School Directory

Fr. Ricardo Viveros was born in Torrance, California. He attended elementary school at St. Margaret Mary in Lomita, is a graduate of Bishop Montgomery High School, and earned his degree from California State University, Long Beach, in 2002. Before entering the seminary, he worked for the Long Beach Unified School District and The Walt Disney Company.

Fr. Viveros was ordained to the priesthood on May 31, 2008. He served as associate pastor at St. Genevieve Parish in Panorama City and St. John Vianney Parish in Hacienda Heights. From 2014 to 2023, he served as Pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Atwater Village. He is honored to have been appointed Pastor of Holy Family Parish by Archbishop José H. Gomez in 2023.

Mrs. Jennifer Garzia is thrilled to begin her fifth year as part of the Holy Family School community and her tenth year as an educational leader. As a Catholic school leader, her role is to support Holy Family to become the best version of itself in achieving our mission to form disciples of Jesus Christ through faith, community, service, and excellence. Mrs. Garzia believes that every student deserves the opportunity to grow and thrive.
Hailing from Minnesota, Mrs. Garzia obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from the College of Saint Benedict and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from The College of New Jersey. Currently, she is pursuing an Educational Doctorate in Leadership for Social Justice from Loyola Marymount University. With a foundation of nine years of teaching, she developed a solid understanding of effective instructional practices. As a principal, she has led faculty through professional development focused on implementing research-based pedagogical practices in every classroom. Over her career, she has dedicated her professional life to students, teachers, and stakeholders at Catholic and international schools in the US, Brazil, and Italy. These experiences have honed her beliefs and capabilities around serving a community, strategic improvement, meaningful involvement, and a genuine focus on the heart of every school – its students.
As a Catholic school leader, she believes in serving communities through strategic planning, relationship building, data-driven decision-making, and fostering the collective capacity to engage all stakeholders in school improvement efforts. These values she supports and builds through regular communication and transparency, which provide a foundation of trust that unites a school not only in a common mission, but also as an entity that supports its individuals on their own paths to success. She is grateful to serve in Catholic school leadership as she aims to inspire closer relationships with Jesus Christ and offer her gifts to serve the students, families, faculty, and staff of the Holy Family School community.
Outside of school, you can find Jennifer spending time with her husband Stefano and little one Liam. She looks forward to continuing to further Holy Family School’s mission to inspire students to achieve academic excellence while becoming disciples of Jesus Christ and leading lives of faith, community, and service.

Dr. Jeannie Eamnarangkool is honored to begin her fourth year as Vice Principal at Holy Family School and her 20th year in education. She brings a deep passion for student success and spiritual growth, and is committed to building a faith-filled, supportive learning environment for all.
Jeannie holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UCLA, a master’s degree and PPS Credential in Educational Counseling from the University of La Verne, a master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of Notre Dame, and a Doctorate of Education from the University of Southern California.
Her love for Catholic education was sparked in high school through her Confirmation and Youth Ministry experience at St. Finbar, where she discovered the transformative power of faith, community, and the Sacraments.
Outside of school, Jeannie enjoys spending time outdoors and hiking with her dog, Wrigley (named after Wrigley Field). She and her husband are also joyfully preparing to welcome their first child, a daughter, in January 2026.

Maestra Elizabeth Aceves has taught the Spanish language and exposed our middle-school students to Latin American cultures for more than 14 years. Maestra Aceves is a lifelong learner who dreamed of teaching since she was in college. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Business Management and 10 years of banking and telecommunications experience, Elizabeth always felt something was missing. After the birth of her second son, she found an opportunity to leave telecommunication sales and account management to pursue her passion for education. Elizabeth began assisting the Spanish program at Holy Family School in 2012 and then joined HFS as the middle-school Spanish teacher in 2014. Maestra always updates the Spanish program to maximize the use of technology to make learning fun and accessible for a range of abilities and learning styles. Elizabeth focuses on improving the students’ level of proficiency in the target language. In addition to the language itself, students are taught about the culture of Spanish-speaking countries. Students learn about fun and interesting cultural traditions and events, such as Día de los Muertos, Los Gauchos of Argentina, Inti Raymi Festival from Perú, and the list goes on! Outside of educating middle-schoolers, Elizabeth enjoys hiking and will find a good historical fiction book, or spend as much time with her husband and two sons, who are former HFS students.

Mrs. Maria Adriano has been an Instructional Aide at Holy Family School since the Fall of 2015. Her first 10 years were spent assisting in Kindergarten. In 2021, she joined the Time Well Spent (Aftercare) team, and in 2023, she began her role as Director of TWS, as well as assisting in Kindergarten. This year, she is assisting in Fourth Grade as she continues as Director of TWS. Mrs. Adriano grew up in South Pasadena and has been a lifelong parishioner. She is an alumna of Holy Family Catholic School and South Pasadena High School. Mrs. Adriano attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. She is a proud parent of two daughters, both of whom are graduates of Holy Family School (C 2015 and C 2017). In her spare time, she enjoys walking around the neighborhood with her husband and hiking with friends.

