has been teaching elementary education for three years, and this is his first year in the Escondido Union School District. He graduated in Liberal Studies at the University of San Diego. His interests outside of teaching include going to the beach, playing basketball, and working in wildlife conservation. He believes in helping his students build a growth mindset which encourages them to look for new ways in finding a solution. He has a passion for making all learning engaging and meaningful and looks forward to preparing our leaders of tomorrow. eward@eusd.org
Meet the Staff
Teachers
4th Grade Teachers

Evan Ward

Debbie Elliott
2010 Rose Elementary EEEA Teacher of the Year, 2018 Culturally Responsive Teaching Endorsement, and 2019 Oak Hill Elementary Teacher of the Year, has been teaching 4th and 5th grade in the Escondido Union School District (EUSD) since 2005. She has been a member and contributor to the iRead community, an Apple Distinguished program and selected to work at the first 1:1 device school in EUSD. Debbie was born and raised in Escondido and thrived in the public schools in EUSD. She believes in embracing compassion and empathy for the individual/human and enthusiastically welcomes challenges that encourage her students to learn and grow to their fullest potential. Most importantly, Debbie loves to learn with her students in a safe, happy, equitable, and inclusive environment. delliott@eusd.org
5th Grade Teachers

Joey Benson
2018 Quantum Academy Teacher of the Year, has been teaching with the Escondido Union School District since 2005. He has experience teaching 1st through 5th grade. He has spent the last 5 years in 5th. Joey is an active participant in iREAD, an Apple Distinguished program. He has taught with 1:1 devices for the past 5 years starting with iPods and then with iPads for the last two years. He encourages his students to not only be extraordinary in what they do, but also in who they are. jbenson@eusd.org
6th Grade Teachers

Michelle McKechnie
I have been teaching middle school for over ten years. I studied Political Science at California State University, Fullerton. As a lover and teacher of history, it is my goal to engage students in living and becoming a part of history. I incorporate my passions for the fine arts, writing, history, and technology to create projects that are meaningful and applicable. I work to build strong lasting connections to those around me and I embrace the philosophy that each of us is magical and have something to contribute to the world. mmckechnie@eusd.org
7th Grade and 8th Grade Teachers

Vanessa Miramontes (7th and 8th Grade Math)
2015 Mission MS Teacher of the Year, 2015 EUSD Middle School Teacher of the Year, and 2001 Lincoln Elementary School Rookie Teacher of the Year, has been teaching in the Escondido Union School District since 2001. She has taught fifth grade, math support, yearbook, language arts, and technology in the middle school setting. She has experience teaching in a 1:1 classroom where every student has an iPad and laptop and is exploring new technologies such as 3D printing, prototyping, videography, robotics, and MincraftEDU. She is currently working alongside with CSUSM MakerEDX cohort, establishing a Maker Space for students and staff. She is making a difference in each child every day by being a positive role model, she influences students in a positive way. She brings her personal experiences and the challenges that she faced, letting them know that, yes, they can do it, and if you believe, you can achieve. vmiramontessolorzano@eusd.org

Zoe Carpenter (7th and 8th Grade Science)
2012 San Diego County School Board Member of the Year, 2021 Quantum Academy Teacher of the Year, brings 25 years of educational experience with students, from kindergarten to college, into her classroom. She has industry experience, providing engineering and technical training to high tech companies as a senior training engineer. She has been a participant in EUSD’s Apple Distinguished iRead Program and has taught with 1:1 iPads for the last seven years. She has spent the last four years at Quantum Academy and currently teaches 7th /8th-grade science. She believes students can accomplish anything with a growth mindset and the power of YET. zcarpenter@eusd.org

Amy Murphy (7th Grade ELA and Social Studies)
I am passionate about bringing learning to life, high student engagement, exhibiting student creations, dreaming big and working bigger, thinking outside the box, and staying true to her ideas come what may. I am a Certified Apple Teacher, Google Certified. I love 7th-grade history and collaborating with middle school students. I know that when students align their passions and personal interests with academic goals, profound learning and change happens. amurphy@eusd.org Visit PBL7 online.

