Faculty and Staff Directory
Ojai Valley School is located on two campuses in Ojai, CA.
- The Lower Campus (grades PK-8) is located at 723 El Paseo Road.
- The Upper Campus (grades 9-12) is located at 10820 Reeves Road.
- Please call (805) 646-1423 for information or access the staff directory below.
Mr. Alvarez performs many roles at the Upper Campus, including College Counselor, teacher of Humanities and Journalism, and coach of cross country. Before joining the OVS faculty in 2007, he worked as a professional journalist for a number of California newspapers. His last stint was with the Los Angeles Times, where he worked as a metro reporter for 14 years covering immigration, agriculture, social issues, and government.…
Ms. Azpera joined the high school faculty in August 2026. She will be teaching Spanish 1, Spanish 3 and Spanish 3 Honors. Ms. Azpera comes to OVS after teaching at Arleta High School in Northridge. Ms. Azpera earned her bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Spanish from California State University Channel Islands in 2024, along with a certification in Spanish Translation.…
Mrs. Bailey started her OVS career as an elementary student. She adored her years growing up at the Lower Campus and graduated from eighth grade in 1998. Since she was a young student, Mrs. Bailey had always wanted to work at OVS. She started as a teacher’s aide, taught in Summer Camp, served as a resident counselor for junior boarding girls, and taught in the Learning Center before becoming the Pre-Kindergarten teacher.…
Mrs. Belgum leads the Animal Science classes for students in grades PK-3 as well as our Land & Climate curriculum for students in grades 4-5. Her interest in animals, horses especially, started when her grandfather brought her to see his racehorses at the age of 4. Since then she has had a variety of riding experience.…
Mr. Benson joined the OVS faculty and staff in November 2022 and comes with extensive experience in technology and problem-solving, including cyber security. He plays a leading role in advancing the school’s technology initiatives on its two campuses.
Ms. Brock joined the Lower Campus faculty in August 2026 and will be teaching fourth grade. Ms. Brock earned her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from Westmont College and her teaching credential. While she is new to OVS, Ms. Brock has grown up in the Ojai Valley and is excited to be joining the school community as part of the elementary division.
Mr. Brunelle joined the OVS faculty in August 2023 in the role of School Counselor. He previously served as the Middle School Counselor at The Harley School in Rochester, NY. Mr. Brunelle plays a central role at OVS in monitoring and supporting the social-emotional well-being of boarding and day students across the grade levels. Among his duties, he helps students in the transition to boarding school and supports them throughout the year in developing healthy self-management, coping, and decision-making skills.…
Mr. Burke is the Technology Assistant for Ojai Valley School, helping to administer the network and systems on its two campuses. He provides hands-on tech support to teachers, student, and staff. In addition he assists with the school’s Outdoor Education program, leading backpacking and base-camping trips with middle school.
Mr. Byars serves as the Coordinator of the Upper Campus Outdoor Education program and teaches Marine Science and Geology. He earned Bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and International Communications from Trinity University in Texas and joined Ojai Valley School in 2016. Beyond his academic pursuits, he has applied his teaching talents to instruction in outdoor activities, including swift water rescue and wilderness medicine.…
Mrs. Caldwell leads the Performing Arts program at Lower Campus as both a middle school teacher and coordinator of the performing arts, including the elementary and middle school productions. She is a longtime member of Ojai’s arts community and a former OVS teacher. During her career, she has served as a performing arts educator and vocal director for several schools and theaters while participating in a wide variety of plays and musicals.…
Mrs. Carver joined the high school faculty as a Learning Center teacher in August 2024. She assisted in the Learning Center during the previous school year and now brings her skills full time as an instructor for students with diagnosed learning differences and those who need help with organization, time management and general academic support. Mrs.…
A lifelong resident of Ventura County, Mrs. Colborn received her undergraduate degree in history from UC Santa Barbara. Thereafter, she entered Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles earning her juris doctor degree. She passed the California State Bar Exam and joined the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office before leaving to practice civil litigation in Santa Barbara.…