As a fourth-generation Holy Family parishioner, Erin Arnold is proud to share her love of art with all students at Holy Family School. An alumna of Holy Family School, Mayfield Senior School, and Loyola Marymount University, Erin earned a B.A. in Studio Art before working for nine years as a graphic designer and mural painter. Drawn to education, she began teaching at Good Shepherd Catholic School in Beverly Hills in 2003, where she taught art and computer classes while working on her M.A. and single-subject teaching credential in Visual Art at Loyola Marymount.

In 2011, Erin returned to Holy Family School as a technology teacher and spearheaded the school’s one-to-one iPad program, which launched in 2013 and expanded to all students by 2018. This forward-thinking initiative proved essential during the pandemic, ensuring students could stay connected and engaged in remote learning.

Since 2017, Erin has taught weekly art classes for grades K–8 while continuing to oversee the school’s technology program. She is passionate about blending her love of art, interest in technology, and design expertise to inspire creativity and confidence in her students. Erin believes every child is an artist and strives to nurture their natural curiosity and love of making art.

Outside the classroom, Erin finds inspiration in nature through hiking, gardening, and plein air painting. She feels blessed to serve the Holy Family community she has called home her entire life.

Chris Bengford was born May 6, 1967. In 1982 he graduated from Holy Family School. He attended South Pasadena High School and graduated in 1986.
Athletics were a big part of his life. He played four years of high school football, three at the varsity level. Chris played two years of basketball and four years of Volleyball.
After South Pasadena he attended Northern Arizona University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in History and minor in Biology. After attending Northern Arizona, he attended California State Los Angeles for his teaching credential. He began a master’s degree in computer education, but only completed 30 units of the program. He also attended Mount Saint Mary’s University Los Angeles completing many classes in Education Administration.
During high school and college, he worked at Trader Joe’s in South Pasadena and loved it. Trader Joes was a fantastic job and a great learning experience. In December of 1992, he was extremely fortunate to be hired at Mayfield Jr. School. Chris worked at Mayfield Jr. for 2.5 years and had a wonderful experience.
In May of 1994 he was hired by Dr. Susan Grant to be the 7th grade homeroom teacher at Holy Family. Chris has taught 7th & 8th grade Math, 6th grade Earth Science, 7th grade Life Science, 8th grade American History, Religion 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. He has coordinated both science camps (CIMI for 8th grade for 27yrs) and 6th grade Outdoor Science School for four years. Mr. Bengford was the Bridges Coordinator with Dolores Mission, Coordinated the Science Fair for 16 years. He was the Middle School Coordinator and Vice Principal for two years. Chris enjoyed his time as the Holy Family Academic Decathlon coordinator for 15 years. Currently, he is the 8th grade homeroom teacher. Chris now teaches 6th,and 8th Religion 7th-grade Biology, 6th grade Earth Science, 8th grade United States History. Chris is responsible for and enjoys organizing school Masses, Stations of the Cross, Holy Thursday Prayer Services, and Funeral Altar Serving Teams. He is privileged to assist students and parents with the high school application process and coordinate 8th grade graduation.
Chris is happily married to his wife Katie, and they have a son, Bradley Patrick. His hobbies and interests include biking, skiing, golfing, camping, and collecting G-scale trains.
Chris lives by this prayer: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will, That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next”.
Amen.

Elicet Cifuentes is delighted to return to Holy Family School for another year. With five years of dedicated teaching experience, a graduate degree in science from California State University, Los Angeles, and currently pursuing her second master’s degree in elementary education at National University, she brings both expertise and heartfelt dedication to her students.

She is passionate about creating a classroom where all learners feel included, supported, and inspiredl. Guided by her faith and belief in the power of education, Elicet works to nurture curiosity, critical thinking, and a strong sense of belonging and responsibility toward oneself and others.

Her classroom reflects Catholic values of kindness, respect, service, and community. She is especially excited for the fifth-grade highlights: All Saints Day Wax Museum, Coffee Shop Poetry Night, where students partner with the Intergenerational Art Group to support a charity, and Walk Through the American Revolution, an interactive experience that brings American history to life.

Over the past three years, Elicet has worked closely with her mentor Dr. Lee to develop curriculum strategies that promote cultural sensitivity and student well-being. Her work was recently accepted for publication.

Outside of teaching, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and exploring national parks with her partner, Brady, and their corgi, Bubba. She also treasures time with her family and has an unabashed love of coffee. Elicet is looking forward to another joyful and purposeful year as part of the Holy Family School community.

