Educational Coordinators
Pivot Charter School provides instruction to students through a robust standards-based online curriculum supported by class offerings at our resource center, tutoring, strong oversight and academic support. The school is a “blend” of online curriculum with resource center support.
The role of the teacher at Pivot Charter School is to monitor student progress online daily, provide feedback, encouragement, and support to students. They provide academic support in their areas of expertise for students needing help and produce accurate, timely and compliant documentation of independent study attendance. Teachers do not necessarily provide direct instruction to a “class” of students on a daily basis but are at our resource centers every day. Teachers, also known as Educational Coordinators, counsel, mentor, provide oversight, direction and whatever support it takes to help students succeed in their academic endeavors.
Education Specialists
Education Specialists play a crucial role in the education of Pivot’s students with Individualized Education Plans. Each student with an IEP will have an Education Specialist who will help them achieve their goals through regular support.
Educational Coordinators and Education Specialists
Abigail Titus
Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Abigail Titus
Abigail was born and raised in Ferndale, California, where caring teachers and parents showed her the power of learning and helping others. After graduating high school, she spent a year as a Rotary Youth Foreign Exchange student in France. She went on to receive her BA in Anthropology and Social Justice from St. John’s University in Queens, New York. Abigail returned to Northern California with a goal to make a positive impact in the lives of others through education and joined the teaching profession by entering the Sonoma County Office of Education Intern Teaching Program. Over the past six years, she has applied her passion for teaching and learning at Pivot Charter School where she can be an advocate for all students, first as an education coordinator, then as the North Bay Site Administrator, and now as the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. Abigail graduated in May 2023 from San Francisco State University with a Master’s of Education in Instructional Technology. When she is not in the classroom, Abigail enjoys spending time with her hilarious family and traveling. She has been to 39 states and hopes to visit all 50 while she is 30.
Brandon Gragnano
Site Administrator
Brandon Gragnano
Brandon is very excited to be involved with, and contribute to, the unique format and opportunity that Pivot offers its students. He has been with Pivot since the 2015-2016 school year. Brandon grew up in Irvine, CA, where he played baseball from the time he was 5 years old until 20. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fullerton in Business Administration, with a concentration in finance. He then acquired his teaching credential in Foundational Mathematics through California State University, Long Beach. Brandon also coached baseball at his Alma mater, Northwood High School, for 14 years. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, water skiing, and riding his bike with his two sons Noah (2019) and Colin (2021).
Robert Brier
Educational Coordinator
Robert Brier
Katie Miller-Rowlands
Educational Coordinator
Katie Miller
Katie Miller is a lifelong South Orange County resident and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Education from California State University San Marcos’s Integrated Credential program in December of 2019. Katie completed her teaching credentials in May of 2020. Since then, she has worked in North County San Diego. Outside of the classroom, Katie loves to spend time with friends and family. Her favorite place to be is at the beach—whether it is just relaxing or going on runs.
Mackenzie Jessip
Educational Coordinator
Mackenzie Jessip
Mackenzie Jessip graduated in 2020 with her teaching credential in mathematics and a Master’s in Educational Technology. She also has a second credential in industrial and technology education and has started her doctorate program. She loves education, learning and growing her skills. She is excited to be at Pivot practicing everything she has learned and looks forward to helping students reach their educational goals and growing their confidence in math. She loves working with students, loves to tell jokes, play and watch sports, loves cars, movies and comic books.
Gus Munoz
Educational Coordinator
Gus Munoz
Gus is passionate about teaching and helping kids. He worked as a special education and substitute teacher in Orange County, while also working as a Juvenile Correctional Officer for the Orange County Probation Department. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fullerton in Human Services and his teaching credential and Masters of Education from the University of Phoenix. Gus enjoys finding new and innovative ways to teach/motivate his students and loves working for Pivot Charter School. In his free time, Gus enjoys camping, kayaking, Angels baseball and spending time with his wife, kids and grandsons.