Ms. Cosio teaches Elementary Spanish at the Lower Campus. She holds a BA in Spanish and Linguistics from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Mrs. Craig joined Ojai Valley School in 2025 and lives in the Ojai area with her family. In addition to her nursing role at OVS, she works as a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department of Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in Nursing Administration and Leadership.…
Mrs. Cuccio has been a teacher’s assistant in the primary program since 2001. She enjoys working with our youngest students in the Pre-Kindergarten class, and has helped with school plays, Summer Camp and after-school care. She enjoys getting to know students of all ages and feels a part of the whole Lower Campus. Ms. Cuccio has lived in Ojai her entire life.…
Mr. Cvetich joined the high school faculty in 2024 and took on the role of Dean of Student Life in 2026. He also teaches AP United States History and AP Psychology, and coaches basketball and baseball. Mr. Cvetich earned his BA in General Psychology from UC Merced. He previously worked as a teacher, the history department chair and coach at Sage Ridge School in Reno, NV, and at Nantucket Lighthouse School in Nantucket, MA, after getting his start in education as a technology integration specialist at his former high school, Sacramento Country Day School.…
Mr. Driscoll teaches AP Chemistry, Chemistry, Conceptual Chemistry, and Robotics serves as a Resident Counselor living in the Hermes Hall dormitory. Mr. Driscoll joined the Upper Campus faculty in August 2023. He previously taught Honors Environmental Science at Lick Wilmerding High School in San Francisco and served as a tutor for students who required additional support in math and science.…
Ms. Eads joined the high school faculty in August 2026. She was raised in the Ojai Valley and has more than a decade of experience as an art educator, but ceramics is her primary passion. She will be teaching all sections of Ceramics and helping to coach the girls basketball team. She’ll be accompanied in class by her bird, Frida.
Ms. Edwards joined OVS in March 2026 to lead the school’s advancement efforts. Her decades of experience in nonprofit marketing and communications began with positions at the global think tank RAND in Santa Monica and a strategic consulting firm in Pasadena dedicated to cause marketing for public-private collaborations. Her career evolved into independent schools as she raised her three children and found her greatest passion stirred by the power of high-quality education.…
Mrs. Emanuel joined the OVS family in 2008, shortly after moving to the U.S. from Ukraine. Over the years, she has worked on both campuses in a variety of roles, including Weekend Coordinator, Dorm Parent, ESL Teacher, and English Language Program Coordinator. After taking a short break, she returned to OVS several years ago as an ESL Teacher and Advisor.…
Mrs. English attended UC Santa Barbara, where she played tennis and earned a BA in English. She spent more than a decade teaching elementary school in the Ventura Unified School District before joining OVS as a fourth grade and later fifth grade teacher. She and her husband, Scott, celebrated the graduation of their twin daughters, Anna and Frances, from the Upper Campus in spring 2024.…
Mrs. Ferro serves as the Director of Primary and Elementary School, overseeing the academic and co-curricular programs for grades PK-5. She also teaches First Grade. Mrs. Ferro completed her undergraduate work at San Diego State University and completed her credential at Cal State University, Channel Islands. Mrs. Ferro has spent most of her life at Ojai Valley School as either a student, summer camp instructor or teacher.…
Mr. Floyd was named Head of School in April 2026 after serving as Interim Head of School for nine months. He previously served as the Head of Upper Campus, starting in June 2017, as well as the Assistant Head of School for Student Affairs, Director of Development, Director of Summer Programs, and Director of Athletics. A graduate of the Upper Campus in 1983, Mr.…
Mrs. Floyd serves as the Director of Student Services and Curriculum at the Lower Campus. In this role, she oversees curriculum development for grades PK-8, coordinates teacher mentoring programs, assists with student assessments, liaises with different departments and manages disciplinary issues. Mrs. Floyd has held various teaching and administrative roles over her years as an educator.…
Mr. Fulton was appointed Director of High School in 2026. He previously served as the Dean of Student Life and taught Biology and AP Environmental Science at the Upper Campus. Before joining the OVS faculty, Mr. Fulton taught Environmental Science, Biology, and Culinary Arts at a school in Oregon and developed curriculum emphasizing conservation, community engagement and ecological restoration.…
Ms. Goodenough joined the faculty and staff in August 2023 as a nurse in the OVS Health Center. She lives locally in Ojai and her three children attend the Lower Campus.