Dianne Ciulla is a proud second-generation Angeleno and the product of a Catholic education. She attended St. Dominic’s Catholic School in Eagle Rock and continued at Mayfield Senior School. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Purdue University. Although she initially considered a career in psychology, her true calling led her to the field of education, where she has found purpose and fulfillment ever since.
Her first teaching job out of college was at St. Casimir School, marking the beginning of her career in Catholic education. That early experience left a lasting impression, and after years in public schools, she was grateful to return to her roots in Catholic education.
Mrs. Ciulla holds a California Clear Multiple Subject Credential (K–12) and a Language Development Specialist Certificate. She spent over a decade teaching in the Los Angeles Unified School District, where she developed a strong passion for literacy instruction. During those years, she was especially committed to supporting English language learners in developing their reading and writing skills.
After taking time away from full-time teaching to raise her three children, Mrs. Ciulla returned to the classroom 20 years ago as a volunteer teacher in the GAINS (Getting Ahead in School) program. Holy Family School—a community that has always been close to her heart—was the perfect place for her to continue her educational journey. As both a parishioner and parent, she cherished being part of the Holy Family Church and School communities and is now grateful for the opportunity to give back as an educator.
For the past 15 years, Mrs. Ciulla has been a dedicated member of the Holy Family faculty, serving as a GAINS reading teacher. In 2018, she took on the additional roles of Program Director and STEP Coordinator. Known for creating a welcoming, nurturing classroom environment, she strives to ensure every student feels both capable and cared for. While she knows her students may not remember every lesson, she hopes they will always remember how they felt in her classroom.
Mrs. Ciulla is also deeply proud of her Italian heritage. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, baking, gardening, and cheering on her beloved Purdue Boilermakers. A passionate tennis player, she plays in the San Gabriel Valley’s USTA Women’s Doubles League.

Anna Dickinson is excited to join the Holy Family team this year as a school-based therapist. Anna grew up in Washington state but moved to Southern California to attend Azusa Pacific University, where she received a BA degree in Communication Studies and Spanish. She then went on to pursue a Master of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary. Since graduating from the MFT program, Anna has been working as a school-based therapist in the La Cañada Unified School District, supporting TK-8th-grade students dealing with various emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges. This year, she will be on campus at Holy Family on Thursdays and looks forward to forming relationships with both students and staff. Anna considers her vocation to be to cultivate safe spaces where others can be truly seen, heard, and understood, and she seeks to fulfill that vocation in all facets of her life. Outside of work, Anna enjoys being outside, reading (memoirs especially!), and playing and watching sports.

Carolina Espiricueta is thrilled to be returning as the kindergarten Saints teacher at Holy Family School for another exciting year. She earned her BA in Child Development from Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles and completed her MA in Urban Education with a focus on Literacy at Loyola Marymount University.

This is Ms. Espiricueta’s seventh year at Holy Family School and her fifth year teaching kindergarten. She previously supported students as a 5th-grade instructional aide and brings additional experience from her time as a substitute and summer school teacher at two private schools in the Montebello area.

Carolina believes that kindergarten is a crucial time for building a strong educational foundation. She values each child’s unique contributions and works to help students express themselves, embrace their individuality, and appreciate the differences of others. Her classroom is a close-knit community where she nurtures each student’s growth and learning style. She incorporates cooperative learning, hands-on activities, thematic projects, and independent work to actively engage her students.

A Los Angeles native, Carolina enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Adrian, and their almost two-year-old son, Elias—especially making memories together at the Disney parks. She is truly looking forward to an amazing year ahead with her kindergarten Saints at Holy Family School.

Mrs. Fitzhugh has been teaching for 26 years and has extensive experience in teaching Transitional Kindergarten, PreK, kindergarten, and first grade. She was baptized at birth and shares a profound respect for God, the bible, and the Catholic faith. She grew up in Long Beach and attended Catholic School through ninth grade. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in Communications. She went on to get her teaching credential from Concordia University in Irvine, where she was placed on the Dean’s list, earning a 4.0 cumulative GPA.
While Mrs. Fitzhugh has been around children her whole life, she was almost certain she would never enter the teaching profession. From babysitting, coaching, and teaching swimming, she imagined a different path for her life. After college, she traveled to Asia for four months and was smitten with the children she saw and met in Japan, Nepal, Thailand, and Indonesia. In fact, looking over her photos–of mostly children–her family encouraged her to rethink teaching. She went back to complete her credentials and landed her first job at an inner-city school in Long Beach. She feels so fortunate to be around her students as they gain social skills and grow academically.
Mrs. Fitzhugh is elated to be at Holy Family School–a pillar in the community. She feels blessed to be a part of such a special place. She plans to implement an interactive and developmentally appropriate program that will provide a wonderful foundation for her students’ learning. She is excited to share her faith and God’s teachings with her students. She cannot wait to get started!

Mr. Gonzalez is a dedicated Catholic with a strong desire to serve and build community. From a young age, he learned the importance of what it means to develop and nurture a relationship with God. In high school, he served as a leader in the Youth Ministry and a Confirmation teacher.

After graduating from high school, Mr. Gonzalez’s desire to serve led him to join the Army. It was a great way to see the world while learning valuable skills. He learned discipline, focus, and responsibility.