Chris Briggs
Education Specialist
Chris Briggs
Chris was born, raised, and spent most of his life residing in Chico, Ca. He has spent a significant amount of time playing competitive and recreational sports in the community, has a love of the outdoors, enjoys snowboarding in the winter, and plays guitar and bass in various local bands. Chris graduated from California State University, Chico where he received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and eventually earned Education Specialist and Social Science teaching credentials. Chris has spent seven years working in education as a Paraprofessional working one-to-one with a talented young man diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy. This will be Chris’ second full year as a full-time Education Specialist, and he is excited to continue the work with the awesome students and dedicated Pivot staff. His goal is to help young people find a passion in life, develop it as well as evolve and create meaning in their lives.
Ella Villafana
Educational Coordinator
Ella Villafana
Ella was born in Malaysia and came to the United States when she was only 2 years old. She grew up in Santa Ana and graduated from Los Amigos High School in 2016. Afterwards, she pursued her degree in English with an emphasis in Education at California State University of Channel Islands and later got her single subject teaching credential at Vanguard University. In her free time, she loves exploring new places, working out, and going to Disneyland with her husband. A fun fact about Ella is that she was seen on an episode of The Ellen Degeneres Show and three episodes of Ridiculousness.
Alex Ritz
Educational Coordinator
Alex Ritz
Alex grew up in San Diego and earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Philosophy from UC Santa Barbara in 2010. After many rewarding years as a counselor for adults with developmental disabilities, Alex decided to pursue a Teaching Credential in Social Science from CSU Long Beach, which he completed in January 2020. While Alex is excited to teach history, his main goal is supporting students as they develop the skills to think critically and creatively as well as the courage to explore their passions wholeheartedly. He is thrilled to join the Pivot team as their individualized program allows him to build meaningful relationships with students and provide more options and opportunities than a traditional school. When he’s not reading up on history, Alex enjoys playing bass guitar, listening to podcasts, and going on hiking adventures with his wife and two dogs.
Kelly Heffern
Educational Coordinator
Kelly Heffern
Kelly Heffern, or “Ms. H” always wanted to teach. She began her “teaching career,” when she set her toys around her as an 8 year old, and taught them the alphabet.
As an honor-bar thespian in high school, Ms. H performed in many plays, including children’s theater. She also had the opportunity to teach workshops on how to apply character makeup to youth in a local theatre group.
While in high school, Kelly also took classes and earned a certificate to become a catechist through her church, and at 16 began teaching her first religious education classes, which she continued for the next 30 years or so.
After moving to Aurora, CO, Kelly taught Mommy & Me classes with Parks and Rec and taught 3 & 4 year old pre-school courses.
Returning to SoCal, Kelly worked as a paraprofessional for 10 years at the middle school level. She volunteered as a Scout leader, and served as BSA & Cub Scout camp staff, where she especially enjoyed using her theatre training to organize campfire activities!
Finally, in 2002, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Cal State University, San Bernardino, and her MA from Chapman University after that.
This is her 17th year as a teacher!
Shannon Rodgers
Education Specialist
Shannon Rogers
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Shannon attended the University of Oregon, where she earned her B.A. in English before deciding to pursue a teaching career. She obtained her Education Specialist credential and Master’s Degree in Special Education from Chapman University. Shannon began her career in 2005 as a paraprofessional at a Bay Area high school. She earned her Administrative Services credential in 2009 and has since worked as both a special education teacher and general education administrator at the high school level for over 17 years, with a particular interest in alternative education. Her personal passions include sports, cars, family, dogs, and nature (in no particular order).
James McElroy
Director of Special Education
James McElroy
James has served as Director of Special Education for Pivot Charter School since 2023. James has built a successful career in education, taking on various leadership roles including Special Education Teacher, Program Supervisor, and Vice-Principal before becoming Principal at a Non-Public School. Originally from New Jersey, James relocated to California seeking sunshine and to further his career in special education. After finding Pivot, James made the leap to his new school and hasn’t looked back. His dedication to education and the mission of Pivot Charter School is evident in his work, where he cherishes the opportunity to build and nurture meaningful connections with students, their families, and his colleagues.
James earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from Monmouth University in New Jersey and later completed his Master’s Degree in Special Education at National University. Beyond his professional life, James enjoys sports, music, and spending quality time with family and friends near the beach.
