Contacts & Directions

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Daisy earned her BA at UC Berkeley in Political Science with a minor in History, and her MA at Loyola Marymount in Educational Policy and Administration. Having been selected for the Teach For America Rising Leader Fellowship, Daisy brings strong experience to Laguna as a K-12 educator and leader. She has taught both history and English for multiple years in the Bay Area, and most recently, served as the After School Program Coordinator at The Turner Foundation. Daisy is passionate about designing student-centered curriculum, building community, and helping students develop their potential. She will be taking over Mr. Guay’s current classes, which include all three sections of World History I, as well as one section each of World History II and US History. 

Dan Ary has taught for over 35 years, including 24 years as a full-time instructor at Laguna Blanca School. He is an adjunct professor in Mathematics at Santa Barbara City College and has been a Visiting Instructor in Computer Science at UCSB. His Master’s degree from UCSB is in Mathematics. During his graduate years at UCSB he acted as a Teaching Fellow specializing in enrichment math for EK-12. While at the university he worked many summers developing curriculum, grades K-6, for the DIGIT program.

He was instrumental in the development and teaching of the AP Calculus program at Laguna Blanca School and has frequently taught AP Computer Science there. In the past he has acted as chairman of the Math department.

Mr. Ary has tutored extensively with both individuals and small groups in math SAT. He has years of experience in teaching both SAT I and SAT II math courses. He has successfully collaborated in the development and teaching of SAT preparation courses since 2000.

When he is not enjoying his teaching of mathematics he spends his time at home playing with his Irish wolfhound. He enjoys Santa Barbara and feels privileged to have been a resident for over 45 years.

Charlie Aslesan (Mr. A) comes to Laguna Blanca from St. Paul, Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts in English, Education & Family Studies from Saint Olaf College where he was also the Co-Captain of their basketball team. Mr. A has over five years of teaching experience in Middle and Upper School Social Studies and English courses, including seventh grade Geography. In 2021, he was the recipient of the Saintly Service Halo Award, which goes to two educators in the entire state of Minnesota, recognizing excellence in the development of students.

Originally from the Bay Area, Lauren Bedard moved to Santa Barbara to attend UCSB, earning a B.A. in Mathematics followed by a Master's in Education. Prior to joining Laguna this year, Lauren spent three years teaching in public schools, first in Stockton, followed by a year in Ventura at Buena High School. In her time as a teacher, Lauren has been involved in several school organizations, including running the student council and working as the head varsity softball coach. In her spare time, she enjoys backpacking, playing softball, painting, and reading.

As an active member of the Santa Barbara community and local schools, Tina has played many roles. She has served on numerous Parent Auxiliary Boards and committees, as well as assisted in the classroom. Tina comes to Laguna with an extensive background in event coordination and project management, working for the Santa Barbara Triathlon, as well as a local interior design company. She also has experience in office administration, accounting, and volunteer management.

A UCSB graduate, Tina earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art History. She most cherishes her time with her husband and three children and enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking, and design. 

Duncan joins the Laguna faculty after 7 years of teaching Latin at Fairfield Country Day School in Connecticut, where he also spent the last several years building and implementing a school-wide student support system focusing on the development of executive function. He holds a M.A. Degree in School Leadership from Columbia University, Teacher's College and a B.A. in Classical and Medieval Studies from Bates College. Born and raised on an island in coastal Maine, Duncan has always enjoyed being close to the ocean. His interests include surfing, running and sharing his passion for ancient Roman history, art and archaeology.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director, Ursula Chan, started at Laguna Blanca in 2018 as the Lower School Spanish Instructor and Fourth Grade Teaching Assistant and began her work as DEI Coordinator in 2020. Chan holds a B.A. in Feminist Studies from UCSB and a Master's with honors in American Studies, deepening her expertise in history, society, culture, and critical theory.