His love for community building, history, his faith, and learning led him to reignite his passion for teaching and helping others develop and nurture their own relationship with God. He has now been in education for five years. His newest endeavor is at Loyola Marymount University, where he hopes to receive his Master’s in Education and his California Teaching Credential.

To this day, he enjoys attending the Spanish Mass with his family every Sunday at St. Finbar, where he has been a parishioner since childhood.

Yvee Guevara joins the Holy Family Catholic School (HFS) community this year, part-time, in accounting and bookkeeping. Yvee, a devout Catholic who received 12 years of Catholic education, is excited to work at HFS. Having spent some of her best years in a Catholic school setting—first as a student, and later as a parent—she now looks forward to even better years ahead as a staff member.

Born and raised in the Philippines, Yvee holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication. She has over 20 years of experience in the U.S. real estate and property management industry, where she developed her business management and accounting expertise. This solid background, which includes part-time accounting and bookkeeping work for a Jewish youth non-profit organization, is a valuable asset she will bring to HFS.

Yvee and her husband, Jeff, have been married for 25 years and are blessed with a 24-year-old daughter, Julia, and a 22-year-old son, Phoenix. The Guevara family enjoys adventure activities like skydiving, shark-cage diving, and running marathons.

Yvee lives a simple, free, and balanced lifestyle through her regular long-distance running, lector duties at church, volunteer work serving the homeless, active alumnae participation, and home gardening.

Mr. Michael R. Johnston first came to Holy Family in Kindergarten and graduated in 2017. While he left the school as a student, he never truly left, as he was constantly coming back to events and being active in the community. He went on to graduate from La Salle College Preparatory in 2021, and further graduate from Hawai’i Pacific University in 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Pure Mathematics and Minor in Critical Film Studies.

He competed for the Holy Family Knights in both varsity volleyball and flag football. At La Salle, he continued his athletic involvement as a member of the varsity water polo and volleyball teams. He was also an active participant in Holy Family’s Boy Scout Troop 333 from sixth through twelfth grade, ultimately earning the distinction of becoming the troop’s most highly decorated Eagle Scout in 2020.

This is his 1st year as a HFS Faculty member as the 3rd Grade Aide. He loves working with the students in the classroom as well as joining in on a game of kickball, basketball or even tag with his students on the play yard. The strong sense of community he developed at Holy Family continued to shape his experiences throughout high school and college. He remains closely connected with many of his Holy Family School classmates to this day.

His sister Celia is currently in the eighth grade at HFS, and his mother (Michele Rodriguez, HFS Alum C’85) works as the Marketing and Communications Director for Holy Family Church and School.
Mr. Johnston is a huge nerd for all things Disney, Universal, Star Wars, and more. He is also a huge fan of 80’s music, small knick-knacks, and Aloha shirts.

Mahalo Nui Loa 🤙🏽

Nurse Jennifer is happy to be starting her sixth year at Holy Family.

Ms. Lopez is beginning her 27th school year at Holy Family School. She is the mom to 4 daughters (1 HFS alum) and 6 grandchildren, two of whom are current HFS students, who call her Mimi. As our HFS Administrative Assistant, she has many tasks. Above all, she loves the Holy Family Community deeply. Here is the excerpt from the 2024 Yearbook, which was dedicated to her.

“The Class of 2024 is honored to present the Yearbook Dedication to Ms. Lopez. For twenty-five years, Ms. Lopez has cared for every single person in the Holy Family community. Every morning, she sets the positive tone for the day with music and her funny jokes, and ends our day with her helpful reminders and closes us in prayer. Ms. Lopez is a smiling face for all of us when we are sick or when we are late. She has been instrumental in organizing and executing school events such as Jog-a-thon, open house, Christmas concert, graduation, and so much more. She has cared for us every single day and always puts a smile on our faces. She knows each and every one of our names and knows how to help each individual person.

“Ms. Lopez has been so much more than an administrative assistant. She wears so many hats, such as a nurse, teacher, caregiver, lunch lady, the list goes on. She has always put up with every call to the office, buzz at the gate, lost sweatshirt, dropped-off lunch, complaint, and so much more. She has many jobs that only she is willing to do. Ms. Lopez has been nothing but giving to the school community. She puts her heart and soul into Holy Family and its families, teachers, and students. She is the glue that holds all of us together. For every holiday, she is always the most festive and cheerful person walking through the halls. The champion of the Halloween costume contests, and we will always remember the infamous leprechaun on St. Patrick’s Day in Kindergarten. Ms. Lopez works so hard to make new families feel welcome. She does everything she can to make each day fun and exciting at Holy Family.
Words can’t describe the impact Ms. Lopez has had on our class, school, and hearts. She has left a mark of kindness and love on all of us. We will always remember Ms. Lopez’s one-of-a-kind spirit. She is the heart and soul of Holy Family Catholic School.”

