Kyla VanWingerden, Kindergarten

After graduating from Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in 1996, Miss Kyla VanWingerden continued her Catholic education at Villanova Preparatory School in Ojai. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, a minor in Sociology, and a California Teaching Credential. Realizing how much she missed her family and Santa Barbara, she moved back after graduation. Kyla taught fifth grade at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School beginning in the Fall of 2004 and changed to kindergarten in the Fall of 2006. In addition to teaching, Kyla also coaches the girls middle school volleyball and soccer teams, and is the school garden coordinator.  She is currently working on her MA in Education at Antioch University in Santa Barbara.

Alison Conway, First Grade

Erica Miller, Second Grade

Erica Miller is happy to be a full-time faculty member at OLMCS, taking over the second grade classroom this year. Last year she was the part-time substitute for our 4th grade class while Mrs. Bognar was doing principal duties each day. Erica lives in the Santa Ynez Valley where she was raised. She graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a Liberal Studies degree and a minor in Music. She received a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Chapman University. Miss Miller is a Music Minister at her parish, Old Mission Santa Inés in Solvang. She cantors there at two masses, plays guitar, and directs choirs for special events and holy days.

Larissa Feramisco, Third Grade

Mrs. Larissa Feramisco was the sixth grade homeroom teacher at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School from 2000 through June, 2008. This year, she is looking forward to teaching the third grade. Mrs. Feramisco was born and raised in the Santa Barbara area. In May 2000 she graduated from the University of Redlands in Redlands, California, with a major in Liberal Studies, an emphasis in social studies, and a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. In December of 2003 Mrs. Feramisco earned her Master of Arts Degree in Education from Azusa Pacific University.

Mary Ann Bognar, Fourth Grade

Mrs. Mary Ann Bognar grew up in Miami, Florida, where she attended parochial schools from Kindergarten through twelfth grade. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Master in Education degree from the University of Miami in Florida. She taught in a parochial school in the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, for 13 years and in Chesterfield County Public Schools (Virginia) for 11 years. Mrs. Bognar and her husband moved to California in 2004. They have three grown children.

Virginia Persoon & Gloria Solano, Team Fifth Grade

Eun Kim, Sixth Grade

Miss Eun Kim was our seventh grade homeroom teacher and 8th grade math teacher from 2006 through June, 2008. She will be teaching the sixth grade this year. She grew up in Carpinteria, attended Cate School, graduated from Wellesley College with a degree in History and received and cleared her California Multiple Subject credential from Antioch University where she is completing her master's thesis. She student taught and substituted in the Ventura, Goleta, Cold Springs, and Carpinteria Unified school districts prior to joining our staff here. On Sundays, parishioners at St. Joseph's Church might find her behind the piano. She enjoys playing golf, hiking, and spending time with friends on the beach.

Mary Beth Lee & Tracie Simolon, Team Seventh Grade

Mary Beth Lee grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley where she lives today with her mother. She graduated from Santa Ynez High School, attended St. Mary's College in Moraga, California, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a single subject teaching credential in English. After teaching seventh & eighth grade in Fremont California, Miss Lee took a year off to do missions work, which included an outreach to Northern Ireland, where she worked in a youth coffee house and spoke in various schools and churches with her outreach team. Upon returning from Europe, Miss Lee taught sixth grade for four years at Our Lady of Grace School in Castro Valley, California. While teaching sixth grade religion, she found that she wanted to know more about the Bible, especially the Old Testament; so, in 2001 she went to the School of Biblical Studies (SBS) through Youth with a Mission (YWAM) in Lakeside, Montana. SBS is an intense inductive bible school that takes the students through the Bible five times during the nine-month course. After completing SBS, Mary Beth stayed on to teach in the SBS for the next three years. During that time she also took a missions trip to Ukraine to teach in the SBS there. Miss Lee has a real heart for the Bible and a passion to see kids learn about and live out their faith. Miss Lee began teaching at OLMC in the fall of 2005. As our eighth grade homeroom teacher, Miss Lee teaches 8th grade language arts, religion and science as well as seventh grade religion and language arts, and sixth grade language arts.

Originally from Indiana. Mrs. Simolon received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame. After graduating she moved to San Diego where she was a volunteer teacher at Nativity Prep Academy in Logan Heights. She taught fifth and sixth grades at Nativity Prep for two years. Tracie received her teaching credential at the University of San Diego. In 2004 she came to Our Lady of Mount Carmel school to teach seventh grade. In 2005, she returned to OLMCS part-time as the eighth grade algebra teacher and science coordinator following the birth of her daughter, Lily. The Simonlon family welcomed son Joseph this past spring. This year Tracie will be team teaching the 7th grade this year with Miss Lee.

