MILL CREEK ACADEMY - Key Persons
Mr. Rubalcaba (also known as Mr. R) was born and raised in Chicago. After receiving an honor's bachelor's degree in English Literature and Psychology, he earned a master's degree in History, at Harvard University. He received inspiration in a roundtable discussion on the state of American education with Bill Gates, Harvard University President Drew G. Faust, and others, and decided to begin his teaching career by joining Teach for America, an organization that places graduates from the nation's top universities in K-12 schools of high need across the US. Mr. Rubalcaba has been teaching fifth grade in San Jose Unified School District with a credential from Loyola Marymount University. As of August of 2015, Mr. Rubalcaba has now assumed the role of instructional coach in his district, in which he trains new teachers, coaches teachers, and demonstrates lessons at schools across the city of San Jose during group lesson studies.
Mr. Rubalcaba has been the recipient of various important accolades at the school, district, city, and national levels. Nationally, in October of 2014, President Obama's White House Initiative on Education Excellence for Hispanics, a multi-agency unit within the Department of Education, recognized Mr. Rubalcaba with a White House website highlighting his work as an educator inside and outside the classroom. This national award took place during, and in celebration of, Hispanic Heritage Month. This was followed, in January of 2015, by a San Jose Unified School District and Board of Education recognition of Mr. Rubalcaba as an Outstanding Hispanic teacher. Further, in May of 2015, the school teacher community of Selma Olinder Elementary, where Mr. Rubalcaba has taught since 2010, named him the 2015 Teacher of the Year. Most recently, the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce named Mr. Rubalcaba as the 2015 Excellence in Education Teacher of the Year award, a prestigious city competition held annually.
Mr. Rubalcaba's intellectual passions include literature, history, and writing. He firmly believes in the power of the written word to move people to actions, to create myth and memory, and to mold one's character in a never-ending cycle of self-discovery. Furthermore, his philosophy on the process of writing itself is simple yet revealing-"to write means to rewrite and nothing more," a seemingly modest revelation that emerged during a heated class discussion with a Harvard professor, who persuaded all her students that no written work has or will ever reach its truly "final" stage. In this sense, writing represents an ongoing conversation between writer and reader. Therefore, there is no greater act, no braver undertaking, than to look at one's writing and decide to revisit, revise, or rewrite. For it is in any one of these three operations from which sincere learning arises.
Given Mr. Rubalcaba's rigorous academic background and achievements, he looks forward to working with Junior High students at Mill Creek Academy in helping them discover an affinity for the art of writing.
Mr Yung graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Probability and Statistics and a minor in English Literature. Initially going into college with the intention of majoring in Political Science, it would seem that teaching secondary mathematics was not part of his plan, yet he credits his career to those formative experiences back at a Charter school in San Diego. It was in that experience that he realized the power of secondary education and with that came the opportunity to work as a substitute teacher in Chaffey Joint Union High School District. Mr. Yung then earned his subject credential in mathematics at the California State University, San Bernardino. Currently, he teaches Geometry and Foundational Algebra (GFA), Algebra 1, and Intro to Statistics at John F. Kennedy High School where he is inspired to encourage young people to see the value that math plays in their daily lives.
The lessons of youth are the foundations of their future, and with this maxim, Mr. Yung is focused on ensuring that his students seek their passions, their hopes, and potential. He is excited to join the team at Mill Creek Academy where he will continue to engage young students in becoming jazzed about the power of math. His young, vibrant, and genuine sincerity has him eager to invite his students into the world of numbers and more.
Outside of the classroom, Mr. Yung enjoys reading literary classics and philosophy, meditating, dancing K-pop, and drinking boba, all the while in pursuit of teaching himself Freshmen College Physics in his spare time!
Mr. Stephenson has spent over three decades teaching and guiding teens and young adults to academic and professional success. Mr. Stephenson earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from the University of California, Berkeley where he thrived in his undergraduate education. Having a passion for learning and realizing the power of having access to higher education, he continued his academic pursuits at Boston College, earning his MBA in International Business. After successful careers as a naval intelligence officer and software entrepreneur, Mr. Stephenson joined the faculty of Washington High School in 2004.
A very experienced AP United States History teacher, Mr. Stephenson has been helping students prepare to successfully pass the College Board APUSH exam for the past twelve years. In addition, he has also taught California History, AP European History, United States Government, and Economics. His forte is teaching his students to analyze, write, and think like historians. During the summers, Mr. Stephenson continues to broaden his depth of historical knowledge by studying at the University level. He has been awarded National Endowment Fellowships at Oxford University, Nottingham University, the University of Virginia, and the University of Wisconsin.
When he is not teaching, he can be found spending quality time with his wife of more than 30 years. Mr. Stephenson looks forward to bringing his passion for History to the students at the Academy.
As a native to Southern California, Mr. Liao moved to the Bay Area to pursue his collegiate studies where he received his Bachelors of Sciences in Psychology from UC Berkeley and Biola University. Upon graduation, he went directly into Law School and began practicing law as an Estate Planning Attorney. After many years in the field, he felt the need to venture into a field where he would add value to the lives of young people. It was back in 2010 when he decided to follow his passion for Math and History. Earning a Single Subject Credential in both History and Math from California State University, Long Beach, Mr. Liao graduated at the top of his class and took his experiences directly into the classroom.
Since that time, he has been part of the faculty team at Milpitas High School where he has taught all levels of Math, in addition to, World History and U.S. Government. Currently, he teachers AP Statistics, AP Micro / Macro Economics. Mr. Liao enjoys teaching because he believes that these subjects have real-world relevance in an era where data and quantitative analysis is an important skill to master. He considers himself unique to have expertise in two different subject areas that are drastically different.
