ABOUT OUR TEAM
The team behind SVHS combines experienced teachers and educators with startup experts, lawyers and website content developers.
Management Team
David Smith—Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
A former Apple World Marketing Manager, David has more than 30 years’ experience of founding and managing technology startups. He holds a JD from Santa Clara University School of Law, Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing from the University of Westminster and a BS (Honors) Computer Science and Economics from the University of Leeds. In the 1990’s David founded and acted as CEO for SurfMonkey, the leading web browser and Internet safety service for children. David has authored several books on business and intellectual property and is recognized by IAM magazine as one of the world’s leading intellectual property strategists.
Michaela Smith—Chief Operating Officer
Michaela has been managing the development of websites and web-based businesses since the advent of the Internet more than 25 years ago. She developed the world’s first CD-ROM to be filled with paid advertising, the world’s first virtual reality trade show and led the team that created the award-winning SurfMonkey web portal for children. She has managed the development of sophisticated web-based software systems on the .Net/Windows and PHP/Linux platforms. Michaela manages customer service as well as the back office administration and website development activities for SVHS.
Scott Jarol—Chief Technology Officer
Jamie DeWitt—Head of School & Chief Academic Officer
Having worked with SVHS since our formation in 2013, Jamie DeWitt has over 20 years’ experience in education as a classroom teacher, online high school teacher, school administrator., and university instructor. Jamie earned her B.A. in History from University of California, San Diego, M.A. in Social Sciences from California State University, San Bernardino, and doctorate in education from Walden University. She has teaching credentials in both English and Social Sciences, and an administrative services credential. Jamie has taught courses to middle school and high school students in all content areas, in a variety of educational settings including alternative public school, online charter school, and independent study.
Caitlin Aguero—Chief Customer Relations Officer
Caitlin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Science from Eckerd College and multiple certifications as a Sailing Instructor (US Sailing Level 3 Head Instructor) and a Yoga Instructor (500-hr E-RYT). At Silicon Valley High School, She is fluent in Spanish and is a credentialed science teacher. Caitlin is a firm believer in the SVHS platform and the benefits of learning through self paced curriculums that engage all types of learners.
Mark Cameron White—General Counsel
Mark Cameron White holds a JD from University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, an MBA from Harvard University, Graduate School of Business and a BA, Economics, 1977 (Phi Beta Kappa) from Rutgers College, Rutgers University. Since 2007, Mark has been recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers magazine (independent research by Law & Politics). Mark formed and represented many notable Silicon Valley startups including Tesla Motors and Hotmail.
MIKE LOUGHRY – CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Mark Cameron White holds a JD from University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, an MBA from Harvard University, Graduate School of Business and a BA, Economics, 1977 (Phi Beta Kappa) from Rutgers College, Rutgers University. Since 2007, Mark has been recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers magazine (independent research by Law & Politics). Mark formed and represented many notable Silicon Valley startups including Tesla Motors and Hotmail.
Teachers
Matthew Allison—Teacher
Matthew Allison has over 20 years of experience teaching Spanish and English in grades K-12. He has a passion for teaching and enjoys seeing students being able to communicate in different languages. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from California State University. He has taught in the United States and Spain.
Alicia Barajas—Teacher
Mrs. Barajas earned her Bachelor’s degree in Spanish Literature from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and her Master’s in Education, along with teaching credentials, from Azusa Pacific University(APU). Additionally, she holds an preliminary Administrative Services Credential and with 18 years of high school teaching experience in California, Mrs. Barajas is now in her second year at Silicon Valley High School (SVHS), where she teaches Spanish. A native Spanish speaker, Mrs. Barajas is passionate about inspiring student learning and fostering a love for the Spanish language.
Stephanie Belli—Teacher
Stephanie loves science and helping others experience the joy of discovery. She has over 20 years of experience teaching Biology and Chemistry in grades 6-12. Stephanie holds a BS degree from the University of California, Davis and is working on her Masters at Western Governors University. She holds credentials in Biology, Chemistry, and Animal Science.
