Professors | Helen Bernstein High School

My name is Mr. Milledge and I am the Drama/Journalism teacher at Bernstein! My career has spanned many different fields and interests. My relationship to the theatre began when in college when I was hired as a stagehand for the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton, CA. I helped stage plays and concerts doing sound and props. I have also made cameos in short films and performed onstage reciting poetry and doing standup comedy. I began my journalism career as Managing Editor of my high school newspaper, and then as a staff writer for my community college newspaper where I was also a news anchor for our public news station. I have also self-published articles about music and politics. I am also a solo recording artist (my catalogue is on all streaming platforms including Spotify) and perform regularly with the Landlights Community Choir. When I am not working, I like working out, running, and going to soccer matches to support my favorite clubs (Manchester City and OCSC).

Ms. Yasmin Santos

Mr. Samuel Osborne

Ms. Alexa Osorio

Ms. Jamie Kim

Mr. Russell Pangborn

Ms. Coral Padilla

Mr. Antonio Moreno

Mr. Darryl Jones

Ms. Estefani Hernandez

Mr. Douglas Diaz

Hello Dragons! I am Mr. Diaz. I have been teaching English at Bernstein High School since 2019. My approach to teaching is somewhat anecdotal since I aim to build rapport and community with my students. I also challenge my students to think critically about matters related to everyday life experiences by incorporating a variety of genres, such as: literature, art, film, and music. Some of my most meaningful experiences in the classroom derive from students learning to utilize the power of language / words to build relationships, connections, opportunities, and an expanded frame of thinking in their own lives. These "Aha!" moments are precious. When I am not teaching, I spend time with Maria (my wife) and Lucia (my daughter). I also enjoy tinkering, photography, and skateboarding. -diaz

Ms. Yvette Doss

Mr. Carlos Castro

Mr. Steven Dimich

I teach World History, U.S. History, and Government/Economics. I graduated from USC in 2011 with a degree in Psychology. I have a wife and one son who is 5 years old. I am a huge Formula 1 racing fan. I play video games and spend time with my son during my free time. I enjoy teaching because I want to bring awareness and knowledge about historical topics to students.

Ms. Dan Wang

Mandarin Teacher

Hello! 你好！I am Ms. Wang and you call me 王老师 in Chinese. I grew up in Zhengzhou, China, where the Shaolin Temple locates. I'd love to be your guide on your journey to explore the diverse Chinese cultures and the rich history along with learning to communicate using the beautiful language. In my class, I always like to have my students develop learning skills, such as time management and organization skills. The most important skill is to learn how to learn on your own because we're all life-long learners. In my free time, I enjoy photography, drawing, cooking, and yoga. I also take classes such as drawing and dancing. I am learning each day. Join me now for a new adventure!

Ms. Brenda Talaro

Ms. Talaro earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Mathematics at Saint Lomis College and Baguio Central University in the Philippines. She has more than twenty years of experience teaching and has been with LAUSD since 2007. She enjoys teaching Honors Algebra and Honors Geometry at Cinematic Arts and Creative Technologies (CACT) Magnet at Helen Bernstein High School. Ms. Talaro uses Digital Springboard and Schoology for students to share ideas and collaborative learning. Ms. Talaro will be using a Cross-Curricular Project which makes learning math more interesting and fun while integrating core subjects for an enhanced learning experience.

Mr. Alejandro Ramirez

Principal

It is my pleasure to invite you to become one of the newest members of the Cinematic Arts and Creative Technologies Magnet family. I am extremely pleased that you and your family are considering choosing us as your academic home. Here at CACT we are dedicated to ensuring that you have a successful academic and extracurricular experience. Here you will be able to balance a strong academic curriculum while pursuing your dreams of being a filmmaker, computer scientist, photographer or graphic designer. Our school has a warm family atmosphere where teachers and students alike strive for academic excellence and a strong connection to our community. At CACT we believe that every child can succeed and we are here to ensure that your potential is fully realized. Please feel free to stop by and visit our campus at anytime.

