ISSAC teachers are life-long learners who bring culturally rich backgrounds, professionally diverse experiences, and complementary talents to the team.

Each ISSAC teacher has earned at least a bachelor's degree, and several also have Master's degrees.
Our teachers are committed to ISSAC team-teaching methodology by working continuously together to fine-tune lesson plans and regroup students for differentiated learning. So while a teacher may lead a homeroom or subject matter, the role changes periodically. An ISSAC student is a student of all ISSAC teachers.

Insights of an Observer, a Walk Through ISSAC

Our teachers are committed to ISSAC team-teaching methodology by working continuously together to fine-tune lesson plans and regroup students for differentiated learning. So while a teacher may lead a homeroom or subject matter, the role changes periodically. An ISSAC student is a student of all ISSAC teachers.

Harper Campus

Joshua Tree Classroom

Jessica Pettit

Ms. Jessica is originally from Texas and moved to California in Summer of 2016 to be closer to her family. She earned her BFA in Theatre from The University of Oklahoma and a MA in teaching from Western Governors University. She also earned her credential from Western Governors University. Growing up, Ms. Jessica was a dancer, musician, and thespian. After moving to California, she began teaching dance to young children and fitness to adults. This spurred on her desire to become a classroom teacher. When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her family, boyfriend and cat. Some of her hobbies include running, yoga, baking and cooking. Ms. Jessica cannot wait to work with the wonderful community at ISSAC! This is her second year at ISSAC.

Sequoia Classroom

Alicia Perea

Ms. Alicia is from Weslaco, Texas. She is very excited to be your child's Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and First Grade Teacher this year! She is a certified Bilingual teacher who graduated from The University of Texas Pan American. This is her twelfth year teaching. She moved a year ago from Phoenix, Arizona, and substituted here in California. She is very excited and honored to be a part of the ISSAC community!

She looks forward to a great school year of teaching and learning!

Manzanilla Classroom

Julie Tran

Ms. Julie grew up in Des Moines, Iowa and found her way to California to attend a performing arts high school in Orange County. She received her Master's Degree in Teaching from the University of Southern California, where she also graduated summa cum laude and studied theatre and screenwriting in her undergraduate years. Ms. Julie is excited to integrate her background in the arts and story into her classroom, where she aims to foster her students' creativity, joy, and imagination in learning. Her teaching philosophy focuses on helping each student shine and grow into curious, confident, and caring contributors to their communities. This is her second year teaching at ISSAC.

desert willow Classroom

Norely Nava

Ms. Norely Nava grew up in Costa Mesa California. She received her B.A and Multiple Subject Teaching Clear Credential at Cal State Long Beach. Her teaching focuses on hands-on instruction and active participation as part of an engaging experience. This is her sixth year at ISSAC and she promotes a positive classroom environment to build the joy of learning. She enjoys trying new food, baking, and biking in her free time.

fan palm Classroom

Jenna Cho

Ms. Jenna is excited to join ISSAC as an elementary teacher working with students across Grades Kinder–3rd. She earned her B.A. in Liberal Studies through California State University, Northridge's Integrated Teacher Education Program and holds a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Her experience includes long-term K–3 teaching in both public and charter school settings, with a focus on differentiated, hands-on, and project-based learning.

Ms. Jenna believes students learn best when they feel supported and appropriately challenged. She speaks Korean and can also communicate with young learners in Chinese. She looks forward to building strong relationships with ISSAC students, families, and colleagues.

Baker Campus

CYPRESS CLASSROOM

Janel Alagoz

Mrs. Janel brings over twenty years of experience in education, teaching students from Kindergarten through sixth grade in both the United States and abroad. She received her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and her Bilingual BCLAD certification in 2001 from UC Davis. Most recently, she taught first grade in Pomona Unified School District, helping students build the foundational literacy and math skills necessary for future success. Prior to that, she stepped into a sixth grade ELA and Social Science classroom after a teacher unexpectedly left midyear. Having lived and taught internationally, Mrs. Janel also understands the importance of helping students develop the communication and problem-solving skills needed to succeed in an increasingly connected world. She speaks English, Turkish, and Spanish. In addition to her classroom experience, she founded and operated an online reading tutoring business that partnered closely with families to support struggling readers in 4th–6th grades. She has her Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Grand Canyon University and is eager to use that knowledge to create a year of discovery and learning for her young, scholarly ISSAC Lions!

When not binging educational podcasts or videos, she spends time with her husband and 9-year-old or enjoys travel, food, puzzles, and photography.

TORREY PINE CLASSROOM

Karen Feng

Ms. Karen Feng is excited to be your child's 2nd and 3rd grade teacher this year. This will be her second year at ISSAC and her third year teaching. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from UC Riverside and a Master's in Teaching from Pepperdine University.

Her teaching philosophy is to create a comfortable, supportive, and fun learning environment where students can thrive academically and socially. Outside the classroom, she loves spending time with family, friends, and her dog.

She is looking forward to working together to make this a great year filled with fun and laughter!

live oak Classroom

Shainna Breslow

This is Shainna's fifth year teaching at ISSAC. Her teaching style incorporates critical-thinking, individualized learning, STEAM innovation and creativity, Social-Emotional Learning, movement, and value of the outdoors. She has been an educator for fifteen years. She attended Loyola New Orleans and the University of San Francisco and has her B.A. in Media Studies / Politics. She completed her Teaching Credential from California State University, Long Beach and her Clear Credential with Orange County Department of Education. Ms. Shainna is a proud mother and an avid surfer. Shainna feels blessed and grateful to be a member of the wonderful ISSAC Community.

sycamore Classroom

Susie Keough

Ms. Susie began her teaching journey 25 years ago as a graduate teaching assistant at Cal State University Los Angeles. While there, she learned and practiced the ideas and philosophies of Paulo Freire and bell hooks. Those are still remarkable, creative, and transformative ideas that she strives to apply in the classroom. After finishing her MA in Language Arts; Communication Studies, she earned her CLAD Credential, and began teaching in K-12 schools, currently with a Multiple Subject Clear Credential. She worked with students of multiple ages, abilities, cross cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds and this is her fourth year at ISSAC!