Stefanie Lutero is our Innovation & Design Specialist Teacher at HFS. She is a long-time educator with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and a former HFS 5th-grade teacher. At an early age, she recognized her passion for working with youth and has been doing so for the past 20 years.
Mrs. Lutero earned her B.A. in English from California State University, Long Beach, and her M.A. in Elementary Education and CA teaching credential from Loyola Marymount University. She was a classroom teacher for 4 years at St. Lawrence Brindisi in Los Angeles and for 10 years here at Holy Family School.
During her time in the classroom, Mrs. Lutero discovered her passion for leadership, which led to her next program, the Catholic School Administrative Certificate from Loyola Marymount University. In 2018, she became Principal of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, where she served for the next 6 years before coming to HFS as the Innovation & Design Specialist Teacher. Currently, she is in the second year of her doctoral program for Social Justice Leadership in Education at Loyola Marymount University.

Mrs. Lutero is blessed to be supported by her husband, Mr. Cyrus Lutero, and her two daughters, Ava and Sofia. Ava is a sophomore at UC Irvine, pursuing a BFA in Dance. Sofia is beginning her junior year at Mayfield Senior School.

Ms. Tracy Merritt is beginning her fifteenth year at Holy Family as the sixth-grade homeroom and social studies teacher, the seventh and eighth-grade language arts teacher, and the mock trial coach. She grew up in San Diego and attended Occidental College in Eagle Rock. After graduating from Oxy with a degree in Diplomacy and World Affairs and minors in English and Political Science, she moved north to attend Stanford Law School. She spent ten years practicing law, first as a clerk to an appellate judge, then as a trial attorney at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., and finally in private practice here in Los Angeles.

To spend more time raising her three children, she “retired” from the practice of law. During those years at home, she rediscovered her love of literature and found that she really enjoyed helping her own kids with their writing and literary analysis. These discoveries led her to obtain a teaching credential at Cal State LA in order to share her love of reading and writing with young people. At Holy Family, Ms. Merritt has been fortunate to use her legal training as a coach of the mock trial team. The team’s 2015 and 2019 LA County championships were easily highlights of her professional career! She was also lucky enough to be selected in 2016 by the Museum of Tolerance for an educator fellowship in Berlin focused on teaching the Holocaust, an experience she has brought into her eighth-grade classroom with a literature unit based on Holocaust novels. In the summer of 2022, Ms. Merritt continued to enrich her Holocaust knowledge with a scholarship to study at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem for ten days, and she has attended numerous other conferences and workshops on the subject.

In 2017, Ms. Merritt received a scholarship to spend three weeks in London at the Globe Theater studying how to teach Shakespeare to young people. Ms. Merritt has thoroughly enjoyed incorporating the Globe’s very active Shakespeare teaching strategies into her classes’ study of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Ms. Merritt believes that every child brings his or her unique gifts into the classroom, and that the teacher’s responsibility is to uncover and nurture those gifts to benefit the student and the entire class. She seeks to incorporate a variety of activities into her instructional practice to allow each student to demonstrate his or her special talents. She also believes in meeting all children at their level (especially in writing) and challenging them to achieve to the best of their ability. She is dedicated to providing speaking opportunities in class, including a Shakespeare monologue competition, to not only have fun but to build confidence as the students head into high school. In her spare time, Ms. Merritt loves to travel, read, experience live theater, seek out new and interesting restaurants with her husband and friends, spend time at the beach, and try to catch up with her three grown children.

Ms. Rachel Miller is beginning her eighth year at Holy Family as the GAINS math teacher, as well as teaching Algebra I to the 8th grade. At Holy Family, she started as a middle school aide and has taught 6th-grade language arts, 7th-grade social studies, and 7th-grade Pre-Algebra, as well as developing the GAINS math program. She grew up in the Pasadena area before going to Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania to earn her A.B. in mathematics in 2018. Outside of Holy Family, Ms. Miller works as a private tutor for math, working with students in grades four through Calculus I. She also spends each summer working at Polytechnic summer school in math classrooms for students in grades two through high school and pre-Calculus.
Ms. Miller’s passion is for helping students explore how to explain their reasoning and develop the framework to answer the “why” in their responses. She enjoys watching the students grow and learn together. Outside the classroom, Ms. Miller enjoys reading, playing board games, and spending time with her family and dogs.

Mrs. Moeller has eighteen years of teaching experience within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and is embarking on her ninth year here at Holy Family School. She is excited to start her third year teaching third grade and leading the Academic Decathlon team. She is a dedicated educator who understands the importance of instilling values and providing a strong academic curriculum.
As a product of Catholic education herself, Mrs. Moeller’s journey began at St. Luke’s School in Temple City and continued through La Salle High School in Pasadena. It was during her time at La Salle that she found her calling as a teacher, and to serve others was ignited, particularly through a service project called Venaver. She pursued a B.A. in liberal studies, specializing in child development, at California State University, Long Beach, and obtained her California teaching credential.
Continuing to grow as an educator, Mrs. Moeller earned a technology specialist certification from Loyola Marymount University, and last year, achieved a master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, demonstrating her commitment to lifelong learning.
Inside her classroom, Mrs. Moeller fosters an engaging learning environment, using various teaching modalities such as technology integration, hands-on activities, interactive games, and collaborative group work. Her goal is not only to impart knowledge but also to instill confidence, a love for learning in her students, and encourage them to strive for excellence.
Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Moeller is an avid adventurer who relishes new experiences. Whether she’s exploring new destinations, enjoying a game of pickleball, immersing herself in a good book, cheering on the Dodgers, or discovering new restaurants with her husband, she approaches life with enthusiasm and joy.