Kylee Zeiler
Education Specialist
Kylee Zeiler
Kylee is passionate about working with individuals with special needs and is excited about starting her first year at Pivot. She’s lived in Riverside since she was 10 years old and currently lives in an apartment with her dog, Chase. Kylee graduated with a Bachelor’s in Special and Elementary Education from Western Governors University in 2023. After graduating, she earned her teaching credentials in Special Education and Multi-Subject Elementary Education. This will be her second year teaching special education and she cannot wait to continue providing support and a positive learning environment.
John Rodrigues
Education Specialist
John Rodrigues
John was born and raised in Fullerton, California. He graduated from U.C. Berkeley and spent one year as a visiting scholar at Harvard University. He is the author of “High School Dropout to Harvard” and featured in the PBS film about dyslexia, “Being You.
John holds a Master’s Degree in learning disabilities and has worked as a special education teacher for the past fourteen years. He is dedicated to improving the quality of instruction for students with learning disabilities and advancing a strength based narrative. John believes the future of learning for students with disabilities is through coding, robotics and technology and he is helping to create a pipeline for kids with disabilities to become tech leaders. Outside of teaching, John enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters: hiking, traveling, and cheering for the Dodgers.
Adolfo Ortiz
Education Coordinator
Adolfo Ortiz
Adolfo Ortiz, also known as Mr. O or Mr. Ortiz, boasts a background with credentials such as a Public Administration degree and a teaching credential. His passion for teaching stems from personal experience. As a late bloomer himself, he understands the challenges and rewards of igniting a love for learning. This fuels his innovative approach, where he bridges the gap between textbooks and real-world application through theater, social media, and experiential learning like nature exploration.
From dissecting the physics of motorcycle dynamics to analyzing brain letter recognition’s impact on academic challenges, his insatiable curiosity translates into a classroom where questions are celebrated and exploration thrives. This passion extends beyond academics, nurturing a supportive and inclusive environment where every student feels valued and heard.
He is not just a teacher with credentials; he is a lifelong learner, facilitator, and mentor eager to empower students. His unique blend of experience, enthusiasm, and dedication makes him an ideal candidate to contribute to students’ positive growth and development. He is very happy to be part of the EC staff at Pivot Charter School.
Rachel Angeles
Executive Assistant and Educational Coordinator
Rachel Angeles
Born and raised in Southern California, Rachel Angeles received her Bachelors of Arts from Cal State San Bernardino and recently completed her credential and MA in Elementary Education from WGU. Rachel is excited to be part of the Pivot team and looks forward to supporting her colleagues, students and families. When Rachel is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, rescuing dogs and listening to music.
Support Staff
Bill Calleja
Site Coordinator
Bill Calleja
As the Resource Center Coordinator for Pivot Charter School, Riverside, Bill enjoys all aspects of assisting with student enrollment, maintaining student records and overseeing resource center logistics. Originally from Sonoma, CA Bill is a sports enthusiast and has coached youth baseball, softball, boxing, and basketball. Bill enjoys working with charities, and founded The Chilly Willie Foundation in 1999, raising much-needed funds for special needs classrooms throughout the Sonoma Valley. In 2014, he moved to Corona from Sonoma to help open the Pivot Riverside resource center.
Barbara Felix
Special Education Administrative Assistant
Barbara Felix
Barbara was born and raised in New York and New Jersey and relocated to California to be near family. She earned a special education teaching credential and M.A. at Fresno State and taught special education for 18 years at Fresno Unified School District. Barbara was an adjunct professor at Fresno State University in the special education department for 8 years, preparing teaching candidates. She moved to Sonoma County to be near her two grandsons and joined the Pivot Team in the role of special education administrative assistant in November 2016.
