Our teachers are the difference-makers.
Halstrom's teachers are highly-skilled, educated, and caring professionals. They are passionate about teaching and supporting our students. All of our teachers are carefully selected and have earned a bachelor degree, higher degrees and/or teaching credentials.
Our teachers inspire student participation and monitor student progress. As a result, students take responsibility for their learning with increased enthusiasm. They value strong parental support, a student-centered curriculum, and the opportunity to help students succeed.
Barry Mednick
Barry taught at California State University, Fullerton, School of Business and Economics in the Information Systems and Decision Sciences Department. He has been at Halstrom since January, 2008, and teaches mathematics, science, and social studies.
Barry holds a BS and MS in Operations Research from Columbia University. He also tutors students in test preparation (SAT, ACT, CSET, CBEST).
Before beoming an educator, Barry managed technical support organizations in Silicon Valley. He is an active member of the Society for American Baseball Research and has published several articles on baseball history.
Barbara Judson
My career prior to Halstrom was in proposal management for a Fortune 500 company (Parker Hannifin Corporation for 20 years) and proposal management consulting (Rogerson Aircraft and UCLA Computer Science Department).
When retirement proved boring for me, teaching became my second profession, first in English Second Language and then at Halstrom High School. I have attended four universities in California (UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, Cal State Long Beach, and Cal State San Jose). My B.A. Fine Arts was earned at Cal State Long Beach.
U.S. History, U.S. Government, Economics, Introduction to Finance, English (all grades), World History, Health, Cultural Geography, Art Appreciation, Photography, and Careers are the Halstrom classes I teach. The MV Halstrom Newsletter content is another of my assignments.
Primary joys in my life are two grandchildren, Ryan and Megan, ten and seven years old. Movies, books, and artistic endeavors are my avocations.
David. A. Cooper
I was born in the Bahamas and became a Naturalized citizen of the United States in 2010. I attended the College of the Bahamas majoring in Business and Technology. I graduated from Colorado Technical University in 2006 with a degree in Business Administration. My technical certificates include Microsoft Certified Professional, A+ computer technician from CompITA, and a Network + certificate from CompITA. I am currently earning my masters in education from National University scheduled to be completed at the end of 2011.
I have been teaching for approximately 15 years. I have taught Information Technology to elementary and high school students for approximately 12 years. I have also taught professional development courses to private and public businesses including American Automobile Association employees, the LA Fire Department, and the teachers of the LA Unified School District where they were taught to integrate technology into their curriculum. I have also used my programming skills to write educational software tailored to individuals with learning difficulties. This has been especially helpful for students with Attention Defecit Disorder.
Current classes I teach include Math, Fine Art, Information Technology, Digital Photography, Guitar/Music, and Yearbook.
My other interests are in the arts. I have done numerous successful art shows over the years. I am currently using digital painting programs like Corel Painter and Photoshop to produce digital paintings. As the head of the Art department, I have also used digital imaging software to create our school's yearbooks. I have also played professional guitar including, finger-picking, classical and contemporary music for over twenty years.
Erika Weinraub
My name is Erika. I'm 25 years old. I have been teaching Spanish at Halstrom for over a year. I teach grammar as well as Spanish Literature. Before teaching at Halstrom, I worked as a substitute teacher and a tutor. My major in college was Spanish.
I graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Cal State Fullerton and recently completed a Master's degree. I'm originally from Mexico but grew up in California, so I speak both English and Spanish fluently.
Being an educator to me is more than just a job because I truly enjoy teaching and passing on to others my knowledge, not only of the Spanish language but of the culture itself. After having recently accomplished a Master's degree, I'm currently working on learning a third language and hopefully by the end of this year I will also be able to speak Italian.
Ultimately my goal is to one day teach Spanish at a college or university.
John Muniz
I graduated from Trinity University, located in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago Illinois. While attending Trinity, I majored in Psychology with an emphasis on education.
As a student I kept myself very busy; I was the starting middle linebacker and defensive captain on the University's football team, I was a Teacher's Assistant for a Spanish Professor, and I helped in the Language Department tutoring students in both Spanish and French.
I was born and raised in Southern California. I attended OCHSA as a visual arts student in middle school, and graduated from Mater Dei High School. In my free time I enjoy playing sports, drawing comics, sports photography and graphic design.
Kathy Sebring
My name is Kathy Sebring and I live in San Juan Capistrano. I was born and raised in Riverside, California. When I was twenty-three I moved to Mission Viejo. Since that time I have lived in San Clemente and now San Juan Capistrano. In my free time, I enjoy riding my horse along many of the beautiful trails that my city has to offer.
In 2002, I received my bachelor's degree in Sociology and a minor in Criminology. During my time in college I was involved in two internships, which were both with the Orange County Probation Department. Although both were quite interesting, the one that had more of an impact was being a teacher assistant in juvenile hall. From that point on, I knew I wanted to be a teacher and help students achieve their goals.
The year I began my credentialing program was 2006. Working for five different teachers at a public middle school showed me many different strategies that would work for a variety of students. After one year as a teacher assistant, I decided to become a substitute. For the next two years, I worked as a day-to-day and long-term substitute teacher in Orange County and Long Beach.
