Innovations Academy is fortunate to have highly qualified support staff on campus. These folks are the most supportive, flexible and loving people you will ever meet.
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Samantha
Staff, School Counselor and AMFT Supervised under Jennifer Kuebler, Licensed Marriage and Family TherapistHi everyone, my name is Samantha and I am so excited to be working at IA as the school counselor. I have always felt a purpose and passion to advocate for children’s right to be heard, respected, and valued. This passion encouraged me to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Family Development in 2017. I was also an intern and assistant at Innovations Academy from 2016-18, in the Solution Center where I gained insight on children’s mental health, Positive Discipline, and comprehending the value of Mindfulness. I believe in providing children the autonomy to voice their needs, emotions, and concerns in order to flourish. I went on to receive my Master’s in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. I began my practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee in 2019, where I facilitated Transitional Aged Youth (TAY), who experienced homelessness and many other mental health challenges. During this time, I supported a range of clients with deciphering mental health disorders and navigated how to best serve each one of my clients. I look forward to my second year working with our wonderful community.
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Hola a todos! My name is Patrick Murphy-O’Connor and I’ll be teaching Spanish at Innovations Academy for my 7th year. Even though my name looks very Irish, I was raised in Madrid, Spain. I moved to San Diego in March 2015 because I was lucky enough to meet and marry a great California girl, and now we have begun a new chapter in this beautiful city!
I obtained my teaching degree in Spain, at the Universidad Complutense of Madrid in 2003 and since then, I’ve taught many different age groups from preschool through middle school. Over the years I’ve specialized in teaching a foreign language, but my method has an added twist. I really like bringing out students’ creativity and originality, and use drama, art and music as my tools. I’m so excited to be teaching in our new and wonderful school!
Also I am now a father of two! Our latest addition is baby Finley, born at the end of June 2020.
Outside of school, I like playing music–in particular the bass–and am proud to have been able to record an album with my old band (Sunnare) in Madrid . I also enjoy skating and surfing the beautiful coast of California, as well as traveling and camping anywhere I can.
Que ganas tengo de empezar YA…¡nos vemos pronto!
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Mary
Staff, Nature Studies/Garden EdHi everyone! This will be my 9th year teaching Nature Studies and Environmental Science at IA. I’m so fortunate to work at a school that recognizes the value and benefits of outdoor learning.
I have been connecting children with nature as an environmental educator for over 30 years. It’s more than a career; it’s my passion! I use inquiry-based learning techniques to help children explore and understand the natural world, and to excite them about the wonders of nature.
I have created and implemented curricula for a myriad of diverse audiences as an educator at the San Diego Natural History Museum, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and other nonprofit organizations and nature centers throughout San Diego and Wisconsin.
I am a Certified Interpretive Guide with the National Association for Interpretation, and Education Chair on the boards of two outstanding conservation organizations: Intertwined Conservation Corporation and San Diego Children and Nature.
I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Marquette University, and am a published writer. I am currently working on a series of children’s books. I am also an amateur photographer, and my work has been displayed at several juried art shows.
I enjoy exploring the world, and have traveled to six continents. I spend my spare time with my two favorite people in the whole world–my 10th grade daughter and my son who is a freshman in college–and our menagerie of animals, which includes a dog, a rabbit, a bearded dragon, 2 chameleons, a tortoise, a snake, a crested gecko, a red-eyed tree frog, a tailless whipscorpion, and 5 Madagascar hissing cockroaches!
I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Marquette University, and am a published writer. I am currently working on a series of children’s books. I am also an amateur photographer, and my work has been displayed at several juried art shows.
I enjoy exploring the world, and have traveled to five continents. I spend my spare time with my two favorite people in the whole world, my 9th grade daughter and 12th grade son, and our menagerie of animals, which includes a dog, 2 rabbits, a bearded dragon, a tortoise, a snake, and 5 Madagascar hissing cockroaches!
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Natasha
Staff, Performing ArtsI was born in Kent and raised in historic Leicestershire, England. I started dance and theatre at a young age and studied Theatre, Dance, English and Communications at Melton Mowbray College. My parents always encouraged me to travel and try new things and I guess I took it to heart because after working professionally for several years I took an opportunity that brought me to America.
I lived in New England for almost 8 years and during that time I danced in a contemporary dance company and worked full time in a theatre as an actor, resident choreographer and ran the Children’s Theatre Workshop program, amongst a whole range of other jobs that go along with working in a theatre. During that time I also had the chance to work with various other local theatre companies and school theatre programs.
