Larchmont Teacher Information

Kimberly Kline, K-1 Teacher

Ms. Kline has taught kindergarten at LCS since its inception in 2005. Before LCS, Ms. Kline obtained her B.A. from the University of Arizona, where she majored in Musical Theatre. After leaving Arizona, Kimberly moved to New York City to pursue a career in musical theater, before determining that teaching was her true passion. She returned to Los Angeles where she obtained a Masters in Education from National University. With her combined talents in music and education, Ms Kline integrates song and learning in her classroom. It is Kimberly's mission to empower students to become life long learners and instill within them a belief that they can reach any goal.

Sandra Alamo, 5th gradeTeacher

Sandra Alamo currently teaches 5th grade at the Hollygrove site. For the past 3 years, she has taught in a 1st and 2nd grade multi-age classroom. She has served on the LCS Board of Directors, LCS School Management Team, and as Lead Teacher. Prior to coming to LCS, she taught at MacArthur Park Primary Center in the K-1 bilingual program. She holds a multiple subject credential with a CLAD and BCLAD emphasis, as well as a Masters of Education from the University of California, Los Angeles. Sandra is passionate about a constructivist approach to education, project-based learning, and bilingual education.

Betsy Cavalier, 2-3 Grade Teacher

Betsy has taught in New York City in grades K-3. She holds a B.A. in political science from Stanford and an M.A. in international and comparative education from Stanford as well.

Sarah Eun, 2-3 Grade Teacher

Sarah graduated from U.C. Davis where she studied sociology and Asian American studies. She has an M.A. in cross cultural studies. For several years, Sarah was the Korean translator and interpreter for the Brea-Olinda Unified School District. She has taught high school students in Japan and the U.S., as well as third grade students. She is a classically trained pianist.

Jessica Orenstein, K-1 Grade Teacher

Jessica Orenstein is a K-1 grade teacher, she has been at LCS since the first year. She has over ten years of teaching experience. Jessica loves working with children and derives great pleasure from her job. On a personal note, she is passionate about reading, writing, and spending time with animals, particularly her dogs Ramon, Trixie, and Sprout.

Andi Varon, 2-3 Grade Teacher

Andi Varon came to the first/second grade at LCS with 30 years prior experience in the education field. She worked in day care and day care administration for 7 years and was then a teacher at the Sequoyah School in Pasadena for 23 years. While at Sequoyah, she taught a kindergarten/first grade class and a third/fourth grade class. She also mentored many teachers, sat on the Board of Trustees for several terms, led the school through a successful WASC accreditation, and taught math and science workshops to teachers for several summers. She developed a workshop titled "Empowering Children to Become Learners". After leaving Sequoyah, Andi moved to Tokyo, Japan where she taught second grade in an international school for 2 years.

Sarah Molfese, 4th Grade Teacher

Sarah Molfese is happy to be joining the Larchmont family this year. She is teaming with Lisa, Jake, and Ian. She received her education in New York State. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Spanish from St. Bonaventure University and obtained her Masters in Elementary Education from Niagara University, NCATE accredited eight years ago. She has taught in both public and private schools in New York, North Carolina, and now California.

Lorena Orlosky, 5th Grade Teacher

Lorena graduated with a degree in Soviet Culture and Art History from the State University of New York at Albany. She has a teaching credential from Cal. State L.A. and has worked extensively as a substitute teacher in a multitude of private and public schools. She worked for several years as a pre-school teacher, with an emphasis on art education. In addition, she has worked at length in Special Education settings with a variety of students as well as with at-risk teens as a tutor in an early gang intervention program.

Rachel Green, 5th Grade Teacher

Rachel Green is an educator dedicated to improving education for all children by valuing the assets that they each bring to the classroom. Rachel, a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, brings music and theatre into the classroom to increase academic achievement. When not teaching or studying, you may catch Rachel on stage at the Impro Theatre making things up, or writing songs to play with the kids. Rachel holds a Master's of Education from UCLA with a focus in Culture, Language, and Diversity, and another in administration. She teaches a class at UCLA in elementary science instruction.

Eva Dixon, 2/3 teacher

Eva Dixon to be a part the 2/3 team at LCS. Eva received her B.A in Environmental Studies and Anthropology and her M.A. in Education from UC Santa Cruz. She joins us from working at a Los Angeles non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of inner city youth. Eva's interests include gardening, bird watching, science, and craft projects. She looks forward to spending a wonderful year with our community.

Diane Pullano, Resource Specialist Teacher (RST)

Diane Pullano is a passionate convert to teaching after a 15-year career in the arts. She received a B.A. from the University of Connecticut and studied Art Conservation for two years in Florence, Italy. She comes from a long line of educators dating back many generations, so she feels she is finally "home". She began her teaching career in LAUSD, teaching children with Autism. She's thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate on a daily basis with the great teachers and staff of Larchmont Charter School. She believes in the inherent goodness of every child and firmly believes that with the proper supports, every child can learn and thrive. In addition to a Special Education Credential, she will soon earn a General Ed. Credential and a Masters Degree in Special Education from National University. Her son Jacob is her biggest supporter, and is a student at LCS.

Tira Sims, 2-3 Teacher

Tira is in her third year at LCS. She previously worked as a teaching assistant and an intern. Before coming to LCS, Tira attended Boston College but found she is a true California girl at heart, and finished her B.A. in Communications at Santa Clara University where she played Women's Lacrosse. After two years of substitute teaching in various private schools in Monterey, CA, and training at Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes, Tira decided to get her teaching credential at CSU Los Angeles.

Marjorie Wilburn, K-1 Teacher

Marjorie grew up in New Jersey and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from New York University. She worked for the Board of Social Services in New Jersey for a short time before switching gears completely to spend many years in retail management. Her love of and appreciation for children led her to study education at Pepperdine University where she earned a Master of Arts in Education and a Professional CLAD Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. She is the mother of two little girls, Flynn, and Gardner, both students at LCS. They live in the neighborhood with their cats Henry and Maddy (and the occasional fish) and can usually be found playing at the park.

Stacey Hawk, Physical Eduaction Teacher

Stacey comes to LCS from LAUSD with several years of experience as a classroom teacher in grades K, 3rd, and 5th, managed preschools/summer camps as a Director & Assistant Director, and was an athletic coach for six years with children of all ages coaching softball, basketball, volleyball, track & field, and award winning dance/drill/cheerleading teams. She has both a teaching credential with C.L.A.D. emphasis and a M.A. in Education. She spends the majority of her free time taking dance classes, swimming laps at the local gym, and playing with her son. Her philosophy is to give each child the physical and emotional foundations needed to enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle by providing lots of age appropriate activities & essential skills which will develop self-discipline, self-evaluation, and an understanding of personal strengths and weaknesses.

Johnna Hampton Walker, Garden Teacher

Having grown up in a rural community in Georgia within a family whose traditions were rooted in the soil, Johnna learned early on about the joys and surprises of the garden. She has brought her passion and enthusiasm for gardening to LCS, with a program that integrates science curriculum into the planting and tending of our school garden. Johnna has over 15 years of experience as an educator, including teaching Kindergarten, serving as director of a Montessori Preschool, serving as a reading specialist, working as an admissions administrator at Crossroads School in Santa Monica and currently as a free lance writer for educational publisher, Young Minds Inspired. Johnna received a B.A. in Early Childhood Education at Mercer University and received her M.Ed from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University.