Principal, Eddie Fiszer

Edward P. Fiszer, Ed.D., is the founding principal of NEW Academy Canoga Park in Canoga Park, California. Born in Los Angeles, he has worked in a variety of school districts prior to starting NEW Academy Canoga Park.

Dr. Fiszer received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history at UCLA and multiple-subject teaching credential at California State University, Northridge. While serving as an elementary teacher and English Language development specialist in Burbank, he attended the Educational Leadership Academy at Pepperdine University for a Master of Science degree in education administration.

He returned to UCLA for a doctorate through the Educational Leadership Program while working as a site administrator in the Antelope Valley. Dr. Fiszer is the author of How Teachers Learn Best: An Ongoing Professional Development Model,
Thoughts to Inspire: Daily Messages for Young People, and Daily Positives Inspiring Greatness in the Next Generation.

Dr. Fiszer's website is
www.fiszerconcepts.com.

Office Staff

Evelyn Sanchez
Aida Lacio
Sandra Flores

Kindergarten

Sarah Cruz - Mrs Cruz graduated from Occidental College in 2004 with a B.A. in Psychology. After finishing her B.A. Mrs Cruz then continued at Occidental in order to recieve her Masters of Arts in Teaching earlier this year 2005. When she is not busy cutting and pasting materials for her kindergarten class she enjoys cooking, spending time with her family and friends, and traveling. Teaching kindergarten has always been a life long dream of Mrs Cruz and she feels very fortunate to be fullfilling her dream with her magnificent group of students in this wonderful new school.

Analisa Diosdado - Mrs. Diosdado earned an associates degree from Los Angeles Mission College in 2001. She then attended California State University Northridge where she received a BA in Liberal Studies with a concentration in ESL in 2003. In 2005, Mrs. Diosdado earned her preliminary multiple subject credential from CSUN. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Brenda Coronado- In the year, 2002, Mrs. Coronado received a BA in Liberal Studies with a double major in Art Education from the California State University of Northridge. She then enrolled in a teacher credentialing program at National University. Mrs. Coronado currently has a preliminary credential that was issued in the year 2006. Prior to becoming a teacher at NACP, Mrs. Coronado worked as a substitute teacher at Newhall School District for three years. She worked as a paraprofessional for the San Diego School District from 1993 to 1999. In the 2005-06 school year, Mrs. Coronado was a paraprofessional for two kindergarten classes at NACP. Mrs. Coronado’s hobbies include making arts and crafts, and spending time with her husband while they attend or watch football and basketball games. She believes that family is a very important part of life, and she tries to visit her parents and sister whom live in Imperial Valley, California as often as she can.

First Grade

Christy Peterson- Ms. Peterson earned an associate degree from Moorpark College in 2002. She then graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara with a BA in English and a minor in Education. As part of Teachers for a New Era, she earned her preliminary multiple subject credential from California State University, Northridge in 2005. She is a current member of the California Teachers Association. She enjoys reading, hanging out at the beach, snowboarding and of course teaching first grade!

Viviana Robles - Viviana Robles graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Child Development and a teaching credential in 2004 from California State Universtiy Los Angeles. As an undergraduate, she was a teacher's assistant at the elementary level. She also worked with children at the pre-school level. She enjoys working with children. Her favorite part of teaching first grade is watching her students grow as independent readers. She loves teaching as well as spending time with her family.

Nancy Jensen - Nancy Hernandez-Jensen graduated from Cal State University, Northridge with her BA in Liberal Studies in 2004. She continued her education in the Multiple-Subject Credential Program at CSUN and received her Multiple-Subject Preliminary Credential in 2006. She enjoys spending time with her son and husband going to amusement parks.

Amy Slabich- Ms. Slabich earned her bachelors degree in Spanish and Psychology at Union College in 2001. She spent the following year living and teaching preschool and ESL classes in the Dominican Republic. She then taught in Los Angeles at Sixty First Street Elementary School through the Teach for America Program. She taught fourth grade for three years there before becoming a founding teacher of New Academy. Other than teaching, Ms. Slabich loves to hike, run, and visit new places.

Second Grade

Casey Adams - Mrs. Adams graduated from Occidental College in 2003 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Education. She returned in 2005 to receive her multiple-subject teaching credential and Master of Arts in Teaching. Mrs. Adams is grateful to be at NACP and loves teaching second grade, where her students encourage her, challenge her, and inspire her daily. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. She is also a devoted sports fan and loves animals.

Ashley Benjamin - Ms. Benjamin graduated from University of Southern California in 2005 with double degrees, a BS in Education with a concentration in art, and a BA in Gender Studies. She currently is attending graduate school at California State University Long Beach to receive her Masters in Social and Multicultural Foundations of Education, with an emphasis in race, ethnicity, culture, and gender. She is also the coach of the All-Female competitive cheerleading team at USC. Ashley is thrilled to be a part of such an innovative and inspiring school, and looks forward to hearing her wonderful dolphin students!

Lisa Jaquez - Ms. Jaquez graduated from California State University Northridge with her bachelor’s degree and teaching credential. Because Yoga is one of her many hobbies, she started up the NEW Academy Yoga Club this year. Some of her hobbies include reading, writing and taking care of her little Pug “Piggy”.