Paul Chiment has been sharing his love of math and his love of learning with students for over 30 years. After earning a degree in Mathematical Science, and then a teaching credential in Mathematics Education, he taught math and computer science courses in Los Angeles and Switzerland until returning to Santa Barbara in 1990. He joined the Laguna Blanca faculty that year and has thrived with Laguna’s friendly and academically-motivated student population. Paul makes it a point to weave humor and history into all of his math lessons and to focus on the deeper conceptual meaning of mathematics’ relationship to philosophy, science, and our everyday lives. Paul has been a master teacher for many graduate students in the field of math education, has served as a senior fellow with the Tri-County Mathematics Project, has served on Laguna Blanca’s Board of Trustees, and has chaired and participated on numerous committees related to mathematics and learning. When not teaching, Paul can be found strumming his guitar, surfing somewhere between San Diego and Santa Barbara, cooking Italian dinners for his family and friends, or playing with his two poorly behaved dogs.

Jason Donnelly has returned to Laguna Blanca to serve as the Director of Athletics after a previous stint at Laguna from 1997-2008 as the beloved Head Coach of our girls and boys volleyball teams. During that period, he led our girls to the CIF title in 2006, and also served as our Middle School Athletic Director.

Jason left Laguna in 2008 to coach women's volleyball at Rutgers University in New Jersey. After three seasons, he and his wife, Kim (also former faculty of Laguna's Lower School), returned to sunny Santa Barbara where Jason ran the boys and girls volleyball programs at Bishop Diego High School.

Seen as one of the best volleyball coaches in the area, Jason is well-equipped to continue our program's success. He will bring the same energy and spirit to our entire athletic program in the years to come.

Victoria was born in South Africa, where most of her extended family still lives. She has lived in France, England, Botswana, Switzerland and Greece. Victoria began teaching at the University of San Diego in the ESL Adult program. Immediately after university, she joined the Peace Corps and taught English in Mahalapye, Botswana where she developed a school library, created the Form 1 and Form 2 English Examinations in accordance with the Ministry of Education Requirements as well as a national competitive English team and essay competition. After her adventures in France and England, she taught Language Arts & Humanities to grades 7-12 in Seattle, Washington in both public and private schools; domestic and ELL; and standard, honors and AP classes. In 2005, she finished her master’s in teaching degree, and in 2009 she obtained National Board Certification. Driven to further master not only her writing skills, but also her instruction of writing, she earned an MFA degree in 2017. 

Victoria is thrilled to return to the beach after so many years in rainy Seattle. She enjoys daily runs with her two Weimaraner dogs. She is excited to join the Owl family and to become a part of the Santa Barbara community.

Erik Faust is a native of Colorado but has been living in California since he was in elementary school. He first fell in love with Santa Barbara after moving here in 2000 in pursuit of his then girlfriend and now wife, Lexie.

Michelle joins the Laguna Blanca community after teaching Spanish, English Language Development, Language Arts, and Theatre at Atascadero Middle School for the past three years. During this time, she successfully piloted the Spanish program as an advanced eighth grade elective for high school credit. She is a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo where she earned her bachelor’s in English, TESL Certification, and a Teaching Credential. Michelle also pursued her passion for languages by minoring in Spanish and Linguistics. She began her career in education as the lead tutor at the Cal Poly Writing and Rhetoric Center from 2012-2016. When not in the classroom, she is seeking out nature and travel. Michelle’s main claim to fame is completing the Camino de Santiago, a 400-mile backpacking trip across Spain, twice. She loves to share her zeal for language and general hopefulness with her students each year.

Vera Grigorian has worked as an educational therapist in private practice for over 20 years. She earned her BA in Sociology and MA in Education from UCSB and has her teaching credential from San Francisco State University. Vera is thrilled to be back in Santa Barbara working in Academic Services. She loves swimming and jumps into the ocean or a pool every chance she gets.

Kevin Thomas Guay earned his master's degree from California State University, Northridge, and his doctorate in history from the University of Texas at El Paso. He is married to the beautiful and talented Mrs. Courtney Guay, who teaches art at Laguna's Lower School campus. The couple has two young sons, Killian and Callan. For fun, Kevin enjoys reading, writing, and playing video games.

