Middle School Faculty
Nick Almanza received his education from Eastern Illinois University and has been honing his skills in experiential outdoor education. A veteran of many camps and experiential education environments, Nick has most recently served as a leader and naturalist with the Community Nature Connection in Calabasas.
Kelsey started her OVS career as a student in second grade. She adored her years growing up at the Lower Campus and graduated from eighth grade in 1998. Since she was a young student, Kelsey has always wanted to work at OVS. She has helped as a teacher’s aide and taught in the Summer School program since 1999 and was appointed as a Reed Dorm resident counselor for girls in 2010.…
Eleanora has been working at OVS since 1985. She has worked for Orange County and Conejo Unified school districts as an outdoor education counselor. Initially hired at OVS as the Stable Manager and Riding Instructor, Eleanora transitioned into the Resident Program and has served as the Weekend Active Coordinator at Lower Campus since 1987. She has been part of the Summer Programs in many different capacities, and in 2001, she stepped in as the Summer Camp Director.…
Patty is a long time faculty member at OVS, working as a teacher’s aide for Pre-K through 2nd grade for nine years and teaching primary art for the last seven years. She has also run the art program for OVS Summer Camp for the last five years. She is an artist herself, creating mosaics from broken China.…
Melinda is the ESL department coordinator and teaches all levels of ESL language arts and integrated studies. Additionally, she explores and coordinates global studies initiatives and field trips, and serves as a 7th grade advisor. Melinda enjoys camping, hiking, and swimming, therefore, being part of the Outdoor Education Program is a favorite aspect of her job responsibilities.…
Laurie Clark was named Head of School, Lower Campus, in June 2020. Originally from California, Laurie earned her B.A. in Humanities from Fort Lewis College in Colorado. She went on to earn her M.A. in Education from Adams State College, as well as a Master Teacher Certification in Outdoor Education from Four Corners School of Outdoor Education. She also received her certificate in International School Leadership from the PTC.
Laurie has taught grades one through five. She served as the Head of Lower School at Cedar International School in British Virgin Islands, and most recently served as the Lower School Principal at Rancho Solano Prep School, a PK-12 school, in Scottsdale, Arizona.…
Doug began teaching at the OVS Upper Campus in 1997. While his primary focus has been to serve as a math teacher, Doug also taught Social Science and Physical Science courses. He has a passion for sports and has coached a number of different teams for OVS, as well as serving as athletic director for 8 years.…
Candace Delbo has 27 years of experience working with children and music in the Ojai Valley. It began at a time when there were no choral programs at local public schools. Candace initiated after-school choral programs at several school sites. In addition to singing professionally, she has been vocal director for many Ojai Art Center productions, winning the prestigious Four Star Theater Award for Best Music Direction for “The Sound of Music” and “Fiddler On the Roof.” Voted by the Rotary Club in 2010 an Ojai Living Treasure, Candace’s passion for helping others “find their voice” and creating performance opportunities for youth has not waned.…
Matt performs numerous roles at OVS Lower Campus, including outdoor education coordinator, science teacher and science department chair, and boys’ soccer coach. Matt earned degrees in environmental studies and law and society from UC Santa Barbara before entering the teaching profession. He joined the OVS faculty in 1990 and today teaches biology to the seventh graders and physics and chemistry to the eighth graders.…
Ryan 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, Ryan 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.…
Raised in the greater Boston area and a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mike came to OVS as a computer teacher in 2002. He has developed a unique project-based curriculum for his students that encourages exploration, experimentation, and the development of problem-solving strategies. Always on the lookout for ways to involve students in new forms of technology, Mike leads an audio visual club that designs and produces sound, lighting, and occasionally robotic effects for drama productions and weekly All-School meetings.…
Born in the United Kingdom, Emily Miller grew up riding her pony around the English countryside. She went on to become a member of the UK Pony Club and started competing in show jumping, dressage and cross-country. Horse riding, and animals have been her main passion and inspiration in life. After achieving her A-Levels she decided to take a year out, and went to Australia for a few months.…
Originally from Ojai, Ashlee Nishiya has an ardent love for the written word. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California Santa Barbara with a degree in English, then moved on to California State University Northridge for her teaching credential and Master’s degree in English.
She taught high school English for several years in Austin, Texas, but found herself drawn more and more to the library, where she kindled a passion for helping students and teachers alike with projects and research.…
After earning his bachelor’s degree in Texas, John moved to the temperate rainforests of Southeast Alaska. His first teaching position was as the high school teacher in a small logging community. John migrated south to OVS, where he teaches seventh-grade and eighth-grade history classes. He also advises the Student Council, leads the eighth-grade trip to Washington, D.C.…
Caitlin Shain teaches 7th and 8th grade English Language Arts at the Lower Campus. Ms. Shain holds undergraduate and Master’s Degrees with honors from Eastern Washington University, and holds her teaching credential with endorsements in Language Arts and Social Studies. Ms. Shain is also an equestrian and outdoor enthusiast.
Myr teaches in the learning center and participates in a variety of other duties on campus.
A native Californian, Myr grew up in Ventura County. After going to college in Northern California, she lived and worked in both Oregon and Washington. When she returned to California, she worked and lived on a ranch in the foothills of the Sierras.…
Born in England, Andy Street began playing music as a young child; by the age of 12, he was composing and performing professionally. Andy received his formal education in music at Cambridge University, where he earned his M.A. in musical composition at Emmanuel College. He studied piano with Gordon Green and Doreen Clemes of the Royal Academy of Music in London.…
Marcia Thacher teaches Middle School Spanish at the Lower Campus. An experienced educator who previously taught both Elementary and Middle School Spanish, she has deep roots in the OVS school culture and community. Mrs. Thacher is a native speaker who has recently completed her Master’s Degree in Teaching Spanish Language and Culture from Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca.…
Duncan holds a degree in business from CSU Channel Islands. Since coming to OVS in 1996, Duncan has held a variety of titles during the academic year and summer programs. He believes that the powerful tool and language of mathematics is essential to the success of all students. This drives his desire to challenge and support each student in and out of the classroom.…
Shandon Woll is the Athletic Coordinator on 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.
She leads by example through healthy lifestyle choices and her zeal for health and physical activity is infectious.…