Coach Alan Morales is excited to return to the Holy Family community for his second year as the Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher. With 17 years of experience shaping young minds through Physical Education, Coach Alan brings a wealth of knowledge, passion, and dedication to his role.

From 2005 to 2008, he played collegiate soccer at College of the Canyons. While his original career path was to become a firefighter, he discovered a deep love for teaching and has devoted himself to education ever since. Before Holy Family, Coach Alan served at Larchmont Charter School in West Hollywood, where he was a founding teacher and developed a successful Physical Education program. He also supported the school as Admin on Duty in the absence of administrators.

In 2012, Coach Alan launched his own soccer camps and clinics program in the Beverly Hills area, where he continues to coach during seasonal school breaks. He holds a B.S. in Health Science: Healthy Lifestyles Coaching from Arizona State University and is currently pursuing his MBA in Organizational Leadership from Eastern University. A firm believer in lifelong learning, he is always seeking new ways to grow professionally and personally.

Coach Alan is passionate about the holistic development of his students, emphasizing not just physical activity but also the core values of teamwork, discipline, and resilience. He integrates traditional sports with modern fitness trends, using innovative teaching methods to engage and inspire.

He and his wife, Catherine, are dedicated parishioners at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Toluca Lake, where their twin daughters, Eva and Demi (Class of ’28), attend school. Their son, Ryan, a St. Charles Borromeo graduate (’23), currently attends Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino (Class of ’27). Their youngest, Maya, is a spirited toddler who keeps the whole family on their toes. Much of Coach Alan’s free time is spent traveling and supporting his children at their club soccer games. He also volunteers as the Team Manager for both his son’s MLS Next soccer team and his daughters’ Girls Academy soccer team. In his personal time, he enjoys running, working out, and hiking with his dogs.

Coach Alan is honored to continue growing with the Holy Family community and looks forward to another fulfilling year of service and connection.

Mrs. O’Neil, who has been teaching for twenty years, is celebrating her tenth year at Holy Family School (HFS). A proud product of fifteen years of Catholic education, she earned both her Master’s in Elementary Education and her California Teaching Credential from Loyola Marymount University. She also graduated from Cal State Long Beach, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, and St. Elizabeth Elementary School.

Her true passion lies in teaching second grade, particularly focusing on the Catholic Sacraments. Mrs. O’Neil has dedicated her life to sharing her faith with others. During high school, she served as a peer retreat leader at FSHA and as a catechist teaching Confirmation at her church. She continues this vocation today by imparting God’s love to her students and preparing them for First Reconciliation and First Communion. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes that every person in the classroom has something valuable to teach and learn from one another. She strives to create a nurturing environment where students feel valued and empowered, aiming to build positive relationships with both students and parents to foster a supportive learning community.

Mrs. O’Neil feels fortunate to have found a home at Holy Family. She was baptized as an infant and married to her wonderful husband, Andrew, at Holy Family Church. Her daughter attends Holy Family School, adding to her deep connection with the community. With a loving and supportive family by her side, Mrs. O’Neil is excited for the 2025-2026 school year.

Ms. Ortega is entering her 6th school year at HFS. She is currently the instructional aide for middle school and loves every minute of it! Ms. Ortega graduated from California State University Northridge (CSUN) in 2019 with a BA in Early Childhood Development and a minor in English Literature. Recently, she completed her Master’s at National University with a degree in English literature. Ms. Ortega’s background consists of working with children as a tutor, substitute, camp counselor, and teacher! She hopes to pursue a career teaching English Literature. On Ms. Ortega’s free time (and busy time), she loves to read!

As the music director for the school, Mr. Reed teaches music to all grades, from TK to 8th, directs the children’s choir, and is the music director of the school musicals. He has been in this position at the school for 17 years. He is also the Director of Music for the parish and has been for 20 years. This allows for a lot of beneficial overlap between the two, such as great access to the church and all its resources, and having the choirs provide music at regular Sunday Masses and special events. In the classroom, a mix of live music and technology is used to learn to read music, play keyboard, and ear training. The students really enjoy it. Students as young as 1st grade begin learning intervals, sight-reading rhythms, and other applicable music theory. Being a Catholic school, there is an emphasis on singing the music of the church, but one of his favorite parts of his work is doing the musicals. Holy Family puts on major musical productions, and the progress and development of the children as they gain confidence and discover their talents is one of the highlights of the music program.