Kristen Poitras
Director of Student Support Programs
Kristen Poitras
Kristen is a Northern California native, growing up and going to school in the East Bay area. Kristen began talking about being a teacher “when she grew up” from as young as four years old. In college, she studied creative writing (her other passion) and earned her BA in English/Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. After some time spent traveling in Europe and living in Scandanavia, Kristen returned to earn her Single Subject Teaching Credential in English at Cal State University Sacramento where a strong emphasis was placed on social justice and equity in education. She worked as an English and reading intervention teacher for two years at Armijo High School in Fairfield, before leaving to pursue a career in alternative education. She is so happy to have found a home at Pivot where a holistic approach to education leads every student on their unique path to success! When she isn’t teaching, she loves writing, playing and listening to music, hiking, catching up on her favorite shows on Netflix and spending time with her family and friends.
John Giacinto
Intervention Specialist
John Giacinto
John grew up in the neighborhood of Almaden Valley within San Jose, California. After graduating from Pioneer High School in 2016, he went on to the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo to pursue a BS in Business Administration and Economics. While in San Luis Obispo, John developed his interest in public service and sustainable development, and recognized education as an essential means to help develop communities envisioned in his coursework and book club discussions. Prior to earning his credential from Cal Poly SLO and starting as Pivot’s Intervention Specialist in 2023, John published research on urban forestry, did a little work as a beach lifeguard, a cheesemonger, an instructional aide, and a local cooperative grocery store employee. He comes to Pivot with an eagerness to serve students and families, to help spark others’ lifelong passions, and grow as an educator and human being. Outside of his work as an educator John loves spending time with his partner and their cat, crafting ceramics, journaling, cooking local produce, and spending time outdoors.
Shawn Mallonee
Grader (Physical Education & Art)
Shawn Mallonee
Shawn has a degree in Art and Art History and a multiple subject teaching credential from SSU. One of the most rewarding teaching moments for her is when she gets to observe how students express themselves creatively through art when words can’t describe how they feel. Shawn looks forward to centering the needs of students at Pivot and contributing to an environment of mindfulness and reciprocity. During her own time, she does something that makes her happy every day. Whether it’s playing with her two kids, hiking, riding bikes, or helping her husband with garden projects – they are her favorite parts of the day.
Megan Vatcher
Program and Attendance Clerk
Megan Vatcher
Megan grew up on the Central Coast of California and earned her Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She has been an educator in some capacity for the past 16 years, including teaching private music lessons, coaching volleyball, being a parent educator for children with special needs, and aiding in K-12 classrooms. She relocated to Chico in 2018 and loves the many opportunities for hiking and exploring with her husband and kids. She most enjoys the simple pleasures in life, including gardening, cooking, and taking her dog for long walks.
Julianne Cochran
Curriculum Coordinator
Julianne Cochran
Julianne is a San Diego native and math nerd. She has worked in mathematics education since 2006, in 6 different schools, on 2 coasts. She holds degrees in Mathematics and Secondary Education and Curriculum and Instruction. When she isn’t busy obsessing over numbers, she enjoys time with her husband and two boys, going to the beach, watching movies, reading, baking, and exercising.
Ashley Ecker
Grader
Ashley Ecker
Ashley is a San Diego native and mom to two wild boys. She has a Master’s Degree in Latin American Studies from SDSU and a teaching credential in Social Studies and Spanish. She taught for eight years – including a year in Spain – before leaving the classroom when her boys were born. In her free time, she loves going to the beach and traveling.
Erin Rutten
School Counselor
Erin Rutten
Born in Wisconsin, Erin went on to receive her B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Psychology from the University of Minnesota where she also participated in Track and Field as a collegiate athlete. After working with individuals of varying abilities and in the field of corrections, Erin attended San Diego State University where she received her M.S., P.P.S. in Counseling with a focus on Equity and Social Justice. As a School Counselor, Erin strives to create a supportive environment in which every student feels safe and connected at Pivot. In addition to supporting students and families, Erin enjoys running, baking, camping, and anything outdoors, especially with her family and friends.
Joanna Yoels
Grader (English)
Joanna Yoels
Joanna has happily been a part of Pivot’s English Department team since 2015. She has been teaching middle school and high school English and history since 2003 throughout California before joining Pivot. She holds a Master’s degree from California State University, Fresno. She loves working at Pivot and helping all of our incredible students achieve their goals and become stronger writers. In her spare time, Joanna enjoys quality time with her family, music, road trips, reading, and the beach.