In November 2008, I began working at Halstrom Hight School and the next June obtained my education specialist credential in mild to moderate learning disabilities. I have a certificate to teach ELL students too. The fall of 2010 I was asked to become department chair for history. Currently I am progressing towards a master's degree in special education with an emphasis in juvenile justice. I thoroughly enjoy teaching at Halstrom High School, as it allows me the opportunity to teach each child individually. By doing so, I can find the best approach for each student to succeed. I am looking forward to a long career of teaching middle and high school students.
Jessica Pinto
I live in beautiful San Clemente with my husband and 5-year-old son, Luke. I graduated Concordia University, Irvine in 2009 with my BA in Mathematics.
I completed my student teaching at San Clemente High School in the Spring of 2010 and received my preliminary California teaching credential in Mathematics (examination) in July 2010. I am currently pursuing getting an AP statistics course approved at Halstrom High School. I love teaching math, it brings me joy.
In my free time I watch my son play basketball, go to Disneyland and spend time with my family.
Nicole Aquino
I received my B.S. degree from Cal State Long Beach in Marine Biology with an emphasis in Ecology. I also started the Science credential program there.
My first teaching job was at Halstrom High School and I have been here for 15 months and am currently teaching all levels of Science (mostly chemisty) and many levels of Math.
I am also the Science and Math Department Heads.
Ken McMullen
Ken was borin in Ohio, but has lived on both coasts because his father was in the US Navy. In regards to education, Ken: graduated from Bolsa Grande HS, Garden Grove, CA, in 1966; received an AA in Journalism from Golden West College, Huntington Beach, CA, in 1973; obtained a BA in Political Science from Cal State University, January 1976; and also has a MA in History from Cal State University, Fullerton, 2007.
Ken is an Adjunct Professor of History at Palomar College, San Marcos, and an Adjunct Professor of History for Central Texas College teaching classes on Camp Pendleton, besides teaching at Halstrom High School.
Ken enlisted in the US Navy during the Vietnam War era, serving in country from June 1968 until January 1970. He has published several encyclopedia-style articles on communities in the upper Mojave Desert, Hetch Hetchy Dam, and John Muir; in December 2001 two more articles, on the Spanish settlements in what is now the United States, will be published.
Thomas Dewey
Thomas Dewey's interest in teaching and working with children started with a job counseling at a summer camp.
In 1985-1989 he was given the opportunity to get a Physics Bacherlors degree with a computer science minor from SUNY Fredonia.
He spent some time doing webmaster and computer work before starting a small business in Holistic Health while learning massage therapy at night. When massage school completed he taught massage and led youth adventure programs for a non profit. During this time he taught science and math to home schooled students.
He left this business to become a teacher at a democratic boarding school in West Virginia called the Highland School. He was dorm parent and taught small classes in science and computers mostly. Teaching highlights included soda rocket research, carbonated dry ice cream, and animation photography with action figures and a soundtrack.
This experience inspired him to get a masters in teaching at USC in the MAT online program. His student teaching starts next fall at Estancia High School in Costa Mesa.
Thomas taught part time while studying to be a teacher. These classes include math, video game design, web design and computers to elementary and middle school students. During this time he studied and passed the California Standards Test (CBEST and CSET in Physics and General Science).
Recently he was given the opportunity to join a unique school in while students are taught one-on-one in a dynamic setting. He is currently teaching seventh through twelfth grade math and science including pre-calculus, physics, biology, chemisty and earth science.
A variety of life experiences help him to bring a fresh and practical perspective to the classes he teaches. In his free time he enjoys gardening and house projects.
Stephanie Del Rosario
My name is Stephanie Del Rosario. I double majored at the University of California, Irvine with a B.A. in Philosophy and Classics (Latin Emphasis).
My junior year included a semester in Athens, Greece where I studied with College Year in Athens (Classical Civilization, Literature, Minoan & Mycenaean achaelogy, and Ancient Greek). The second semester was spent in Rome at the UC Rome Program (Roman history, culture, literature and philosophy) where I lived right outside the Vatican Walls of St. Peter's Square. I was there in Spring 2005 to witness Pope John Paul II's passing and Pope Benedict XVI's election.
That summer I went on two excavations, one looking for the Neolithic tools on the island of Sardinia, the other excavating building remnants in the ancient Forum of Rome. In the summer of 2006, I studied Philosophy in Boulder, Colorado and poetry and painting at a summer program at Cambridge University in England.
Claudia Struble
I am originally from Brazil where I have acquired my BA in Dance, which later I transfered to University of California, Irvine, to complete my BFA and minor in education. While in UCI I participated in Artsbridge program which I taught science to elementary children bridging the arts.
I have been teaching dance for over thirty five years, and have participated in many performances in South and North America which resulted in travel experience.
I am in the process of completing my Master in Education with emphasis in Cultural Diversity and Technology at National Univeristy. I also speak Portuguese, Spanish, French and Italian. I have taught languages to high school students in the public and private school settings.
I have a passion in teaching what I related to a diverse background and an eagerness to learn. I have always been very active thoughout my life, either by dancing, traveling, surfing or hiking. I value the health and holistic attitude. I believe everybody has a chance to make the best of themselves through determination and perserverance.
Brian Hinostroza
I was born in Missouri but raised in southern California. I graduated from UW-Milwaukee with a BS in Biology. I have been a math and science teacher in both public and private school for the past 6 years. While I have only been at Halstrom for the past 6 months, I have enjoyed teaching here tremendously and look forward to teaching here for a long time to come.