When he is not in the classroom teaching, he spends his weekends dreaming about running ultramarathons! As a lover of sports, he follows baseball closely and enjoys reading and tackling crossword puzzles while also spending time with his two young children. Mr. Liao looks forward to the opportunity to engage with the students at Mill Creek Academy.
Mr. Shih is a Mission San Jose High School alumnus who accepted his undergraduate admissions to the University of California, Berkeley. There, he pursued a degree in Economics and subsequently entered the business field as a litigation consultant. After spending several years engaged in corporate America, he found a lack of personal fulfillment in his daily job. This was reflected by frequent snowboarding trips in the winter and steady involvement in amateur motorsports in the summer as a form of escape. Luckily, he found his true calling and profession - that of joining the ranks of educators who have a passion to serve the next generation. From 2005, Mr. Shih started his teaching career in Taiwan at a popular language school, instructing students of all grade levels from elementary to university. He also worked with adult professionals who needed instruction in business and conversational English. Gratified at seeing tangible growth and improvement in his students and their academic abilities, he knew he would become a lifelong educator.
Continuing his own higher education, Mr. Shih returned to his alma mater, UC Berkeley, to obtain a Master's degree in Education and a Professional Clear Multiple Subject Credential through the Developmental Teacher Education (DTE) program. While Mr. Shih enjoys working with all elementary grade levels, he is currently a Kindergarten teacher who has found that building a strong academic foundation at an early age is crucial to a child's success.
Joining the Mill Creek Academy excites Mr. Shih, as he is eager to work with the younger elementary students and support them in finding the joy in learning. He is committed to bringing the same passion that guides him in his professional career to the students in his Mill Creek class.
Since receiving his Bachelor's degree in Chemistry in 1998 from San Francisco State University, then his teaching credential in 2000, Mr. Leet has taught Chemistry at the high school and college level for the last 22 years. Having a passion for both Chemistry and Teaching, he returned to school in 2011, pursuing and achieving a Master's Degree in Chemical Education from Illinois State University.
Currently, Mr. Leet is teaching Regular Chemistry and AP Chemistry at Westmoor High School in Daly City, California, where he served as department chair from 2008 to 2020. He is excited to join the staff of Mill Creek Academy, helping to ensure students are able to reach their full potential, both academically and personally while fostering a love for all things Chemistry.
Mr. Jan is excited to join the faculty team at Mill Creek Academy, especially since he has a special relationship with the Academy. He was a graduate from Mission San Jose High School and one of the first students at the Academy upon its inception more than 18 years ago. Under the teachings of the founder, Mrs. Sabraw, Mr. Jan has always felt that a career in Education is valuable and enriching.
Mr. Jan obtained an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from the University of California, Riverside. Upon graduation with his bachelors degree, he started his career in the hi-tech world. Working at some of the largest companies in the Bay Area as a sale engineer for almost a decade, he never felt his work was attributing to the greater good. Coming from a family of all educators, he knew his passion was to be in the classroom instructing young minds. He obtained his teaching credential from National University in secondary mathematics.
Currently a faculty member at Washington High School teaching Algebra and Business Mathematics, he is also the boy's tennis Junior Varsity head coach. His days are filled with attending to students of all grade levels and though some days are tiring, he is grateful to work with young minds. When he is not sharing his passion for math with his students, he can be found at the Oracle Arena with his family cheering for his home team, the Golden State Warriors.
Mr. Jan looks forward to continuing to share his joy for teaching to the young students at Mill Creek Academy. He is confident that his enthusiasm for math and constructive instruction will only motivate the students to see the value of math in everyday life.
For as long as Mr. Ong can remember, he has worked with children in various capacities his entire life. Upon attending the University of California Irvine, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a minor in History. It was during his undergraduate work where he began to realize that he wanted to enter a career that would impact lives. After all, growing up in a family with educators, it would be a natural fit to enter the field of Education. Having valued his own private school education growing up, he knew a talented teacher could change a child's life and engagement with learning. Mr. Ong continued his graduate work at the University of California Irvine where he obtained a Single Subject Credential in Social Sciences, in addition to a Masters of Arts in Teaching.
Mr. Ong currently teaches at a private school in Alameda where he has anchored all levels of History: World History, Government, AP Micro and Macro Economics. Having an opportunity to expose students to real life applications that are relevant to history is a continual passion. His love for History extends to his skills in reading and comprehension. Positive and energetic are quality traits that are often described by his students.
When Mr. Ong is not in the classroom challenging his students with the richness of History, he can be found on the basketball courts coaching the school's JV basketball team. He loves getting involved with new adventures and learning something new! Mr. Ong looks forward to bringing his talents for paper corrections to the young students at Mill Creek Academy.
"In the fields of observation chance favors only the prepared mind." This quote from Louis Pasteur is the first thing people will see when visiting Mr. Ting's class website. It reflects his belief, as demonstrated throughout the history of science, that accidents and mistakes became some of the biggest discoveries because the scientist was prepared to work with that mistake. From Teflon to x-rays to Pop Rocks, people who first went "oops" changed the world. Mr. Ting can't predict what will happen in the future of every student he has the privilege of teaching, but he only hopes that he can help them be prepared for their chance to make a difference.
Mr. Ting is a Midwest transplant, having grown up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, earning his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at the University of Michigan, and his Master of Arts in Philosophy with an emphasis in bioethics at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois.