Andria McNamee
School Nurse
Andria McNamee
Jenny Maiorano
Grader (English)
Jenny Maiorano
Jenny was born and raised in Huntington Beach, CA where she spent most of her childhood in and out of the ocean or pool. She received her B.A. in English and a minor in Health Science, and later her M.A in Literacy Instruction, from Michigan State University. Jenny has lived in the midwest and the southwest of the United States, but has called Chico home for several years. When working with students, she strives to create meaningful relationships that are grounded in promoting a love for learning. Jenny has taught in grades 7 through 12 but finds working at Pivot Charter School refreshing and meaningful as it gives her the ability to work one on one with students in a unique and dynamic setting. When not working with students, she enjoys spending time with her husband and teenage daughters; as a family, they love traveling, cooking, reading, crafting, and cheering for the Michigan State Spartans.
Craig Hobart
Regional Director
Craig Hobart
1st you do it for yourself, then you do it for friends and then you do it for money:
As a teenager, Craig loved ski racing and became the youngest instructor in ski school. He was mentored by a biology professor/professional ski instructor who planted the seed of becoming a life-long learner by teaching others. After ski school he found work as a river guide, a college trip leader, taking friends climbing, and discovering new trails on a mountain bike. He found great meaning by sharing new skills with others, especially younger people.
After college Craig first worked in biotech, and later in computer technology, but he wasn’t satisfied. One brave day he applied to graduate school and earned a Master’s degree in Education. Like many students, he thinks he found the ideal environment at Pivot.
Pivot has proven to be a campus of kindness and respect that strives to find an ideal work environment that first engages students. He strives to bring a culture that blends student needs, teacher satisfaction, technology, and an entrepreneurial spirit, together to create a safe real-life model of the outside world.
Brittany Daugherty
Director of Human Resources
Brittany Daugherty
Brittany Daugherty is a graduate of Plumas Charter School. She works as Director of Human Resources for all 4 Pivot schools. She enjoys traveling and reading, as well as spending time with her family and friends. She loves being a part of the Pivot team and looks forward to working with new students and families.
Liz Jones
Chief Business Officer
Liz Jones
Liz has always loved math, and she finds happiness in teaching others. Her favorite thing about Pivot Charter Schools is the ability to tailor students’ education plans to meet their individual needs and goals. Liz grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, graduated from UCSD with a Bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science, and earned her teaching credential in Mathematics from SDSU. She loves rowing, music, cooking, puzzles, and backpacking.
As Chief Business Officer, Liz works with a wide range of staff and contractors to manage the financial operations that make Pivot Charter Schools possible. Liz has been with Pivot since 2010, and looks forward to serving Pivot’s students and families in many diverse ways in the years to come!
Jayna Gaskell
Executive Director
Jayna Gaskell
Jayna Gaskell has worked in education for more than 30 years. Gaskell holds a Masters degree in secondary education from Emory University. After teaching grades 4-12 in Florida and Georgia, Gaskell moved to California in 1993 to serve as Director of Admissions and Academics of a small boarding and day school for four years. In 1998 Gaskell co-founded and directed a California charter school for five years. Gaskell has presented multiple statewide workshops on Independent Study, Governance, Renewal, Special Education and Strategic Planning with the Charter Schools Development Center, CANEC and other educational agencies throughout California. Ms. Gaskell also established a highly successful charter school consulting business assisting schools by drafting and reviewing charter petitions, writing grants, creating charter renewals, developing staffing plans, WASC Self Study documents, educational plans and school wide improvement plans, and conducting governance trainings, compliance reviews and strategic planning projects. She served a two year term on the State Superintendent’s Advisory Commission on Charter Schools, and has participated in the US Department of Education and the Office of Civil Rights Summit on Charter Schools and Special Education for four years. In addition to serving many CA charter schools, Gaskell has worked with charter schools in Fl, TN, OR and AZ. She has worked with over 200 schools in the last 10 years. She served as a founding board member and chair of the Board of the California Montessori Project, one of the largest public Montessori schools in operation for 10 years. Ms. Gaskell has been Executive Director for Pivot Charter Schools since November 2010.