Nissa Hales is a fourth-generation Santa Barbaran and third generation graduate of Santa Barbara High School. Throughout her fifteen-year tenure as lead sixth grade instructor at Laguna, Nissa assisted the Director of Technology and served on the Technology Committee to design and implement the one-to-one Laptops for Learning program in the Middle School. During that time, Nissa served as fifth and sixth grade technology instructor as well as adjunct Educational Technology instructor at Antioch University. In the fall of 2015, Nissa transitioned out of the classroom to become Laguna’s Instructional Integration Coordinator, responsible for helping students and teachers integrate technology into their curricula.

Prior to joining LBS in 2002, Ms. Hill taught English at Santa Barbara City College and Allan Hancock College. She has a Masters in Comparative Literature from UCSB, where she also worked as a Teaching Assistant and a Reader. While teaching at Laguna, Ms. Hill earned her Master's in Clinical Psychology and also works as a intern therapist at Santa Barbara Community Counseling Center. Ms. Hill speaks Serbian and Italian fluently, and she won an award at a National Latin Language Competition in (former) Yugoslavia.


Ms. Hill is a passionate teacher of literature and writing and is dedicated to helping students succeed. Her interests include music, theater, fitness, dance, yoga, and meditation. She studied violin and piano and was a member of the Santa Maria Symphony. Ms. Hill's favorite theater experience was playing the role of Rosalind in the SBCC's English Department performance of Shakespeare's "As You Like It." She also wrote theater reviews for the SB Independent. Ms. Hill is the proud mother of son Brandt and daughter Alexandra.

Sienna Kimbell, a Santa Barbara based Educational Therapist, works closely with the teachers at Laguna Blanca, as well as collaborating with Ms. Steeber and Ms. Roarty, in order to assist the 8th and 9th graders with their transition to high school. She works 1:1 with students on organization, planning, study skills, time management, and self-advocacy. Sienna has a Bachelors degree from Cal Polytechnic State University San Luis Opispo in Environmental Science with an emphasis on Outdoor Education, a Masters in Special Education from Humboldt State University and a Special Education Teaching Credential. She is also endorsed by the Association of Educational Therapists and works in the Santa Barbra area in her own private tutoring and consulting business. Sienna loves helping students get on track and strive to achieve their highest goals. In her free time, she is juggling her two little boys, and can usually be found at the beach.

When Mayumi was studying Tibetan in Lhasa, she saw a shop sign that read, “Strange Magic Place.” She thought this sign could as easily describe much of the natural world and human endeavor as it did the souvenirs for sale in the shop. Discovering the depths of this world’s strangeness and magic has also motivated much of her formal study, which has led to her BA in English Literature from McGill University and her current PhD candidacy in Religious Studies at UC Santa Barbara. Mayumi was born and raised in Los Angeles but has lived in Japan, Mongolia, India, and Nepal. Before joining Laguna, she taught undergraduates at UCSB as well as grades 7-12 at Anacapa School. Prior to teaching, she worked as a writer, researcher, and arts administrator in the non-profit sector. She loves being in the classroom and aspires to inspire in her students the same curiosity about and careful inquiry into the world around them that she is grateful to have learned from her own teachers. 

Born, raised, and educated in England, Grant worked in the Finance Industry in London and New York for 14 years whilst also earning his master’s degree in Business in Singapore before moving to Santa Barbara. In Santa Barbara, he owned and operated his own family restaurant for 7 years. His enthusiasm for Math stems from his unique blend of academic aptitude and real-world experience, and he particularly enjoys using this experience to help math come alive for his students. He believes that proficiency in math is one of the fundamental pillars of education and should be taught in a fun, relevant, and technology-infused environment that stimulates students and promotes success. He spent four years teaching math across various grades in Santa Barbara before making the move to Laguna Blanca to share his passion for the subject.

He is married to Kate, who was one of the founding employees at MOXI before becoming the Director of Development at Women’s Economic Ventures. Together they have three children and they all love camping, traveling, puzzles, and stories of any genre. Grant has coached various sports in town and especially enjoys playing, coaching, and refereeing soccer, as well as hiking, cooking, and spending time in nature.

Master Journalism Educator Trish McHale currently teaches Journalism, Advanced Journalism and Public Speaking. A former member of the Board of Judges for Columbia, she has over 25 years of teaching experience and serves as the adviser of "The Fourth Estate," the national award-winning student newspaper and its website. Trish’s newspaper staff won a CSPA Silver Crown Award in 2011 and an NSPA Online Pacemaker finalist award this year.