One of Mr. Ting's first memories of teaching was helping a hall mate during freshman year learn about chemical equilibrium by using a pair of tennis shoes and a pair of flip flops as visual aids. Although being an educator was not among his first thoughts of a profession, he found himself constantly in teaching situations in his work experience. Soon after moving to California, he was given a chance to earn his single-subject credential while working as a full-time teacher at San Leandro High School. He then moved to James Logan High School, where he has taught all levels of chemistry, been a curriculum lead in chemistry, and advises the Science Club. With over a decade of teaching experience, Mr. Ting values the opportunity to inspire young minds.
In his spare time, Mr. Ting likes to maintain an active lifestyle. He practices multiple styles of self defense, and he and his wife have each run over thirty Spartan Races, and continue to train for their next event. He is currently pursuing certification as a fitness trainer. In all facets, academic, physical and spiritual, he wants to help people build and sustain a sense of accomplishment. He is excited for the opportunity to do this at Mill Creek Academy.
A "Fremonter" nearly all his life, Mr. Wu is an alumnus of both Mission High School and Mill Creek Academy in its inaugural years. Upon graduation, he attended the University of California Davis where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pure Mathematics. An adventurer at heart, he found his way to Florida after college and worked for Walt Disney World. It was during this time when Mr. Wu developed an interest in teaching and returned back to California to pursue his teaching degree at California State University East Bay and earned his Single Subject Credential in Mathematics. He also graduated with a Masters of Science in Education Curriculum with an emphasis in Mathematics. Mr. Wu has taught at both Horner Junior High School and Irvington High School teaching Geometry, Pre-Calculus, and AP Calculus AB. Currently, he is teaching Honors Geometry at Washington High School and enjoys helping students find a connection and love for mathematics. He has received the California Retired Teachers Scholarship Award for Excellence.
When Mr. Wu is not teaching or advising the DECA club, he can be found playing golf, snowboarding, and rooting of his favorite Bay Area teams: the SF Giants, the SF 49ers and the CAL football team.
Zach Lipman, the AP United States History teacher at Foothill High School in Pleasanton, has a great passion for history, which he has been sharing and engaging his students with for the past 10 years. His personal teaching philosophy focuses on the idea that students need to look at history with multiple perspectives, so they can analyze the past and understand the country they live in today. He earned his History degree from UC Davis, and then completed his CLAD credential and earned his Master's in History from CSU East Bay. He started teaching in 2001 at College Park High School, where he taught US History, World History, Government, AP US History, and Economics. In his last year there, 2005, he was selected to speak at the senior class graduation, which was one of his most memorable events in his teaching career. Also, in 2005, he was fortunate enough to transfer to Foothill High School where he has taken over the AP United States History courses and has an 88% passage rate on the AP exam over the last 3 years. Zach was also awarded the Golden Apple Award in 2010 by Foothill students from the Church of Latter Day Saints for inspirational teaching and dedication. While he loves reading history books and teaching, he also loves basketball and has coached 7th and 8th grade boys' basketball at Hart Middle School and freshmen girls basketball at Foothill High School, as well. He is excited to share his passion for history with the students at Mill Creek Academy.
A homegrown product of James Logan High School, Ms. Abigail Noche, has taught at her alma mater for over 20 years. During that time, she has taught a wide variety of life science courses at all academic levels. Currently, she is teaching AP Biology, Honors Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Honors Biology, but has taught integrated science and basic physical science as well.
After the completion of her degree at U.C. Berkeley, she discovered the love for teaching. She enjoyed Cal's coursework and rigor, but found it equally inspiring to collaboratively share and build upon that information with others. Her teaching career stems from the passion of fostering an excitement for life sciences with her students and witnessing the exhilaration of her students' own discoveries.
She has received numerous accolades over the years, including twice being voted Teacher of the Year by students, teachers, admin, and parents. She has also served as a beginning teacher (BTSA) coach, master teacher, the science department chair, and a district literacy coach. Ms. Noche looks forward to sharing her experience with the students at Mill Creek Academy.
In her spare time, she enjoys crafting (of all kinds) and going on day trips with her loving husband and 6 amazing children.
Ms. Herman grew up in Pleasanton, California, and knew early on she wanted to become a teacher at the age of eight years old. Inspired by her teachers, specifically her English teacher, she knew that a career in education was her destiny. Realizing that her teachers changed her life, she hopes to make the same impact on her students.
Upon graduating from high school, while having gain admissions to colleges outside her local community, Ms. Herman knew that it was important to plan strategically with her curriculum studies. Beginning with her college studies at Las Positas and Butte Community College, there she completed all her general education requirements and then transferred to California State University, Chico. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and thereafter spent some time teaching at a private school in Pleasanton. Most currently, she is enjoying her position as a 6th grade English/Language Arts and History at Pleasanton Middle School. When she is not teaching, Ms. Herman can be found leading the school's after school tutoring club and coaching the girls' cheerleading team.
In her free time, Ms. Herman and her horse, Winnie, are a part of a horseback riding team located in Livermore and often practicing for upcoming showcases and competition. Ms. Herman also loves spending time with her dog, Moose, her family, and her friends.
Job Titles:
- English Language Arts Instructional Coach
Mrs. Johnston graduated from Modesto High School's International Baccalaureate Program and went on to graduate Cum Laude with her Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of San Francisco as a first-generation college graduate. She earned her Master's degree thereafter and has always felt passionate about being a lifelong learner. Currently, she is earning her Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from California State University, Stanislaus. Analyzing best practices, providing detailed commentary feedback on student work are examples of how Ms. Johnston supports her students in the writing process.
After years in the classroom, Mrs. Johnston is now an English Language Arts Instructional Coach, where she supports and guides teachers in implementing best practices in reading and writing instruction throughout the district.
