Rio Real Dual Immersion Academy

Rio Real Administrative Staff

Dr. Maria M. Hernandez

Principal

Rio School District 19 years
Rio Real 12 years
BA Sociology, CSUN
MA in Educational Administration, CSUN
Ed.D. Ed Leadership, California Lutheran University
In my time off I enjoy watching the surf, hiking, camping, reading a good book and family gatherings!

Nidia Mejia

Assistant Principal

Rio Real Teachers

Yesenia Nava

Kindergarten

Teaching since 2018
Rio teacher since 2018
BA-Liberal Studies, CSUCI; Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with Bilingual Authorization, CSUCI; MA-Curriculum and Instruction, GCU
I enjoy spending time with my family.

Rosa Navarro-Herrejon

Kindergarten

Lourdes Sepulveda-Gallegos

Kindergarten

Dual immersion kindergarten teacher since 2016.
BS Science, CSUCI
MA Education, Pepperdine University
Believes that all children are unique and that each one should be allowed to blossom and grow.
Hopes to help her students express themselves and to accept themselves for who they are, along with embracing the differences of others.

“I need to listen well so that I hear what is not said.”
“Necesito escuchar bien para oír lo que no se dice”
-Thuli Madonsela

Maria Ochoa

Kindergarten

Patricia Cabrera

1st Grade

Rio School District 11 years
BA in Liberal Studies, Supplementary Authorization in English
Bilingual Credential, CSUN
I enjoy spending time with family, reading and running.

Favorite quote: “We must let go of the life we haveplanned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.”
– Joseph Campbell
Be happy and enjoy those beautiful moments of life!

Sandra Morales

1st Grade

Rio Real teacher for 12 years
BA Multiple Subjects, California State University, Northridge
I love spending time with my family and friends!

Mariela Plascencia

1st Grade

Teaching since 2005
Rio teacher since 2005
Masters in Reading and Math-Walden University, Multiple Subject Bilingual Credential-Cal Lutheran, Bachelors in Liberal Studies-CSUN, AA-Ventura College
I enjoy traveling with my family. Rio School District Alumni: El Rio Bear & RDV Knight

Yesenia Viera

1st Grade

Teaching since 2004
Rio teacher since 2013
Bachelor Degree in Liberal Studies, CSUN
I enjoy exercising.

Annette Alfaro

2nd Grade

2nd year at Rio Real
B.A in Early Childhood Studies, CSUCI
Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential, CLU
BCLAD
I love traveling, hiking, spending time at the beach and just being out in the sun.

Quote: “A la vida ganas, a los sueños alas.”

Yenni Luna

2nd Grade

Maria de Los Angeles Mauricio

2nd Grade

@Rio Real for 10 yrs 17 yrs RSD
CSU Northridge & California Lutheran University
Liberal Studies emphasis on 2nd Language Acquisition Masters Degree in Education
En mi tiempo libre me gusta pasar tiempo con mi familia y amigos. El contar chistes y hacer reír a los demás me hace feliz. Me encanta montar a caballo, hacer arte, escribir, y mirar películas de terror.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with family and friends. Telling jokes and making people laugh makes me happy. Love to ride horses, do art, write and watch scary movies.

Favorite Quote: “Es bueno ser importante, pero es más importante ser bueno.”
“It’s good to be important, but it is more important to be good.”

Aurora Zamudio

2nd Grade

Teaching since 2005
Rio teacher since 2006
BA in Liberal Studies and Multiple Subject Credential w/BCLAD from California State University, Northridge
I enjoy spending time with family. Me gusta pasar tiempo con mi familia.

Elsa Hernandez

3rd Grade

Teaching since 2003
Rio teacher since 2003
California State University Northridge: BA Child Development, Minor in Psychology. Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with BCLAD.
I enjoy spending time with my family.

Jacqueline Leal

3rd Grade

Teaching since 2007
Rio teacher since 2007
BA Multiple Subjects- California State University Northridge, MA in Education, BCLAD authorization-California Lutheran University
I enjoy spending quality time with my children and family. I have been part of the Rio Real Dual Immersion Academy since 2014

Pablo Hernandez

3rd Grade

Mayra Aguilar

4th Grade

Part of Rio Real Dual Immersion Academy since 2012.
Bachelors Degree in Liberal Studies and Children’s Theater from Cal Lutheran University.
Spanish Degree from the Universidad de Guanajuato in Guanajuato, Mexico
K-12 Academic Spanish Instruction Certification from Loyola Marymount University.
Enjoys time with family and exercising outdoors.
Passion is teaching fourth grade and creating a positive and enthusiastic learning environment.