Oscar Castillo—Teacher
Oscar Castillo is a committed high school mathematics educator and coach with over 22 years of experience. He holds a Bachelor’s in Mathematics from California State University, Fullerton, and a Master’s in High School Counseling from Point Loma Nazarene University. Alongside teaching, Oscar has coached various sports, including soccer, track, cross-country, and serves as the football team’s kicking coach, emphasizing teamwork and personal growth. As the Associated Student Body (ASB) teacher and former co-chair for WASC accreditation, Oscar’s leadership and dedication have fostered a positive school culture, leaving a lasting impact on both his students and the school community.
Tim Clark—Teacher
Tim Clark has taught science in Southern California schools for over 30 years. He has spent those years teaching a variety of courses like biology, anatomy, earth science and physical science. Tim also has enjoyed connecting with students through coaching sports and being a club advisor. He earned his B.S. in Biological Science from U.C. Irvine in 1985, Single Subject Science Teaching Credential in 1992 and M.A. in Educational Technology from Azusa Pacific University in 2020.
Julie Coffin —Teacher
Julie has been a teacher for over 20 years, and has taught all high school subjects throughout her tenure. She has been teaching through online platforms since 2017. Her favorite subject to teach is Algebra, although it was not her favorite subject in high school. To her, the most exciting part of teaching is connecting with a wide variety of students. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Anthropology and earned her teaching credential from Mills College.
Amanda Cohen—Teacher
Amanda began her love of teaching as an environmental science camp counselor in her teens. She majored in Psychology and Education at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. She earned her M.Ed. at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. She has spent most of her career teaching science and math at the 7-9th grade level. She also spent 13 years working as a science specialist teaching hands-on labs for 4th and 5th graders. Most recently, she has been working with high school students who are working from home to earn credit on all high school subjects. When she has extra time, she loves spending time with her 16 year old daughter and taking long walks on the beach or in the mountains with her Fox Red Labrador puppy, Cowboy.
LouAnn Cunningham—Teacher
LouAnn Cunningham has over 20 years of teaching experience at both the secondary
and university levels. She obtained a B.S. degree from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. She then completed an M.A. at the University of Mississippi, where her focus was American Literature. Ms. Cunningham has taught English Composition courses at several universities and junior colleges. She has also been a high school classroom teacher for more than 20 years with several years of online teaching experience at the high school level as well.
Lawrence Decamora, Ph.D.—Teacher
Lawrence teaches Java and other open source programming languages. He has been a university instructor for more than 20 years while working with various industries, both in the public and in the private sectors as an IT Consultant. He also worked for 5 years as a Java trainer for Sun Microsystems, the original creators of the Java Technology. He has authored a book on Java and designed various courses and curricula around this technology. Lawrence is an Oracle Certified Java Programmer and a Sun Certified Java Programmer. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, a Masters Degree in Education and a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership and Management.
Heather Dunham—Teacher
Heather has over 25 years of teaching experience in science and math. She obtained her Bachelor of Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Chemistry with a minor in Environmental Science and Mathematics and her Master in Education for Science Teacher from Union College. She holds teaching certification in grades 7-12 Science, Chemistry, and Math from the state of New York and Montana. Heather has taught middle school, high school and community college and high school is her favorite.
Leland Dunomes—Teacher
Dr. Leland DuNomes has over 12 years of experience teaching high school mathematics and is passionate about helping students develop a strong foundation in mathematical concepts. He holds a bachelor’s degree in math from Marygrove College, an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University-Portland, and an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Liberty University. He has taught in many places throughout the country in both private and public schools and has also done a 4-year stint at an international school in Kuwait. He has also written curricula for various schools and has a lot of experience working with students with diverse needs. When he is not teaching, Dr. DuNomes enjoys watching basketball and spending time with his family.
Denise Eckley—Teacher
Denise Eckley has over 20 years of experience in teaching math. She has taught many different courses including algebra, geometry, pre-calculus, and calculus. Denise earned a BS in Physics, a BA in Math Education, and a Master’s Degree in Mathematics. She loves the outdoors and spends as much time as possible hiking and biking.