When Mrs. Johnston is not in the classroom, you can find her going on hikes with her husband and dog, or singing and dancing at her local theatre. Mrs. Johnston looks forward to helping the students grow scholarly skills in reading and writing at Mill Creek Academy.
For as long as Ms. Hopman can remember, she was always the child who would ask her teacher for more homework, sorting her pens in rainbow color, pretending to take notes in a notebook, and organizing her desk; all the likes of a future teacher. Thinking about her educational journey, Ms. Hopman is thankful for all the amazing teachers she had growing up, all whom inspired her to deepen her knowledge and find the fun in learning. Knowing at a young age that one day she would want to motivate young children just as she experienced, Ms. Hopman couldn't wait for her own education to begin.
Coming from a military family and having moved around the United States, upon graduating from high schooling Florida, Ms. Hopman pursued her Bachelor of Science in Watershed Science at Colorado State University. Continuing onward, she earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Northern Colorado. Having experience as a literacy coach and volunteered with different organizations designed to support student learning, currently, Ms. Hopman has been part of a stellar teaching team at Dublin Elementary where she teaches third grade. Most recently, she won the Teacher of the Year Award through her school district for outstanding professionalism.
In her free time, Ms. Hopman ventures the outdoors as much as she can. She enjoys hiking with her two dogs, Halle and Luna, biking around Livermore, and sailing around the Bay. Traveling is one of her favorite interests and with family all around the country, she takes any excuse to see the world. She is excited to bring her love of learning into her classroom at Mill Creek Academy!
Ms. McKee, a New Jersey native, has been a high school English teacher in her hometown of Union, N.J. for almost a decade. After graduating from Saint Peter's University in Jersey City, N.J. in 2009 with a B.A. in English and a minor in Visual Arts, Ms. McKee ventured into a career of retail sales with a luxury brand. Yet, feeling unfulfilled in a fast pace industry, she knew there was a career waiting for her, teaching. Always an avid reader, but knowing that many teachers had overlooked her as a young student, Ms. McKee decided that it was time to become the teacher that she needed when she was a student. She went back to college and graduated from Saint Peter's University in 2014 with a Master's in Education and returned to her hometown and since has been teaching Sophomore English at her alma mater. Since then, while finding passion, drive, and purpose in a high school classroom, Ms. McKee attended Kean University and obtained a second Master's degree in 2019 in Educational Administration, with intentions to one day become a principal and work in educational leadership.
Ms. McKee recognized that the missing component from her experience as a student was the connection to her teachers. Her mission as a teacher now is to always ensure that her students feel respected, valued, and capable. Supporting students in the ability to articulate their narratives through the college application process is one way Ms. McKee knows she has offer support during a stressful time. Keen on details, story telling, capturing ideas, she looks forward to helping students connect their writing to sharing their stories on college essays.
In addition to teaching, Ms. McKee has immersed herself in the extra curricular world of high school students and serves as an advisor for Summer Enrichment and the Dungeons and Dragons club. In her free time, Ms. McKee can be found exercising, spending time in nature, cooking, and obsessing over her beloved doxie-pin, Cleopatra. She looks forward to working with students as they take their next steps into higher education, the college world!
Ms. Hill, a native of the city of Pleasanton and alumna of Foothill High School, has always had a heart for teaching and networking. She graduated from San Diego State University where she earned a Bachelors of Arts in Media Studies and a Minor in Sociology. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she volunteered in her local community to encourage young students to become avid readers. By organizing and serving as the Co-Chair for a program called Champions are Readers in San Diego, she supported reading enrichment for students at the elementary level. Seeing students discover the joy of reading left a lasting impression. Soon after, Ms. Hill knew teaching in the classroom would be her ultimate career destination. She went back to pursue her graduate degree at California State University East Bay where she earned her Single Subject English credential. Currently, she teaches 8th grade English, Leadership, and Middle School Success at Hart Middle School in Pleasanton. In addition, she coaches boys and girls basketball, boys volleyball, and track/field. Ms. Hill enjoys working with young students and understands the privilege she has as an educator.
During her free time, she dreams about traveling and the adventures she had while studying abroad in Spain and then traveling throughout Thailand, Vietnam, Bali, India, Nepal, and Australia. She is thrilled to be on the team at Mill Creek Academy and to be sharing her love of teaching.
Ms. Booe grew up in Pleasanton, California, and graduated from Amador Valley High School. Though she started as a business major, she found her purpose in education as a Sophomore in college when she realized that all of her extracurriculars revolved around young students. Reflecting back to all the times she felt most fulfilled, Ms. Booe attributed those experiences to the power that students played in her life.
Ms. Booe earned her Bachelors of Arts in Middle School English Education at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. After completing her undergraduate degree, she went on to earn her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, also at Texas Christian University. After spending time teaching at an International Baccalaureate school in Malmo, Sweden, she returned to Pleasanton, eager to be closer to home, to teach at her middle school alma mater. At Thomas Hart Middle School, Ms. Booe co-advises the Student Council and is the advisor for the Debate Club and the cool Korean pop dance club. Invested in students, she is always enthusiastic about working with young people.
In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, cooking new recipes, and reading. She absolutely loves traveling and being exposed to new cultures, ideas, surroundings, and adventures. When she cannot travel herself, she relies on books to transport her into different worlds. She feels extraordinarily lucky to have a job that does not feel like a job, and the opportunity to play a part in molding the minds of the future every single day.
Cheri Block Sabraw has been teaching writing, journalism, and literary analysis since 1972. She anchored the Mission San Jose High School junior honors program from 1985-1998. Graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of the Pacific, she was the 1972 commencement speaker for the School of Education.
