Middle School New Faculty

Valérie Amzallag, Middle School French, studied Engineering in France before receiving teaching credentials from National University and Santa Clara University. She was born in Lille, France, and has taught French in public schools for 11 years. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, cheering for the French National soccer team (“les bleus”), hiking, and spending time with her three children. 

Mary Kiang, Middle School Computer Science, is a former computer programmer and systems analyst turned educator, and has enjoyed teaching math, science, and computer science for over twenty years. She has also co-authored a number of curricula for Microsoft, including introductions to computer science using Minecraft, micro:bits, and web design. Mary loves to learn new things; recent interests include ballroom dancing and axe throwing (“not at the same time”, she notes). She can most often be found outside in nature or solving some intriguing puzzle.

Rob Lewis, Middle School Drama, started teaching at La Jolla Country Day School for four years, followed by thirteen years at Flintridge Prep in La Cañada as a middle & upper school drama teacher and department chair. He has directed many plays and musicals and loves being part of a school community. He says, “When I’m not at school I enjoy running, hiking, snowboarding, playing guitar badly with my piano-playing husband, and taking road trips throughout California.”

Upper School New Faculty

 
Katina Ballantyne, Upper School History, has been living in the Bay Area for three years, after previously teaching in Austin, Texas, Waianae, Hawai’i, and San Jose. While she has most consistently taught social studies, Katina has also taught French and Spanish. In her spare time, she enjoys making jewelry, cooking, bothering her cat, reading, and dancing. 

Justin Carunchia, Upper School Spanish, received his undergraduate degree as well as his master’s degree in Latin American Literature and Culture Studies from Western Michigan University. He began his career teaching university Spanish classes, then taught English classes in Honduras while independently continuing his studies of Central American culture. For the past five years, he has taught all levels of Spanish and led trips to Spanish-speaking countries for an independent school in Michigan. He says, “When I am not in the classroom or my office, I am exploring nature, reading a good novel, attending classical music concerts, watching musicals and plays, cooking vegan meals, and hanging out with friends and family.”

Angela Curotto-Pierson, Upper School Dance, says “As a proud alumnus of Menlo School, I am excited to be the next Upper School Dance Educator.” After graduating from NYU with a BFA in dance in 2010, Angela pursued a professional dance career in modern, contemporary, and musical theater. In her free time, she enjoys cooking (especially authentic Vietnamese food), traveling with her husband, and spending time with her dog, Mika. 

Jennifer Jordt, Upper School Latin, comes to Menlo from Illinois with 16 years of experience teaching Latin and English in public schools. Additionally, she currently serves on the Executive Committee of the National Junior Classical League. During Illinois’s shelter-in-place, Jennifer did a lot of hiking around local forest preserves and fostered two dogs through her local Humane Society.

Douglas Kiang, Upper School Computer Science, began his teaching career delivering hands-on science lectures at Boston’s Museum of Science, where he learned to present complex scientific facts in an engaging, yet accurate way, often while holding a squirming baby alligator or a feisty prairie dog. Since then, he has taught hands-on science to 1st graders, tended bar, taught college students at Harvard, roadied for U2, and worked as an online course developer at a software firm. He earned a Master’s degree in Technology, Innovation, and Education and has taught Computer Science at the high school level for 16 years, most recently at Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii. Douglas spent part of 2017 as a research fellow at MIT, looking at ways to mitigate the effects of unconscious bias on girls and minorities in the Computer Science classroom. He says, “I am a dad, food truck aficionado, friend to dogs, and reformed skydiver.” In his free time, he loves reading books, playing games, and exploring all forms of digital media.

Lily Lam, Academic Support Coordinator, received her bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and her master’s degree in Education from Stanford. She was born in Hong Kong, and raised in Hong Kong, Sacramento, and the Bay Area. Before coming to Menlo, Lily taught high school English in South Sacramento and Redwood City. After leaving the classroom, she joined the Academics Team that designed the 6-12th grade personalized curriculum for schools in the Summit Public Schools network. She also worked with teachers and instructional coaches and ran the induction program for faculty who just earned their preliminary credentials. She enjoys reading nonfiction, taking long walks in hilly neighborhoods, spending time with her two boys, photography, and dogs (and especially the intersection of taking pictures of dogs.) Lily says, “One day when my young children stop demanding my attention every five minutes and I have a house with a yard, I want to adopt a pack of dogs and pursue photography again.”

