There will be a number of friendly new faces among the staff at Claremont schools this fall, including 30 teachers and nine classified staff members.

On Monday, most of the certified staff members gathered for an orientation in the boardroom of the Richard S. Kirkendall. The following is just a selection of Claremont Unified School District’s latest hires.

CUSD has two new speech-language pathologists, Patricia Carrillo and Maggie Hack.

Ms. Carillo earned a bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly Pomona in communicative disorders, followed by a master’s degree from Cal State Los Angeles. She gained clinical experience at Casa Colina Hospital and school-setting experience with the Upland Unified School District. She’s married with a 4-year-old daughter, Alyssa, and enjoys camping and cooking. “I’m passionate about working with special-needs children one-on-one or in a small group setting to help them improve their communication in their natural environment,” she shares.

Ms. Hack grew up in Jeffersonville, Indiana. She earned her bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology from Indiana University Bloomington and a master’s in the same subject from Nova Southeastern University in Florida. She worked for two years as an SLP with the West Clark Community Schools district. She just moved to California, accompanied by her boyfriend and her Brittany Spaniel Ellie. She likes outdoorsy activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, boating and swimming.

Debra McDermott will be joining the Danbury staff as a special education teacher. Ms. McDermott earned a Juris Doctor from Western State College of Law and her bachelor’s degree and a special education teaching credential from National University. She has taught for 15 years with the Hacienda La Puente and Pomona Unified school districts. A mother of three girls, Ms. McDermott interned with the LA County District Attorney’s office but changed course after spending time with a family friend whose child has Down’s syndrome.

Condit Elementary School has a new kindergarten teacher in Amanda Hannan, who grew up in Big Bear and earned her bachelor’s degree and multiple-subject credential from the University of La Verne. Ms. Hannan spent the last decade staying home with her two children, Jocelyn, 10, and Sadie, 8, both of whom attend Condit. She looks forward to sharing her love for children with a whole classroom. She’s a fan of the Los Angeles Kings, camping, wakeboarding and her one-year-old German Shepherd Nellie.

Melody Hicks will also take her place at Condit, where she’ll teach fourth grade. Ms. Hicks grew up in Chino Hills and earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and her multiple-subject credential from Cal State Fullerton. Previously, she spent three years teaching first grade at La Mirada Heights Christian School. This animal-lover’s hobbies include spending time with her dog Bruizer and horseback riding.

Condit is also saying hello to first grade teacher Ashley Robbin. She earned her undergraduate degree and multiple-subject teaching credential as well as a Master of Education from the University of La Verne. Prior to coming to CUSD, Ms. Robbin taught fourth and fifth grades at Orange Unified for four years and spent four years teaching fourth grade with Inland Leaders Charter School. She has two “furry babies,” Lily and Lucy, and a baby on the way due in October. She has always wanted to be a teacher, and eventually plans to pursue a doctorate.

Debbie Singley will be teaching fifth grade at Chaparral Elementary School. She earned her bachelor’s in liberal studies and a multi-subject credential from Azusa Pacific University as well as a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Western Governor’s University. She has 13 years of teaching experience, including tenures with Temple City Unified, Anita Oaks School in Duarte and the Cumorah Academy. Ms. Singly has been married for 21 years and has a 14-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son as well as a dog, a bunny, a rat and a fish.

New San Antonio High School science teacher Jessica Ly received her bachelor’s degree in human biology with a minor in psychology from the University of California, San Diego and earned her single-subject credential in biological science at Cal State University, Fullerton. Growing up in Rosemead, this first-year teacher always had a passion for working with children. Ms. Ly has high aims, hoping one day to be a superintendent of schools and to witness the stunning sight of the Northern Lights.

Carolyn Han will be teaching science at Claremont High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at UC San Diego and is finishing her Masters of Education at the University of La Verne. After graduating from college, she became an AVID tutor at Claremont High School. “I realized how much I loved being in the classroom and interacting with students,” Ms. Han said. “So I changed my initial plans, applied to credential programs and here we are.” This first-year teacher is an avid hiker and dotes on her Maltipoo, Teddy.

Scarlett DeLao has been hired as a CHS math teacher. The first-year educator earned an associate’s degree in math at Chaffey College, followed by a bachelor’s degree in math and single-subject credential from Cal State University San Bernardino. She was inspired to become an educator by her Los Osos High School math teacher. Ms. DeLao’s mentor showed her she “could be great at math despite struggling.” She’s active, enjoying biking, hiking and traveling as well as shoe shopping.

Jenna Mittman, who taught last year at CHS, will join the high school’s science department as a permanent teacher. She received a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Emory University and earned her teaching credential at the University of La Verne. Ms. Mittman minored in art and was an editorial cartoonist for four years, and still enjoys cartooning on occasion. She is a fourth-generation teacher in her family, following in the footsteps of her mother, grandfather and great-grandmother.

More of CUSD’s new hires will be highlighted in the next edition of the COURIER.

—Sarah Torribo

storribio@claremont-courier.com