Mrs. Lionetti
A southern California native and long time Orange County resident, Mrs. Lionetti has dedicated her professional life to teaching children and transforming education through her work at Kinetic Academy.
Mrs. Lionetti believes that hands-on learning, or learning by doing, is crucial to a child’s learning, and that education should go beyond the traditional academic subjects, while fostering a sense of curiosity, empathy and social responsibility in young learners. She works tirelessly to recruit a team of dedicated and inspiring educators who share her vision and commitment to nurturing the potential of every child.
“I wish I would have had the opportunity to attend a school that offers what Kinetic offers to our students,” Mrs. Lionetti. She believes that all students should receive a quality education that gives them multiple opportunities to excel, explore and find their passions, which is exactly what Kinetic Academy strives to do.
In her spare time, Mrs. Lionetti enjoys spending time with her husband, their sons, and their labrador, Sammie.
Mrs. Vento
Mrs. Vento is beyond thrilled to join the Kinetic team! She received a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Illinois State University, a Master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from California State University/San Bernardino, and her educational administration credential from California State University/Long Beach. Mrs. Vento taught elementary school for 10 years, worked as an intervention specialist for 5 years, and a principal for 7 years. During this time, she was named the California Teacher of the Year for her work with struggling readers, the recipient of the Orange County Human Relations Award for her collaboration with the Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership program, and the winner of a National Blue Ribbon Award for exemplary high performance of an elementary school. Mrs. Vento is committed to adding to Kinetic’s vision by enhancing and supporting learning opportunities infused with collaboration, innovation, critical-thinking, and problem-solving for all students.
Mrs. Vento resides right here in Huntington Beach with her husband and three children. Outside of work, she loves to travel, read, and bike on the boardwalk. Mrs. Vento is proud to serve and support the students, families, and staff at Kinetic Academy!
Ms. Gallagher
Ms. Gallagher is a proud native of Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications from San Diego State University, followed by a multiple subject teaching credential from National University. She also holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Brandman University. Throughout many years in education, Ms. Gallagher has developed a deep passion for teaching and leadership. She has taught kindergarten through 8th grade, established a successful science and history learning center, and has served as an Assistant Principal and Principal. As a school choice advocate with extensive experience working in charter schools, she is deeply committed to inspiring a lifelong learning mindset. She feels fortunate to be a part of the Kinetic team and share her enthusiasm for empowering students to reach their full potential.
Ms. Gallagher’s favorite pastimes are spent with her family and adventuring outdoors. An avid ocean enthusiast, she loves time on the water, sailing and competing in outrigger canoeing. She enjoys the thrill of competition and the sense of camaraderie that comes from a team working together to achieve their goals
Mrs. Fischer
Mrs. Fischer is so excited to be part of the Kinetic team! She was born and raised in Huntington Beach. She attended elementary school at Eader, junior high at Sowers and high school at Edison. Her journey in education began with earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies, from California State University Long Beach followed by a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Concordia University. Before stepping into the role of principal, Mrs. Fischer served as a teacher for 17 years in the Savanna School District where she served in a variety of positions including teaching kindergarten, first, fifth and sixth grades. She also worked as an intervention specialist, a Behavior Support TOSA, and summer school principal. For the last 4 years she was principal where her school was recognized for the Gold Ribbon Award for their intervention program. Mrs. Fischer believes in the power of collaboration and is committed to working closely with teachers, parents, students, and the wider community to ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed. She is committed to adding to Kinetic’s vision by offering an education that gives students multiple opportunities to excel.
Mrs. Fischer resides in Huntington Beach with her husband, three children, and labradoodle, Coco. In her free time, she loves to attend her children’s numerous sporting events, going to Dodger games, visiting her daughter at University of Utah, going to the beach, and spending as much time possible with her family that she can.