Ms. Hall joined the Lower Campus faculty in 2025 and teaches performing arts in the primary and elementary grades. Ms. Hall grew up on their family’s apricot orchard in Upper Ojai and began performing in Kindergarten at Summit School. Throughout their teenage years, Ms. Hall sang and played flute, piccolo, piano, and mallet percussion in ensembles up to the national level.…
A fifth-generation Ojai resident, Ms. Hall joined the Ojai Valley School staff as Associate Director of Admissions in 2015, following a career in journalism. She grew up camping and roaming the mountains around Ojai, giving her a profound love and respect for nature. Prior OVS, she worked as Managing Editor for the Ojai Valley News and Visitors Guide Magazine.…
Ms. Hardy is starting her fifth year teaching fourth grade at Ojai Valley School. Prior to joining the faculty, she taught Reading Literacy at Frank Middle School in Oxnard, CA. She earned my Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential in Elementary Education at California State University Channel Islands in 2022. Ms. Hardy says, “Being a teacher gives me the greatest joy and inspiration for life to share my knowledge, enthusiasm, and love of learning with growing minds.”
Ms.…
Mrs. Harris provides a wealth of experience in her role as Admission Coordinator after spending nearly 30 years working with families during the admission process. She is most often the first contact for families interested in learning more about the OVS community, and she supports parents in completing new and returning academic year enrollments, Summer Camp enrollments, and financial aid requests.…
Mr. Heise joined the high school faculty in August 2026. He is coming to OVS from Park City, Utah, where he’d been working as a math and world language teacher at an independent school. Mr. Heise earned two degrees, in English and in Plan II Honors/Math, from the University of Texas at Austin. A competitive trail runner and skimo racer, he is excited to participate in the athletics and outdoor programs.…
Ms. Hersk teaches Drawing, Advanced Studio Art & AP Art. She is an alumnus of both the Upper and Lower campuses. Her mother taught Art at Ojai Valley School for more than 30 years, and Ms. Hersk has followed in her footsteps. For six years she was also the head of the Upper Campus girl’s dorm, then took a break to become certified as a crime and intelligence analyst with the California Department of Justice.…
Mr. Inman has performed numerous roles at OVS Lower Campus during his career, including teaching biology, physics and chemistry to middle school students and serving as the boys’ soccer coach. But starting in the 2021-22 school year, he began to focus exclusively on leading the Outdoor Education program. Mr. Inman earned degrees in Environmental Studies and Law and Society from UC Santa Barbara before entering the teaching profession.…
Ms. Kasch joined the Lower Campus faculty in August 2026 and will be leading the Resident Program. She previously taught performing arts at OVS and watched her own children grow up at the school. She earned an associate’s degree in photography from Marin College and brings a variety of talents and interests to her new role.…
Mrs. Kocijan serves as the Front Office Administrator at the Upper Campus. She joined the staff in August 2023 and supports students, faculty and the leadership team at the high school. Mrs. Kocijan earned a BA in Spanish at California State University Channel Islands and worked in the Conejo Unified School District supporting English language learners.…
Mr. Lang teaches woodshop to students in grades PK-8 and serves as the Fine Arts Coordinator at the Lower Campus. Born and raised in the Ojai Valley, Mr. Lang brings local knowledge of the environment into the classroom. His parents were both long-term faculty members at OVS, so his experience at the school is deeply rooted throughout his entire life.…
Ms. Lopez joined the Upper Campus resident staff in August 2026. She will be working as a resident counselor and serving as member of the weekend teams. Ms. Lopez recently earned her degree from Syracuse University and is continuing her studies this fall in education, specifically in speech and language pathology. She is a longtime Ojai resident and attended the OVS Lower Campus as an elementary student.
