Teacher Profiles
Principal
Mario Gonzalez
Principal
Single Subject Teaching Credential
M. Ed., Diversity in the Classroom, National University
B.A., History, Cal State Fullerton
Mario graduated from California State University Fullerton with a Bachelor's Degree in History. He continued his education receiving a Single Subject Teaching Credential and his Master’s Degree in Diversity in the Classroom from National University, Los Angeles. Mario has over seven years teaching experience from Middle School to High School in Hawaii, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. He has worked as a head varsity soccer coach and has been awarded Teacher of the Year 2008-2009 for Borrego Springs Unified. While in San Diego County he was Co-Director of Science, Education and Technology that brought resources to the classroom that enabled high school students the opportunity to facilitate science curriculum to elementary students.
Teachers
Chris Bonneau
Director of Counseling Services
B.S., Communications, Boston University
After graduating from Boston University with a degree in Communications, Mr. Bonneau moved to Southern California where he became an award-winning writer (of screenplays and educational texts) and a teacher at a number of highly regarded Academies throughout the Los Angeles area. After writing courses for both SAT Writing and College Essay Writing, he took on the role of adviser and has since helped more than 2,000 students with the college selection and application process. During this time frame, he has guided students through more than 4,000 college statements. Many of the students that he has counseled have gone on to Ivy League and other prestigious universities.
Katie Huetinck
Teacher
M.A. Education, San Diego State University
B.A. Liberal Studies, Point Loma Nazarene University
Katie grew up and was schooled in Southern California, but early on discovered that the world is wide and filled with educational opportunity.
She became, and remains, a world traveler and an avid explorer of wild places. This energetic approach to life and learning has made her intellectually nimble, emotionally adaptable and artfully improvisational. All these qualities are essential for good teaching and engaged students, adding depth, texture, nuanced insight and authentic creativity to academic experience.
While Katie's nearly two decades of hands on teaching experience is impressive enough, the real key to her artistry in teaching is the keen ability to see and accept the uniqueness of a student and then help to orchestrate the symphony of possibilities embodied in an individual. This is the secret sauce of the teacher and in the end, probably the reason for doing the work.
Outside the halls of academia, Katie leads an enthusiastic and ever evolving life with active interest in travel, hiking/backpacking, yoga, photography, animal husbandry, gardening, numerous artistic endeavors and finally, she is a real fine baker.
Dylan Jones
Activities Director and Interdisciplinary Teacher
M.A., Education, University of Phoenix
B.A., History, Cal State University Fullerton
A.A., History, Mt. San Jacinto Junior College
Dylan was born in Laguna Beach and raised in Temecula. Though Dylan wants to retire in Hawaii someday, he is happy and content right here in California. Dylan Jones holds a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Phoenix, a Bachelor’s Degree in History from California State University, Fullerton and an Associate’s Degree in Math/Science from Mt. San Jacinto Junior College. When Dylan becomes an “old man” he eventually would like to teach at the University level and dreams of someday teaching at Harvard. Dylan currently lives in the beautiful beach community of Carlsbad in sunny San Diego and spends his free time skateboarding, painting, watching Lakers’ games, body-surfing at the beach, and playing rock ‘n’ roll music.
He believes that education is the key to creating a peaceful, global community. Dylan’s dream is to contribute to the world in a positive way, which is also his reason for deciding to become a teacher. Dylan currently teaches Pre-Algebra, Literacy, Government, Economics, U.S. History, and Music Theory at Pacific Academy.
Stephen Strong
Math Teacher
M.A., Education, University of Oregon
B.S., Mathematics and General Science, University of Oregon
Stephen has recently relocated to Encinitas from Oregon. He enjoys the area and the wonderful weather. He grew up in Eugene, Oregon where he knew at an early age he wants to have a job impacting children's lives. He has always had a talent and love for math and science. Later, he discovered he had a talent for teaching those subjects. He strives to get the most out of all his students.
Enrique Gonzalez
History and Spanish Teacher, and PBL Director
M.A., Latin American Studies, San Diego State University
B.A., History and a Minor in Spanish,
San Diego State University
Enrique graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor's Degree in History and a Minor in Spanish. He continued his education at San Diego State University where he earned his Master of Arts in Latin American Studies with focuses in the survival of Indigenous culture through the colonial period and Pre-Colombian Mexican art. Enrique also studied abroad at the Instituto de Cultura y Lengua Costarricense (Culture and Language Institute) in Costa Rica. Enrique has taught Spanish and worked as an academic coach modifying curriculum for students with IEPs and 504s at High Tech High Media Arts. He has also spent time tutoring, mentoring, and assistant teaching at various schools throughout San Diego County. He has volunteered as an ESL teacher at the Familia Indigina Unida Center in Linda Vista and currently volunteers his time as a mentor at the Mexi'cayotl Indio Cultural Center in San Ysidro.
Emily Harper
English Teacher
B.A., Secondary English Education and Speech Communication, Ferris State University
Emily recently moved out to California this past summer after completing her first year of teaching English at the high school level at Pansophia Academy in Southern Michigan. Emily graduated from Ferris State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary English Education and a minor in Speech Communications. Since moving to San Diego she has enjoyed not only the breath taking views and wonderful weather, but the welcoming nature of so many locals as well. Emily is inspired by nature and many of the great authors who wrote about it, and hopes to instill that love and respect for nature in each of her students. Some of her favorite authors include Leo Tolstoy, John Steinbeck, and Jack London.
May Ho Lee
Executive Admissions Assistant
International Student Liaison
B.A, University of Southern California
May graduated from USC with a degree in Architecture. After working in the architectural field for some years, she took a break to take care of her family. During that time, she actively volunteered at he son's school in various capacities, such as a graphic editor for a school newspaper, the co-coach for LEGO league, a committee member for Science Olympiad and a Boy Scout troop Advancement Chairperson, a position she still currently holds. May recently returned to the work force but switched gears to the educational field because she finds working with young people rewarding. She connects with the international students especially as she shares a similar situation with them and was too a teenager when she came to the US.
Brittney J. Mabus
Elementary School Lead Teacher and High School English Teacher
M.A., Teaching, University of Southern California
B.S., Early Childhood Education and a minor in English, Iona College, New Rochelle, New York
Brittney recently relocated from New York to sunny San Diego. After growing up in New York with her family and her two brothers, she decided to move to California to further her teaching career. Brittney received a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education and a minor in English from Iona College. During her four years at Iona College, she played lacrosse in the MAAC conference and was involved in several different community service programs including mentoring high school students through academics and sports. After graduating, she continued her education by earning a Master of Arts in Teaching at the University of Southern California. Throughout her career, Brittney has taught a wide variety of students ranging from kindergarten to high school. Her teaching philosophy is to cultivate a conducive learning environment where the students feel safe to take risks and learn through exploration and discovery. For fun, Brittney loves to take her dog (Rex) to the beach, practice yoga, go shopping, watch football and basketball, and travel to as many islands as she can.
Feartatious Hogan
Feartatious’ passion for art lead her to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Art at Valdosta State University where she developed her skills in painting, photography, and graphic design. During her undergrad she studied abroad at VSU’s sister school P.H. Karlsruhe in Germany where the castles, country sides, and culture deepened her love for art history.
Fast forward a few years and Feartatious moved from her home state of Georgia to write the next chapter of her life in California where she obtained a Master’s Degree in Education at National University.
In her free time Feartatious enjoys drawing portraits, pretending she’s Mariah Carey while singing in the car, and cooking anything from Soul Food to Tikka Masala.
Art Teacher
B.A, Valdosta State University