Kareen Poulsen
Director of Student Services
Kareen Poulsen
Kareen is a fourth generation Santa Rosan and graduated from Santa Rosa High School before attending UC Davis, where she played volleyball for four years, rowed crew for two years and earned a BA in English. After 25 years as the CFO for an Investment Corporation, she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a full-time teacher and went on to receive her teaching credential in Mathematics from Sonoma State University. She previously taught Math at Pivot and has now moved into the role of Director of Student Services for all four resource centers. Kareen also serves as the Title IX Coordinator for Pivot Charter School. For information on Title IX, click here. She enjoys spending time with family, going to the beach, hiking, traveling, reading books and watching good movies. As a part of the Pivot Charter School Team since 2013, Kareen is devoted to using her education and experience to help students succeed.
Andrea Gutierrez
Elementary Classroom Aide
Andrea Gutierrez
Andrea Gutierrez earned a Bachelors degree in Child Development / Family Studies from Long Beach State University. Over the past 9 years, she has worked with children and families in Los Angeles County as a Preschool Teacher. Andrea enjoys jiu jitsu, roller blading, spending time with family and watching her children play sports.
Luis Portilla
Academic Counselor
Luis Portilla
Luis is native of South America, where he spent most of his youth. He received his B.A in Spanish Linguistics and M.S in Counseling with a specialization in school counseling, and Child Welfare and Attendance from California State University Dominguez Hills. Luis has been working as a College Counselor for over five years, and it is his greatest joy to help students guide them to reach their life goals. Luis has a great interest for languages and other cultures. His favorite hobbies are spending time with his family, traveling, and playing online video games.
Shannon Mallory
Enrollment Specialist
Shannon Mallory
Donna Choo
School Psychologist
Donna Choo
Donna grew up in Southern California, obtained her BA in Psychology at UC Berkeley, and then graduated from Columbia University in New York with a Masters of Education in School Psychology. As a school psychologist, she has worked with special education students with mild to more severe needs at the elementary, junior high, and high school levels for 14 years. She has been a part of the Riverside team at Pivot since September of 2018 and has enjoyed seeing what the students can achieve with the dedication, support, and collaboration of the staff and parents. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, going to the beach, and reading.
Christine Mazalewski
Grader
Christine Mazalewski
Christine is originally from Pennsylvania, but has lived in San Diego since 2009 . She has worked in education since 2008, teaching mostly middle and high school science. She holds a degree in Secondary Education for Chemistry and Geoscience. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys time with her husband and two kids, hiking, running, and coaching her kids activities.
Karen Cobain
Grader
Karen Cobain
Karen was born and raised in Northern Ireland where she gained her Bachelor of Education in Technology and Design and History. She studied abroad and developed a passion for Business. Upon returning to NI she completed a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and worked in a range of educational settings. Shortly after finishing her studies, she moved to California and set about earning her CA teaching credentials and pursued a Masters of Education: Instructional Technology. She has taught every grade level from 4th -12th and even adult education. In her spare time, Karen enjoys exploring all of the beautiful things California has to offer. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, learning new skills, and taking road trips in search of the best breakfast diner. She is also passionate about animal welfare and volunteers with local animal rescues. She is “mom” to Stanley (her dog) and to many, many cats that come to her through fostering. Her motto is “I work hard so my animals can live their best lives.
Kelly Dobyns
School Counselor
Kelly Dobyns
Kelly grew up in Southern California, obtained her BA in Human Services at Cal State Fullerton, and her Masters in Counseling and PPS Credential from Chapman University. Kelly has a background working for mental health services for the County of Orange and this is her 5th year being a school counselor. She absolutely loves being a counselor and working with kids to help them however they need. In her free time, she loves reading, eating out and making memories with her three kids.