Mia Graham—Teacher
Mia Graham completed her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Missouri and her Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction at Northwest Missouri State University. She spent her first years of teaching at a high school in Columbia, Missouri, and now she is teaching in Kansas City. She enjoys traveling, hiking, music, and movies.
Dawn Gilmore—Teacher
Dawn Gilmore has 15 years of teaching experience in science. She has also worked on science curriculum and assessments for the Indiana Department of Education. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology and her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, both from Indiana University. She holds a teaching license for grades 5-12 in Chemistry, Biology, Earth Space Science, and Physical Science.
Jessica Gilroy—Teacher
Jessica Gilroy has over 15 years of teaching at the high school level. She earned both her B.S. in Mathematics and her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from George Mason University in Virginia. She holds a teaching license for Mathematics, Computer Science, Gifted Education, and English as a Second Language.
Nydia Gonzalez —Teacher
Nydia Algazzali Gonzalez is an educational professional and artist dedicated to creating opportunities for diverse learners of varied abilities and backgrounds. She is accomplished in designing curricula, professional development and arts programs with excellent classroom management skills and culturally responsive teaching strategies from years of working with diverse student populations ranging in cognitive and motor abilities, socio-economic backgrounds and languages. Ms. Gonzalez is biliterate (Spanish/English) and holds a Master’s in Special Education and Mild/Moderate Education Specialist Credential.
Richard Haislip—Teacher
Richard loves teaching mathematics in an energetic format where students take charge of their own learning. He has over 16 years of teaching high school students all levels of mathematics courses. Richard holds a bachelors degree from Bucknell University and a masters degree from National University.
Lana Hungerford—Teacher
Lana Hungerford has enjoyed teaching, mainly in STEM-related roles, for the past 15 years. She has a Master’s Degree in education from Dominican University, River Forest, Illinois, and a Bachelor’s Degree from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa where she minored in International Studies. Traveling to the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia she completed additional studies toward her Bachelor’s and an Advanced Scuba Diving certification at the Great Barrier Reef. Before education, she held various roles with travel-related companies such as Walt Disney World and Enterprise. As a previous Gold Award recipient, she enjoys volunteering as a Girl Scout Leader. She also swims, travels, and watches movies while paper crafting for her greeting card company. She loves learning and is determined to help others discover their learning style. She is proud to be part of the SVHS family!
Suzanne King—Teacher
Suzanne has more than 20 years teaching Spanish at the high school and elementary levels, She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish at Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA and her single subject Spanish Credential from Sonoma State University. She also studied in Oaxaca, Mexico where she taught English. Suzanne has worked as a high school Spanish teacher in Sonoma County for 16 years and has received extensive training in curriculum design and assessment. She is passionate about teaching language and culture and has traveled extensively throughout Latin America and Spain.
Hans Lehman—Teacher
Hans is a mathematics teachers with 18 years of experience. He holds a B.S. in Mathematics with a concentration in teaching Secondary Education from Shippenburg University, and a Masters in Education from Walden University. He enjoys teaching mathematics and answering student’s questions. Hans is married with four kids and enjoys watching his kids play sports. His areas of expertise are Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Pre-Calculus.
Willie Lewis—Teacher
Willie is an experienced mathematics educator with 21 years of teaching expertise in Algebra and Trigonometry. He holds a B.S. in Mathematics and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. Willie’s philosophy centers on providing students with engaging experiences and real-world applications that demonstrate the fundamental role of mathematics in our daily lives. He is committed to fostering student growth and building lasting relationships. He aims to inspire students to see mathematics as a foundation for future success in any field.
Arthur Marin—Teacher
Arthur has more than 15 years teaching experience as a mathematics teacher
and more than 10 years experience as an online teacher and tutor. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Applied Mathematics from the University of California, San Diego, received a single subject teaching credential in Mathematics from California State University, San Marcos and his Master of Arts in Mathematics Education from San Diego State University. Arthur has taught math courses for perspective elementary school teachers, helping students have deep understanding of mathematics.
