High School Faculty
Mr. Alvarez performs many roles at the Upper Campus, including College Counselor, teacher of Humanities, World History 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.…
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. Byars serves as the Coordinator of the Upper Campus Outdoor Education program. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Trinity University in Texas and has taught World History and Geology. Beyond his academic pursuits, he has applied his teaching talents to instruction in outdoor activities, including swift water rescue and wilderness medicine. He has taught skiing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and led ropes course activities.…
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.…
Mr. Cvetich joined the high school faculty in August 2024. He will teach three advanced placement courses – AP World History, AP United States History and AP Psychology. He will also coach 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.…
Ms. Davis stepped into a new role as Director of High School in August 2025. She has spent more than 30 years teaching at the Upper Campus, primarily in the English and Social Studies departments where she taught all levels of English and developed the Humanities curriculum. She also served as the Assistant Head of Upper Campus, overseeing Student Affairs.…
Mr. Driscoll teaches AP Chemistry, Chemistry, and serves as resident counselor living in the Hermes Hall dormitory for boys. 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.…
Mr. Floyd stepped into the role as Interim Head of School in August 2025. 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.…
Mr. Fulton serves as the Dean of Student Life and teaches Biology and AP Environmental Science. He previously taught Environmental Science, Biology, and Culinary Arts at a school in Oregon and developed curriculum emphasizing conservation, community engagement and ecological restoration. He also coached Cross Country and Track. Prior to working in Oregon, Mr. Fulton taught at the Besant Hill School in Ojai, where he served as the Coordinator of Experiential & Outdoor Education and taught science.…
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.…
Mrs. Kocijan serves as the Administrative Assistant to the Director of High School, the AP Testing Coordinator, and she supports the leadership team at the Upper Campus. She joined the faculty and staff in August 2023. 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. O’Brien joined the high school faculty in August 2024, bringing his extensive math experience, and passion for track and field to the Upper Campus. This fall he will be teaching AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, and Algebra 2. He is also serving as a resident counselor living in Tower House. Mr. O’Brien earned his BA in Mathematics from Emmanuel College in Boston, MA and obtained his Connecticut teaching certification in mathematics.…
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 serves as the librarian at the JB Close Memorial Library at Upper Campus. She also teaches AP Seminar, English 10 and works with students in the high school ESL program. 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.…
Ms. Ruby joined the high school faculty in August 2024. She will be teaching AP Statistics, Business Math, Math Intensive, and a section of Algebra 1. She will also serve as a resident counselor in the Girls Dorm and as the volleyball coach for both the boys and girls team. Ms. Ruby earned her BS in Health & Wellness with a minor in Strength & Conditioning from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY, where she also played on the women’s indoor volleyball team.…
Ms. Sandoval rejoined the OVS faculty in August 2023 as Weekend Coordinator, a Resident Counselor, and the girls soccer coach. She lives in the Grace Hobson Smith House dorm with her family. 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. He will teach Photography I, Photography II, and Digital Design. Mr. Schude comes to OVS with 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. Shepherd joined the high school faculty in August 2024 and will be teaching AP Biology, AP Physics1, AP Physics C, and Astronomy. She will also serve as a resident counselor for boys, living in Hermes Hall. Ms. Shepherd earned her BA in Biology from the University of Toledo, Ohio and her Masters in Education from the University of St.…
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. Brad spent five years teaching special education before he found Ojai Valley School.…
In search of a healthier environment to teach and raise his children, Mr. Westcott moved to Ojai Valley School in 2015 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 grew up in the Ojai Valley School family. She attended OVS starting in Pre-K and graduated from the Upper Campus in 2006. Her father, uncle, siblings and brother-in-law also attended OVS. 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.…
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.…