Greg Gombert (8th Grade ELA and Social Studies)
(a.k.a. Mr. G) is a recent graduate of Cal State San Marcos’ teaching credential program. He joins Quantum Academy after 25-years in the US Navy circumnavigating the world. He also holds degrees from the University of Notre Dame (Pre-medicine (Biology), the Naval Postgraduate School (Middle East/Sub-Saharan African Affairs, Hydropolitics), and the University of Southern California (MBA). Mr. G. believes in raising young learners who can navigate the world as responsible global citizens who are tolerant, kind, respectful, and curious. ggombert@eusd.org
SAI Tteacher and Paraeducator
PE Teacher

Marissa Moretti M.ed
is happy to be one of the first elementary grade-level certificated Physical Education teachers in the Escondido Union School District. EUSD has put together a new PE program that she is thrilled to share with Quantum Academy. Before joining this district, she taught in Poway Unified and San Diego Unified. The majority of her background is in Physical Education. This is where she holds a passion for teaching fitness education. Currently, she holds a Single Subject credential in Physical Education and a Masters of Elementary Education in grades K-6. I look forward to diving into the world of fitness with everyone here at Quantum, to not only share my love and knowledge of the subject, but to be a resource to introduce you to PE: "Powerful Education". mmoretti@eusd.org
Support Staff
Office Staff

Cristal Meyer
Office Manager, 2019 Quantum Academy Classified Employee of the Year; has been serving the Escondido Union School District since 2015. She has a background in Communications and Human Resources. Mrs. Meyer enjoys creating a welcoming environment for parents and students at Quantum Academy. cmeyer@eusd.org
Family Liaison

Dessally Flores
Intervention Teacher

Colin Hanel
2016 Quantum Academy Teacher of the Year, has been teaching with the Escondido Union School District since 2001. He has experience teaching 4th and 5th grade. Colin was an active participant in Project LIVE and iREAD, both honored as Apple’s Distinguished Programs. He was also one of the co-creators of Quantum Academy. Colin encourages his students to be creative problem solvers who think outside of the box. chanel@eusd.org
School Nurse

Leilani Sanchez
was a Substitute Health Tech for EUSD for 10 years. She became a full-time Health Tech in 2018 and is new to Quantum Academy. She enjoys hiking, biking, yoga, tennis, and water sports. She is happy to be a part of the Quark Team! lesanchez@eusd.org
School Librarian

Jenna Rohrssen, MLIS
2015 Felicita Elementary Classified Employee of the Year, has been a librarian for 16 years, 8 with EUSD. Jenna is a San Diego native with a BA in Literature from Cal State San Marcos and a Masters of Library and Information Science from San Jose State University. She is an avid reader, dog lover, and Pokemon enthusiast. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family. jrohrssen@eusd.org
Social Worker

Raul Flores
is our School Social Worker and has been with the Escondido Union School District since 2018. Mr. Flores earned his Masters in Social Work with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential from San Diego State University. Escondido is Mr. Flores' hometown as he is a product of EUSD having attended elementary, middle, and high school here in Escondido. For concerns and support regarding the social and emotional well-being of our students, interventions to support behavior or 504 Accommodation Plans, and/or connecting with community partners, please contact Mr. Flores at raflores@eusd.org
Custodian

George Oakley
2021 Quantum Academy Classified Employee of the Year; has been a part of Quantum Academy family since 2017 serving as site custodian. He prides himself in providing a safe and clean environment for the students and staff of Quantum to thrive in. goakley@eusd.org
Nutrition

Irma Castellanos
2018 Quantum Academy Classified Employee of the Year enjoys serving healthy meals, both at breakfast and lunch, to Quantum Academy students.
Noon Time Supervisors

Maria Alvarado
I have been working at Quantum academy since September of 2015 as one of three Noon Time Supervisors. maalvarado@eusd.org

Nikki Daniels
has been with Quantum Academy since 2018. She has been a Noon Time Supervisor with the district since 2015. ndaniels@eusd.org

Lori York
Noon Time Supervisor since 2015, Sports Director for Quantum Academy, established the Quantum Academy sports program in 2018. Recipient of the Season for Peace and Nonviolence Award in 2019, the 20th Anniversary Commemoration. Lori is also involved in the PAL (Escondido Police Athletic League) program for the past ten years, bringing her experience to coach basketball, volleyball, indoor and outdoor soccer for the Boys and Girls Club for the past seven years. In her free time Lori mentors youth to become better citizens. Lori enjoys supporting students, teachers, and staff, by modeling the Quantum Values; Preserving, Leading with Empathy, Impacting the Community, and always Asking Questions and Seeking Answers. Lori enjoys being a Quantum Quark. ayork@eusd.org