Wendy Megowan—Teacher
Wendy has 20 years of experience as a high school Spanish teacher with the last five as an online teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish at California State University Hayward and during that time spent a semester abroad at the Universidad de Salamanca in Spain. She also has a Masters in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education. Wendy has taught high school Spanish levels 1, 2, and 3. She received a scholarship for the Fulbright teacher exchange program and taught middle school in Aguascalientes, Mexico. She lived in Mexico for six years in the states of Puebla and Nayarit.
Emma Meyer—Teacher
Emma has more than 14 years experience teaching mathematics in Indiana and Ohio and continues to hold licenses in both states. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Emma has taught Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Statistics, Pre-Calculus and AP Calculus AB in the traditional classroom. In her spare time, she likes to renovate houses.
Meghan Mcmahon—Teacher
Meghan has worked in education for six years, including as a high school science teacher. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Villanova University and a Master’s from Temple University. She holds a teaching certification in Pennsylvania for both Earth & Space Science and Biology. In her free time, Meghan enjoys knitting sweaters, walking her dog, and baking.
Adam Minyard—Teacher
Adam Minyard has been teaching Math, Physics, and Engineering in Northern California for more than 20 years. He obtained his BS degree in Mathematics Education for Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Adam also has two Master’s degrees… one in Instructional Technology and the other in Educational Leadership. Adam enjoys making math and physics relevant and meaningful to his students.
Lena Miranda—Teacher
Marlene “Profe. Lena” has over 20 years of experience teaching Spanish and English in grades K-12 and now adults. She has a passion for teaching and enjoys seeing students be able to communicate in different languages. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from San Francisco State University and has lived in Spain with friends to work on a Master’s degree in Teaching Spanish as a World Language. She has also traveled to several Spanish-speaking countries and has led student volunteer tourism trips to several Latin American countries.
Steffen Mittelhaeuser—Teacher
Steffen Mittelhaeuser has over forty years experience as a commercial and fine art photographer. As an adjunct professor at Daytona State College Southeast Center for Photographic Studies he has developed and taught a wide range of Photography courses to both undergraduate and high-school students. He holds a MFA in Photography fromthe University of Michigan, and a BA from Bowling Green State University. His award-winning photography is held in the permanent collections of museums and has been internationally exhibited and published.
Allison Mugele—Teacher
Allison holds teaching credentials in both American Sign Language and Social Studies. Allison graduated from Columbia College Chicago with their degree in ASL-English interpreting and has interpreted in both education and community settings. They have a passion for language, culture, and history. Allison is excited to help students learn, discover, and ask interesting questions. They have been teaching high school for 5 years and look forward to a long future in education. Allison has also taught Yearbook, Leadership, and Advisory in the past and enjoys helping students create the best high school memories while planning for their future.
Marginia Orantes—Teacher
Marginia Orantes has a degree in Spanish and a Master’s in Education. She has extensive training in Gifted and Talented Education. Her career in education spans a diverse spectrum. She spent seven years specializing in high school Spanish and three years teaching online. She has been tutoring Spanish since she was 16 years old. She enjoys time with her family, cooking, and reading when not at work.
Callie Phillips—Teacher
Callie has several years of classroom teaching experience with experience building and grading online courses at the college level. She graduated with her Bachelor’s in Secondary Education: Social Studies Broadfield from Montana State University–Northern and is a licensed educator. She has taught a variety of grade levels in multiple subjects related to government, history, business, personal finance, etc. Callie is a strong advocate for online learning after growing up in rural Montana and recognizing the endless possibilities and resources that can be made available to students no matter their location or schedule via an online setting.
Derek Postlewaite—Teacher
Derek is a social studies teacher who has taught online since 2012. He graduated with a Master of Arts in Teaching Social Studies at the Secondary Level from California University of Pennsylvania in the spring of that same year, and since then he has created, modified and administered multiple online courses within the social studies discipline. He taught Civics & Economics and US History for two years in Virginia, and is also certified in English, as well as English as a Second Language, and has worked with several districts in the Pittsburgh area as a itinerant ESL teacher, arriving at multiple schools daily to serve the needs of English language learners. In addition, he is experienced in tutoring, assessment writing and evaluating the lessons of other educators.