Ms. Cass
Ms. Cass is thrilled to join the Kinetic team at the West Campus! Last year, she was an instructional aide at Kinetic East and quickly realized how much she loves being part of the Kinetic community. She was born in Tennessee and spent her early years in Colorado before moving to Huntington Beach at the end of fourth grade. She has called it home ever since. After graduating high school, she earned her Associate of Arts degree from Golden West College, followed by a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. She worked in management and administration for several years before choosing to stay home and raise her three kids. Once her youngest started school, she began working as a playground supervisor at a local elementary school, where she discovered her true passion: working with children. Since then, she’s earned her substitute teaching certificate and will begin her teaching credential program at San Diego State University in Fall 2025. Outside of work, she stays active with her family. She enjoys playing tennis with her daughter, participating in weekly coed volleyball games, and going on bike rides with her children. A lifelong lover of the water, she also looks forward to river trips with family and friends. She brings energy, a warm heart, a love for learning, and a ton of life experience to everything she does, and she’s excited to contribute to the West Campus community.
Mrs. Hersh
Mrs. Hersh loves being part of the Kinetic Academy team! Born and raised in Huntington Beach, she graduated from California State University Dominguez Hills with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She has previously worked in the Fountain Valley School District as a substitute teacher and truly enjoys being in an educational setting. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, camping, and traveling with her husband and their three daughters.
Mrs. Mosqueda
Mrs. Mosqueda is a Southern California native and a resident of the Huntington Beach community. For the past few years, she has worked in Special Education and has felt an overwhelming sense of reward in helping others. She’s delighted to be a part of the Kinetic team and looking forward to meeting all the amazing Kinetic families. Veronica’s other passions besides helping others include, riding her bike down the boardwalk with her husband on the weekends, attending music festivals, trips to Lake Tahoe, reading, and culinary arts.
Mrs. Gilchrist
Mrs. Gilchrist is excited to be back at Kinetic for another year! After growing up in the Santa Ynez Valley, she attended Loyola Marymount University where she received her Bachelor’s degree, Multiple Subject Credential, and Masters in Special Education. For over twenty years, she has supported special education students as an Education Specialist and the last two years as a Behavior Support Intervention teacher. She is passionate about finding ways for all students to learn and be successful.
During her free time, Mrs. Gilchrist enjoys traveling, reading, and spending as much time as possible with her husband and daughter. Her family also enjoys rooting for the Anaheim Ducks.
Mrs. Breeze
A Washington State native, Mrs. Breeze graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Tourism Management and a Minor in Dance Education and Ensemble. She has worked at both Charter and Private schools in Northern and Southern California and is happy to be a part of Kinetic’s inaugural staff. Mrs. Breeze is passionate about the Performing Arts and loves to travel and spend time with her daughter, husband and two Mini Poodles.
Ms. LDR
Born and raised in Miami, FL to a Cuban family, Ms. Lopez del Rincon spent her childhood immersed in books, falling in love with reading from the start. It was no surprise when she later chose to study English at the University of Florida. Within her degree, she specialized in poetry, and today is passionate about teaching her favorite elective class at Kinetic: Creative Writing! She has lived in California for four years now and has taught 6th-8th grade English Language Arts at Kinetic for three years. She is excited for her fourth year and for continuing to “never waste the gift!” Her educational philosophy is rooted in inspiring her students to pursue their curiosity, build confidence in their critical thinking skills, and search for beauty and wisdom in the world around them.
Mr. Su
A Fountain Valley native, Mr. Su has been teaching math to middle and high school students for 13 years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science from UCLA after studying Electrical Engineering for a few years. He went on to UC Irvine for his teaching credential and master’s degree in Secondary Education. Mr. Su is enthusiastic about using the programming skills he has picked up over the years to create dynamic demos that make math concepts easier for students to visualize and understand more deeply. He also looks forward to further building his library of self-regenerating math problems that can be fine-tuned to his students’ needs. Outside of the classroom, he enjoys playing guitar, gaming and hiking. He moved back to the area so he can spend more time with his family and is looking forward to building new connections with students and staff.