Mrs. Sabraw holds a Life Credential in English from the State of California and completed her English major at San Jose State University and the University of California, Berkeley. As a teacher at Mission San Jose High School, she received numerous commendations and awards for Excellence in the Classroom from Stanford University, the University of Chicago, San Jose State University, and the University of California. She was Mission San Jose High School's Teacher of the Year in 1992.
Her former students were accepted at many outstanding universities including UC Berkeley, Stanford, Yale, Columbia, Harvard, Duke, University of Chicago, M.I.T., Cal Tech, Rice, Princeton, Brown, University of Michigan, Cornell, St. John's College, Dartmouth, USCD and many others.
Mrs. Sabraw graduated from Stanford University in June, 2014, with a Master of Liberal Arts degree. Her thesis concerned the work of Anglo-German author, W.G. Sebald. She focused her research on his 2001 novel Austerlitz and contended that it represented a portable memorial to the Holocaust.
Ms. Christina Ma is a Mission San Jose High School graduate as well as a former MCA student. With Mrs. Sabraw as one of her greatest inspirations and mentors, she knew teaching was her calling. She, like Mrs. Sabraw, attended University of the Pacific for her undergraduate studies at the Benerd School of Education, completing both her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and her teaching credential in 2006. She then continued at UOP for her Master's degree in curriculum and instruction in education. Christina currently teaches in San Jose and feels accomplished seeing her students learn. Christina was a devoted student at MCA since its first year of operation and continued throughout high school both as a student and as an office assistant at MCA. Christina's passion for teaching, love for learning, and enjoyment in working with students is visible the minute she steps into a room of eager and willing learners. When she is not teaching, Christina enjoy traveling, cooking, exercising, and spending time with her family
Ms. Louie who prides herself on being an Aggie, graduated from the University of California, Davis with a double major in English and Mathematics. Having a passion for both subject matters, Ms. Louie decided to pursue her love for writing and graduated with a Masters in Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Mills College. During her time at Mills College, she had opportunities to perfect her own writing skills by studying both non fiction and fictional writing. It was during this time that she realized the power a teacher has to change lives. She knew teaching would give her access to helping students succeed in their futures. However, her passion for math only continued to grow and she knew it was her calling to teach math in the public system. Ms. Louie received her mathematics credential from California State University, East Bay.
She is part of the talented faculty team at James Logan and is currently teaching Algebra I and Algebra II. Helping students understand how math can be applied and used in everyday life allows her to connect with her students. Ms. Louie is enthusiastic and patient. She is excited to join the team at Mill Creek Academy and looks forward to teaching your child how to better understand math strategies and operations.
During her free time, she loves ballet and also claims the title "foodie" as she enjoys trying new culinary delights.
A Bay Area native, Ms. Shah has and is passionate about teaching in the community where she discovered her love for learning. As an Irvington High School alumna, she graduated with a Bachelor's degree from the University of California, Riverside where she majored in English Literature and minored in Psychology. Soon after, Ms. Shah obtained her Master's degree in English Literature from Northwestern University, where she specialized in South Asian (Dalit) literature. Throughout her Master's program, Ms. Shah spent a great deal of time conducting research on communities that are known as the "other" an often marginalized, focusing specifically on the caste relations in Indian. She found a niche for her specialty in teaching and since has worked to teach students how to connect their cultural backgrounds to what they read, write, and learn in school.
Ms. Shah is also the winner of the University of California, Riverside, Adam Repan Petko Book Collection Competition and Northwestern's English Department Best Research Paper in Literature.
When Ms. Shah is not teaching English at a private school in the East Bay or advising the Speech and Debate club, she can be found cooking, dancing, reading, or spending quality time with friends and family. Ms. Shah is eager to share her passion for literature with young minds at Mill Creek Academy.
Ms. Vedula grew up just South of Sacramento in Elk Grove, CA. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Mathematics at Humboldt State University and knew at a young age that she loved helping others by becoming a teacher. After college, she attended CSU, Sacramento where she earned her single subject teaching credential, eager to show young people the power of math and its daily application. She fell in love with teaching Geometry and while most would find this subject conceptual difficult to understand, Ms. Vedula prides herself in showing the real world connection to Geometry.
Ms. Vedula has been an educator for more than 8 years and in that time, she has taught Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra 2, Integrated Mathematics I and Integrated Mathematics II. Currently Ms. Vedula works at Washington High School and she is teaching Geometry and Common Core 3.
During her free time, Ms. Vedula loves to spend time with her fiancé and their puggle, Louie. Together they love to go for short hikes or cheer for their home team, the Oakland A's. Ms. Vedula is excited to be a part of the team at Mill Creek Academy and to help students reach their fullest mathematical potential.
Ms. Stephenson comes from a humanities background with a passion for Education. Spending her undergraduate years at the University of Denver, Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Minor in History, she knew that at one point in her career, she would be a classroom teacher. Upon graduating, she earned a Master of Science degree in Education from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts and decided that higher education was still beckoning. Pursuing a Law degree from San Francisco Law School, Ms Stephenson thrived in the field of study. It was later in her career that she felt a calling to teach. For over a decade, she has anchored courses in AP European History, World History, and American History at Washington High School. At her school site, she also started the National Honor Society and was became the advisor for the club, helping to grow student membership. Ms. Stephenson has also been an advisor for Model UN and Speech and Debate. Ms. Stephenson has also participated as a reader for the College Board's European History evaluation team.
While retired now, she still keeps herself busy by volunteering in local community events and is eager to share her expertise with the students at Mill Creek Academy.
