Sylmar High School Math Science and Technology

Magnet Staff

Deborah Steinert: Magnet School Coordinator- Mrs. Steinert graduated from Sylmar High School in 1980 and attended California State University of Northridge, where she graduated in 1984 and majored in Liberal Studies, also received a minor in Geology.  While in high school, Mrs. Steinert was in her school's marching band, Jazz band, and was in Explorer Scouts.  Mrs. Steinert has been working at Sylmar High School since 1994.  However, for 10 years she was a science teacher at Olive Vista Middle School.  Mrs. Steinert always dreamed about being a teacher although she also thought about becoming a Forest Ranger.

Jeff Dellisanti: Magnet Counselor- Born in Phoenix, Arizona he later moved to Los Angeles, California in 1980 to finish his degree in music at CSUN.  After graduating in 1983, he spent many years working as a touring musician, playing in a wide variety of venues.  He was a substitute teacher in LAUSD for 16 years to help make ends meet and also taught privately.  The economy and music industry being somewhat bleak, he decided to use his degree and pursue a career in education.  He earned his credential from CSUN.  Mr. Dellisanti joined the magnet as a temporary advisor in 1999 and became the permanent counselor in 2002.

Joel Albritton: Honors American Literature and Composition, AP English Language and Composition- Mr. Albritton attended Walla Walla College, UC Riverside, University of Washington, and Fuller Theological Seminary.  Mr. Albritton majors in Classics, English Language and Literature, and Ancient Near Eastern Languages.  He has been an instructor and teaching assistant at the college level and has many years of experience working with youth groups. Mr. Albritton has a wide variety of interests, including music and ancient languages.  He has been working at Sylmar High School in the Magnet for a total of 7 years now. 

Angela Campbell: Chemistry and Forensic Science- Ms. Campbell has been teaching chemistry since 1996.  She has been at Sylmar High School since the fall of 2005 and started teaching in the Magnet Program in the fall of 2006.  She taught biology, chemistry, and physics for 9 years at Pasadena High School prior to joining the Sylmar staff. The Magnet students make it a great teaching environment for her, and she views the Magnet as a big family. She has a BA in Human Biology and a MA in Education from Stanford University.  She is an Institutional Biosafety Committee member at City of Hope.  Her hobbies include scuba diving, traveling, swing dancing, soap making, and spending time with her two daughters and her husband, who is an engineer at JPL.

Ana Campos: Spanish and French- Mrs. Campos attended CSUN.  She majored in Spanish Language and Literature and minored in French.  While she was in college she was always proud of her Latin American culture and joined many clubs.  She was part of the Latin American and Culture Club, Teatro Aztlan, and French club.  She has been teaching at Sylmar High School for 13 years.

Jerone Cooper:Algebra 1, Algebra 2-Jerone Cooper works at Sylmar High School as Mathematics Teacher. He studied at Rutgers University and the University of Redlands. He lives in Burbank, California. From Camden, New Jersey, he was born on March 1, 1962..

Ken Coulson: Algebra 2 and AP Calculus- Mr. Coulson received his B.S. in Mathematics from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona where he graduated with honors.  He also has a Masters Degree in computer science.  He did not always plan on being a teacher.  Prior to his teaching career, Mr. Coulson spent over 20 years in the computer industry as a systems engineer, software developer, and later doing marketing and sales.  Mr. Coulson has now been working for Sylmar High School for 16 years.

Roy Cuerquez: Geometry- Mr. Cuerquez joined Sylmar High School in September 2006 as a member of the Cultural Exchange Teacher Program from the Philippines of the Amity Institute.  Amity is an international program for cultural understanding and friendship.  He holds Bachelors degrees in Civil Engineering and Secondary Education in Mathematics.  He also has a Masters in Mathematics Education.  He has worked as an educator since 1983 in a variety or positions including Math Teacher, Principal, Education Supervisor, College Instructor and University Executive Vice President.  He enjoys music and leads a youth drum and bugle corps.

Luanne Emery: Health- Mrs. Emery received her B.S.  and teaching credential from Cal Poly Pomona in 1977 where she studied for 5 years.  She majored in Physical Education and Health.  Mrs. Emery was involved in the first girls' tennis team at Cal Poly.  She began her teaching career at Burbank Middle School where she taught Biology and Health.  In 1996, she began to work for Sylmar High School.  She enjoys teaching her students how to live healthy and happy lives.  Teaching has always been her passion.  She loves helping others and enjoys seeing her students learn about their bodies and how to live a healthy life style.