Karla Saurez—Teacher
Karla has been in the education field for 10 years. She has a passion for teaching Spanish and enjoys working with students. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master of Arts at CSU Fresno and a Teaching Credential at CSU Stanislaus. She taught Spanish courses to high school students in various educational settings, including public high schools, private high schools, and online charter schools. She believes learning a second language helps students understand other cultures.
Linda Siegworth—Teacher
Linda has worked as a Business and Information Technology teacher for over 30 years. She has taught various business, personal finance, STEM, and computer applications courses. Linda received her B.S. Degree from Northern Michigan University and an M.S. Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She has also worked extensively with curriculum development, supervising student teachers, and supporting students and staff as a technology integrator. Linda enjoys traveling, spending time at her family cabin, kayaking, hiking, and biking in her leisure time.
Danielle St. Denis—Teacher
Danielle has a Bachelor’s of Mathematics, a Master’s of Education, and a Master’s in Data Analytics all from Slippery Rock University in western Pennsylvania. She has been tutoring and teaching students in math for over 14 years, and has a passion for helping students understand new concepts. With experience from elementary math topics to Calculus I and II (and everything in between), she most enjoys working with Algebra and Statistics. In her free time she enjoys traveling to new places, thrift shopping, and hanging out with her orange cat Morris.
Dave Stoner—Teacher
Dave has over 13 years teaching experience as an English teacher and several yeas as an online teacher and tutor. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, received a teaching certificate in English from Shippensburg University, and his Master of Arts in English from National University in San Diego. Dave has taught English, Communications, and Film courses, helping students have deep understanding of English Language Arts.
Michael Stultz—Teacher
Michael has been teaching in secondary education and community college for over 25 years in the United States and Spain. He’s taught AP English Literature and Language, IB English, composition, history, ethnic studies, film, journalism, speech, and creative writing. He earned his Bachelor of Science in English Education from Ball State University and his Masters in English from Butler University. He has served as a writing coach for over twenty years and an editor for thirteen years, authoring over 2,000 peer-reviewed articles for online learning communities. Michael is a strong advocate for grading for equity, comics in the classroom, the writing revolution method of composition instruction, Lincoln-Douglas debates, and the ‘This I Believe’ legacy project. Most of all, he enjoys seeing students off to university, confident in their critical thinking and composition skills.
Heidi Taggart—Teacher
Heidi Taggart is a 26-year veteran educator; she has spent those years in a variety of capacities, from science teacher, club sponsor, volleyball/basketball/track and field coach, administrator, back to science teacher, online science teacher, and most currently, a science specialist. Heidi has enjoyed teaching chemistry, biology, physics, AP/honors chemistry, AVID, aerospace engineering, life science, and physical science. She earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in 1997, an M.A. in Education and Teaching
Credential from Azusa Pacific University in 2003, and Administrative Services Credential from Cal Poly Pomona in 2005.
Janey Taylor —Teacher
Janey Taylor has 25 years of experience teaching math in grades 6-12. She strongly believes that every child can learn and loves teaching them the skills they need to succeed. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Secondary Math Education in 1994 and her Master of Science in Math Education in 2013, both from the University of Wyoming.
Shari Trella—Teacher
Shari Trella has been teaching for 19 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Valdosta State University, a master’s degree in education from Auburn University, and a specialist degree in teaching and learning from Liberty University. She holds teaching certifications for high school math, business education, gifted education, business, computers and information technology. She is passionate about helping students understand math!
Linda Veldhuizen—Teacher
Linda Veldhuizen is a passionate educator with over 20 years of experience teaching mathematics and science in Canada and the US. Holding a Master’s in Mathematics Education, she excels in teaching subjects from Pre-Algebra to Calculus. Fluent in multiple languages, Linda embraces cultural diversity and brings a global perspective to her teaching. She believes in fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills, equipping her students with the tools they need for success in their academic journeys and beyond.
Wendy Wheat—Teacher
Wendy Wheat has been sharing her passion and appreciation for mathematics with students for over 20 years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of California, Irvine, and then came back to her home state of Texas to teach. She is credentialed to teach all areas of math 6th-12th grade and has enjoyed teaching students at different levels, in different locations, and at different ability levels. She received her master’s degree from the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley, in Instructional Technology and has been working with students in the growing arena of online education.