Heather Richey has been an integral part of Mill Creek Academy since 1999. A popular and respected teacher of elementary through high school students, she has proven her ability to help them hone their writing skills and increase their grammar knowledge. Many of her SAT Writing students find her passion for English contagious and even report that they found the SAT's "easy" after taking her class. In fact, Mrs. Richey has been credited not only with helping her students do better in school, but also with helping them gain entrance into the nation's top universities.
Mrs. Richey's respect for and love of language is anchored in her education: She earned her bachelor's degree in mass communication at CSU Hayward, her TESOL certificate from UC Berkeley, and her teaching credential from the St. Mary's College School of Education. Her extensive experiences in writing and in teaching others to speak English combined in her to form a deep appreciation for the empowering nature of language and an understanding that any idea we have - be it large or small - is virtually useless if we cannot express it clearly to others. This belief fuels her passion to help her students become the articulate adults today's world requires.
When she is not working at Mill Creek, Mrs. Richey enjoys spending time with her husband (MCA teacher Kurt Richey) and her three boys.
Ever Since Ms. Clark can remember, the teachers she met along the way as a student helped to cultivate a passion for the power of Education. Specifically, her English teachers molded her into someone who couldn't ever put a book down after reading its opening pages. It was in those classes that she credits her ability to critically think and analyze text with depth and complexity. She is a successful product of how powerful a teacher can inspire to live a life that serves others. With Ms. Clark's urgency and passion to educate others, she has become a source of inspiration and encouragement to those students she meets in her classroom.
Ms. Clark earned her Bachelors of Arts in English Literature and a Minor in Sociology at San Jose State University. After completing her undergraduate degree, she went on to earn her Single-Subject Credential in English also at San Jose State University. Having taught in different school communities, she has since been teaching at Dublin High School, engaging the 9 th, 10 th, and 11 th grade students. Outside the teaching walls, she can be found advising the KIND club on campus which is focused on finding ways to prevent bullying. She is also an advisor for the Gavel Club which is designed to help students improve their public speaking skills. Ms. Clark is in it for the students and is always available to be a listening ear.
When she is not in the classroom, you can find her watching an A's game and cheering her team on during baseball season. During the winter season, she spends her time hitting the slopes at her favorite resorts: Sierra, Dodge Ridge, and Kirkwood. When she is not outdoors, she loves nothing better than relaxing on the couch and reading an enthralling book. Ms. Clark looks forward to greeting all her students at Mill Creek Academy.
Ms. Truong is a proud Banana Slug, having graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Mathematics Education. Throughout her failures and triumphs at UC Santa Cruz, Ms. Truong found her own personal journey in learning math would be the impetus for how she could best help students understand and navigate the joy that comes from the world of math. She wanted to take her newfound love for math and share it with all students, those who struggled and those who accelerated.
Ms. Truong completed her credential in math at CSU East Bay and currently teaches Geometry and Trigonometry & Statistics at James Logan High School, her alma mater. She enjoys seeing her students progress through the year and helping them make connections between math and the real world. Ms. Truong is also currently working on obtaining her Master's in Educational Technology. Her goal is to integrate technology into the classroom wherever possible and use it as a tool to teach concepts that might be otherwise difficult to demonstrate with pencil and paper. She is excited to have the opportunity to work at Mill Creek Academy and inspire young minds to evaluate, compute, and see the value math has in today's society.
In her free time, Ms. Truong enjoys reading manga, playing video games, and spending quality time with her friends and family.
After having graduated with a BA in English from Santa Clara University and then working for 13 years in sales and training for Silicon Valley tech companies, one which took her as far as New York City, Ms. Schroeder decided that she wanted to follow in her mother's footsteps and have a greater impact on our children's future. She changed her career focus, attended St. Mary's College and received her single-subject teaching credential and has not looked back. Ms. Schroeder has always had a great love for learning, exploring new ideas, and teaching kids, especially in the area of communications (writing, speech, etc.). She has taught English Literature at Campolindo High School in Moraga and Mt. Diablo High School in Concord. She currently substitute-teaches and moderates the yearbook class at De La Salle, an all-boys Catholic college-prep high school in Concord, where her main goal is to help student become better journalism writers.
Ms. Schroeder has a strong belief that being able to articulate oneself in an effective and efficient manner, whether through speech or writing, creates the most impactful foundation for future success. Her enthusiastic yet nurturing demeanor combined with her tireless attention to detail has helped many kids become better writers.
When she is not working with high school kids, Ms. Schroeder works as the Director of a church nursery on Sundays, where she enjoys forming relationships with many families and watching their children's imaginations and confidence develop. Any chance she can get, she also enjoys spending time with her two sisters and her three young nieces.
Born in Taiwan and raised in Tennessee, Ms. Lin first realized the power and perks of penning her words when she won a sixth-grade essay contest which earned her a year's free supply of Coca-Cola, delivered to her doorsteps monthly. 9,125 pages and 25 "secret" journals later, Ms. Lin is still fascinated with using words daily to give voice to her thoughts and dreams. Being a Bears kind of gal, Ms. Lin has a BA in English Literature, a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages certificate, and a recently completed College Advising and Career Planning certificate, all from Cal (UC Berkeley). Ms. Lin has been a college writing tutor and an English instructor to adults at a government-sponsored testing center in Taipei.
The majority of her professional career has been as an early childhood educator and program director at Step One School in North Berkeley, but she is extremely excited now to be working with Mill Creek Academy to expand her professional learning at the college admissions end.
Currently an AVID tutor and a substitute teacher for Fremont Unified, and as a proud alumna of Centerville JHS and American High (Go Eagles!), she feels truly gratified to have come full circle and to be giving back to the Fremont public schools. After many years of working with students at the beginning of their educational journey, Ms. Lin is passionate about helping students "end" their secondary education with the promise of achieving college success at a school that is a "good fit" for them.