As the director of the Senior Project Program, Trish helps prepare the seniors for their presentations, and she coaches students who participate in the Lions Club Speech Contest and the Optimist Club Oratorical Contest. She is also the Interact Club facilitator, a student club sponsored by the Santa Barbara Rotary Club.

Trish leads the School’s community service program, which she helped to develop in 1994. Ms. McHale is credited with starting a number of programs for the School, including the student club program; the Humanitas Service Honor Society to recognize and involve students who excel in service leadership; the Middle School Media Literacy Program; the Mock Trial program; and the School’s debate team.

She was honored with the School’s distinguished Walk of Fame Award in 2010, the highest award recognizing remarkable long-term dedication, generosity and commitment to Laguna Blanca. She is also the recipient of the Windward District Teacher of the Year Award, Kailua, HI.

A member of the Santa Barbara Cinema Society, Trish enjoys film and supports the arts by attending interviews with directors, cinematographers and actors.

Odalmis Molina has taught Grades 7-12 Spanish and Literature at the Vocational School of Arts in Camaguey Cuba for 10 years. After immigrating to the United States, she taught in various schools in Los Angeles. Her nine-year experience at the Westside Waldorf School gave her the opportunity to learn a different teaching philosophy in which Hispanic culture, including the foundations of the Spanish language, is at the center of it. After obtaining her master's degree in linguistics from the European University of the Atlantic, she taught Spanish for two years at the Archer School for Girls. Odalmis is the proud mother of her son, Jorge, who just earned his MBA. She is extremely happy to start a new journey at Laguna Blanca, which is close to home, and to continue learning while sharing her experiences with students and colleagues. In her free time, she loves to dance, cook, read, and spend time with her family.

Zack Moore developed a passion for STEM after high school physics and went on to study civil engineering, cum laude, at the University of North Carolina. He began his teaching career in 1997 as a physics instructor for Peace Corps-Ghana, where he headed a regional science center serving five local school districts. After his service, Zack undertook a Peace Corps fellowship and earned a master’s degree in multicultural education from San Francisco State University. He began his current role as a STEM instructor in 2007 at Laguna Blanca School and has developed an EK-12 vision for STEM infusion into a traditional liberal arts institution. Zack has served a wide range of students including English as a Second Language students, underrepresented students with learning differences, and ex-pats. He recently brought his career full circle by serving as a Fulbright distinguished educator in Ghana, focusing on STEM infusion for Islamic girls. He is a winner of the 2021 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for the state of California and has also served as a presenter at various events including NSTA, CA STEAM symposium, TEDx Laguna Blanca, and The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Material Research Experience for Teachers program.  Zack is currently directing Laguna Blanca’s summer programs, which focus on project-based learning and outreach to the broader Santa Barbara community.

Colleen Murray serves in our college counseling office as the Director College Counseling. She has more than 28 years of experience in college counseling, and she returned to Southern CA after serving as the Dean of College and Academic Advising at The Bear Creek School in Redmond, Washington. Colleen has overseen and successfully built college admissions programs at secondary boarding and day schools in California and Washington. She is an active member of NACAC, WACAC, PNACAC and has served on the Baylor University College Counselor Advisory Board. Colleen provides a comprehensive and personalized college counseling process for students and finds joy in getting to know her students well as she guides them along their college path. “It is extremely rewarding to come alongside students and families in helping them feel comfortable on this pivotal journey. It is incredible to see a student’s face light up as one is equipped to embrace strength, confidence, calm, and excitement in the college process. I look forward to shepherding students along their paths to college and beyond. It is a privilege to be a member of the spectacular Laguna Blanca community!” Colleen’s educational background includes a B.A. in Psychology and an M.S. in Counseling from San Diego State University. She has her Pupil Personnel Services Credential from San Diego State University and Certificates in College Counseling from the University of California, San Diego, and the Harvard Summer Institute on College Admissions. Colleen grew up in San Diego, where, as a young girl, she met her next-door neighbor: her future husband, Reid. They are now empty nesters to three lovely daughters.

