Teachers

Ms.Bradford will be teaching pre- algebra and algebra I for the 2010-2011 school year. She received her Masters in Educational Leadership from Pepperdine University and her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Southern New Hampshire University. Ms Bradford played softball while attending Southern New Hampshire and participated in the NCAA regional tournament twice. She will be an assistant softball coach this year for the knights. Outside of teaching Ms.Bradford enjoys hiking, swimming and watching Dodger games, go blue!

Mrs. Brandon will be teaching Science and Health Science during the 2010-2011 school year. She graduated from Chaffey College with an Associate of Arts degree in education and from California State University San Bernardino with Bachelors in Liberal Studies and a minor in English. She obtained her teaching credential from the University of Redlands and is currently working on her single subject credential in Science and Math  at the University of Riverside  as well as attending Riverside Preps Professional Development. Mrs. Brandon has taught grades two through eight and has spent the last five years focusing on teaching Math and Science to Middle School Students. Mrs. Brandon believes that education is empowerment and enjoys sharing that motto with her students. Mrs. Brandon’s favorite pastime is to spend time with her Husband, daughter, turtle and two very funny Chihuahuas.

Mr. Thomas Charboneau teaches 8th Grade English at Riverside Preparatory. His elective is athletics where he is the assistant head coach of the football team and head coach for track and field. He is actively involved in a number of other programs at Riverside Preparatory, organizing the National Geographic Bee and coaching the Silver Knight Academic Pentathlon team.
This is Mr. Charboneau’s third year at Riverside Preparatory and for the three years prior to joining Riverside Prep, Mr. Charboneau taught 6th through 8th grade at Mesa Linda Middle in the Adelanto School District. Prior to his
formal teaching, he taught for many years at outdoor schools and summer camps.
Mr. Charboneau is currently a second year doctoral student at Pioneer University. His area of research for his dissertation is focused on the thought patterns of adolescents in regards to achievement. Mr. Charboneau received his teaching credential through CSU San Bernardino, his master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Oregon, and his bachelor’s degree in History & Law and Society from UC Riverside.
Some of Mr. Charboneau’s hobbies include breeding and showing basset hounds, rabbits, and dairy goats.

As she enters her tenth year of teaching, Ms. Claire is thrilled to be joining the Riverside Preparatory team.  She will be teaching seventh grade English and serving as a yearbook advisor.   

Ms. Claire earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Riverside.  There, she majored in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in English Literature and Education and minored in Art History.  After graduating Summa Cum Laude from UCR, Ms. Claire then went on to complete their teacher education program and earned her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with a supplementary authorization in English. 

After earning her credential, Ms. Claire taught third grade for six years in Snowline Joint Unified School District.  After taking a five year hiatus from teaching to stay at home with her two young children, she returned to the classroom as a sixth grade teacher in the Victor Elementary School District for the past three years.  Currently, Ms. Claire is pursuing her Master of Arts in Education degree at Brandman University. 

First Lieutenant Kenneth Cook-Askins has served as the California Cadet Corps, Commandant of Cadets at Riverside Preparatory School since April 2008. As the Commandant of Cadets, he is the chief instructor of the California Cadet Corps unit and is responsible for the overall management of the program.  He has a Designated Subjects Special Subjects Teaching Credential (Basic Military Drill) from the State of California, Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
First Lieutenant Cook-Askins was commissioned as a State Military officer in the rank of Second Lieutenant by the California Military Department in June of 2007 and was promoted to First Lieutenant in July of 2009. He’s a graduate of the Basic Commandant Training Academy and was the Distinguished Graduate for the Advanced Commandant Training Academy.
Since June 2007, he has concurrently served as Brigade Support Officer for all California Cadet Corps units in the High Desert (18th Brigade) and also serves on the State Headquarters Staff of the California Cadet Corps as the Assistant Public Affairs Officer and Assistant Information Technology, Communications & Systems Officer.  As a Brigade Support Officer he works along side the Brigade Advisor, running the day-to-day operations of the brigade and helping in the administration of brigade and school district functions throughout the High Desert. As a member of the State Headquarters Staff, they lead and guide the operations of the state-wide California Cadet Corps program, in conjunction with the full-time staff personnel of the California National Guard, Youth Programs Directorate. He also serves as the Commandant of Cadets at Victor Valley High School.