Ms. Lin is a decades-long volunteer with the California Alumni Association, for which she is the Fremont district Co-Chair (and former recipient) of the Leadership Award Scholarship, as well as a member of the scholarship committee of the South Bay Chinese Service Club, also as a former recipient. Ms. Lin looks forward to guiding students in discovering the importance of sharing their stories with just 350 words!
In her spare time, Ms. Lin likes to devour sushi, soup dumplings, sassy romance and mystery novels, and she is seriously contemplating creating a laundry schedule for her new college grad daughter, who will be spending her gap year at home!
Ms. Moore has been teaching English Literature at the high school level since 1999; she has been at Mission San Jose High School since 2001. Currently teaching English 10A and AVID 9/10, Ms. Moore is committed to helping students become better writers and learners. She has been the English department chair for Mission San Jose High since 2004. Most recently, she has been the Common Core Liaison since 2012 where she helps to support teachers and students through implementing the new Common Core standards. Ms. Moore attended San Francisco State University where she graduated with her Bachelors of Arts in English Literature. Soon after, she continued her education and attended Chapman University where she received her teaching credential. Recently, she earned her administrative credential and a Masters in Educational Leadership through California State East Bay.
Working closely with Facing History and Ourselves, a worldwide organization that strives to foster empathy through curriculum and teaching, Ms. Moore is dedicated to implementing those techniques into her curriculum so that her students are realizing that their education is not something to take for granted. As a recipient of the Rene Molho Holocaust Education Teacher of the Year award for "Yom Hashoah V'Hagevurah" (Holocaust Remembrance), Ms. Moore is proud to see how her passion for teaching continues to ignite the students she works with on a daily basis.
When she is not teaching, Ms. Moore enjoys spending time with her family. She has two elementary aged boys in the Fremont Unified School District. Ms. Moore also enjoys reading, traveling, watching movies, cross-stitching, and most importantly, Disneyland! She looks forward to working with the talented students at Mill Creek Academy.
Ms. Taylor's approach to the college planning process is frequently described as empathetic with high expectations for her students. She has successfully navigated the college admissions effort for her own three children and knows firsthand the challenges parents face when managing the application process for their high school students.
Ms. Taylor received an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in addition to a B.S. from the University of California, Davis.
Her first career just out of graduate school involved corporate management spanning marketing, communications, sales management and business development roles; she launched new pharmaceutical products, in-licensed technologies and developed and managed large sales teams. While in these corporate roles, Ms. Taylor has always been involved in her communities by serving on nonprofit boards committed to youth development. Pursuing this passion further, Ms. Taylor then chose to apply her business training to senior level assignments in higher education.
She is the former Senior Director of Admissions at Santa Clara University, former Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Enrollment at Presidio Graduate School and was also a college admissions reader at Stanford University.
Having reviewed over 6,000 personal applications and interviewed over 500 candidates for admission, Ms. Taylor has extensive and exclusive insight into the college admission standards of top universities. She now shares these unique insights with parents and students who are looking to be highly competitive in today's college applicant pool. She works with her students to create outstanding essays with intellectual depth, to prepare cohesive college materials that reveal who they truly are and to present exceptional college applications that highlight students talents.
Ms. Taylor works with high school students with varied profiles including those who are scholar athletes, students who will differentiate their application with portfolios, young adults who seek highly selective admission and those applicants who plan to seek colleges where students with solid B academic performances thrive.
Ms. Taylor is a member of the following professional associations:
Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)
Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA)
Western Association for College Admissions Counseling (WACAC)
When Ms. Taylor is not working with parents and students, she can be found hiking through local Bay Area trails with family and her three adult children, enjoying a quality cup of coffee, and pursuing her work on the non-profit boards of Hidden Villa in Los Altos Hills and the Palo Alto Family YMCA.
Ms. Abney grew up in Manteca, California, and had the privilege of being raised in a household of professional educators. Always a performer and even spending five years as a performer at the Disneyland Resort, Ms. Abney has always fostered a love of working with children. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and Communications through Liberty
University. She continues to instruct her students with encouragement, empowerment, and rallying behind youth to find their passion for learning.
Mrs. Abney earned her multiple subject teaching credential through Teachers College of San Joaquin County. She has had the privilege of working at River Islands Technology Academy in Lathrop, California as a third grade teacher for 5+ years. Working for a technology school has allowed her the opportunity to use a variety of technology platforms in all subject areas. Ms. Abney is excited to merge her passions of creating engaging lessons and developing technology literacy with her students at Mill Creek Academy. She is an expert in learning platforms that engage students in collaboration and participation.
In her free time, Mrs. Abney enjoys performing in live theater, baking new desserts, and traveling with her family. Her goal is to visit every Disney park, and she will complete her goal once she visits Shanghai Disneyland! Mrs. Abney feels blessed to have the opportunity to work
Ms. Sherrier benefitted from a public school education growing up in Montclair, NJ, enrolled in one of the first magnet school systems in the country. She attended Tulane University in New Orleans and discovered her passion for literature and writing in her first undergraduate English class. This inspired her to pursue a double major in English and Communications with a minor in Psychology. During her time in New Orleans, Ms. Sherrier worked at a local charter school, teaching Kindergarten art classes as well as providing individual instruction for all elementary grade levels.
Upon graduating in 2011, Ms. Sherrier moved to New York City and worked in public relations at Rubenstein Public Relations. However, she soon was drawn back into the world of academia, and in 2014, she continued her education journey and enrolled in the Master of Arts Literature program at City College of New York (CCNY).
