FACULTY PROFILE

Our teachers are extremely committed to providing the best possible learning experience to their students. They bring to this academy a combination of vast experience and excellent credentials. Their teaching methods are developed to help students gain expert skills in their courses.

SAT Verbal

  • Bettina De Guzman
    BA in English, Classics, Music, and Psychology from UC Irvine
    MA in Classics from UC Irvine
    Student Teacher, instructor for American Literature at Irvine Unified School district Instructor for Classics at UC Irvine for 2 years

SAT Math

  • Ashley Li
    BSE in Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering from Duke University
    Dean’s list from 2005 Fall to Spring 2008
    SAT II: 800, Chemistry: 800, University High School
    Teaching assistant, Engineering Department, Duke University

English

English 1st Grade - 4th Grade

  • Valerie Sand
    BA in Social Science and English from John Jay College, CUNY
    Graduate School 2-year program leading to California Teaching Credential from University of San Francisco
    Former teacher at Bergem County School District, New Jersey
    Currently ESL instructor at Santa Ana College
    Have taught Dr. Choi’s Academy for the past 10 years

English 5th Grade

  • Jana MacMann
    BA in Liberal Studies with a Literature Emphasis from Chapman University
    MA in Teaching
    Instructional Assistant, Springbrook Elementary School
    Tutor, Irvine Unified School District ACE Program

English 6th Grade

  • Bettina De Guzman
    BA in English, Classics, Music, and Psychology from UC Irvine
    MA in Classics from UC Irvine
    Student Teacher, instructor for American Literature at Irvine Unified School district Instructor for Classics at UC Irvine for 2 years

Writing 7th-8th Grades & 9th-11th Grades

  • La Royce Kincaid
    BA English/Drama from UC Irvine
    MS Education/Reading from CSUF
    Elem., Sec., & Comm. College credentials.
    39 years of experience in education; 2 Teaching awards
    ESL: UCI-Extension, 14 years; IVC and RSCC; & Concordia Univ.; Freshman Comp. &
    GATE English (La Paz Intermed. SVUSD)

Academic Day Camp

Grade 1st-3rd

  • Angela Choi
    Currently attending CSU Fullerton, Major in Political Science, Minor in Education with a 4.0 GPA
    Teacher assistant at Joy Saturday school
    Volunteered at Camp CHSA

Grade 4th-6th

  • Albert Park
    Currently attending CSU Fullerton, Business and Economics
    Vice President of Key Club, North Wood High School

Grade 7th-8th

  • Alexis Justman
    BA in Drama with Creative Writing Emphasis, UC Irvine
    Two-time recipient of the Ariel Miranda Caldwell Writing Award, New Forum

Grade 9th-12th

  • Olivia Shilling
    BA in Social Science & Middle Education Certification Program, James Madison University
    Teacher for Middle school science, The Key School
    Teacher for Physical Science, Glasgow Middle School
    Teacher for Life Science, Liberty Middle School
  • Albert Chang
    BA in Business Economics, UC Irvine
    Shanghai Normal University, Advance Mandarin, Chinese Economics
    President, Unity club; Rush Chairman, Lambda Theta Delta

Phonics I, II and III

  • Elaine Gold
    BA in Language Arts from Richmond College
    MS in Education from Long Island University
    CATESL Certificate from UC Irvine
    Teaching ESL for the past 10 years for Rancho Santiago Community College
    Taught at Irvine Valley Community College and Cal State Long Beach

Book Club I, II and III

  • Jana MacMann
    BA in Liberal Studies with a Literature Emphasis, Chapman University
    MA in Teaching
    CSET, CBEST, RICA passed
    Instructional Assistant, Springbrook Elementary School
    Tutor, Irvine Unified School District ACE Program

Math

Pre-Algebra & Algebra II

  • Daniel Berkman
    BA in History from UC Irvine
    UCI Intern-Teacher Education Program in Mathematics
    Student Teacher for Dana Hills High School for Geometry and Algebra II

Geometry, Pre-Calculus, & Calculus

  • Ray Mendoza
    BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UC Irvine
    BA in Linguistics from UC Irvine
    MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UC Irvine
    Ph.D Candidate in Social Sciences with Concentration in Mathematical Behavioral Sciences from UC Irvine

Algebra I

  • Jessica Salcedo
    BS in Social Ecology from UC Irvine with Cum Laude honors
    Completing Secondary Teaching Credential Program with MA in Teaching
    2004-2005 Chemistry Teacher for Century High School, Santa Ana, CA
    2006-2009 Algebra/Geometry Teacher for Santa Ana High School, Santa Ana, CA

Spanish I and II

  • Emily Sadeghi
    BA in English from UC Irvine
    MA in Teaching from UC Irvine
    Student Teacher for Santa Ana High School

Public Speaking

  • Rick Lara
    BA in English-Speech Communication from Cal State Long Beach
    MA in Education-Curriculum Development from Azusa Pacific University
    Teaching Speech Communications and English in Santa Ana High School
    Taught at Cerritos College, Irvine High School, UC Irvine, and Golden West College

ESL for Adults

  • Erik Bliesze
    BA in Liberal Arts from Columbia College
    Taught English class in Korea Herald School
    Taught English class in Ginza, Tokyo
    Fluent in Japanese

Teachers Available for Private Lessons

  • Allison Jen Kin
    Currently attending UC Irvine in pursuant of BA in Psychology
    Substitute teacher for Westpark Montessori School
  • Sashana T. Macatangay
    BA in English, UC Irvine
    Strength in English and Biology
    Assistant to professor and edited UCI upper-division academic class blog
    Peer editor at UC Irvine
  • Christine L. Fitzgerald
    Graduated Magna Cum Laude with Distinction in English at San Diego University
    AA in English single Subject Teaching at Grossmont Community College.
    Student teacher at Tustin High School
  • Katherine Cline
    BA in Arts, English Literature from Seattle Pacific University
    MA in Teaching from UC Irvine
    Student Teacher at Irvine High School
  • Donzelle Harris
    BA in English with Literary Criticism Emphasis from UC Irvine
    Taught at Santa Ana High School
  • La Royce Kincaid
    BA English/Drama, UC Irvine
    MS Education/Reading, CSUF
    Elem., Sec., & Comm. College credentials.
    39 years in education; 2 Teaching awards
    ESL: UCI-Extension, 14 years; IVC and RSCC; & Concordia Univ.; Freshman Comp. &
    GATE English (La Paz Intermed. SVUSD)
  • Alexis Justman
    BA in Drama with Creative Writing Emphasis, UC Irvine
    Two-time recipient of the Ariel Miranda Caldwell Writing Award, New Forum
  • Olivia Shilling
    BA in Social Science & Middle Education Certification Program, James Madison University
    Teacher for Middle school science, The Key School
    Teacher for Physical Science, Glasgow Middle School
    Teacher for Life Science, Liberty Middle School
  • Albert Chang
    BA in Business Economics, UC Irvine
    Shanghai Normal University, Advance Mandarin, Chinese Economics
    President, Unity club; Rush Chairman, Lambda Theta Delta

Geometry, Pre-Calculus, & Calculus

  • Ray Mendoza
    BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UC Irvine
    BA in Linguistics from UC Irvine
    MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UC Irvine
    Ph.D Candidate in Social Sciences with Concentration in Mathematical Behavioral Sciences from UC Irvine