Ms. Beatriz Rivas is excited to return for her third year at Holy Family School. As an alumna of St. Rita Catholic School and Alverno Heights Academy in Sierra Madre, she can attest to the value of a Catholic school education. Ms. Rivas received her Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics with a Secondary Education Endorsement and Nebraska Teaching Certificate from Doane University in Crete, Nebraska. During her 4 years of college, she played on the women’s soccer team. Once she returned to California, she obtained her Single Subject Teaching Credential. With experience working with high school and middle school students, her passion is working with middle school students.

She believes all students are capable of taking on academic challenges using the tools they have, such as problem-solving skills, determination, confidence, and prior knowledge. Her teaching philosophy reflects the belief that students can learn best through collaboration and self-discovery. She creates a welcoming and respectful classroom environment where mistakes are encouraged, and every student can reach their fullest potential. She is excited to build positive relationships with both students and parents in order to have an amazing school year.

In her free time, Ms. Rivas loves spending time with her family, listening to country music, watching sports, exercising alongside her workout partner, who happens to be her sister, traveling, and trying new food places.

Mrs. Rodriguez (Lopez) joined the staff of HFS in 2017 and is the Director of Marketing and Communications for Holy Family Catholic Church and School.

Her connection to the HFS community began in 1972 when her parents moved from Inglewood to Pasadena. A proud alumna of the HFS Class of 1985, she cherishes her lifelong bond with the school. She also holds a special affection for Hawai’i—particularly Oahu and Maui—which served as her second home from ages 1 to 5 while her father worked in the airline industry.

Following her graduation from HFS in 1985 (the late 1900s, as her son says), she has remained deeply involved in the school and parish, serving faithfully in a variety of ministries for more than 40 years. A graduate of Alverno Heights Academy and Pasadena City College, she brings over three decades of professional experience in the hospitality industry, marketing and communications, parochial school public relations, and digital design across numerous online platforms.

Her son, Michael, is an HFS Legacy Alum (2017), an Eagle Scout, and a La Salle College Preparatory Legacy Alum (2021). He recently earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, with a concentration in Pure Mathematics, from Hawai‘i Pacific University. Her daughter, Celia Lucia, is currently an HFS 8th-grade student.

Mrs. Rodriguez is an “8TS GRL” and a huge fan of John Hughes, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Marvel, and Mission Impossible movies, as well as 80s new wave music, USC, LA Rams, and of course, the Back to Back World Champions, the LA Dodgers! She volunteers with the HFMobility Group, Holy Family Scouts BSA Troop 333, the HFS drama program, and studies the pre-colonial history of the Kingdom of Hawai’i in her spare time.

Together with her family, she loves her family’s spiritual and Catholic faith journey, traveling, attending concerts, baseball/football games, and watching movies on the big screen. Her husband, David, whom she met while in high school, is the backbone and funny bone of her family. He’s the VP of Worldwide Distribution for Paramount Pictures and the best husband and dad! Their newest addition to the family turns 1 year old on December 26th – siblings – one Golden Lab, Hana Lelani, and her brother, Chocolate Lab, Kona Kai.

The spirit of Pono, Aloha, Āina, Ohana, and Mana can transform humanity 🤙🏼

Ms. Elisa M. Sequeira is the aide for Seventh and Eighth Grade Math, Biology, Sixth Grade Religion, Sixth Grade Spanish, and Time Well Spent homework aide. She joined Holy Family School in August of 2019. Before joining Holy Family School, Ms. Sequeira was the Director of National Civic Engagement Programs at NALEO Education Fund, where she led the organization’s national naturalization and election information and protection programs. Ms. Sequeira studied Political Science with a specialization in International Relations at the University of California Los Angeles. In her spare time, Ms. Sequeira enjoys reading, making origami, and speedcubing.

Mr. Daniel Shapiro wears a few different hats here at Holy Family. But most of the time, you can see him assisting the school with IT needs or down in the Innovation & Design Lab as an Aide for Mrs. Lutero. After graduating from Holy Family Catholic School in 2004 and continuing his education to graduate high school in 2008, he pursued his passion for music at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, earning certifications as a post-production audio engineer.
His professional career has been marked by engaging experiences in the film and television industry. Daniel had the opportunity to work on various small film and television series sets, as well as working on SFX/Dialogue editing for short films and video games. After beginning a new chapter in his life, he was honored to be in a new field in 2024 at the school he once attended.
Beyond entertainment and IT, Daniel used his passion for collaboration and fostering positive environments by working with children (K-8th) in after-school programs for the Los Angeles and Alhambra school districts. Through these programs, he discovered a love for teaching. Now assisting in classrooms and being a part of HFS has really solidified his love for education.
Outside of work and throughout his life, Daniel’s love for music remains a constant. An avid music fan of all genres, he can’t resist a great song or good beat! In fact, you might just find him dancing wherever he goes!

Mrs. Nicole Smiland has been a dedicated member of the Holy Family School community for over 20 years. She began her journey at Holy Family in 2001 as an after-school program counselor and has since served in a variety of roles, including teacher’s aide, substitute teacher, and classroom teacher. In 2012, she stepped into her current role as a 4th-grade teacher, where she continues to inspire and guide her students each day.