My husband and I eventually moved to Los Angeles to pursue film and television, which was fun (you can find me on IMDB) but made me realize that my first love is really theatre and dance. I took a break from Hollywood for a while to pursue a career in fitness and gained 3 national personal training certifications. I worked for 24Hr Fitness, Semper Fit at MCAS Miramar and trained privately for many years.
Shortly after 9/11 my husband joined the Navy Reserves as a corpsman and after a tour in Iraq, he was stationed on active duty in San Diego, we moved our young family and have been here ever since.
I was introduced to Innovations Academy on the recommendation of a friend and both of my children started in kindergarten. At the end of the 2013/14 school year I was invited to run a Performing arts pilot program at IA and built it into the robust program it is today. My daughter is now a junior at the MET high school and my son is in 8th grade this year.
The mission of the Performing Arts Program is to empower every student with the tools to confidently stand before a crowd and have their voice heard, to provide an artistic outlet, to enhance their learning experience by integrating into the curriculum and to support their teachers.
I think Innovations Academy is an incredibly special learning environment and I am honored to be part of such a dedicated and talented team.
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Coach Rich
Staff, PE InstructorHi, my name is Rich Curry, but at IA just call me coach! I’m the athletic director and PE instructor for kindergarten through 8th grade. This is my 5th year at IA and I’m really looking forward to this coming school year!
My passion lies in the joy of teaching all my students about an array of sports and the skills, team work, communication, respect, failures and triumphs that come with sports participation. My goal is to guide our students through a unique physical education experience. It’s literally our own genuine IA mix of traditional sports with Positive Discipline to support students. I believe that support, trust, and smart repetition are major building blocks for unlocking potential and building skills and self-confidence. By the way, have you heard that at IA failures and mistakes are opportunities to learn? It’s true! I can’t wait to see you out there! Let’s have some fun and build up our skills!
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Hello everyone! My name is Claudia and I’m honored to create with IA’s amazing artists as their new 2D Art teacher! I just moved from northern California where I grew up in Folsom (near Sacramento and Tahoe), went to Academy of Art University in San Francisco (with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration), and taught Beginning Art, Intermediate Art, and Intro to Art History to high schoolers in the east Bay Area for the last 2 years.
In addition to art, I have a certificate in Literary Publishing and am a published poetry writer, editor, illustrator, and featured artist for the 2019 issue of American River Review literary magazine. I’ve also worked at Disneyland and Walt Disney World in the Entertainment department through their Disney College Program internship so I’m a huge fanatic and have a very outgoing, youthful spirit because of it. I was inspired to teach after getting my art degree and working for a local “paint and sip” studio leading painting classes for both adults and kids. I received my Single-Subject Art teaching credentials at San Diego State University where I fell in love with the beautiful environment and vibrant community of San Diego so when I saw an opportunity to come back to teach at Innovations, I knew it was fate!
I’ve always wanted to teach younger students as art has been my biggest passion ever since I was a kid and my favorite childhood memories both at school and in my free time with friends. It really shaped my creativity with innovation, fine motor skills, imagination and visualization, problem solving through critical thinking, self-confidence as well as collaboration by observing other artists and styles. All of this and more is why art is so important and vital to the development of young minds who are not only discovering the world around them but also who they are inside. I truly believe anyone can be an artist and we are all capable of creating and inspiring others. This is why I teach and am so excited to be a part of their journey of self discovery and expression!
When I’m not doing art, I love dressing up and performing especially as Disney princesses and superheroes to sing, dance, face paint, and balloon twist for parties, events, and children’s hospitals. I also love animals with a life-long obsession of cats. I’m always drinking sweet tea, eating cheesy things, watching funny YouTube videos, and surrounding myself with rainbows and glitter galore!
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Hi all! This year will be my second year teaching at Innovations Academy. Teaching 3D Art is the dream and I am so excited that IA is making that dream come true! I have my BA in Applied Design with an emphasis in ceramics, a Single-Subject Art Credential, and my Master’s in Education with an emphasis in English Learner Equity and Academic Achievement. I believe art is for everyone and is a fantastic outlet for expression and can encourage self discovery. Art is a cathartic and potentially calming practice that I am excited to share with my students this year. I hope to pass on my love for clay and sculpture, and inspire others to explore the world of art. I mostly spend my free time creating or learning a new craft. If I am not doing something art related then I am hanging out with my dogs, camping, seeing live music, or watching a scary movie.