Customer Service
Emmanuel Ejiogu—Director of Quality Control
Emmanuel has been developing online courseware, and managing quality control since the school’s inception in 2013. Prior to this he was Deputy Director at the Service for Peace in Connecticut and worked on a variety of fundraising and business planning projects. With SVHS, Emmanuel supports the creation and management of SVHS courses on the Moodle platform. He undertakes quality control testing, customer support, project management, regulatory compliance management and various aspects of course development. Emmanuel holds a Bachelors Degree in Automotive Technology Engineering.
Connie Aguero—Customer Service Representative
Connie Aguero earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Miami University in Ohio and a Master’s Degree in Technology in the Schools from Cleveland State University. Connie spent 32 years teaching in Mentor, Ohio and is now delighted to be supporting teachers, parents, and SVHS students looking to achieve their education goals. Connie believes the flexibility and autonomy of online education provides many opportunities and benefits for students and is a game changer in the academic arena.
Alva Albay—Customer Service Representative
Alva is a customer service representative with Silicon Valley High School helping answer support questions from students, schools, counselors and others. Alva holds a Bachelor’s degree Library Science from Adventist University of the Philippines, a Masters in Library and Information Science from Polytechnic of the Philippines and is currently working on her Doctor of Educational Management.
Mary Bissell—Customer Service
Mary has spent 30 years working in education, teaching various high school mathematics courses. She has taught subjects from Algebra to Statistics in Louisiana. She has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics Education (Louisiana State University – Shreveport) and a Masters degree in Educational Leadership (Arkansas State University). Teaching mathematics is her passion. She makes connections with students and parents to help create a positive and safe learning environment. Mary is excited to support students at SVHS through this online learning experience. She has been married to her high school sweetheart for 40 years. In her spare time, Mary enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren.
Shona Hall—Customer Service
Shona has over 25 years of experience in business management and assists in running a small business with her family. She also has over 24 years of experience working in education teaching History, Science, Physical Education, and has worked as a Librarian, and Curriculum Coordinator for Charter Schools. Additionally, she has been homeschooling her own children for over 23 years and values online learning and all it has to offer. She is passionate about helping others in both business and education and excited to see all the opportunities at SVHS. In her free time Shona is a mentor Mom in her Community and volunteers as a Crisis Counselor.
Angie Lima—Customer Service
Angie is a customer service representative, supporting parents and
students giving them the tools to ensure success in reaching their education goals. She has a passion for childhood development and education, and values the independent learning that SVHS has to offer. She was homeschooled herself and believes that has set the stage for her lifelong learning, which has become a requirement in this modern world. She was still in high school when she had the opportunity to study dental assisting, where she has spent the last 19 years. Working closely with the public, taking on managerial and customer service roles will aid her in this new journey. In her spare time, Angie loves to continue her own education, focusing on nutrition and health, as well as training for her next race or triathlon.
Meagan Schlueter—Customer Service
Meagan has a Bachelor’s degree in History and is a licensed teacher with 12 years of teaching experience in in-person and online environments. At Silicon Valley High School, Meagan helps answer questions from students, parents, schools, and counselors. She also works on our Quality Control team, helping to ensure that courses are up to date. Meagan enjoys being able to work each day helping students succeed with the SVHS platform.
Lisa Shaw—Customer Service
For the past thirty-five years, Lisa Shaw has taught AP Biology, Biology, Environmental Science, and Agriculture. She has taught in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Florida. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science and Master of Education Degrees. She also has her principals certificate from Shippensburg University.
Sales and Marketing
Scott Axelrod—Homeschool Outreach Coordinator
Scott has spent the past 30 years focused on online marketing, brand building, member engagement and developing a vibrant online experience for members. As the Homeschool Outreach Coordinator, Scott’s role is to promote Silicon Valley High School’s Homeschooling Program to homeschool organizations nationwide. His efforts are focused on increasing awareness and enrollment by connecting with and educating homeschool communities across the United States. When not promoting Silicon Valley High School’s Homeschooling Program, he can be found focused on several projects he is passionate about and spending time with his wife.