A graduate of California State University, Los Angeles, Mrs. Smiland earned her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Elementary Education and holds a Clear California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Her academic background, combined with decades of hands-on classroom experience, has shaped a teaching style that is both engaging and supportive. Her teaching philosophy focuses on educating the whole child—fostering academic growth alongside kindness, respect, faith, and compassion—while creating a classroom environment where students feel valued, encouraged, and empowered to take ownership of their learning. She believes in challenging her students to reach their fullest potential while celebrating their unique strengths and accomplishments.

Mrs. Smiland and her husband are proud parents of two children who attend Holy Family School. Outside of teaching, she enjoys spending time with her family—whether watching her children’s sports games, relaxing at the beach, or taking trips to the mountains, always making the most of the time they share. She feels truly blessed to watch her students grow into curious, capable, and compassionate young people, and to be part of the Holy Family School community.

Ms. Sofia Sevilla is excited to begin her first year at Holy Family School as an instructional aide.
She recently graduated from Cal State LA in May of 2024 with a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Learning. Ms. Sevilla concurrently completed her credential program and is currently in the process of finishing requirements to obtain a multiple-subject teaching credential.
Ms. Sevilla’s passion for education stems from her experience as a student in a dual language program. She is passionate about bilingual education and hopes to teach both Spanish and English in the future. Her experience working in education includes working as a tutor and completing her student teaching in a first-grade classroom.
In her free time, Ms. Sevilla loves finding new matcha shops, spending time with her niece, going to concerts, and watching movies.

Ms. Elisha Ty is the Kindergarten Angels teacher at Holy Family Catholic School, and she looks forward to continuing to contribute to its legacy of excellence in education. She is a product of a Catholic School education, graduating from St. Finbar School and Providence High School in Burbank, CA. She went on to receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of California, Riverside, followed by her Master’s Degree in Education from Loyola Marymount University. She started her career in education as an Instructional Aide for Kindergarten, and went on to teach second grade for five years, then fourth grade for four years. Her teaching is dedicated to a holistic approach to education, focusing not only on academics but also on nurturing the whole child—mentally, psychologically, socially, and spiritually. She values the importance of Catholic schools in building morals and values on a faithful foundation. She is dedicated to sharing her love of God and her faith with all her students and the community.

Do not be surprised if you hear music from Ms. Ty’s classroom, as she loves dancing and singing along to all types of music. In her free time, she likes to attend boxing classes, work on her calligraphy skills, and loves to watch sports. She is an avid Disney fan, and it is evident in her classroom. One day, she hopes to travel to all the Disney Parks around the world.

Nancy Tinkham has dedicated over 30 years to Catholic education, bringing passion, creativity, and leadership to every role she has embraced. She holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of California Santa Barbara, and a Master’s of Arts degree in School Counseling from the University of La Verne.
Her teaching journey began at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, where she served for 15 years as a varsity volleyball coach, assistant athletic director, and physical education teacher. For the past 12 years, she served as the athletic director, P.E. teacher, and art instructor at Saint Elizabeth Parish School. Ms. Tinkham loves inspiring students through movement, discipline, and artistic expression. She also deeply values the opportunity to teach in a faith-based
environment and is especially grateful to God for leading her to a new role at Holy Family. She is excited to join the school family as an instructional aide and enthusiastic team member.
She looks forward to building relationships with new students and families and becoming a part of the school’s spirited and God loving community. Outside of the classroom, Nancy enjoys spending time outdoors, cooking, gardening, card making, and painting —but her greatest joy comes from time at home with her family and her four beloved pugs.

Mrs. Vasquez has dedicated 20 years to Holy Family, initially known as Ms. Levin before her marriage in May of 2021. She began her career as an Instructional Aide, working with various grade levels, including fourth, fifth, third, and kindergarten. For the past 14.5 years, she has been teaching First Grade, where she feels she has truly found her calling.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in child development from Cal State Los Angeles, a Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential obtained in 2013, and a Master’s in Instructional Leadership from Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles, earned in 2019. Mrs. Vasquez believes in a hands-on learning approach that incorporates multiple intelligences and is committed to adapting her teaching style to meet the diverse needs of her students. She emphasizes the importance of developing both academic and social-emotional skills equally. To achieve this, she employs various teaching methods and uses real-life examples that resonate with her students’ age group.

Coming from a close-knit Italian family, Mrs. Vasquez values spending her free time with them. She has two older brothers, a 6-year-old niece who is her world, and a Cockapoo puppy named Greta. She extends this sense of family to her classroom, treating every child and parent as part of her own family.

In her leisure time, she enjoys dining out with her husband, Raymond, cycling at the beach, playing pickleball, and attending Dodger games. Her love for the Dodgers is evident in her classroom décor. Mrs. Vasquez feels incredibly grateful to be part of the Holy Family community and its supportive faculty.