Kendra Oleson returned home with her husband and two sons Dean and Dylan, after teaching in the Bay Area for 12 years. She has a B.A. in English from the University of San Diego and a Master's in Education from UCSB. She teaches English in both the Middle School and the High School and has made it her mission to have her students leave class with a new appreciation for reading and writing. In her free time, she loves taking her kids to the beach, scuba diving, and traveling. 

Jacqueline Pelaez is originally from Caracas, Venezuela, and has been teaching Spanish in the United States since 2001. After completing her Licenciatura (5 years) in Economics from the Universidad Central de Venezuela, she came to the US in 1997 to study classical singing. After earning her Master’s degree in Opera Performance from the Longy School of Music (2000), she had the opportunity to teach her native language at Harvard University for four years. While teaching at Harvard, she was honored with the Derek Bok Center Certificate of Distinction in Teaching on four occasions. This experience was so enriching and meaningful that she became an educator. 
 
In 2005, she moved to Santa Barbara with her husband, who had joined UCSB as faculty, and their newborn child, Santiago. Since then, Jacqueline has taught at UCSB, Westmont College, Cal Lutheran University, SBCC School of Extended Learning, and Anacapa School. She is also an accomplished musician and has taught music, singing, and ukulele at SBCC and various local schools.
 
When she is not teaching, Jacqueline likes singing with the Santa Barbara Early Music Community Ensemble, playing the ukulele and African drums with her friends, traveling with family, doing Pilates, and enjoying her husband’s cooking. 
 
She is thrilled to teach at Laguna Blanca and be part of its community.

Katie Pointer joined Laguna’s science faculty in 2005 having completed her Masters of Education and Secondary Science Teaching Credential at UCSB. A Summa Cum Laude graduate from Westmont in chemistry, Katie received numerous honors during her distinguished undergraduate career, including the College’s Outstanding Graduate in Chemistry recognition and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society induction. Katie also received a five-year Knowles Science Teaching Fellowship, which afforded her the opportunity to work with other physics and chemistry teachers around the country to develop their teaching. In 2022, Laguna recognized Katie with the Faculty Excellence Award. Though her primary passion and teaching at Laguna have been in chemistry, she also enjoys the opportunity to share her love of the ocean with students through our Marine Science elective. Outside of school, you are likely to find Katie walking or reading at the beach.

Dr. Ricky Polizo was born and raised in Santa Barbara. Inspired by local doctors working with high school and college level athletes, he went to California State University, Long Beach to get his Athletic Training degree and certification. He then went to the Bay Area to earn his Doctorate of Chiropractic. He has a practice in downtown Santa Barbara, but his love of high school athletics had him serving at other local high schools before bringing him to the Laguna Blanca Athletic Training Room. He and his partner, Dana, have a toddler named Lottie, but Ricky used to run, cycle, play soccer, read, and watch movies in his free time when he had it.

Daniel's journey has come full circle as he returns to Laguna Blanca in the role of registrar. He's a familiar face to many, having first joined the Laguna community as a ninth grader before graduating in 2014. After his time at Laguna where he was the first squash team representing our school, Daniel pursued his academic passions at Connecticut College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Government with a concentration in United States studies; while also captaining the squash team. It was his love for squash that truly defined his early career. Daniel became the Squash Coordinator and Coach for SquashDrive, a program similar to the School of Squash in Santa Barbara, and later served as the Men's and Women's Head Squash Coach at UC Berkeley. Upon returning to Southern California, Daniel continued his education, obtaining a Master of Science in Coaching, Exercise Science, and Sports Administration from Concordia University in Irvine. Daniel's passions still remain in sports and athletics, and he loves to compete in any games, challenges, or sport—particularly one with a racquet. Now, he's back at Laguna, bringing a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of our school's values. Welcome home, Daniel Reisman!

Dr. Seppala holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and has a background in molecular biology, musicology, and languages. With a love for music and reading, she brings a unique perspective to her work. With roots in Scandinavia, she is excited to bring her diverse skill set and enthusiasm to the role as librarian/research coordinator at Laguna Blanca.

