Gabriella Gorven graduated from Cal State Long Beach as a film major, and later went to Vanguard University for her teaching credential. To her, teaching English, especially writing is all about “seeing the lightbulb go off”. Her favorite artists are Amy Winehouse and Mac Miller. She loves the book and show, “The Handmaid’s Tale.” “[The show] just really brought [the book] to life, I feel like they mesh really well creatively, and I’m a huge nerd about that.”
Jackie Merida, a special education teacher, grew up in Northern Long Beach before deciding to pursue a career in education. “I fell in love with the different ways that students learned, the different ways they interact with each other.” When not in the classroom, she enjoys a good K-drama and sushi.
Kirk Takeyama is the new Associate Principle at PV and plans on making it the “number one school in the state,” or at least have it be up there. “I’m a big believer in helping all of our students become California’s future leaders.” Safety is his top priority and he is working to ensure the safety of all students and staff. On another note, he enjoys hiking with his wife and his dog, as well as sushi and Japanese food.
Emily Chen is in her 11th year of teaching. Her favorite part of teaching math is watching students understand concepts they previously struggled with. She loves Trader Joe’s and “Gilmore Girls.” Chen originally graduated from PV High and is excited to give back to the high school. “I was the first freshman class when they reopened, it’s part of the reason I wanted to come back.”
Coming from a family of many teachers, Joshua Genauer fell in love with teaching after he had an opportunity to teach as a graduate student. “I started liking my teaching as much as the research itself.” While a graduate student, Genauer also dabbled as a DJ for a radio station. For fun, he picks radio stations that he has not heard of before to take in new music. “I end up hearing things I never would have known to look for. It’s a great way to welcome the unexpected.”
Marine Biology teacher Lauren Alimento grew up in Palos Verdes, and enjoys connecting with her students. After getting a degree in Neuroscience, she decided to pursue a career in teaching Marine Biology to help teach about our local environment and how it is changing.“I worked as an exhibit interpreter at the Aquarium of the Pacific when I was in high school and fell in love with connecting and educating others about our local ecosystem.” She highly recommends “Dancing with the Stars” and described the live tour as “life-changing.”
Elizabeth Aviles interned in Palos Verdes 13 years ago at Dapplegray, Mira Catalina, and PVIS. She has been working in the district ever since then. She was born in Canada and moved to California at 6 years old. She is married and spends much of her time watching TV shows with her three children. She loves working with children, and getting to help them. “I like working with students and I like working with staff and you get to help kids all around.”
Sea Kings also welcomed Brian Bowles into the Social Science Department. Bowles teaches AP and US History along with Psychology and is another teacher who previously taught at Peninsula High School.
Algebra teacher Laura Cortes is no stranger to the district. Having previously taught at Peninsula High School and been a substitute teacher for many years, she is already known by many students on campus. Cortes grew up in California and attended the University of Redlands, where she majored in history and minored in education. “What I want to do is make the kids a little bit excited about the subject,” she said. “The goal is for them to learn something, and if it is because I made a weird joke then I’ve done my job.”
Brian Koss is the long-term substitute teacher for Paige Metcalfe’s Geometry Honors and Pre-Calculus classes. Having graduated from Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Koss got his degree in Mathematics from California State University, Long Beach, and is currently getting his teaching credential from CSULB. Outside of school he has taken up photography and enjoys video games. When it comes to music, he has no particular favorites, but said “any of my students could tell you I love jazz and video game soundtracks.”