Our teachers are the difference-makers.
Halstrom's teachers are highly-skilled, educated, and caring professionals. They are passionate about teaching and supporting our students. All of our teachers are carefully selected and have earned a bachelor degree, higher degrees and/or teaching credentials.
Our teachers inspire student participation and monitor student progress. As a result, students take responsibility for their learning with increased enthusiasm. They value strong parental support, a student-centered curriculum, and the opportunity to help students succeed.
Valerie Steele
Teaching area(s): Art: Art Appreciation, Drawing, Painting, Digital Art, Graphic Design, English 9 through 12.
Family information: Proud mom to daughters Zoe and Catheryn. Married to Craig Brittingham. Have a houseful of pets --2 dogs, 1 cat and 1 cockatiel.
Education background: UCLA – B.A.- Art, National Univerisity - M.Ed. in Cross Cultural Studies, Three CA teaching credentials: English, Art and Multiple Subjects
Hobbies and interests: Painting (digital & traditional acrylic and oils), photography, drawing, reading (novels, current events, Internet trolling – reading news from all over the world), writing and researching anything. I love doing portrait photography as well as to paint portraits, love digital painting, and drawing & painting the old school way…and being with family and friends, contemplating life and ideas. Love swimming and traveling too.
Favorite teaching moment: I truly love my job and helping students learn more about the world and themselves. I enjoy seeing life through their eyes and helping them see life through others’ eyes as well. The standbys of character analysis in literature and analyzing artwork in art, helps students understand what makes other people tick, and how to get along and contribute to the world.
Lucille Catherine Lee
Teaching area(s): French, Spanish, History, English
Family information: Two daughters: Cherise Noelle (age 26) and Shannon Colette (age 24). Two brothers in San Diego; two sisters and mother in New Mexico. Enough nieces, nephews and cousins to create our own small, little quirky town. Also, I have a very loving cat, Nutty. in my condo 24/7, who is very proficient in French, Spanish and Siamese.
Education background: Bachelor of Arts, University of New Mexico, Master of Arts, University of New Mexico, Diplome Superieur from Alliance Francaise, Paris, Oxford Seminars Certificate to teach TESOL
Hobbies and interests: Cultural events, HGTV, CNN, Balboa Park, acrylic painting, attending lectures and relaxing at home, as well as, time with friends, family and daughters, and travel.
Favorite quote: “Nothing is either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” (Shakespeare)
Favorite teaching moment: ALL OF THEM!!!!!!!
Hunter Bliss
Teaching area(s): I love teaching Social Sciences and Art.
Family information: I have 2 new Nieces, Lillian and Harper. I am so happy to be an uncle and it has unexpectedly changed my life so much! They have made our families unbelievably happy. I am engaged to my wonderful fiancé Alison and look forward to getting married next year.
Education background: I went to SDSU for my bachelors degree in Sociology, and USD for my MA in Education, which is where I fell in love with education.
Hobbies and interests: I enjoy all forms of art, especially painting. I watch Chargers football religiously and consider myself their number #1 fan. I try to listen to all types of music, but I love Hip Hop. I have a 1966 Chevy that I love to work on and occasionally cruise around town.
Favorite quote: “Keep Your Head Up” - Tupac
Julian Torres
Hello!! My name is Julian Torres. I’m a California certified and qualified instructor who teaches K-12 students.
I received my Bachelors degree from San Diego State University; I double majored in Social Sciences and Spanish. In 2009, I obtained my teaching credential from the State of California. My credential qualifies me to teach Single Subject Social Sciences, Spanish, ELD, General Sciences and Multiple Subjects (CSET).
I have worked with students with different learning styles and special needs. Having worked at National City Middle and Castle Park High as a student teacher and San Ysidro High as an AVID Tutor has given me extensive experience working with groups of students who are diverse both culturally and linguistically.
Teaching has been a great experience for me; I enjoy traveling and learning the many different cultures of the world. I have traveled to Spain, France, Italy, and Mexico. I like to take beach walks with my Rottweiler dog “Ramona”. I enjoy playing bass guitar and practicing Jiu- Jitsu. I’m much exited to be part of a great group of colleagues and wonderful community of students. The kids a Halstrom always come in with a positive attitude and are eager to learn.
Sam Mason
Teaching Areas: English, History, Geography, American Government and Economics.
Family information: My Mom and Dad live in Bakersfield as do my sister and brother.
Education background: A.A. Degree – English -- Santa Barbara City College, B.A. Degree – Literature and Writing Studies – Cal State San Marcos, M.A. Degree – History, SDSU – in progress!
Hobbies and interests: I love to read and write creatively. Also, I love to watch all sports and play tennis and softball. Avid Dodgers fan.
Favorite quote: “75% of success is showing up.” – Woody Allen
Favorite teaching moment: Realizing the student understands just as much as I do . . .
Kris Rolfson
Teaching area(s): Math, Science, History, English
Family information: Married to my wife, Christy, of 20 years. We met in high school. We have a son in 12th grade and daughter in 9th grade.
Education background: Obtained a B.S. in Computer Science at Cal State San Bernardino. Finishing my teaching credential at National University. Finishing my Masters degree in Theology from Liberty University. Worked 15 years in high tech companies in San Diego and nine years in ministry as a youth pastor. I have also worked nine years as a substitute teacher in Poway Unified.
Hobbies and interests: Motocross, Volleyball, Rock Climbing, Building Off-Road Trucks, Ministering to youth, Taking things apart, Playing video games, Drinking slurpees, and spending time with family!
Favorite quote: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5
Favorite teaching moment: Wearing a chicken costume when teaching 6th grade history to help the students understand a point…except it backfired and caused a huge distraction throughout the middle school!
Rodrigo Chavez
Teaching area(s): The sciences: Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Math, Physics; college prep courses: ACT, SAT, GRE
Family information: Father of 2, but single....My 4 ( Siberian Huskys) dogs are my home companions.
Education background: A BS and a MS in Chemistry from SDSU; a Ph.D. from UCSD in Chemistry. Has taught many subjects, at a handful of local schools and colleges.
Hobbies and interests: I have an interest in learning other languages. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, some knowledge of Italian and German.
Favorite quote: "Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow. " Anthony J. D'Angelo
Favorite teaching moment: Summer of 2011 at HHS is among my best moments in teaching!