Mr. Boone
Mr. Boone grew up near lakes and mountains in Northern California, before living in both San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles for college. After graduating from UCLA with a BA in History, Mr. Boone spent his 20s traveling to 49 different countries teaching History, English, PE, and Science to students from K-12. He lived and worked on 5 continents during this time, and lived in Spain, Japan, Chile, and Australia. He became fluent in Spanish and proficient in French while abroad. Mr. Boone returned to his native California to receive his teaching credential in Social Sciences, and a Master of Education in English Learner Equity and Academic Achievement. Mr. Boone now enjoys spending time watching his 1-year-old son crawl after his corgi dog, Eddie. Mr. Boone believes middle school is a fantastic time for students to develop critical social and academic skills before entering the fast-paced world of high school and beyond, and is delighted to help his students be prepared, happy, and successful!
Mrs. Ostrander
A Southern California native, Professor Ostrander graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a B.A. in Theater Arts, a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, Single Subject Teaching credentials in General Science and Biology, and a CTE credential in Arts, Media, and Entertainment. She believes in being the change you wish to see in the world and always including and elevating those around her. Professor Ostrander’s passions, other than teaching, include acting and directing on stage and at renaissance fairs, training dogs (including her own service dog, Sirius Black), camping, animals, and spending time with her other fur baby, Mochi, her husband, family, and friends.
Ms. Gaustad
Ms. Gaustad was born and raised here in Huntington Beach. She grew up attending school in the OVSD district and graduated from HBHS. Ms. Gaustad graduated college from Cal State Long Beach where she obtained her B.S. in Kinesiology and her Single Subject Physical Education Teaching Credential. Since graduation she has been a substitute teacher in the OVSD, FVSD, and LOSAL schools. Her passion for Physical Education stems from the positive experiences she enjoyed as a local student. She believes every student deserves to benefit from Physical Education and learn the fundamentals behind being a healthy and happy human being. When Ms. Gaustad isn’t teaching P.E; she is a Personal Trainer to her clients. She is also an avid Skier/Snowboarder and spent much of her college career competing on the CSULB competitive Ski Team. On her days off she can be found in the mountains, desert, beach, or lakes enjoying the great outdoors with friends, family, her chocolate lab Yogi, and a good book. Ms. Gaustad is ecstatic to join the Kinetic Academy team and form meaningful and impactful relationships with the students and staff.
Mrs. Rierson
Mrs. Rierson is proud to have been part of the Kinetic Academy (KA) inaugural staff. She loves the vision and mission of KA. Her goal is to educate the whole child, so she focuses on strong academics, social competence, and character development. While at Kinetic, she has developed a comprehensive 5th grade program that includes extra-curriculars such as an over-night science camp, Student Council, and Yearbook Club. Mrs. Rierson earned her B.A. in English as well as her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential through UC Irvine. In recent years, she has received training in Project Based Learning, Responsive Classroom, and Units of Study for Reading and Writing through Columbia University.
Mrs. Sherwood
This is Mrs. Sherwood’s sixth year in 5th grade at Kinetic Academy. She earned her M.A. in Education: Curriculum and Instruction from Vanguard University and has a B.A. in World Arts and Culture from UCLA. She is also certified to teach ESL and loved her experience teaching in Japan over a decade ago. Mrs. Sherwood is passionate about teaching the whole child, with an emphasis on high academic performance, ethical behavior, responsibility, and respect. In her classroom, thinking outside of the box is encouraged! A fun fact about Mrs. Sherwood is that she grew up in a Temecula charter school forged by her parents. In her free time, she hikes long distances and enjoys evenings of live theater.
Ms. Bunch
Ms. Bunch is so excited to join the amazing team at Kinetic Academy! This will be her third year teaching, and she has taught first grade and sixth grade previously. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies and her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from California State University, Fullerton. Through her variety of experiences working in education, she has learned the importance of making learning fun and engaging for all students. She is passionate about supporting the mission and vision at Kinetic Academy and cultivating a lifelong love for learning in her students. In her free time, Ms. Bunch enjoys traveling, camping, bike riding, going to Disneyland, and taking her dog Musket to the beach.