Teresa Ivey

4th Grade

Teaching since 2013
Rio teacher since 2013
California State University Northridge- B.A. Chicano Studies California State University Los Angeles/ Cal State Teach- Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
I enjoy the ocean, hiking and spending time with my family.

Olga Velasco

4th Grade

I have been teaching at Rio Real for 6 years.
I have a BA in liberal studies with an emphasis in bilingual studies: Spanish/English CSUCI
Multiple subject Teaching credential w/BCLAD CSUCI
I enjoy hiking, yoga, and spending time with my family.

Irene Chavez

Irene Carranza-Chavez

5th Grade

Teaching since 2006
Rio teacher since 2006
BA Sociology, UCSB
MA in Education, California Lutheran University
I enjoy traveling with my family, watching my kids’ soccer and basketball games, hiking, and having book clubs with my students throughout the school year.

Erika Bair

5th Grade

5 years Teaching in Dual Language
BA Liberal Studies, CSU Stanislaus
Minor in Spanish, Universidad Del País Vasco, Spain
Multiple Subjects Credential BCLAD, CSU, Stanislaus
Single Subject Spanish Credential, UC Riverside
I enjoy traveling, hiking, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends.
My students inspire me to be the best every day.

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” -Benjamin Franklin

Patricia Ferrer

5th Grade

Diana Barrera

Middle School

Teaching since 2006
Rio teacher since 2007
BA in liberal studies. MA in education. CSUCI, Grand Canyon
I enjoy the sunshine, grounding, learning about all things health related, spending time with my family, and I love my students so much!

Katie Browning

Middle School

Teaching since 2007
Rio teacher since 2019
Moorpark College- AA Cal State University Fullerton- BA in Liberal Studies & Teaching Credential Azusa Pacific University- Masters in Educational Technology
I enjoy going to the beach, reading a good book, and playing with my two girls.

Lionel Carrizales

Middle School PE

Río School District – 10 yrs Río Real 5 yrs
BA – California Lutheran University in Exercise Science Sports Medicine
MA Degree – Education
In my spare time I like spending time with my family and watching my two little ones grow up. I wish they would stay small, I love holding them.
I also enjoy camping, BBQing, watching sports, fishing, going to the beach, body boarding and surfing. Last but not least, playing PS4.

Favorite quote – “Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating…too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a living they forget to make a life.” ― John Wooden

Kimberly Landberg

Middle School

Teaching since 2016
Rio teacher since 2016
Masters of Science, Environmental Science CSU Fullerton Bachelor of Arts, Geography UC Santa Barbara Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, Cal Lutheran University
I enjoy traveling, camping, gardening, and adventuring with my family. I am a Life Lab Certified School Garden Educator.

Melissa Macias

7th & 8th Grade Spanish LA & SS

Teaching since 2018
Rio teacher since 2018
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (CSUCI), Multiple Subject credential with Bilingual Authorization (CLU)
I enjoy spending time with my family, exercising, hiking, and reading novels.
Favorite quote: “Every child deserves a champion-an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be”. -Rita F. Pierson

Jeanine Malette

Art

Rosalinda Melchor

Middle School

Teaching since 2017
Rio teacher since 2019
Bachelors of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development -California State University, Northridge; Masters in Teacher Leadership – California Lutheran University
I enjoy helping student develop a love and desire to read books and find their voice through writing.

Marcela Ortiz

Middle School

First year at Rio Real
BA, Liberal Studies; Northridge
Single Subject Spanish; National University
I enjoy spending time with my family, reading and traveling.

Joseph Stewart

Middle School

Teaching since 2012
Rio teacher since 2015
BA Multiple Subject, California State University Fresno MA Cross Cultural Education, National University Supplementary Authorization in Mathematics, UC Riverside
I enjoy spending time with my family and dog. I enjoy trail running and and riding my mountain bike.
In college I was a Division 1 wrestler at Fresno State.

Angel Velez

Music

Elsa Amores

Middle School

Teaching since 2019
Rio teacher since 2021
CSUCI; bachelors in Early Childhood Education and multiple subjects teaching credential with an added Language Authorization teaching credential.
I enjoy going on road trips around the country whenever possible, this includes road tripping during 3 day weekends! I grew up in San Luis Obispo, but moved to Ventura County 5 years ago and I have absolutely fallen in love with the Oxnard community; especially the Rio community

Rio Real Resource Staff

Margarita Jimenez

School Counselor

Yaianna Lopez

Arianna Lopez-Castellanos

School Psychologist

3rd year at Rio Real and in the RSD
BA in Psychology and Minor in Applied Psychology, UCSB
MS in Counseling with a Specialization in School Psychology, CSUN
Nationally Certified School Psychologist
I have worked as a School Psychologist since 2012 in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.
I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading, and going to the beach.