SAMUELI ACADEMY - Key Persons


Dr. Dina Mahmood

Job Titles:
  • Inclusion Coach
I attended UCLA for my B.A. and returned to UCLA for a Master's in Education. I recently graduated from Chapman University with a doctoral degree in Education. I have taught at a PBL school since 2010. I love learning and get excited when new knowledge changes the way that I see the world.

Mr. Alex Choperena

Job Titles:
  • Director of Development

Mr. Anthony (Nino) Polizzi

Job Titles:
  • Engineering

Mr. Anthony Saba

Job Titles:
  • Executive Director
  • Executive Director, at 714 - 619 - 0245 or

Mr. Blaine Jones Earth


Mr. Carlos Chavez

Job Titles:
  • History

Mr. David Janisch

Job Titles:
  • Engineering

Mr. Devin Beliveau


Mr. Eduardo Cervantes

Job Titles:
  • Campus Facilities Coordinator

Mr. Erik Pederson

Job Titles:
  • Government / Economics

Mr. Gilberto Solorio

Job Titles:
  • Custodian

Mr. Jeff Lohman

Job Titles:
  • Science

Mr. John Luker - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Finance Officer
  • Executive

Mr. Jose Gallardo


Mr. Juan Esqueda

Job Titles:
  • Registrar

Mr. Ken Cummings Athletic

Job Titles:
  • Athletic Director

Mr. Martin Zambrano English


Mr. Moby Contreras

Job Titles:
  • Campus Supervisor

Mr. Noah Palacios English


Mr. Oscar Reyes

Job Titles:
  • Work - Based Learning Coordinator

Mr. Raul Ocegueda

Majoring in civil engineering I am working on completing my P.L.S. (Professional Land Surveyor)and P.E.(Professional Engineer) licensing. I was born and raised in Santa Ana I would like to give back to my community by working with youth to support their learning experience. I enjoy playing basketball and other sports during my free time. My experience consists of working with youth for the last six years. I have a passion for working with students and have worked at various schools in Santa Ana and Anaheim. I look forward to working at Samueli Academy and collaborating with faculty and students for a successful year.

Mr. Raymond Kalbhenn

Job Titles:
  • Physical Education

Mr. Robert Salazar

Job Titles:
  • Facilities Supervisor

Mr. Samuel Leong English

Hi everyone! I am beyond excited to start my teaching career here at Samueli Academy as one of the high school English teachers. I was born and raised in the cloudy city of San Francisco. I thoroughly enjoyed highschool as I served as ASB Vice President, ran cross country, and played varsity volleyball. After graduating, I attended Community College of San Francisco for two years before transferring to the University of California, Los Angeles. At UCLA, I studied English and Asian American studies while also dabbling in health and medicine and served in a pre-med/pre-health club. After finishing undergrad, I chose to further my education and pursue my masters in teaching and English credential at the University of California, Irvine. I am currently the 10th grade English teacher and teaching the integrated "World Humanities" course.

Mr. Stephen Pink Spanish

Born and raised in Orange County, I spent 7 years of higher education at Cal State Fullerton to obtain my Bachelor's (B.A. Spanish), a Healthcare Interpreting certificate and a Teaching Credential. Additional endeavors in college included about 15 or so independent trips to central Mexico (Michoacán, Jalisco, Morelos, D.F.) in order to become fluent and informed on the language and culture. These times of travel included participation with youth and priestly retreats under the religious order, Misioneras Clarisas del Santísimo Sacramento, with convents and retreat centers located in Morelos, Michoacán and here in Santa Ana. I began teaching in 2013 and have taught both Spanish-speakers and ‘Non-Native' speakers in a number of districts, including Fullerton JUHSD, Placentia-Yorba Linda SD, and Green Dot Public Schools (South Los Ángeles) prior to joining the Samueli Academy family.