John Ott, Jr—Online Curriculum School’s Programs Manager
Dr. John Ott, Jr. specializes in developing and studying innovative online learning experiences. His research on virtual reality’s potential in digital education has been featured in the Journal of Applied Instructional Design and presented at an Association for Educational Communications and Technology conference. Dr. Ott’s professional experience spans diverse educational environments, including roles at Fusion Global Academy and GREEN Charter School. He founded a non-profit organization dedicated to integrating cutting-edge technology into online instruction. Dr. Ott holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Practice and Innovation, focusing on Learning Design and Technologies, as well as a Master of Education in Gifted Education.
Sebastian James—marketing Representative
Sebastian has experience in sales and online marketing. As our creative director and our marketing strategist he is responsible for the sales process and customer purchasing experience. With experience in marketing design and animation Sebastian is responsible for our website design and front facing marketing activities.
Enric Batalla—Search Marketing Strategist
Enric handles social media management and 
online marketing with SVHS. In this capacity he engages with thousands of potential customers. He raises awareness of SVHS with schools, students, parents and various online groups and organizations, increasing SEO visibility and brand recognition. Enric holds a Master’s in Digital Marketing from ESIC University currently #18 in Europe and #109 in the World (Bloomberg). He also holds a BBA from Florida Atlantic University with honors and a Bachelor’s in Marketing Management from ESIC University with honors.
Human Resources
Paige Johnston—Head of Human Resources
Engineering
Anand Chella Nadar—Chief Technical Officer
Anand has more than 15 years’ experience in software design & development, web applications development, system security, mobile App development and ERP solutions. He heads up a team of engineers responsible for developing the SVHS websites and managing the I.T. platform. His team of close to 50 engineers includes Arul Ginesh and Sheik Ibrahim who manage the Moodle sites and PHP code. Anand holds a B.E. degree in Computer Science from MS University Tirunelveli and an MBA in International Business from the Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu.
Arul Ginesh—Engineering Team Lead
Arul is an experienced full-stack web application developer who has been leading the development for SVHS on the Moodle platform for more than 5 years. Arul holds a Bachelor of Computer Science & Engineering from Anna University.
Ajay Kumar—Senior Software Engineer
Ajay is a more than 9 of years’ experience in software design & development, web applications development, ERP, CRM and LMS Development. Ajay has 9 year’s experience working on Moodle eLearning, VTiger CRM, Suite CRM, Sugar CRM and on PHP, MYSQL. He holds a B.Tech. degree in Computer Science from UPTU (Lucknow) and Pursing MBA in Cyber Security from Amity University (Online) Noida (India).
Kirupa Lakshmi—Technical Lead
Kirupa Lakshmi has 12 years of experience in full stack web development with 6 years in experience in the education domain working on the Moodle LMS. Lakshmi has been customizing Moodle themes, core libraries and has extensive knowledge of the Moodle Backend. She has experience in frameworks like Codeignitier, Zend, Smarty and Shopify, Odoo ERP System, Mysql. Lakshmi holds Master of Computer Application from Bharathidasan University, Tamilnadu.
Senthamizh Selvi—Senior Software Engineer
Selvi has 7 years of experience in software development and web application development. She has 5 years of experience working on Moodle LMS and more than a year of experience in phonegap(Cordova) mobile app development and the Codeignitier framework. Selvi holds a B.Tech degree from Ganadipathy Tulsi’s Jain Engineering, India. In her free times, she enjoy spend time with friends & family, cooking & listening to music, and playing outdoor games.
Sheik Ibrahim A—Senior Software Engineer
Sheik is a a full-stack web developer with knowledge in different front end and back end languages, responsive frameworks, databases, and best code practices. Sheik has been developing and customizing Moodle for more than 5 years. Sheik holds a Bachelor of Computer Science & Engineering from Anna University.