Mary McKenna, Upper School Physics, graduated from the University of California, Davis with a degree in Clinical Nutrition and a desire to pursue a career that makes science curriculum both approachable and attainable for all students. In 2015, she became a Teach For America corps member in Richmond, CA. For the past five years, she has instructed the wonders of science through Physics and Chemistry. During this time, she earned her teaching credential from Loyola Marymount University, along with a Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University. Mary says, “I am incredibly excited to join the science department at Menlo, and am honored to be a part of the broader community!” In her spare time, she is an avid cyclist, book reader (specifically thrillers), and baker. Mary is recently married to another educator, and they love to go hiking and scuba diving together.

Dennis Millstein, Upper School Computer Science, received an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree from Santa Clara University. He comes to Menlo School after a 38-year career as a software developer, analyst, and project manager, primarily in the Aerospace industry. For the past five years, he also helped create and served in the AP Computer Science program at San Mateo High School. Dennis says, “the inspiration and joy I gained from working with students as they experienced the creativity, precision, elegance, and even the frustrations associated with expressing themselves through programming compelled me to transition into full-time teaching.” Dennis and his wife are both Bay Area natives, with three adult children. Outside of school, he will continue another passion as he enters his 22nd year of coaching baseball at the middle school and high school level.

Saletha Okunnuga, Upper School History, comes to Menlo having completed her tenth year of teaching. She received a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles, followed by a master’s degree in Teaching from the University of Southern California. In her free time, Saletha enjoys instructing cycling classes, hiking, and traveling with her husband and two boys, ages 2 and 4. 

Chrissy Orangio, Upper School Science and Director of Sustainability, has worked in the field of environmental education for over ten years, facilitating opportunities for students to take action to make their school and community more sustainable. Most recently, Chrissy worked in the Acalanes Union High School District, where she taught science, created and maintained organic school gardens, and helped students organize a zero-waste program. Prior to classroom teaching, she ran exchange programs for high school students focused on sustainable agriculture and forestry in Nicaragua, Ecuador, Panama, and California. She is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, and received her undergraduate degree from Elon University in North Carolina. She earned her master’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa where she lived for three years studying the impact of flooding in the context of climate change. Chrissy says, “As an educator, I bring these experiences into the classroom to help students understand the complexities of environmental issues and brainstorm creative solutions. I am excited to teach and work at Menlo with students and staff to make the school and community more sustainable.” In her free time, Chrissy likes to play guitar and piano, grow her own food, go camping, and travel.

Matt Redmond, Upper School Science, joined Menlo at the end of 2019, swapping his role as an alumnus for one as an instructor. He came to Menlo with a background in software engineering and data science, working in industry at Airbnb, Strava, and Google X. Matt enjoys competitive gaming (board-, card-, and video-) as well as puzzles and riddles. In his spare time, he enjoys riding bicycles with his partner and playing with their dog, Pascal.

Hunter Richards, Upper School Math, joins Menlo from Sacred Heart—yes, he knows. Having graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Physics thinking about attending medical school, he spent a few years in industry and working in international policy. With a desire to share his love of learning and curiosity, he transitioned to teaching High School. Reflecting on the boring math classes he had in high school, he was inspired to teach math to ensure no students fell asleep as he did in class. He is excited to join the wonderful Menlo community.

Aaron Rupchand-Kokotek, Upper School Chemistry and Biology, grew up on the East Coast and became a teacher after short careers in foodservice and animal husbandry. Before coming to Menlo School, he worked with students with learning disabilities and is interested in challenging his students to explain their thinking. He lives in the north of the Peninsula with his husband Jhonathan, a dog, two snakes, and a growing plant collection.

Szu-Yin (Rita) Yeh, Upper School Mandarin, received a master’s degree in TESOL from Ohio State University. Originally from Taiwan, Szu-Yin has taught Mandarin for over ten years in both public and private schools, from second grade through high school. She says, “I’m honored to be part of the great Menlo community!” In her free time, Szu-Yin enjoys cooking, hiking, traveling, and exploring different foods and restaurants. 

All School Staff

Angie Mohr, School Counselor, joins Menlo’s counseling team following several years working in the nonprofit sector. Since receiving her Bachelor’s from UC Berkeley and Master’s in Clinical Psychology from NDNU, Angie has worked on the counseling team at Woodside High School, served as the Wellness Director for a trauma-informed, learning-based alternative to incarceration for transition-age youth, and supported refugee resettlement and housing equity programs in the Bay Area. Angie’s work with youth is anchored in connection, curiosity, empathy, empowerment, social justice, and equality, and she can’t wait to get to know her students. In her free time, Angie enjoys writing, reading, riding cruiser bikes, swimming in the ocean, spending time with family and friends, and anything that involves her 12-year-old son or french bulldog. She’s also learning to surf and has a soft spot for sloths. Angie will be supporting students in Menlo’s Upper and Middle Schools, and teaching a portion of the freshman seminar course on Human Behavior.