At CCNY, Ms. Sherrier immersed herself in the world of composition pedagogy, gaining adjunct experience teaching a variety of undergraduate writing courses including: Freshman Composition, Fairy Tales and the Re-Writings, Writing for Engineers, and Prose Workshop. In 2017, she earned the Norman Levine Outstanding Teacher's Award presented by CCNY. In an effort to further explore the issues of education equity in NYC, Ms. Sherrier accepted a teaching position at Success Academy, the largest charter-school network in the state of New York, teaching sophomore Literature and Writing.
Ms. Sherrier is eager to join Mill Creek Academy's talented team and guide students through purposeful feedback to elevate their personal statements. She believes that everyone can be a capable writer with plenty of editing, hard work, and determination.
"Words are single units, but together they astound the mind, increase creativity, and bridge gaps." This philosophy is Ms. Wong's sole purpose for being an educator. She believes in the power of language and desires to motivate and guide students towards discovering the joy in learning as the Owner of Mill Creek Academy.
Energetic, passionate about literature, and personable are qualities that Ms. Wong is well-known for among her student and parent community.
Ms. Wong graduated from the University of California Irvine where she received a double B.A. in English and Psychology, in addition to a double minor in Education and Linguistics. Soon after, she decided to obtain her Master's degree in Education at UC Berkeley. Ms. Wong also earned her Administrative Credential at San Jose State University. Ms. Wong has been part of the faculty at Mission San Jose High School where she taught 9th and 11th grade Honors and College Prep English from 2003-2013.
While teaching at Mission San Jose High School, Ms. Wong served as Mission's Peer Counseling teacher, Key Club International advisor, as well as the Freshmen and Senior Class Advisor. She holds a C.L.A.D. (Cultural, Language, and Development) credential and is G.A.T.E certified. During her teaching experience, Ms. Wong also spent a great deal of her time working with students in the fourth to seventh grade level through Clinton's Academic Literacy Program.
Ms. Wong completed her College Admissions Counseling Certification from the University of California, Los Angeles in November 2015 where she graduated with academic distinction.
Passionate about not only educating students while in their school years, Ms. Wong is committed to assisting students through the college admissions process.
Ms. Wong is a member of the following professional associations:
Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)
Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA)
Western Association for College Admissions Counseling (WACAC)
National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC)
Ms. Wong was named 2003 NUMMI New Promising Teacher of the Year for Fremont and recently received the Dorothy Wright Award for Outstanding High School Teacher from San Jose State University in 2011 and 2012.
During her free time, she can be found writing children books for the elementary school grades, working on scrapbooking memories, and spending quality time with her three daughters.
Ms. Townsend grew up in Pleasanton, where she first developed her love for education. She began volunteering in elementary classrooms, tutoring at the public library, and job shadowed an elementary principal for a Youth in Government Day. Those experiences as a young child left a lasting impression. Continuing her education, Ms. Townsend earned a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies and her Multiple Subject teaching credential from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Deciding where to begin her teaching career, there was no doubt that she would return to her alma mater, Donlon Elementary. Her experience has been with teaching at the Kindergarten level, fifth and sixth grade. Most recently, she has been a 5th grade teacher, helping her students explore and strengthen their skills in Math, Science, and English. Her passion for teaching writing continues to be one of her main focuses on curriculum.
Outside the classroom walls, Ms. Townsend holds a Masters in Educational Leadership and an Administrative Credential, which has allowed her to take on leadership roles at her school site. Ms. Townsend coordinates her elementary school's after school tutoring program for 3rd-5th graders, works as a data analyst in a committee that encourages positive behavior choices in students, and is on her school's RTI implementation team. Wearing multiple hats at her school, she savors her time when working with children.
In her free time, Ms. Townsend enjoys running, hiking, and spending time with her husband and her 3 year old son, Mason. She is excited for the opportunity to join the outstanding team at Mill Creek Academy!
"The highest realms of thought are impossible to reach without first attaining an understanding of compassion" (Socrates) captures the essence of Ms. Geers' philosophy of education. She believes that through the exploration of literature, students develop the analytical skills necessary for inter-disciplinary connections, which enables them to become concerned global citizens with a higher level of empathy. With this pedagogical approach, students discover the importance of establishing a strong, independent voice within their writing, which is beneficial for their academic and future careers.
Ms. Geers graduated from Vanguard University where she earned a B.A. in English with a Minor in History/Political Science, as well as an M.A. in Biblical Studies/Archaeology. She received her teaching credential through San Jose State University and her Administrative Services Credential through California State University East Bay.
An educator since 2001, Ms. Geers currently is a member of the faculty at Mission San Jose High School where she teaches 10 Honors and 11 Honors English. She is G.A.T.E. certified, G.L.A.D. certified, in the process of earning her E.R.W.C. certification, and she has received training in Advanced Placement Language and Literature. Before joining the staff at Mission San Jose High School, Ms. Geers taught Advanced Placement Literature, American Literature, and World History at Fremont Christian School.
Ms. Geers has received the Alpha Delta Kappa Outstanding Educator Award, the Fremont Education Foundation's Innovative Educator Award, Mission San Jose High School's Teacher of the Year, Facing History And Ourselves Upstanding Educator - Finalist recognition, the National Society of High School Scholars Nobel Educator of Distinction award, the University of California Award of Excellence, the San Jose State University College of Education Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Contributions in the area of Multicultural Education, Chapman University's Commendation for the Commitment to Student Learning, and recognition from The Alliance for Young Artists and Writers.
A trained archaeologist, Ms. Geers has worked in several countries located in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. She has a high level of energy, and a passion for knowledge and understanding, which she brings to her students. In her spare time, she enjoys playing tennis, skiing, traveling, and spending time with her family.