Meet Your EL Team

Name/Role: Stephanie Casolara, EF and EL Coordinator
Location: Yucca Valley (near Joshua Tree National Park)
Family: Two energetic, awesome boys, ages eight and five.
Interests or Hobbies: I love to read, run, and hike, along with rock scrambling.
Fun Fact: I was born and raised in Upstate New York. I came to California to teach and absolutely love the Southern California desert life.

 

 

 

 

Name: Amri Gallardo, EF and EL Support
Location: San Fernando Valley
Family: Husband Bruno, daughters Grace and Faith, turtle Pepe Pepino, hamsters Rocky and Drago.
Interests: Watching MMA and 90-Day Fiancé. (It is the story of my life because I got engaged six weeks after meeting my husband and then brought him over to the US. I don’t recommend it, and I use the show as a teaching tool for my daughters.)
Fun Fact: I used to be an aircraft mechanic before becoming a teacher.

 

 

 

Name/Role: Jennifer Billig, EF and EL Support
Location: Yucca Valley
Family: Husband, a six-year old daughter, an eight-year old son, one German shepherd.
Interests or Hobbies: I enjoy running, hiking, camping, music, and watching The Office or crime shows.
Fun Fact: I backpacked across Ireland and Scotland for a month with my husband.

 

 

 

 

Name/Role: Jennifer Hudson, EF and EL Support
Location: Central Los Angeles
Family: I live with my husband and two daughters in a craftsman bungalow southwest of downtown.
Interests or Hobbies: In my free time, I enjoy reading, hiking, birdwatching, and doing arts and crafts.
Fun Fact: I am learning to play the cello.

 

 

 

 

Name/Role: Jennifer Ramirez, EF and EL Support
Location: Lake Forest
Family: Married to Alex, and we have three kids who are ten, eight, and five years old.
Interest/Hobbies: I enjoy baking, sports, and traveling.
Fun Fact: After backpacking through Spain for a month, I returned home, sold my car, resigned from LA Unified, and decided to return to live and teach in Madrid, Spain.

 

 

 

Name/Role: Lorraine Kajikawa, EF and EL Support
Location: Torrance
Family: Married to my wonderful husband, Gavin, with two beautiful daughters, eight and ten years old.
Interests or Hobbies: I love creating and caring for my succulent arrangements and propagating succulents. I also enjoy baking all kinds of baked goods!
Fun Fact: I once “climbed” the Great Wall of China!

 

 

 

Name/Role: Patty Plascencia, EF and EL Support
Location: Chino
Family: I’ve been married for nineteen years to my hubby, Orlando, and we have three beautiful homeschooled girls: Abby, Keilah, and Roxana.
Interests or Hobbies: I love adventures, especially, trying new foods and going to new places! I enjoy reading and love finding great deals!
Fun Fact: Complete strangers let me borrow their newborn baby. I like babies!