Abhishek Lal—Senior Software Engineer
Abhishek has been developing for SVHS on the Moodle platform since 2020. He holds a Masters in Computer Applications from Cochin University of Science and Technology.
Afshan Anjum—Quality Analyst
Afshan has been managing quality control and testing of Moodle software for SVHS since 2020. She holds a bachelor degree in computer science and engineering from G Madegowda Institute of Technology (GMIT).
David Quintero—Learning Technology Engineer
As Learning Technology Consultant within the e-Learning Software Development industry, Dave incorporates years of experience in e-learning technology, managing and leading Project Management and Engineering Teams. While making sure all quality standards are met within an organization, Dave has made sure to provide powerful input to Fortune 500 corporations, State Universities throughout the US and government funded organizations by optimizing live systems and guiding evolution of internal processes, e-learning tools and platforms.
Board of Directors
David Smith—MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A former Apple World Marketing Manager, David has more than 30 years’ experience of founding and managing technology startups. He holds a JD from Santa Clara University School of Law, Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing from the University of Westminster and a BS (Honors) Computer Science and Economics from the University of Leeds. In the 1990’s David founded and acted as CEO for SurfMonkey, the leading web browser and Internet safety service for children. David has authored several books on business and intellectual property and is recognized by IAM magazine as one of the world’s leading intellectual property strategists.
Mark Cameron White—MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mark Cameron White holds a JD from University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, an MBA from Harvard University, Graduate School of Business and a BA, Economics, 1977 (Phi Beta Kappa) from Rutgers College, Rutgers University. Since 2007, Mark has been recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers magazine (independent research by Law & Politics). Mark formed and represented many notable Silicon Valley startups including Tesla Motors and Hotmail.
Michaela Smith—MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Michaela has been managing the development of websites and web-based businesses since the advent of the Internet more than 25 years ago. She developed the world’s first CD-ROM to be filled with paid advertising, the world’s first virtual reality trade show and led the team that created the award-winning SurfMonkey web portal for children. She has managed the development of sophisticated web-based software systems on the .Net/Windows and PHP/Linux platforms. Michaela manages customer service as well as the back office administration and website development activities for SVHS.
Karen Guldan—Member of the Board of Directors
Karen is the President of Protemis, a GPS timing spin-out from Trimble Navigation where Karen was Director and General Manager. Karen sits on the board of directors for the Bill Wilson Center, a non-profit helping youth in Santa Clara, California. She is a rape crisis advocate for YWCA Silicon Valley and Program Coordinator for Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Karen earned her JD, MBA and BS in Biology from Santa Clara University.
Ronald Blumka—Member of the Board of Directors
Ron is a certified public accountant and president of Blumka & Company, PC. With more than 40 year’s experience, Ron is a member of the Texas Society of CPA’s and the Dallas Chapter of CPA’s. Ron earned his MBA, Finance from Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University and his BS in Accounting from Case Western Reserve University.
Advisory Board
Eric Blanco—Member of the Board of Advisors
Eric is an experienced school counselor working with University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria High School and Ernest Righetti High School. He is the Past President (2017-2018) for the California Association of School Counselors and a Member of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). Eric holds an M.S., School Counseling, a P.P.S. Credential from University of La Verne and a B.S., Psychology from California Polytechnic State University.
Jill Foster—Member of the Board of Advisors
Dan Garrett—Member of the Board of Advisors
Dan Garrett is the Director, Technical Publication and Global Labeling at Intuitive Surgical, leading a department of project managers, technical writers, graphic designers, and labeling specialists to create and maintain Instructions for Use for robotic assisted surgical systems. Prior to this role, Dan has led training and education departments for customers, field service engineers, and manufacturing technicians for medical device and diagnostic companies in Silicon Valley. In the US Navy and Navy Reserves, Dan was an instructor, evaluator, leadership facilitator, and Senior Enlisted Leader. Dan holds a B.S. degree in Biochemistry from University of California, Riverside.
Teaching Faculty and Course Development Teams
We are proud of the numerous credentialed teachers that we have on our team. They create courses, quizzes, finals, assignments, grade assignment submissions, and are instrumental in ensuring our courses comply with the various state standards.