Omar Abassy
Grader
Omar Abassy
Omar is a dedicated science educator with a passion for fostering student success. Born and raised in Orange County, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Systems from UC San Diego and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Chapman University. Omar’s interdisciplinary background has equipped him with a robust understanding of scientific concepts and pedagogical strategies. Currently pursuing a PhD in Kinesiology with an emphasis on Exercise Science, Omar demonstrates a strong commitment to lifelong learning and staying at the forefront of his field. He holds teaching credentials in Biological Sciences, Psychology, and Physical Education, enabling him to create engaging, NGSS-aligned curricula that support diverse learners. Dedicated to inspiring students to explore the wonders of science, Omar’s ultimate goal is to cultivate a love for science in his students, empowering them to become critical thinkers and lifelong learners. When he’s not teaching, Omar enjoys watching, playing, and coaching basketball. He is also an avid kickboxing enthusiast, appreciating the discipline and fitness the sport provides.
Nicole Ling
Grader
Nicole Ling
Nicole was born and raised in Southern California. She has a degree in Political Science from UC Irvine and has taught high school English and Social Studies for about ten years. When she’s not grading, Nicole enjoys traveling, reading, yoga and watching her daughter grow from a tiny human to a big kid!
Jasmine Falary
Data Coordinator
Jasmine Falary
Jasmine was born and raised in San Francisco, CA, and graduated from Ruth Asawa School of the Arts. She studied Early Childhood Education at City College of San Francisco. Prior to joining the Pivot team, Jasmine worked in the educational travel industry for 12 years and taught enrichment classes in engineering and robotics. She is proud to be a part of the Pivot team and looks forward to supporting her colleagues as well as the students and families we serve. In her free time, Jasmine enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and dogs, crafting, cooking, watching movies, and going on adventures around the San Francisco Bay Area.
Karyn Songer
Virtual Grader
Karyn Songer
Karyn is a native of Clovis and mom of two teenage girls. She has a multiple subject teaching credential & a minor in Biology from California State University, Fresno. Karyn taught 6th grade for over 7 years before becoming a stay at home mom. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking & hanging out with her family.
Ana Martinez
Community Liaison
Ana Martinez
Ana Martinez grew up in the Inland Empire and graduated from UC Santa Barbara. She received her Masters in Educational Counseling with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential from National University. She has worked in Elementary and High School as a school counselor and is passionate about education and providing a positive learning experience to students! In her spare time she enjoys reading and finding new coffee shops!
Auvianna Zavala
Paraprofessional / Classroom Aide
Auvianna Zavala
Auvianna attends Santa Ana college where she hopes to transfer to Cal State Fullerton. Her goal is to become a Teacher. Before working for Pivot, Auvianna worked as a teacher aide for the Anaheim School District. Throughout her life she has enjoyed playing soccer competitively and currently enjoys coaching. When Auvianna is not working she loves to attend professional soccer games, play with her dogs, and to hang out with family and friends.
Ashley Fletcher
Grader
Ashley Fletcher
Ashley has been in education for 11 years. She has a Master’s in Education and a Secondary Mathematics Teaching Credential. She loves to spread her passion for math to her students by helping them see that math doesn’t always have to be “hard”. When she isn’t grading, she loves hanging out with her husband and kids, baking, sewing, and enjoying the fresh air.
Ryan Muldery
Grader
Ryan Muldery
Ryan is a Northern California native who grew up in the Gold Country. When not in the mountains, he enjoys spending time at the beach and kayaking in Monterey. A passionate traveler, Ryan has visited all 50 states. He has a deep love for history and has been a history teacher for nearly twenty years. Throughout his career, he has taught at the junior high and high school levels, and even served as a college professor. Ryan holds two master’s degrees, one in online learning and the other in teaching pedagogies. He is married to a talented artist, and together they share their home with two energetic cats.
Romello Smith
Accounts Payable and Logistics Coordinator
Romello Smith
Romello grew up in Sacramento, California and graduated from a local public charter high school. Since a kid, he always had a fascination with business finances and investing, and would spend hours playing Tycoon games. This passion led him to obtain a BS in Managerial Economics and a minor in Accounting from UC Davis. After a decade in Sacramento, Romello moved to Chico CA for a taste of the small city life. He has worked as an accountant in various industries, but ultimately decided to work for Pivot Charter because of the personal impact charter schools made in his life.