Elizabeth Rodriguez - Ms. Rodriguez attended UC Riverside and received her Bachelors Degree in Liberal Studies with concentrations in Spanish and Education, as well as a minor in Dance. She then went on to attend Cal State Northridge to complete her teaching credential with a BCLAD. As an undergraduate Ms. Rodriguez was the president of the Tomas Rivera Teachers Association at UCR for two years. She enjoys teaching and helping children learn, as well as contribute to the community in every way. When she is not teaching she enjoys dancing, reading, and loves to bake.

Coordinator

Francisco Ayala- Francisco Ayala attended Dartmouth College in Hanover New Hampshire. While
majoring in Studio Art with a concentration in painting, he completed the
elementary teaching credential program. He then attended Bennington College
in Vermont were he earned a Masters in Teaching. Returning to his hometown,
New Haven, CT, he taught third grade for two years. Now in California he
taught second grade at NEW Academy in its founding year and is now the
school's coordinator. He is currently enrolled in the Educational
Leadership Academy at Pepperdine University where he is earning a Master's
of Science degree in education administration.

Third Grade

Genein Jefferson - Genein Jefferson is one of the founding 3rd grade teachers at NEW Academy Canoga Park. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UCLA in 2002, along with a specialization in Diversified Liberal Arts in Elementary Education. She continued her education by attending CSUN and received her multiple subject teaching credential from an innovative new credential program called Teachers of a New Era. She is currently working on a Masters in Education at CSUN and recently traveled to Costa Rica to study Spanish.

Along with teaching the third grade curriculum with various strategies such as Power Teaching and SDAIE, Genein Jefferson is currently the third grade music instructor for the Platinum Music Program. The music program, fully sponsored by Platinum Plumbing, introduces third graders to music notation, music theory and playing the recorder. She hopes to implement a full music program in the future.

Julie Hermann- Ms. Herrmann earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development: Child Emphasis, through California State University, San Bernardino in 1998. She returned to school to begin coursework in School Counseling then decided to pursue a teaching credential instead. She had always wanted to be a teacher from a young age. Ms. Herrmann has been teaching elementary school since 2000 and enjoys helping students succeed. She is most proud of her involvement with Power Teachers an organization that helps teachers and students make learning fun and meaningful. In her free time she enjoys hiking, cooking and traveling. Recently Ms. Herrmann studied Spanish in Costa Rica.

Andi Young - Bio Coming Soon!

Debbie Lyons - Deborah Lyons received her Bachelor of Science in Policy Analysis and Management at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York in 2001. She joined Teach for America and began teaching 4th grade in Washington DC while simultaneously working towards her Masters in the Art of Teaching at American University. She received her Masters and multiple subject elementary teaching credential in 2003. Deborah Lyons taught 1st-4th grade in Washington DC. She also trained future Teach for America teachers. After spending 2 years at a bilingual charter school, Ms. Lyons took 8 months to travel in Central America and Mexico, improving her Spanish and immersing herself in the different cultures. Ms. Lyons has now returned home to Los Angeles and is so excited to be a part of the incredible learning community of New Academy Canoga Park.

Fourth Grade

Jules Shepherd - Ms. Shepherd earned her Bachelors Degree from Western Washington University in Washington State. She graduated with a BA in English. She received her Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from California Lutheran University. She is currently working towards her Masters in Education. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing soccer, reading, studying Spanish, traveling, dancing, and hiking.

Jacqueline Valverde - Ms. Valverde earned her Bachelors Degree from California State University of Los Angeles. She received her BA in Liberal Studies with a Minor in Chicano Studies. She obtained her preliminary multiple subject credential in 2005. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing soccer, and doing yoga.

Keisha Bolling - Ms. Bolling earned her Bachelors Degree from California State University of Northridge. She received her BA in History. She continued on at California University Northridge to earn her MA in History. She obtained her preliminary multiple subject credential and MA in Education from Pepperdine University in 2006. She enjoys spending time with her family, eating sushi, and traveling.

Fifith Grade

Asela Zamorano - Ms. Zamorano earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA. She graduated with an A.B. in Music in 1996, and a Masters in Teaching in 1997. She has also taken additional graduate course work at George Mason University in VA where she became a Teacher Consultant for the Northern Virginia Writing Project. Besides loving to learn and teach, Ms. Zamorano also enjoys writing, running, cooking, gardening, reading, traveling, visiting museums and beautiful gardens, scrapbooking, and playing with her harpsichord, violin and two cats.

Glenda Gonzalez - Bio Coming Soon!

Kenny Han - Kenny Han graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Creative Writing at California State University of Northridge in 2005. While at Northridge, he received his preliminary multiple subject credentials. In addition, being an educator is an important facet in his life and an honor to work with people with the same passion and ideals. During his free time, he loves to read, train in karate, play softball, hike trails, play basketball, listen to music, being with family, and drink green tea.

Art

Christine Terry - Christine Terry earned Dual Bachelors of Fine Arts Degrees in Studio Arts and Art History from Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Arts Degree in Art Education from California State University, Northridge. She has been the Director of an Art camp for the past four summers. She has been teaching art at the elementary school level since 2000 and enjoys inspiring her student’s creativity. In her free time she is on a softball league, likes playing poker and traveling.