Miss. Fiola
Miss Fiola is so excited to be a part of the Kinetic Academy family! Miss Fiola received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Disability Studies from Northern Arizona University in 2022. She has also obtained her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential in the state of Arizona and California. She has had experience teaching a wide variety of grade levels from Kindergarten all the way up to seventh grade and has found beauty and appreciation for each in their own unique way. She is passionate about giving every student a voice and allowing them to grow utilizing kindness and compassion in the classroom. When she is not teaching she enjoys playing the guitar, traveling, spending time with her cat, and watching a good movie. She loves being a part of the KA community and is excited to meet all of the new students and families.
Ms. Clingan
Ms. Clingan graduated from Whitman College with her BA in English Literature and the University of Southern California with her MAT in Elementary Education. She has worked with students in a variety of grade levels and absolutely loves teaching Third Grade at Kinetic Academy! She is especially passionate about Project Based Learning and Restorative Practices. In her free time, she loves hiking, writing and reading, and spending time with friends, family.
Ms. Furden
Ms. Furden has spent the past decade teaching in elementary classrooms. She earned her Bachelor of Science from San Diego State University and went on to complete her Master of Arts in Teaching in elementary education, along with a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, at Antioch University Santa Barbara. She is deeply passionate about Whole Brain Teaching, which engages multiple areas of the brain, and Project-Based Learning, which emphasizes hands-on, real-world experiences. Guided by the belief that “What we learn with joy, we never forget,” Ms. Furden strives to make learning both meaningful and enjoyable. Outside the classroom, she enjoys traveling, soaking up the sun, and spending quality time with her daughter.
Mrs. Davis
Mrs. Davis is delighted to continue in her second year with Kinetic Academy, working in partnership with the staff, families, and sweet students! Raised in Montana, Mrs. Davis received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, K-8, from Montana State University – Bozeman, and later earned her Masters of Arts in Teaching and CA Reading Certification from National University. She is a veteran teacher of nearly 20 years, with experience across grades K-6. Mrs. Davis also holds a CLAD credential and a certificate in Gifted and Talented Education.
Mrs. Davis believes in providing an academically rigorous program, where children can explore and collaborate to reach their highest potential! Her passion for teaching is fueled by her absolute love for her students and the joy of watching them grow and thrive in a learning environment based on kindness and respect.
A longtime resident of Huntington Beach, Mrs. Davis loves spending time with her beloved family. Along with her husband and two boys, she also loves to travel, walk outdoors, go to the theater, watch Little League baseball, and spend time at the beach. She is thrilled to be a part of the Kinetic family!
Mrs. Allen
Mrs. Allen is so excited to join the Kinetic Academy team this year. She has been teaching for 27 years. Mrs. Allen received her multiple subject teaching credential and CLAD certificate from California State University Long Beach and earned a master’s degree in reading curriculum and instruction from National University. Mrs. Allen is passionate about teaching and fosters a collaborative and respectful classroom environment where students feel safe and comfortable among their peers to take risks in their learning journey. Mrs. Allen has spent the last several years living on a farm in East Tennessee and has just recently moved back home. She loves being outdoors hiking and running and enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters along with their four dogs and two cats.
Mrs. Snodgrass
Mrs. Snodgrass is thrilled to be teaching first grade at KA this year. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies and her teaching credential from Cal State Channel Islands. She has taught both second grade and TK, but her very favorite grade to teach is first! When she is not teaching, Mrs. Snodgrass is usually playing with her son Cade, her daughter Daisy, and her dog Maggie. She is excited for another great year at Kinetic Academy!
Ms. Brown
Ms. Brown has taught at Kinetic Academy for 10 years and was part of the inaugural staff. First grade is her passion. She loves seeing the growth first graders achieve as early learners. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Geography from Long Beach State and her teaching credential from National University. When not teaching, Ms. Brown loves to spend time hiking, heading to the desert and spending time with her children and family.