When her four children were very young, she became interested in language development and began instructing EFL and ESL students from all over the world. These experiences gave her a varied spectrum of students and cultures, and has informed her instruction to allow for and adapt to various learning styles, cultural strengths, and the various individual talents in the learning environment. Her own learning continues as she takes Art courses and enjoys reading great books. In her spare time she loves to go hiking, swimming, and take in live performances. She believes each student has a story, a hope for a future, and a reason to be exactly where they are. It is her desire to facilitate learning in such a way that the journey to students' goals is affirming, insightful, and produces quality results. She is eager to work with students in safe, encouraging, and challenging ways forward.

redwood Classroom

Mr. Darryl

As a middle schooler, Darryl grew up in South Lake Tahoe skiing and building tree forts. As a Huntington Beach high schooler, he spent his time studying psychology, philosophy, Latin, surfing and playing the harmonica and guitar.. As a Junior, he got invited to teach his own class. At Golden West, he pursued philosophy, music, teaching phonics, mathematics and learning to play several instruments. He discovered his passion for teaching by working with illiterate adults and tutoring mathematics at the Golden West Math Lab. As a result, he earned his Instructional Aide Certificate in Phonics and Mathematics and his A.A. in Music and Mathematics. At UCR, he received his B.A with a major in Psychology, a minor in Education and earned his Multiple Subject Clear Credential and Single-Subject Math Credentials. He has taught for more than 20 years at the primary, middle school, and high school levels. As a middle-school teacher of Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies this year, he is particularly excited about implementing the Math for All textbooks (Courses 1,2, and 3), the Supercharged Science curriculum, and the Core Knowledge History and Geography curriculum.

He is married and lives in Huntington Beach. For fun and relaxation Darryl meditates daily, writes songs, plays piano,, takes long bike rides with his brother,, and attends rock concerts. This is his fifth year at ISSAC!

SPED Teacher

Ms. Cheryl Erskine is a retired elementary school teacher and administrator who taught grades T-K through 7th, including many combination classes. Over a ten-year period, she served as both Principal and Vice Principal. In the final eight years of her career, Ms. Cheryl worked in Special Education, holding a credential for mild to moderate learning disabilities. Passionate about inspiring children to love learning, Ms. Cheryl dedicated a career to fostering curiosity and growth in young minds.

In free time, Ms. Cheryl enjoys exercising both at the gym and outdoors, reading, crafting, traveling, and visiting four beloved grandchildren who live in three different states.

Speech Language pathologist

After pausing a career in human resources to care for her twins, Julie found her true passion which is helping children improve their speech and language skills. She went back to school to pursue becoming a speech-language pathologist as a second career. She attended graduate school at California State University, Northridge and earned her Masters of Science in Communicative Disorders. She was also awarded the Certificate of Clinical Competence by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Julie strives to create a fun learning environment where she can connect with each student to facilitate improved communication.

Language Teachers

Maestra Estrella (Spanish)

Ms. Estrella Luján was born in Mexico City and holds a teaching degree from her home country. Her experience and knowledge in pedagogy and didactics allow her to understand the needs and characteristics of each student. She applies her own teaching methods to ensure full comprehension of the class through playful activities, songs, and audiovisual materials, making learning both dynamic and enjoyable.

Instructional Aide for Japanese

Mr. Hiroshi has been dedicated to physical education for over a decade, specializing in working with young children from preschool age through elementary school. Since 2013, Mr. Hiroshi has been a P.E. teacher at Montessori International Academy, where they have been nurturing the physical development of children from ages 3 to school age. In 2022, he expanded his expertise by joining Tampopo Club and Tampopo Bilingual Children’s Center, where he currently teaches physical education to children aged 2 to 5.

Additionally, Mr. Hiroshi has been providing both Japanese language instruction and physical education to students in grades 1 through 6 at East West Language School since 2020. He also serves as a P.E. educator for Kindergarten to 2nd-grade students at Lyceum Village and Higashi Honganji Temple. He is passionate about promoting physical activity and fostering healthy lifestyles in young children, ensuring they develop the skills and confidence needed for lifelong well-being.

Instructional Aide for Chinese

Ms. Linda

More information to come

Academic Interventionist

Mr. Jerrin is a dedicated and passionate educator with 8 years of experience working with students. He has worked in various positions in the field and strives to inspire a lifelong love of learning in students. Mr. Jerrin holds degrees in both Child and Adolescent Development and Education with a focus on Early Childhood and continually seeks to grow through professional development and collaboration.

Instructional Aide

Mr. Andy, a teacher aide at ISSAC, is from Garden Grove and is in his fourth year at the school. He graduated from the University of California, Irvine, with a bachelor's degree in Psychology and is currently pursuing his Multiple Subject teaching credential through CalStateTEACH. He teaches math and science alongside Mr. Darryl. In his free time, Mr. Andy enjoys trying new restaurants, going to the gym, watching movies, and playing video games. He is committed to working with students, ensuring each one feels seen, and building meaningful relationships with them.