James Sisco, Eighth Grade

Jimmy Sisco grew up in Northern California's Bay Area where he attended Christian schools from Kindergarten through twelfth grade. He graduated from Life Pacific College in Los Angeles where he played intercollegiate basketball and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in Biblical languages (Greek and Hebrew). He received his California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Antioch University in Santa Barbara where he is currently working on his Master's degree in Education. Mr. Sisco proudly served six years in the United States Marine Corps. In this, his third year at OLMCS, he will be our 8th grade teacher. Jimmy is honored to be a part of this wonderful community. Mr. Sisco and his lovely wife, Sarah (a Montecito native), will become parents to a daughter this summer.

Mary Beth Deniro, Resource Teacher

Mary Beth DeNiro was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She graduated from St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana. She received a double credential in Special Education (Visually Impaired) and a Standard Teaching Credential (Elementary) from Cal State Los Angeles. She taught at Frances Blend School for the Blind in Hollywood and was an Itinerant Teacher for the Visually Impaired in Pasadena before coming to Santa Barbara. Mrs. DeNiro has been at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School since the fall of 1988. She taught first grade for 14 years, and has been the Resource Teacher since 2002.

Robert Aswad, Music Teacher

Robert Aswad grew up in the Los Angeles area. He graduated from UCSB where he studied conducting, piano, and music theory/history. He also studied the excellent music pedagogy system known as the 'Kodaly method'in classes at USC. For many years Mr. Aswad has maintained a piano studio in Santa Barbara and worked as an accompanist, vocal coach and soloist. He taught for several years at the Waldorf School where his chorus sang with the West Coast Symphony. He currently directs the Chancel Choir at the Ojai Methodist Church and is also active as an adjudicator for the National Guild of Piano Teachers. He started teaching at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in the Fall of 2006.

Bobbie Offen, Technology Coordinator and Computer Teacher

Bobbie Offen, our part-time Computer Teacher and Technology Coordinator, received a Bachelor of Science degree from UCLA with a major in chemistry and minors in math and physics. She earned a Standard Fisher Life Multiple Subjects credential and her Master of Arts degree with a specialty in Math Instruction from UCSB. She taught at Laguna Blanca upper school, Carpinteria High School, UCSB School of Education, and has substituted in all of the public secondary schools in the Santa Barbara area. She most recently comes to Mount Carmel School from the business world where she has been a computer programmer, software support manager, technical writer, and webmaster. She is a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer and is the volunteer webmaster/designer for the Santa Barbara Audubon Society, the UCSB Faculty Club, and the UCSB Faculty Women's Club. Bobbie and her husband, Henry, have lived in the Santa Barbara area since 1963. They have two children (both university professors) and one grandchild.

Margarita Del Campo, Spanish Teacher

Born and raised in México, Margarita G. Martín del Campo attended "Colegio Anáhuac," a Catholic School in her hometown of Ocotlán Jalisco, México. The first time Margarita learned about Santa Barbara was when her aunt and uncle, Carmen and Bernardo García, renewed their vows after 50 years of marriage at Mount Carmel Church. She came to visit her relatives and fell in love with Santa Barbara. Margarita attended SBCC and graduated from UCSB with a BA in English, Spanish and Philosophy and a Masters degree in Spanish Literature. She began her teaching career in an alphabetization program in her native town. She has taught at OAS, UCSB, Laguna Blanca School K-12, and has joined the Mount Carmel team this year of 2007 teaching Spanish from K to 8 grades while she continues teaching at SBCC. Margarita's daughter, Erika, attends Claremont McKenna College.

Jennifer Buur, Art Teacher

Jennifer Buur was born and raised in Santa Barbara. She graduated from Santa Barbara High School with honors in Graphic Design, Studio Art and Fashion Design. After several years as a full time wife and mom, Jennifer returned to school to earn her Associate of Arts degree in Studio Art from Santa Barbara City College. At the same time, she started her business, SouthPaw Productions, an art workshop for children. For two years Jennifer worked as an art instructor teaching after school courses and camps during vacation breaks at several local elementary schools. Jennifer joined the staff at Montecito Union School in August 2005 where she still works as an Instructional Aide in fourth grade in the mornings. In November 2005, Jennifer started her position as Art Specialist at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School.

Outside of school you might catch her painting faces at Here's the Scoop ice cream shop on Coast Village Road during parties. Jennifer lives on a horse ranch and stays busy with her 7 year-old son Hunter, dogs Daisy and Montana and horse Zachary.

Jennifer Webb-Shabestari, P.E., Student Council, Library, Kindergarten Aide