Contacts & Directions

Faculty & Staff Directory

Department

Grade

Letter

Kevin Valdez

Science, STEM

MS Science Instructor

2022

805.687.2461 x0264

Bio

Kevin Valdez grew up in Santa Clarita, California, and later moved to Santa Barbara to pursue a B.A. in Environmental Studies at UCSB. He continued his education there, earning a teaching credential and a Master's in Education through their Teacher Education Program. With a strong emphasis on place-based and experiential learning, Kevin began his teaching career at Santa Barbara Jr. High School before transitioning to his current role as a science instructor at Laguna Blanca. Passionate about fostering a deep appreciation for science and the natural world, Kevin is dedicated to creating authentic learning experiences for his students. In his free time, he enjoys trading card games, spending time with his dogs, reading science fiction novels, and exploring new ways to connect students with the wonders of science.
Kimberly Kim Valentine

Counseling

School Counselor

2016

805.569.1286

Antioch University - M.A. Clinical Psychology
Notre Dame de Namur University - Multiple Subject Credential Program
University of California - Davis - B.S.
Lisa Vance

2nd Grade Teacher

2019

805.687.2461 x0402

University of California - Santa Barbara - B.A.
University of California - Los Angeles - Multiple Subject Teaching Credential

Bio

A fourth-generation Los Angelino, Lisa loved growing up the oldest of five children in a historic part of Los Angeles. After completing the Pre-Professional Education Program and graduating from UC Santa Barbara, she attended UCLA for her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential.

Lisa brings over 20 years of teaching experience to Laguna Blanca. For ten years, she taught second and fifth grades at Echo Horizon, an independent school that mainstreamed deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Lisa also worked as a consultant and edited textbooks for Write Source publications and the Protect-a-Pod environmental organization and started her own private tutoring business, which she still operates today.

Lisa came to Laguna Blanca after teaching at Mountain View School in Goleta where all three of her children attended. There, she taught all grades and specialized in science, English language development, gifted and talented instruction, and after-school enrichment.

When Lisa is not walking her chocolate lab, she loves to read, hike, swim, surf, and travel to faraway places with her family. She enjoys teaching just a little bit more than ice cream and feels fortunate to be a part of the amazing Laguna Blanca community. She believes that the best part of teaching is truly getting to know her students, sharing in their successes, and celebrating their individual gifts.

LOWER SCHOOL
260 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara CA 93108
Telephone 805.687.2461
Fax 805.695.8143

MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL
4125 Paloma Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Telephone 805.687.2461
Fax 805.687.2461

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Laguna Blanca is Santa Barbara’s premier private, co-educational, college preparatory day school for students in Early Kindergarten through Grade 12.

LAGUNA BLANCA SCHOOL | 4125 PALOMA DRIVE SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA 93110 | 805.687.2461