Sylmar
High School Math Science Technology Magnet's Staff:
Debbie
Steinert: Coordinator- Ms.
Steinert has lived in Sylmar since 1964. She graduated from Sylmar High in
1980. She earned a B.A. in Liberal Studies with a minor in Geology from CSUN.
She began teaching Science, Health and Computers at Olive Vista Middle School
in 1984. While at Olive Vista, she served as Science Department Chair, Technology
Coordinator, Impact Leader and School Based Management member. She was involved
in writing several grants, bringing technology to students and has led workshops
in Earthquake Safety and Geology. Ms. Steinert came to Sylmar High School
as the Magnet School Coordinator in 1994. Her children attended Sylmar's Magnet.
Sandra
Marquez: Secretary- Ms.
Marquez is the newest addition in the Magnet family, replacing Mrs. Swick
(who left big shoes to fill). This is the first time she has worked in a school;
it is exciting because she is getting to know all of our students and their
personalities. She was previously working as a drug/HIV counselor, where she
worked with men and women from all walks of life who were addicted to heavy
drugs. She contributed to their recovery by educating them to all the risks
involved in this lifestyle and by showing them a new direction in life. Now,
she looks forward to being a part of the Magnet students’ success in
education.
Jeff
Dellisanti: Magnet Counselor- Born
in Phoenix, he moved to LA in 1980 to finish his degree in music at CSUN.
After graduating in 1983, he spent many years working as a living as a touring
musician, playing in a wide variety of situations. 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 got smart and 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 our permanent counselor in 2002.
Joel
Albritton: Honors and A.P. English Language-
Mr. Albritton earned B.A. in the Classics from
the University of California, Riverside. He earned his M.A. from the University
of Washington. He has been and instructor and teaching assistant at the college
level and has many years experience working with youth groups. He came to
the Sylmar Magnet in the spring of 2004 and teaches American literature and
Advanced Placement English Language. He has a wide variety of interests including
music and ancient languages (he speaks Greek and Latin!) While not at school,
you will find Mr. Albritton and his wife playing with their children Gavin
and Audrey.
Phil
Brown:10th and 9th Grade Honors English,
Life Skills- Mr. Brown earned his Bachelor
of Arts degree in English in 1986 and a Master of Arts degree in English in
1993 from San Francisco State University. He has studied drama and theater
in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. He has been an instructor
at both California State University, Northridge and at UCLA and has recently
published a book. Mr. Brown taught English and Drama at South Gate High School
for five years before coming to Sylmar High School in 1993.
Angela
Campbell: Honors Chemistry and Biology-
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. 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: A.P. Spanish Language- Ms.
Campos graduated from CSU, Northridge in 1996 with a Master's Degree in Spanish
Literature. She came to our Magnet School to teach all levels of Spanish,
including Advanced Placement in 1996. She is the sponsor of our Teatro Latino
Club helping students to learn more about the Language, Dances, Music and
Culture of Spanish speaking countries. Her favorite activity is spending time
with her baby daughter.
Chris
Conkling: English- Mr.
Conkling comes from a family that was huge in the music industry, but he was
more interested in language than music. He graduated from Van Nuys High and
then attended Dartmouth College. After living in Japan for 30 months, he completed
his B.A. at BYU, where his senior paper was published and won a national history
award. He finished his masters at CSUDH. He wrote for television and movies
including the screenplay for the animated production of Lord of the Rings.
He then went into advertising and marketing writing for many years. He now
coordinates the writing program and campus newspaper at the University of
Judaism, where he teaches as well. He has produced two books, many articles,
hundreds of ads, brochures and packages, and six children with the help of
wife Robin.
Ken
Coulson: Honors Algebra II and A.P.
Calculus- Mr. Coulson received his B.S. in
mathematics from California State Polytechnic University where he graduated
with honors. Additionally, he has an Masters in computer sciences from West
Coast University. Prior to beginning his teaching career, Mr. Coulson spent
over twenty years in the computer industry as a systems engineer, software
developer and later doing marketing and sales. Mr. Coulson came to Sylmar
High school in 1995 from Burbank Middle School where he taught mathematics
to both English and Spanish speaking students.
Roy
Cuerquez: Honors Geometry- Mr.
Cuerquez joined Sylmar High School last 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 lead a youth drum and bugle corps.
Luanne
Emery: Health- Ms.
Emery received her Bachelors degree and teaching credential from Cal Poly
Pomona. She began her teaching career at Burbank Middle School in 1977, where
she taught Biology and Health. In 1992, she transferred to Olive Vista Middle
school so she could be closer to her home and three children. In 1996, she
began her high school career at Sylmar High, teaching health, Life Skills
and World of Education. She has been instrumental in helping to shape the
Future Teacher's Academy at Sylmar High. She happily joined the Magnet family
in 2006.
Lawrence
Friedrich: Honors Algebra I, Honors
Math Analysis, and A.P. Physics- Mr Friedrich
earned his B.S. degree in physics from the California State University of
Northridge (CSUN) in 1972. He has worked as a lab technician and an engineer.
For seven years he was self-employed as a swimming pool technician (Yep. He
cleaned them.) Mr. Friedrich came to the Magnet School in 1996 from San Fernando
Middle School where he taught math for ten years. Mr. Friedrich is a musician
as well and still preforms on his trombone. While not in school, he likes
to spend time with his wife, two children and three grandchildren.
Adana
Gardner: 9th Grade Honors English- Ms.
Gardner holds an M.A. in Cross-Cultural education. 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. She is very proud to be teaching ninth grade English in the Magnet.
Arleen
Gonzales: Honors Biology- 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: Honors World History, Honors
U.S. History, and Life Skills- Mr. Kurlander
comes to us with a wide variety of experience. He served in the Navy. While
stationed in Japan, he taught English in private schools. In 1977 he earned
his B.A. in History from California State University, Northridge. He earned
his M.A. in History from CSUN in 1983. He taught all levels of Social Studies
and Human Relations at Maclay Middle School for eighteen years before coming
to the Sylmar High Magnet in 1995.
Barbara
Lindsay: Honors Physics and A.P. Chemistry-
Mrs. Lindsay has been a Sylmar resident for
many years. Her three children are graduates of Sylmar High School and college
graduates. Mrs. Lindsay holds a Bachelors degree in Science Education and
a Masters Degree in Chemistry from Syracuse University in New York. For 12
years she taught Biological, Physical and Marine Science at Olive Vista Middle
School. She came to Sylmar Magnet in September of 1995. She is very involved
in numerous community groups in Sylmar.
Ana
Magaña: Spanish-
Ms. Magaña
originally comes from El Salvador. She studied agriculture at the University
of El Salvador. She earned her Bachelors Degree in Language and Culture in
the Spanish Language at California State University, Northridge. She has worked
for LAUSD since 1995 in several capacities. She has been a tutor in math science,
social studies and English as a Second Language. She has also been a teaching
assistant in Special Education classes. She joined the Magnet family in 2006.
Soheil
Mashhoud: 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 was accepted into the University of California
Los Angeles. He is also currently coaching the Sylmar's League Champions girls
and boys Volleyball team along with Robert Thompson.
Stephen
Richmond: A.P. World History, Honors
U.S. History, A.P. U.S. History, 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.
Francis
Wilson: Intoduction to Computers,
New Media, Robotics, Introduction to Programming- 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.
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.