Meet Our Amazing Conservatory Teachers!
DANCE SPECIALIST: MONICA SANDERS
Monica comes to Vista Academy with over twenty years of dance teaching experience. In that time, she has taught students of all ages and abilities in a wide variety of settings, including: private studios, conservatories, non-profits, high school and college. She received both her Bachelor and Masters degrees in dance from the University of California, Irvine. In addition to pedagogy, Monica has a special interest in Dance Medicine and Science. Ms. Sanders credits her early dance teachers for instilling in her a love of dance and a passion for teaching others.
vapadance@vistausd.org
DRAMA SPECIALIST: KATIE CALDWELL
Katie Caldwell is an award winning actor, singer and teacher. She has performed Off-Broadway, at Tokyo Disneyland, on Norwegian Cruise Lines, and at numerous regional theaters around the country. Locally, she has been seen at the Breakthrough Workshop Theatre, Cygnet Theatre, The Lawrence Welk Resort and The Old Globe. Catherine has a Bachelor’s degree from Berklee College of Music and a Master’s in Education from Pepperdine University and a Master of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from San Diego State University. Katie loves teaching and watching students blossom into the leaders and artists of tomorrow.
vapadrama@vistausd.org
MUSIC SPECIALIST: RUBEN HASSMAN
Originally from Venice California, violinist, guitarist and music educator Ruben Hassman has studied, taught, and performed classical and mariachi music. During his years in Flagstaff, Arizona, he helped found and organized NAU Mari Sol, Flagstaff’s first ever college and community mariachi group. As the group grew, so did the town’s demand for mariachi in Flagstaff public schools. In response to this demand, Ruben Hassman started a mariachi after-school program at Killip Elementary. He also taught in Flagstaff’s Montessori Schools, teaching both elementary and middle school students how to play the guitar and ukulele. While pursuing his bachelor’s degree, he worked as a Suzuki instructor for Flagstaff Academy of Dance and Music for 4 years, teaching the violin and Music Mind Games (music theory for children). He was also the assistant director of Flagstaff Sings, a non-profit community choir based in Flagstaff. On May 11th, 2018, he completed his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education at Northern Arizona University and moved to Los Angeles where he earned his Master’s degree in Afro-Latin Performance on the violin at Cal State Los Angeles. He now resides in Oceanside, California with his family and works as the music specialist at Vista Academy and freelance musician.
rubenhassman@vistausd.org
VISUAL ART SPECIALIST: MARK HUGHES
As an Art Teacher, my aim is to capitalize and build upon each student's innate abilities so that they see themselves as artists. As Pablo Picasso said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once the child grows up.” I strive to create a safe and welcoming learning environment where students’ passion for art making is ignited. Through deliberate planning and preparation, I design compelling learning opportunities where all students can find success as artists. I make a point of valuing student artistry and this results in a classroom and school site where the artistic expressions of every child are cultivated and appreciated. Joy comes in sharing art with others, and therefore, I make it a priority to keep art out in the open.
markhughes@vistausd.org
SPANISH LANGUAGE SPECIALIST: MARIA GONZALEZ
I am Maria del Carmen Gonzalez. I am honored to be part of this learning community. A little about myself, I was raised in Oceanside, California. I am a daughter and sister. I am bilingual, my first language is Spanish and I learned English as my second language.
I decided to teach Spanish because in my case it has brought me closer to my community and family. I would like to help students be bilingual or multilingual, this is an outstanding skill to have.
My education career, growing up I attended schools in Carlsbad, California. For college, I am proud to have been the first in my family to have graduated from a University. I received my Bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and in Criminology and Justice Studies, and a Multiple Subject K-8 teaching credential from California State University San Marcos.
Previous experience, I worked as a Substitute Teacher. Before that, I was a legal assistant for a non-profit organization Unitarian Universalist Refugee and Immigrant Services and Education (UURISE). Also I worked at Vista High School as an AVID tutor for 4 years. Through my work experience I found my passion for teaching. I am a lifelong learner and I look forward to working with you all!
mariagonzalez@vistausd.org
