World Languages Faculty
|
Teacher
|
Room
|
Phone
|
Courses Taught
|
| John Allen |
301 |
|
Spanish I,Spanish II,Spanish II H |
| Christophe Barquissau |
303 |
|
French II,French III,French IV AP |
| Jacob Chase |
306 |
(650)960-8304 |
Spanish II,Spanish II H,Spanish IV |
| Krista Greksouk |
304 |
(650) 960-8802 |
Latin |
| Kim Hanley |
302 |
(650) 960 - 8328 |
Spanish II,Spanish III , Spanish III H |
| Tiffany Potter-Karrow |
306 |
(650) 960 - 8304 |
Spanish II,Spanish II H,Spanish IV |
| Terri Salsman de Rodriguex |
305 |
(650) 960 - 8309 |
Spanish II, III, AP Language, Department Coordinator |
| Amanda Wilson-Thatcher |
P-16 |
|
French I,French II,Spanish I |
| Judy Yu |
306 |
|
Mandarin Chinese I,Mandarin Chinese II |
Biographical Information:
John Allen I was born and raised in Kentucky. I received my BA in Spanish and Mass Communications from Western Kentucky University. During my undergraduate life, I had the wonderful opportunity to study for a year in both Guadalajara, Mexico and Veracruz, Mexico. I later studied in Spain for a short period of time. I taught Spanish (all levels) for a public high school in Kentucky for three years while obtaining a Master's degree in Bilingual Education with an emphasis in Spanish. After three great years in teaching, I decided to go back to graduate school for more studies. I taught undergraduate courses in Spanish while obtaining my second Master's degree in Hispanic Literature/ Applied Linguistics from Ohio University. After spending the majority of my life in the South (although some would call Kentucky the Midwest), I decided to move out west with the goal of working on a PhD in Literatura latinoamericana...however, I began teaching as soon as I stepped foot in California. I have been teaching primarily at private schools before I found Los Altos. I am quite happy teaching here!!! :)
Christophe Barquissau I am originally from Paris, France, and came to the US to attend graduate school and take courses in the linguistic and psychology department at the University of Arizona. I wanted to discover new aspects of life and culture and to expand my world of knowledge. Once I graduated, I became an instructor to teach Psychology and French at Universities and Junior Colleges and more specifically AP French language and literature for public and private High Schools. During my second year as a teacher I became a reader for the Advance Placement Examination for the College Board, and shortly after a consultant for the United States. I believe that my education in Second Language Acquisition Theory has fostered my ability to develop innovative curriculums that help me to engage the desire and the ability to learn. During my teaching, I always try to set very rigorous standards and strive to constantly ignite intellectual fire and help to develop critical thinking. I moved to California August 16, 2009 and so far, my experience in Los Altos High School, has been the best in my entire career all the way around (from the environment, to the staff, to the students.) If there is a heaven for teachers I think I found it! My motto: “Work Hard – Play Hard”
Jacob Chase was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, receiving a BA in Psychology, Spanish, and Anthropology. Jacob has studied, lived, and traveled extensively in Andalucía, Spain and Oaxaca, Mexico. Following college, he returned to Boston to work in academic research in Autism/Asperger’s at Harvard Medical School for two years. Inspired by work with a gifted bilingual middle school student, Jacob resolved to become a language teacher, enrolled in the Master’s program at University of San Francisco, and moved out to the Bay area. Mr. Chase holds a single-subject credential in Spanish and has worked at Mission High School in San Francisco for the last five years.
Krista Greksouk hails from sunny San Diego where she was born and raised. After receiving her BA in Classical Civilization, everyone wondered what she would do with such a degree. First she participated in an archaeological dig in Pompeii, Italy during the summer of 2000. She then took a circuitous route to the inevitability of graduate school by spending several years working for a non-profit public interest group called CALPIRG (California Public Interest Research Group). After becoming thoroughly disillusioned by political work, Krista enrolled in the Master's Degree program for Classics at San Francisco State University, which she has almost completed, needing only to finish her thesis, Women's Religion on the Athenian Stage. Krista has now answered the oft-repeated question: what does one do with a degree in Classics? with her new job as the LAHS Latin teacher.
Tiffany Potter-Karow was born and raised in Nebraska. She attended college at University of Nebraska at Kearney and received a BA in Education with credentials in Spanish and ESL. She taught for 2 years in Nebraska then came to California in 1994. She has taught at Los Altos High School for 12 years in the ESL Department and the World Language Department. She has a single subject clear credential in Spanish and ESL and is Nationally Board Certified.
Terri Salsman de Rodriguex, Department Coordinator, was born in Saratoga, California. She attended Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon and transferred to the University of Santa Clara where she received a BA and a BS in Spanish and Political Science. She received her teaching credential from the University of Santa Clara after being the honored recipient of the Brown Scholarship in the Department of Education. Ms. Salsman de Rodriguex spent one year teaching at an all boys Catholic school in San Francisco, two years teaching in Mexico and five years teaching at Saint Francis High School before moving to public education. She taught at Los Altos High School for 14 years. Ms. Salsman de Rodriguex holds a single subject clear credential in Spanish with authorizations to teach Comparative Politics and International Relations and is a Nationally Board Certified teacher.