Bio coming soon

Mrs. Griswold will be teaching 7th grade Science and Drama. She received herBachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego andstudied at the University of Madrid in Spain. Mrs. Griswold received her TeachingCredential from Vanguard University and her Masters Degree in Curriculum andInstruction from Chapman University. Prior to coming to Riverside Preparatory, Mrs.Griswold taught Elementary School, Jr. High, and High School for 15 years. She is apublished author, having written “Writing Lessons Using the Multiple Intelligences” with Teacher Created Materials. She likes to spend her free time with her husband and 2 boys.

Ms. Pittman is teaching seventh grade Pre- Algebra for the 2010-2011 school year. This will be her second year at Riverside Prep. In addition, she is the middle school junior varsity volleyball coach and high school head varsity softball coach. Ms. Pittman attended Mount Olive College in North Carolina, where she receiving consecutive all conference honors in softball and received a BS in Psychology. She received her teaching credential from Cal State San Bernardino and is currently working toward her MA from Pioneer University and an additional degree in Mathematics. Ms. Pittman’s favorite hobbies include watching the Angels, taking her Chihuahua and Great Dane to the beach, playing softball, and dirt bike riding.

My name is Gina Portillo and I am Riverside Preparatory School's 8th grade Social Studies, Health, and Drama teacher.  My enthusiasm of teaching began in 2005 where my experience in the classroom began as a substitute teacher.  During that time, my resident substitute teaching position at Riverside Poly High School turned into a full time teaching position during the 2006-2007 school year.  I taught 9th and 10th grade English and enjoyed every minute of it.   During that time I saw a need for school guidance counselors and set on a journey to counsel students who were at risk for failure.  I had attended California State University of San Bernardino for many years to obtain my Masters of Science degree in Counseling and Guidance and a Pupil Personnel Service Credential.  I had the opportunity to work for the San Bernardino County of Superintendents for their alternative education program where I applied my skills in group collaboration to teach Drug and Alcohol Awareness and Anger Management to the Community Day School students.  I worked along side of Marriage and Family Therapists and received a Crisis Management Certificate, Training in Teen Suicide Awareness, and a Student Assistance Program Certificate.  I do encourage students to use their brain and I will apply my skills in cognitive behavior therapy to teach students how to problem solve and think critically. 

Mr. Jeff Riddell is currently the tenth grade English instructor at Riverside Prep, and received his Bachelor's degree in English Literature from Cal State San Bernardino. Before becoming a full-time instructor, Mr. Riddell worked as a substitute teacher for Riverside Prep. In addition to English, he also teaches Speech and Debate, the History of Rock and Roll, Junior Project, and Yearbook. 

Mrs. Sarkesian teaches Algebra 1 at Riverside Prep. This is her fourth year in the field of education, second year teaching math. From Chapman University she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science, California Multiple-Subject Teaching Credential, and Master of Arts Degree in Education. She is currently working on her Ed.D at Pioneer University. 
In addition to teaching Algebra 1, Mrs. Sarkesian also coaches the girls’ middle school volleyball team. She played volleyball all throughout middle and high school and thoroughly enjoys the game. Her excitement for this upcoming season is extreme! 
Mrs. Sarkesian lives in Apple Valley with her husband, two sons and two dogs. She enjoys vacationing, sleeping in late on her days off and spending time with her family. Her oldest son attends Riverside Prep and her youngest is in pre-school now, but will attend one day. As a mother, there is no other choice she would have made. She knows that Riverside Prep is the place to be!

Mrs. Vennes is in her sixth year of teaching. She spent two years in the Victor Valley
School district, and has been with Riverside Prep since its opening in 2007. She graduated from Cal State University, San Bernardino with a BA in English. She has completed all coursework for her MA in English Composition from the same university, and is currently pursuing an EdD from Pioneer University. Mrs. Vennes has a 2-year-old son and another little boy on the way! This year she is teaching English IV, AP English Literature and Composition, junior project, 7th grade writing and grammar, creative writing, drama and ASB.

This is my third year teaching at Riverside Prep. I have a BA from Cal State San Bernardino and my California Teaching Credential from National University. I am currently pursuing my MA from National as well. I am the seventh grade social studies teacher and look forward to exploring the past with your children and discovering why history is the tool to understanding the world in which we live today.