Ms. McCarthy joined the Lower Campus faculty in August 2026 after teaching art for the past few summers at OVS Summer Camp. Ms. McCarthy, or Ms. M as the students know her, brings a passion for art, music, and learning to her classroom in the Pearson Center for the Arts. She is graduate of Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor’s of Music and Vocal Performance, with an emphasis on Music Theory and Composition.…
Mr. Mini started working at OVS in fall 2024, supporting middle school students in the Learning Center. He returns to that role for the current academic year and will also be teaching and 8th grade Math 3. Mr. Mini has lived in the Ojai Valley since he was twelve years old. He graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2016 with a BA in history.…
Ms. Nielson joined the Equestrian Department in 2024, and is currently the Upper Campus Equestrian Director and Coach. Ms. Nielson grew up in Ventura and spent almost all of her free time riding horses in the Ojai area before leaving in 2005 to continue pursuing her riding and training goals with Olympian Amy Tryon for five years.…
Ms. Pilgrim attended Charleston Southern University in South Carolina where she played softball on a full scholarship. There she earned her BS in Social Science. She attended graduate school at National University where she earned her masters degree in education with an emphasis in teaching practices. She spent six years teaching fourth grade in her home town of Taft before joining OVS as a fifth grade teacher.…
Ms. Reyes joined the high school faculty in August 2024. She is teaching Geometry and Math IV. She previously taught high school math in Alakanuk, Alaska. Ms. Reyes earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Secondary Teaching from Millikin University in Illinois and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Mathematics, with an emphasis in instruction, from Texas A&M University.…
Ms. Reynolds teaches AP Research, AP Seminar, Expository Writing and English 10. She also serves as the librarian at the JB Close Memorial Library at Upper Campus. She holds a Masters from San Jose State and a BA from the University of Redlands. She joined OVS in 2018 after working in Dallas, Texas, for Mountain View College.…
Mr. Risser left his hometown of San Diego to attend UC Santa Barbara and graduated with a BA in Environmental Studies in 1994. After college he served in the Peace Corps in Costa Rica. As a Peace Corps volunteer, he spent two years teaching environmental education, developing his Spanish skills, and exercising his love for adventure and the outdoors.…
After earning his bachelor’s degree in Texas, Mr. Rowan moved to the temperate rain forests of Southeast Alaska. His first teaching position was as the high school teacher in a small logging community. He migrated south to OVS, where he has taught seventh and eighth grade history for the past two decades. Mr. Rowan also leads the eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C., serves as a director of the OVS Summer Camp, and enjoys backpacking with the students on the Outdoor Education trips.…
Ms. Sandoval leads the high school boarding program as the Dean of Residential Life and Weekend Coordinator, and also serves as a Resident Counselor and girls soccer coach. She lives in the Grace Hobson Smith House dorm with her husband and three daughters, Gia, Maiya and Nayelli. Ms. Sandoval previously worked in the Health Center. She is an alumna of both campuses (L02, U06) and attended the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising after graduation from OVS.…
Mr. Schude joined the high school faculty in August 2024 and has since added a range of visual arts courses to his schedule. In 2026-27, he will be teaching Photography I, Photography II, AP Photography, Video Production and Yearbook. Mr. Schude brings more than two decades of experience as a professional photographer, having worked in the fields of advertising, editorial and fine art with prestigious clients that include Apple, Vanity Fair, Esquire, Smithsonian and SFMOMA.…
Ms. Shain is returning to the middle school Language Arts classroom after teaching in Alaska and Washington. She hold a Bachelor’s degree in Government and a Master’s in History from Eastern Washington University, as well as a teaching certificate in English Language Arts. Originally from Ventura, Ms. Shain previously taught at OVS and is happy to be returning to a place she loves.…
Dr. Shepherd joined the high school faculty in August 2024 and teaches science courses across the grade levels, including Biology, AP Biology, AP Physics1, and AP Environmental Science. She also serves as a resident counselor in Hermes Hall. Dr. Shepherd earned her BA in Biology from the University of Toledo, Ohio, and her Masters in Education from the University of St.…
Ms. Shilo joined the Lower Campus faculty in August 2023. She previously taught 6th grade English, Science, and Drama at Matilija Middle School in Ojai. She also taught at Meiners Oaks Elementary School and San Antonio Elementary School in Ojai, and worked as a Special Education Instructional Assistant. Ms. Shilo has BA in Liberal Arts with an emphasis in Spanish language from Pepperdine University.