Mr. Steven Hernandez

Job Titles:
  • Campus Supervisor

Mr. Zach Granoff Computer


Mrs. Andrea Geans

Job Titles:
  • Administrative Assistant

Mrs. Cristalle Callis

Job Titles:
  • Chemistry

Mrs. Jess Doebler

Job Titles:
  • Office Manager, Grades 9 - 12

Mrs. Joy Abuel English

The day I learned to read in my kindergarten class, I came home and told my parents that I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. Throughout my adolescence, that desire to be continuously immersed in the world of education grew stronger, and became directed specifically toward high school English. After graduating high school, I attended Biola University for my BA in English, Secondary Education. I love living out my passion for learning at Samueli Academy, teaching Freshman ELA and AP Language and Composition.

Mrs. Lourdes Cervantes

Job Titles:
  • Food Service Assistant

Mrs. Shelley Juhl-O'Brien

Job Titles:
  • Design / Student

Ms. Aggie Ambrosio

Job Titles:
  • School Psychologist

Ms. Alexandra Lopez-Martinez

Job Titles:
  • Assistant
  • Head of School
  • Assistant Head of School ( 7th & 8th Grades )

Ms. Amber Whiting


Ms. Andriana Torres


Ms. Anna Kietzman Choir


Ms. Celeste Toloza

Job Titles:
  • Grade Counselor

Ms. Dana Handley


Ms. Danielle Rhodes

Job Titles:
  • Mathematics

Ms. Diana Campos


Ms. Erica Rueda

Job Titles:
  • Science

Ms. Haley Speicher Student

Job Titles:
  • Services Coordinator
  • Student Services Coordinator

Ms. Isabel Saldana

Job Titles:
  • Campus Supervisor
I am excited to start my first year as a Campus Supervisor at Samueli Academy. I was born and raised in the city of Santa Ana and graduated from La Quinta High School in Westminster. I was attending Santa Ana College and working towards obtaining my degree in Criminal Justice. Unfortunately, that had to be placed on hold because I got pregnant and needed to take care of my son. He is now 10 years old and I love volunteering at his school and helping the other children that also have learning and speech disabilities. It brings me joy to see my son and his schoolmates accomplish things that seem impossible to them, which is why I will be returning to school to work on obtaining a degree in Child Development. I have a certificate in Medical Front Office, which I obtained through Coastline ROP. I am eager to be at Samueli Academy and look forward to supporting the students and staff in any way I can.

Ms. Jai Wallace

Job Titles:
  • Student Development Coordinator

Ms. Jasmine Barajas


Ms. Kim Dawson

Job Titles:
  • Assistant
  • Head of School
  • Assistant Head of School ( 9th - 12th Grades )

Ms. Laura Lopez

I was born and raised in Santa Ana. I graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 2015, earning my BA in History. Upon graduating, I knew that I wanted to teach and be part of a school community. I worked as a swim instructor and substitute teacher for a couple of years and decided that my next step was to get my teaching credential and Masters degree. In 2019 I received my Masters and History teaching credential from UCI with the hope of becoming a Social Studies teacher in the near future and continue making a positive impact on students.

Ms. Lee Fleming

Job Titles:
  • Head of School

Ms. Lydia Fisher

Job Titles:
  • Office Manager, Grades 7 & 8

Ms. Maria Lavalle


Ms. Michelle Lanternier

Job Titles:
  • Behavior Intervention Specialist
  • Specialist

Ms. Michelle Rodriguez

Job Titles:
  • Food Service Assistant

Ms. Natalia Gomez Mora

Job Titles:
  • Food Service Supervisor

Ms. Norah Sarsour

Job Titles:
  • Director of Alumni Success

Ms. Patricia Vining

Job Titles:
  • Design

Ms. Ruby Diaz

Job Titles:
  • Campus Supervisor

Ms. Sarah Davis

Job Titles:
  • Student Success Coordinator

Ms. Sheena Somoza

Job Titles:
  • Mathematics

Ms. Tracy Boxeth

Job Titles:
  • Resource Specialist / Case Manager