Cal Arts, California
Ms. Larsen has taught learning disabled children, ages 5-18, math, history and reading comprehension. She has also taught science in an after school program that culminated in a summer science camp.  Her direction of a children’s theater led to an interest in set design.  Her most recent employment was teaching Contemporary History of Art at CalArts.

SCOTT GOODMAN
Vocal Music
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BA Music—University of Missouri, Kansas City
Mr. Goodman begins his fifth year at Westerly directing the General and Vocal Music Programs, which work to provide a foundation for success in the
Instrumental Music Program and beyond. Knowledge and application of
fundamental music theory, rhythm skills, vocal performance skills and creative improvisation are the primary elements to these programs. Mr. Goodman has added a guitar program to the Middle School Curriculum and is responsible for school wide performances held on site and within the community. Mr. Goodman is a Certified Music Therapist, published author and composer of
educational music for children and students in need of additional academic support and worked for many years as the Music Director/Song Leader at Jewish Community Center summer camp programs.

TOM MITTER
Instrumental Music
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BS Business Administration—Valparaiso University, Indiana
Mr. Mitter begins his third year at Westerly. His teaching experience ranges from third grade through high school, particularly elementary school bands (3rd through 8th grades), high school jazz big bands, jazz combos and woodwind ensembles.  Mr. Mitter is an accomplished musician with his primary instruments being saxophone, flute, and clarinet. He is also quite proficient on piano, drums, and guitar. Mr. Mitter speaks fluent Spanish and Japanese, and he has taught Spanish in third through eighth grades.  This fall, he will use his fluency in languages to teach Spanish to our students. 

 

DAVID PERRAM
ICES - After School Coordinator
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