Mrs. Smith teaches Second Grade and has been part of the Ojai Valley School community since 2021. A lifelong learner, she holds four associate degrees in Early Childhood Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Liberal Arts, and Humanities. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Studies from California State University Channel Islands and a PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential.…
Mrs. Spence joined the high school faculty in August, 2026 to teach AP Language and Composition, English 11, and Theater. She holds a B.F.A. in Acting from the California Institute of the Arts and an M.A. in English from the Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English. Mrs. Spence has created theatre programs at two of her previous schools, as well as teaching English.…
Ms. Stidham joined the high school faculty in August 2026. She will be teaching World History, AP World History, Government and Economics, and Theater. Ms. Stidham earned a BA in Theatre Business and minored in History at the University of Redlands, where she also served as an outdoor trip leader for four years. She earned her teaching credential in Theatre Arts from Cal State University, East Bay.…
Ms. Toscano joined the Lower Campus faculty in August 2026 and will be teaching Kindergarten. Ms. Toscano hold a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Studies from California State University, Channel Islands. She is a talented early childhood educator with a passion for developing curriculum for our young learners, and will bring those skills into the Kindergarten classroom to encourage a love of learning at an early age.…
Mrs. Tremiti serves as the Executive Assistant to the Head of School and as a liaison to the Board of Trustees. She previously served as Alumni Relations Coordinator and continues to play an active role in communicating with alumni and planning community events on both campuses. Mrs. Tremiti is the parent of four boys at the Lower Campus.
Mrs. Vanetti was born and raised in Ojai and attended local schools before earning her BA in Spanish and Music from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. She then earned her M.Ed and Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with BCLAD and additional subject authorizations in Spanish and Music from UCSB. She spent the first nine years of her teaching career in Santa Barbara charter and independent schools, where she taught sixth grade and first grade.…
Mr. Wallace teaches math and serves as the Director of Middle School, overseeing the academic and co-curricular program for students in grades 6-8. Since coming to OVS in 1996, Mr. Wallace has taught mathematics, supervised the boys dorm as a Resident Counselor, and he continues to lead trips as the Assistant Outdoor Education Coordinator and the Mammoth Mountain Ski & Snowboard Trip leader.…
Mr. Wang is stepping into an administrative role as the school’s new Business Manager. He previously served for two decades as the Business Services Officer for the Ventura Police Department and was widely known as the handler for Asher, a black Cavadoodle (a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle mix) who served as the department’s first-ever therapy and comfort dog.…
Mr. Weidlich was drawn to California when the lacrosse coach at Whittier College called him at his boarding school in Connecticut during a snowstorm and mentioned sunshine, palm trees and the ocean. He graduated from Whittier with a BA in English and moved to Seal Beach and began his teaching career. Mr. Weidlich spent five years teaching special education before he found Ojai Valley School.…
Mr. Westcott moved to Ojai Valley School in 2015 in search of a healthier environment to teach and raise his children after spending 12 years as an educator in China. For seven of those years, he taught computer science and coached robotics at the Yew Chung International School in Shanghai. His experience with technology and mathematics were a perfect match for OVS, which has been broadening it STEM curriculum in the middle and high school.…
Ms. Whipple serves as the Dean of Academics at the high school and teaches AP English Literature and English 10 Honors. Her history at Ojai Valley School runs deep. She attended OVS starting in Pre-K and graduated from the Upper Campus in 2006. Her father, uncle, siblings and brother-in-law also are alums. Ms. Whipple graduated with honors from National University with a Bachelor’s degree in English and then completed her Master’s degree in English while working as the weekend coordinator at Upper Campus.…
Mrs. Wilson graduated from UC Berkeley with a dual major in English/Speech and History. After teaching for eleven years, first at Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek and then at Castilija School in Palo Alto, she left the classroom to have a family and raise horses. After accumulating too many equines for her Portola Valley property, she brought them to her family citrus ranch in Ojai in 1986.…
Ms. Wilson has served as Admissions Director at Ojai Valley School for 20 years. She has traveled extensively around the world to meet prospective students and enjoys introducing families to the unique programs and close community at OVS. Ms. Wilson graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in English and previously worked as a news reporter for the Los Angeles Times.…
Mr. Woll teaches music and coaches soccer at the Upper Campus. His classes include Piano, Music Theory, and Introduction to Music Making: Composition, Mixing and Production. A talented pianist, Mr. Woll studied music with an emphasis on jazz piano performance at UC San Diego. He enjoys teaching at OVS to give students the opportunity to learn and grow and to appreciate the art and skill of expressing themselves through music.…
Mrs. Woll serves as the Athletic Coordinator and P.E. teacher for the Lower Campus. She has both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Physical Education, years of experience working with children, and a passion for wellness and disease prevention. Having the opportunity to impact children and create fun habits is what excites her most about this role.…