Ms. Derek Werthwein

ROP

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Mr. Osofu Washington

ROP Graphic Arts

Ms. Robin Viso

Math teacher

Mr. Alberto Vasquez

English teacher

Mrs. Nora Tchaprazian

ESL / English teacher

Mr. James Suffern

English Teacher

Dear Student (yes, YOU), I think it’s only fair I tell you a bit about myself since I’ll be your English teacher. I grew up in Kentucky, the home of horse racing, college basketball, and Kentucky Fried Chicken. I haven’t lived there since I left for college but I do return home every year to see my family. My parents, and my brother and his family, live there, including my four year-old niece and ten-month old nephew.. I also have another four year-old niece who lives in New York, and a six year-old niece here in Los Angeles. She just started first grade yesterday, and she told me that she already has a new boyfriend. That was fast. I’ve been an English teacher for 13 years now. I’ve worked in schools in North Carolina, Michigan, and New York, before coming out here to LA. The majority of my teaching career was at a school in New York City, in Queens. Queens is the most ethnically diverse county in the United States, and our school reflected that diversity. When I came to Bernstein High School last year, I was a little worried that I would miss all that diversity. But guess what? I felt at home here very quickly because Bernstein students are so kind. Really, I’ve never been around sweeter students than the ones here. I really do love my job, and I think you’ll see quickly--if you don’t already know me-- that I want my students to grow every day. I expect a lot out of each of you, but I also want you to have fun while we’re working together. I’m very excited about teaching our new screenwriting class offered in the Cinematic Arts and Creative Technologies Magnet. I can remember the first movie I saw in the theater: my mom took my sister and me to see E.T. I was four years old at the time. Ever since that day, when E.T. struggled to find his way back to his home planet, I’ve been interested in how stories work: what makes a memorable one, how do we tell a story that people will be fascinated by? I wrote stories and poems in high school, and when I left home for college, I decided I would become a playwright. But my plans changed quickly when I realized my real love was writing fiction. That’s where my energy went for years. About ten years ago, a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to write a screenplay with him--I said, “Why not?” Over the course of several weeks, we met every day and wrote the script together. Perhaps one day someone will buy it and you can see my movie on the big screen. I’ve lived in Los Angeles for a little over three years now. My wife is from here, and we relocated to her hometown when she found a great job out here. And then, a little over two years ago we welcomed our first child, Joaquin, into the world. He celebrated his 2nd birthday over the summer. I know it’s a cliche to say this, but he really is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I’m not saying that everyone needs to be a parent, because I believe if someone does not want to have kids, that is certainly their right. But I have found in the last couple of years a new joy that I did not know before becoming a dad. In my spare time, I love to read just about anything. My favorite sports to play are tennis, basketball, and I love riding my bicycle, although I’ll be honest, I find it difficult here in Los Angeles. There are so many drivers who are not paying attention to cyclists. I also love to cook--believe it or not, I do almost all of the cooking for our family. It’s either me or my suegra. People ask me what I like to cook and the truth is, just about anything. And don’t get the wrong idea: I may be skinny, but I can eat. If you or someone else ever makes something at home and there’s a little extra, don’t be afraid to bring in a plate for Mr. Suffern! Thank you for taking the time to learn a little bit about me. Now it’s your turn. I cannot wait to learn about you.

Ms. Andrea Statum

English teacher

Ms. Brenda Pulido

Spanish Teacher

Mr. Cristian Pineda

Math teacher

Ms. Jackie Pakhloyan

English Teacher

Mr. Raymond Owusu Afram

Math Teacher

Ms. Shinhee Noh

Science Teacher

Hello, and welcome to Bernstein magnet! I am Ms. Noh and I'll be your biology, physiology, chemistry, or AP chemistry teacher. I've been teaching at Bernstein since 2010 and I am a proud dragon! I've always wanted to become a teacher as a little girl, and now enjoying my job as I watch my students learn and grow. When I'm not teaching, I enjoy playing piano, sudoku, and snowboarding. Let's have a great year together!

Ms. Nicole Lapolt

Science Teacher

Mr. Andy Kasek

Mr. Nick Deligencia

Librarian

Mr. Deligencia has been the Bernstein Campus Librarian since November 2014. He brings over 20 years of teaching experience to the library, all of which was served within 4 miles of the Bernstein campus. He earned his B.A. (English) at the University of Arizona. He also holds a M.A. (Education Administration) from CSUN and another master's degree (Library and Information Science) from San José State University. In his spare time, Mr. D. enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, playing golf and obsessing over his fantasy football teams.

Mr. Armando Gonzales

Music Teacher

Ms. Diana Martinez-Favela

Coordinator/Leadership Advisor

Room:B219/D127 Ext:6413

Mr. Chad Finch

Social Studies Teacher/ AD

Mr. Eric Alcala

PSA/A-G Coordinator

Room:B211 Ext:6431

Ms. Joelle Cohen

Special Education Teacher

Ms. Rosa Chulia

Spanish Teacher

Mr. Greg Brimer

History Teacher

Ms. Pamela Amaya

Magnet Coordinator

Magnet Coordinator & Computer Science Teacher Masters in Education, University of Southern California Bachelor of Science, Business and Marketing Currently teaching AP Computer Science, Generative Art & Design, Exploring Computer Science, Algebra 1. Taught Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus, AP Calculus, Statistics, Data Science, Business, Web Design, Leadership and Yearbook. Prior to becoming a teacher, I held several positions in the film, music and radio industries. The experience I gained in the entertainment business has been an invaluable asset and has led me to fulfill my childhood dream of becoming a teacher. I have always been fascinated with computers and new technology. As a consequence, I am constantly searching for curriculum that will prepare students for the jobs of the future. As a lifelong learner I believe the enthusiasm that a teacher exhibits for any subject, idea or technology, will help to engage students in learning. This in turn will increase productivity in the classroom and lead to mastery of the important concepts and skills necessary for a highly successful career in their chosen industry.