Ms. Smith
Ms. Smith is thrilled to join the Kinetic team this year! Born and raised in Orange County, she comes from a family of passionate educators. While earning her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Ms. Smith spent three amazing years on Oahu before returning to Orange County to complete her Master’s in Elementary Education and Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. This marks her third year of teaching, and she’s excited to dive into Kindergarten for the first time! When she’s not in the classroom, Ms. Smith loves spending time outdoors, especially at the beach with her family and her puppy, Sunny.
Mrs. Hardman
Mrs. Hardman earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Northern Illinois University and a Master of Science in Elementary Education with a specialization in Reading and Literacy from Walden University. Originally from Illinois, she moved to California in 2007 and now lives in beautiful Seal Beach. Mrs. Hardman is passionate about helping students become confident readers and develop a lifelong love of learning. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, spending time outdoors, and soaking up the sunshine. She is thrilled to begin her first year at Kinetic Academy and is excited to make lasting memories!
Ms. Ehret
Ms. Ehret is so excited to be joining the Kinetic Academy team! She has worked in education in various capacities for many years and has been teaching TK for the past four years. In addition to teaching the littles, in the winter Ms. Ehret spends a few days teaching skiing for Mammoth Mountain and in the summers, she teaches sailing and kayaking to students who are 9-14 years of age.
Ms. Ehret is originally from Ventura, California and enjoys going there to visit family and friends.
Ms. Ehret earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from San Diego State University. She also earned a Continuing Education Certificate in Speech and Language Pathology from the University of Vermont.
Ms. Ehret lives in Costa Mesa with her boyfriend, who, in addition to being an Aerospace Engineer, is also a sailor and avid skier.
Coach Milano
Coach Milano is our Physical Education teacher. She is originally from Rhode Island, where she earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Kinesiology. In 2013, she moved to the golden state and made Huntington Beach her new home. She soon received her California credentials in Physical Education and Health Education (K-12). She began teaching P.E. at Kinetic Academy in the fall of 2016. She spends her free time reading, being active outdoors and watching all the sports on T.V.!
Mrs. Roy
Mrs . Roy received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a Minor in Design from the University of California, Los Angeles. She continued on to obtain her teaching credential and took her first teaching position in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Mrs. Roy has taught Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th grades.
Mrs. Roy is passionate about sharing her love of art, art history, and exploring art techniques. Nothing brings her more joy than watching students gain confidence and learn to express themselves through creating.
Mrs. Roy raised her family in Huntington Beach and loves calling it home. She is very connected in the community and belongs to several organizations. Outside of school, she loves to hike, paddleboard, and travel with friends and family.
Mrs. Reynolds
Maria Reynolds goal and focus is to immerse her students in the language and culture of the Spanish-speaking world. Her teaching experience ranges from TK to High School, instructing both English and Spanish as a second language.
Mrs. Reynold’s education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish, with an emphasis in Latin American Literature and a Master’s degree in Linguistics, with an emphasis in Native American Indian language preservation projects. She is originally from Northern California where she grew up with 5 other siblings but has lived in Costa Mesa with her husband and 2 children for 20 years. Mrs. Reynolds loves taking care of their dog Luna, hiking, swimming, reading, and spending time with family.
Mrs. Lacey
A Southern California Native, enjoys being a part of the Kinetic Academy community. She loves helping others. Has worked in the medical field for many years. In her spare time, she enjoys going to the beach, traveling, going to concerts and reading. Mrs. Lacey currently lives in Huntington Beach with her Husband, two children and their dog.
Mr. Michael
Mr. Jason
Sammie
Sammie Lionetti has been part of Kinetic Academy since opening in 2016! He loves to interact with students, parents and staff and make sure we know when deliveries have arrived. His favorite things to do while onsite, is greet students at the gate, Walk & Talk in the morning, have students read to him in the office and visit classrooms.