Adana Gardner: Honors 9th English, Honors Adv. Comp. and English Literature- Ms. Gardner holds an M.A. in Cross-Cultural education from National University.  She grew up in Sylmar, where she attended Hubbard Elementary and Olive Vista Junior High.  She pursued her love of the arts at the Van Nuys High Performing Arts Magnet and graduated from UCLA in 1994 with her BA.  She has also acted professionally.  She joined the Sylmar High Staff in 1999, teaching English and directing the musical Grease, although teaching was not always a career goal.  She is very proud to be teaching ninth grade and Senior English in the Magnet for six and a half years. She considers the environment of the Magnet to be the best. In her words "I couldn't ask for better colleagues or friendlier students." Outside of work her favorite vacation destination is Disney World and she enjoys spending time with her family.

Arleen Gonzales: Biology and Peer Counseling- Twenty years after graduating from Sylmar High School, Ms. Gonzales returned as a teacher in 1997.  Ms. Gonzales attended Stanford University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Human Biology.  She also has a Masters in Instructional Leadership and Curriculum Development.  Upon graduation from Stanford University, Ms. Gonzales coordinated a cancer study at USC's School of Medicine.  She then earned her teaching credential and taught life, physical, and earth sciences, as well as health, to students at San Fernando Middle School for nine years.  She is currently the Science Department Chair.

Keith Kurlander: World History, United States History and Life Skills- Mr. Kurlander started his college experience at Pierce Junior College.  After attending several years of Pierce College he went to California State University in Northridge.  His major while he was in college was History.  Mr. Kurlander has been working at Sylmar High School since 1995. Through his period of time and Sylmar he believes he has been working with a fantastic staff with the magnet and has the best students one could ever hope for.  However, before teaching here at Sylmar High School he taught at Maclay Middle School for eighteen years. Teaching has always been a career goal for him.When he's not working he likes to travel, read, watch movies, and sports.

Barbara Lindsay: Honors Physics, Astronomy, and AP Chemistry- Mrs. Lindsay attended Syracuse University in New York where she received her B.A. in Science Education and M.S. in Inorganic Chemistry.  She sang in the University Chorus, was in the Newman Club, Performed in Drama Department Musicals, and participated in football cheer.  She has been working at Sylmar High School since 1995.

Ana Magana: Spanish 1, Spanish Speakers 1, and Spanish Speakers 2- Ms.Magana studied Agriculture at the University of El Salvador.  When she came to the United States, she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Language and Culture in the Spanish Language at California State University, Northridge.  She began working as a special education assistant.  This experience helped her realize that education, specifically teaching, was the path she wanted to follow.  Ms. Magana has now been working at Sylmar High since 1996.

Soheil Mashoud: A.P. Biology, Honors Marine Biology- Mr. Mashhoud attended Sylmar High School and is currently teaching A.P. Biology.  After graduating from Sylmar High School, he attended into the University of California Los Angeles, where he earned a degree in biology.  He is also currently coaching the Sylmar's League Champions girls and boys Volleyball team along with Robert Thompson.

Stephen Richmond: U.S. History, A.P. U.S. History, A.P. World History, and Chicano Studies- Mr. Richmond grew up in the San Fernando Valley.  He earned his BA in History from CSUN in 1988.  Before joining the Magnet in 1996, Mr. Richmond was a musician and comedy writer.  He was also a private tennis instructor.  He has worked for private companies for the several years, tutoring students for the Advanced Placement Exams, the SAT and helping them to prepare for college.  He loves to help students become actively involved in the political process.  He enjoys listening to many types of music and spending time with his son.

Edward Victoria: 10th grade English and English Skills- Mr.Victoria is the newest addition in the Magnet family, replacing Mr. Brown, but he has been teaching at Sylmar high since 1990.  It is exciting because he is getting to know all of our students and their personalities.  He attended UCLA and majored in English literature.  He teaches English and speech.

Francis Wilson: Introduction to Computers, New Media, Robotics, Introduction to Programming, Exploring Computer Science - Mr. Wilson began college as a physics major at Cal Tech, continued with a BA and MA in mathematics from UCLA, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Fairleigh Dickenson University and Doctoral work in Mathematics Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.  He began working with computers in the classroom as a junior high school math teacher in New York City in 1968.  He was very instrumental in developing the Magnet Computer Lab in 1994, which he sees as a wonderful resource for the whole school. He has been working with the Sylmar High School Magnet since the day it opened. He says the Magnet staff and students are excellent to work with. His other interests include spending time with his family and using the DVR to watch shows like Lawrence O'Donnell and Rachel Madow.

Bill Winkes: A.P. Economy, A.P. Government- Mr. Winkes graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in History.  Mr. Winkes was a Keck Fellow in Seaver College at Pepperdine University and has a Master's Degree in American Studies.  Before joining the Sylmar Magnet in 1994, Mr. Winkes taught at Locke High School and Palisades High School.  Since 1986 he has taught grades 9 through 12 Social Science classes including World History, U.S. History, A.P. U.S. History, Government, Economics, Cultural Awareness and Future Studies.  Previous to his career in education, Mr. Winkes was a manager in business for 15 years.  He is currently the Social Studies Department Chair.  Outside of school, Mr. Winkes spends time with his wife and son.