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Hello everyone! My name is Clara Escutia and I am delighted to be welcomed into the IA family. I was born in Guanajuato Mexico and was raised in Kern County CA (Arvin). I pursued my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Montana State University of Billings. I recently obtained my Master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of San Diego. My teaching background varies from EAK through 6th grade both in charter and public schools. I am passionate about transforming the definition of what a valuable education means. In my spare time, I enjoy being physically active, painting, watching live musical concerts, as well as attending fun family events. I have two beautiful children who keep me on my feet and keep life exciting, a husband and a loveable husky dog.
I look forward to learning and growing in this close network of awesome teachers at IA.
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I was born and raised in South East San Diego, in a small community named Lomita Village. I have always had a passion for school and learning; I often find myself asking the question, “Why?” It’s no wonder I’ve been in school for over 20 years; there is so much to inquire about! I’ve worked in the field of education since 2006 and have loved every day of it. I have been with Innovations Academy since 2010 as a full-time teacher in the Kindergarten and 1st grade classroom, as an Interventionist, and now as a 6th grade teacher! I am so excited to be able to work with new and old students this year! It has been such a wonderful learning experience being a part of this community. I feel like IA is my home away from home and being surrounded by like minded mentors, peers, students and families makes coming to work everyday a gift!
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I have been a part of the Innovations Academy community since my son entered the school as a fifth grader. Both he and my daughter were privileged to complete their middle school journeys in this amazing learning environment, and I was happy to teach first and fourth grades while they were here. I recently completed my Reading Specialist authorization as well as my Dyslexia Therapist certification, and it is my honor and joy to support the students of Innovations Academy to improve their reading and spelling.
When I’m not at school, you can find me walking on the beach, hiking in the mountains, reading novels or traveling with my family. My husband is an armchair philosopher who is a systems engineer at Qualcomm. My son who shares my love of languages is entering his senior year at UC San Diego, and my daughter who shares my love of music will be a freshman at UC Santa Barbara in the fall.
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Dan
Staff, 2nd Grade Math Teacher - With AbbeyMy name is Dan, and I’m excited to join the awesome IA team this year! I am teaching math in Abbey’s 2nd-grade classroom using Beast Academy, a fun and challenging curriculum that helps kids build their problem-solving skills while learning elementary math.For the past two years, I have been an instructor and instructional coach for the Art of Problem Solving’s Virtual Campus, teaching online math lessons to students from grades 2 through 8. Prior to that, I taught 3rd and 4th grade in New Orleans, Louisiana for 4 years, and 5th grade in Allentown, Pennsylvania for 7 years. I received my bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Pittsburgh, and my teaching certification and master’s in Education from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.When I’m not helping students learn about the joys of math, you can find me at the beach playing volleyball, at home practicing piano, on a stage or in a parade somewhere playing the trumpet, or hiking up and down a mountain. I also love working on and solving challenging word and math puzzles, and I hope our IA 2nd-graders will grow to love problem-solving as much as I do! -
Hello Everyone,
I am super excited to be joining the IA team as your new SLP. I am originally from Virginia Beach, VA and have been in sunny CA for four years. I’m a beach gal so in my free time, I enjoy sitting under an umbrella with my toes in the sand and a book in my hand. I have been exploring and learning to appreciate hiking in “the hills” with my amazing sister and my devoted, beast of a dog, Bear. I love snacking, movietime, and traveling to exotic destinations with my family and friends.
After raising my three children, I received my Associate’s Degree in Social Science in 2012 from TCC, and my Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Science Disorders in 2016, and my Master of Science in Education in 2018 from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.
Kiddos bring me SO much joy, and helping them communicate effectively so they can establish friendships and academic success is my top priority. I look forward to creating a welcoming, stimulating, and engaging environment for learning, growth, and expression.
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Hello everyone! My name is Dr. Eun Park and I am thrilled to be a part of the IA team. I am a dedicated licensed educational psychologist specializing in culturally sensitive psycheducational assessment. I am also an adjunct professor at Alliant International University’s Doctorate Program in Educational Psychology.
I have been practicing privately and in public schools for over 12 years. I have an array of experience working with diverse student populations from preschool age all the way up to adult transition. My passion lies in prevention and early intervention. I am deeply committed to creating a thriving learning environment for all students. My favorite thing about being an educator is helping students grow and overcome adversities. As a lifelong learner, I am excited to share my knowledge and insights with passionate educators.
My wife (teacher) and I have lived in San Diego for 20 years. When I am not nerding out on psychology, I enjoy running, reading, and traveling the world.