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MEET THE STAFF
Joe Monteleone, Body Systems and Disorders & Sports Medicine & Honors Athletic Training
Jonathan Gedalia, Patient Care 1 & Emergency Medicine & Honors EMR
Ms. Desso has taught chemistry and biology for the academy since it started in 2015. She is a proud graduate of Valencia High School and attended UCLA for undergraduate work in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics. After graduating, she obtained her Master's in science education from CSUN. Ms. Desso loves to travel, be outdoors, and read sci-fi books.
Tamara Desso, Biology
Michelle Fischer, AP Chemistry
Mr. Klinger is a freshmen and senior teacher at Valencia High School. He teaches Molecular Genetics and AP Biology. In his leisure time, he loves to run, go camping, exercise, bike. and hang out with his family. He is also the coach for his two sons’ soccer teams.
Gavin Klinger, Honors Molecular Genetics/Microbiology & AP Biology
Ray Sanchez, Honors Human Anatomy & Physiology
Sam Hein, American Literature & Expository English
Sam Hein is in his third year of teaching at Valencia High. He teaches 11th grade American Literature and 12th grade Expository English. He is the Mock Trial coach, and he joined the MSA team this year as well. Mr. Hein is getting married in the summer, just moved back to Santa Clarita, and also welcomed a furry new member to his family in 2018 named Beans. In his spare time, Mr. Hein enjoys going on hikes around the greater Los Angeles area, and attending live comedy shows. While Sam’s expertise lies in literature, he’s been inspired to work different medical concepts into his curriculum with his MSA students this year.
Brian Arnold, U.S History
Brian Arnold is a U.S. history teacher in his 2nd year as a part of the MSA program. Mr. Arnold began at VHS in 2002 as a special education teacher. He moved to the history department three years later, and has taught mainly U.S. History for the last 14 school years. He also serves as the Offensive Line coach for the varsity football team. Prior to Valencia High School, Mr. Arnold attended Canyon High School and Cal Lutheran University where he earned a BA in Social Science and a Master's degree in education.
Brett Bristol, AP U.S History, Modern Civilizations
A graduate of UC San Diego in 1992 with a degree in history, Mr. Bristol is in his twenty-fourth year of teaching, seventeenth year at Valencia High School, fourteenth year of teaching AP U.S. History, and ninth year of teaching Mod Civilizations. Mr. Bristol is married and has three children.
Michelle Rivas, Algebra 2 Trig
Marc Kraidman, Jump Jr. High School & Emergency Medicine
Jeff Gilkey, English 10 & American Literature
Jeff Gilkey is in his 23rd year of teaching high school and has taught all grade levels, but this year, he teaches English10 and American Literature. It is his 11th year at Valencia, and before this, he taught at three other schools. He was also a cross country and track and field coach for most of that time. When Mr. Gilkey first went to college, he wanted to be an athletic trainer but then changed to journalism. The athletic training experience plus ten years of being a sports writer and 20 years of coaching all contribute to his passion for MSA and the important jobs these students do now and will be doing in their future.
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