Our Staff

Leslie Bartsch

Leslie Bartsch

Position: Principal
Phone: 530-342-5043
Email: lbartsch@chicooaks.org

Certifications

Teaching Credential (elementary and secondary: history, government, English, religion, French), California state, current
Teaching Certificate, Professional (elementary education) North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, current

Education

Highest Degree: Master of Arts
Major Field: History and political science
College Where Earned: La Sierra University
Year Earned: 2024

Biography

Leslie has been teaching since 1998 and joined Chico Oaks in 2006. In her rare moments of spare time she enjoys travelling, reading and family.



Carina Espinoza

Carina Espinoza

Position: Office Manager
Phone: (530) 342-5043
Email: cespinoza@chicooaks.org

Certifications

Certified Registered Dental Assistant, ROP, Chico 2015

Biography

Carina has over 15 years of office experience and a heart for service. She Joined Chico Oaks in 2019. Carina and her husband have five sons and six grandchildren. Carina has had a long relationship with Chico Oaks as her children have attended school here through time. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, dark chocolate, cooking, and exercising.



JoAnn Moon

JoAnn Moon

Position: Teacher (kindergarten)
Phone: 530-342-5043
Email: jmoon@chicooaks.org

Certifications

Teaching Credential (elementary), California State, current
Teaching Certificate, Professional (kindergarten, elementary education), NAD, current

Education

Highest Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Major Field: Education
College Where Earned: Weimar College
Year Earned: 1988

Biography

JoAnn joined Chico Oaks in 1988 and has been teaching here ever since, except for the years her children were born and were preschool age. She fills her free time with hiking, camping, reading and being with family.



Dana  VanHook

Dana VanHook

Position: Teacher (grades 1 & 2)
Phone: (530) 342-5043
Email: dvanhook@chicooaks.org

Certifications

Professional (elementary education), NAD of Seventh-day Adventists, current
Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (elementary), California State, current

Education

Highest Degree: Bachelor of Science (Speech Language Pathology and Audiology), Loma Linda University, 1997.
College Where Earned: Loma Linda University

Biography

Dana has experience teaching in many different classroom settings such as single grade, combo, and multigrade rooms as well as holding administrative roles; she has taught everyting from kindergarten through grade eight. Students her classroom learn that they are each a very special and important person. She loves to ignite a love for learning by incorporating hands-on activities in her lessons, often using things from nature.

Dana grew up in Northern California and also spent 5 years of her childhood living in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia She enjoys gardening, plants, and learning about nature.



Cheryl Miceli

Cheryl Miceli

Position: Teacher (grades 3 & 4)
Phone: 530-342-5043
Email: cmiceli@chicooaks.org

Certifications

Teaching Credential (elementary), California State, current
Teaching Certificate, Professional (elementary education), NAD, current

Education

Highest Degree: Master of Science
Major Field: Curriculum and Instruction
College Where Earned: California State University, Bakersfield
Year Earned: 1988

Biography

Cheryl has years of experience teaching primary grades and has been with us at Chico Oaks since 2003. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and their three sons.



Rajesh Inparaj

Rajesh Inparaj

Position: Teacher (grades 7 & 8)
Phone: 530-342-5043
Email: rinparaj@chicooaks.org

Education

Highest Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Major Field: Psychology
College Where Earned: La Sierra University
Year Earned: 2020

Biography

Prior to joining Chico Oaks, Rajesh has been a substitute teacher for grades ranging from 2nd & 3rd grade multi-grade classrooms to single subject high school science. Outside of the classroom, he is an avid golfer, musician (trombone, piano, and a little pipe organ), and enjoys cooking and baking.



Jasmine Lauderdale

Jasmine Lauderdale

Position: Teacher (grades 5 & 6)
Phone: 530-342-5043
Email: jalauderdale@chicooaks.org

Certifications

Teaching Certificate, Conditional (elementary education), NAD, current

Education

Highest Degree: Bachelor of Science
Major Field: Education Studies
College Where Earned: Grand Canyon University
Year Earned: 2019

Biography

Jasmine's own middle school experiences have influenced her desire to teach junior high students. Having grown up in Santa Barbara, she was excited to move back to California with her family in 2012 after 20 years in the Pacific Northwest.



John  Linhares

John Linhares

Position: Teacher (grades 5 & 6)
Phone: (530) 342-5043
Email: jlinhares@chicooaks.org

Certifications

Professional certificate, North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, current

Education

Highest Degree: Master of Arts (school counseling), Las Sierra University, 1995.

Biography

John has experience teaching middle elementary school grades since 1987 and taught at Chico Oaks for 15 years. John loves spending time with his wife, Cathy and their two children. While excelling in Bible and recess, he also enjoys learning and growing as a person and as a teacher in all subjects, alongside his students. One of his mottos is, "Learning is Fun! And if it isn't, you are not teaching it right!"



Lori Phillips

Lori Phillips

Position: Teacher (art)
Phone: 530-342-5043

Certifications

Teaching Credential (multiple subjects), California State, current

Education

Highest Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Major Field: Visual Communications
College Where Earned: California State University, Chico
Year Earned: 1980

Biography

Lori began teaching art at Chico Oaks in 2010, with prior experience as a fine arts specialist for Chico Unified School District.



Benjamin Selby

Benjamin Selby

Position: Teacher (robotics and money management, P.E.)
Email: bselby@chicooaks.org

Biography

Ben has had a year of teaching experience while being a student missionary in the Marshall Islands. Ben has also spent the last 9 summers at Leoni Meadows Camp as Counselor and Director of the Wilderness program there. Ben grew up here in the Chico church going to Chico Oaks 2nd through 7th grade, graduating from Paradise Adventist Academy in 2014. At Walla Walla University he majored in Math and Secondary Education.



Mandalyn May

Mandalyn May

Position: Teacher (classroom music and ukuleles)

Biography

Joined Chico Oaks in 2023



Jesse Mora

Jesse Mora

Position: Custodian
Phone: 530-342-5043

Education

Highest Degree: Bachelor of Science
Major Field: Mechanical Engineering
College Where Earned: California State University, Chico
Year Earned: 1989

Biography

Jesse joined Chico Oaks in 2013. In addition to keeping our school clean and in good repair, he is available to tutor students in math.



Maria Mora

Maria Mora

Position: Teacher Aide
Phone: 530-342-5043

Biography

Maria started volunteering at Chico Oaks in 2006 and joined as a Teacher Aide in 2010. Her spare time is spent continuing to love and take care of children.



Catalina Cameron

Catalina Cameron

Position: Teacher Aide

Biography

.Catalina joined Chico Oaks in 2017




Cristina Cameron

Cristina Cameron

Position: Teacher Assistant

Biography

Joined Chico Oaks in 2022



Emily Matias

Emily Matias

Position: After School Coordinator

Biography

Joined Chico Oaks in 2023



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