In addition to serving the LBS community at the Isham Library & Nylen Academic Research Center, Al is currently completing his Ph.D. at UC Santa Barbara in religious studies. He specializes in the history and philosophy of American religion and is writing his dissertation on the late American author David Foster Wallace, specifically on Wallace’s famous Kenyon College commencement address, This Is Water. Al taught academic writing at UCSB for over four years, and works with students as an educational coach/tutor. Before coming to Santa Barbara, Al worked as a biomedical researcher & laboratory manager (cancer biology) at his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania--an experience which greatly developed both the breadth and depth of his educational skills.

A Santa Barbara local, Tanner Stevens comes to Laguna Blanca after graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in sports management and a minor in exercise and sports studies. Working in the athletics office at San Marcos where he attended high school as well as Morro Bay High School in an internship position sparked a passion for high school athletics and the camaraderie of a school campus. After working the last four summers at Summer @ Laguna, he is excited to be on campus year-round now. In his free time, he loves water skiing and playing beach volleyball.

Many Laguna families knew Ashley Tidey as a wonderfully capable and personable independent tutor of writing, reading, and test preparation for Grade 7-12 students here in the Santa Barbara area, but what they didn't know is that before starting a family, she served as a lecturer within UCSB’s Writing Program for five years, and before that as an associate instructor of English at Indiana University. Ms. Tidey grew up in independent schools, her father having been the long-time Head of Sacramento Country Day, and she went on to earn her B.A. at Williams College and her Ph.D. from Indiana University in Bloomington, both in English.

After working in water quality monitoring in San Francisco and in education outreach at UC Berkeley, Jannine moved to Santa Barbara to attend graduate school at UCSB. She instantly fell in love with the beautiful beaches and mountains. Before arriving at Laguna, Jannine was a Director of Academic Innovation and a STEM instructor for the past 17 years. She delights in sparking students’ creativity and curiosity in science. When Jannine is not at work, she can be found hiking, surfing, or any number of outdoor adventures with her two young kids and husband. Jannine holds a single subject credential in Biology.

Jessica K. Tyler was born in the San Fernando Valley, and moved to Santa Barbara in 2004 to attend the University of California, Santa Barbara, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Society. In 2012, she earned her Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Barbara College of Law. Jessica brings to Laguna an extensive legal background, working for over ten years as a legal assistant and paralegal, focusing on family law.

Jessica leads Laguna’s Mock Trial team, which is an extracurricular activity offered in the Upper School. She enjoys sharing the American Judicial system and the litigation process with students as they work on a fictitious case to compete against other Santa Barbara County schools each year at the Santa Barbara Superior Court. 

When not at Laguna, Jessica lives an active lifestyle, hiking, running, and skiing. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and is a cheerful and enthusiastic supporter of our Laguna community, always welcoming the opportunity to know all students and their families.

Mr. Uyesaka's quizzical outlook on life and love of the arts germinated while growing up in the 1950s and 60s in the fertile San Joaquin Valley. Living out in the boondocks provided many, many hours to roam the country side and appreciate the slow side of life and fueled his passion to draw and make “stuff” from his imagination. Dug pursued painting and silk screen while at UCSB and went on to study graphic design and multimedia at SBCC. He also worked at a local film production company providing graphic design and media management. Dug has been a working artist and involved in the community arts scene since the 1970s. In 2009, he was awarded the prestigious LBS Faculty Excellence Award and a William T. Colville Foundation grant for the arts. In 2010, he was the recipient of The Arts Fund 2010 Individual Artist Award for Assemblage and Collage. “Being able to nurture and help facilitate our students' imaginations and artistic talents here at Laguna and in the community is a gift. It fuels my spirit and hopefully enriches their lives forever. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Thrilled to return to Santa Barbara as a new member of the Laguna Blanca community, Dr. Valerie Yoshimura is a passionate, experienced educator of French language and literature. She holds B.A. degrees in French and Sociology from UC Santa Barbara, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in French from The University of Michigan, where she began her teaching career. She also taught French in two independent schools in Boston before spending twelve years at The Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles. She has two teenage children and loves to sew, embroider, cook, and golf. Dr. Yoshimura was recently honored with the 2016 Friedel and Otto Eberspacher Award for Excellence in Teaching of Modern Western European Languages, a national teaching award from the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University.