I grew up in Oakland, California and graduated from Skyline High School. After graduating from California State University, Hayward with a degree in English, I had no idea what I wanted to do.  I had many friends in education, and I love to learn, but I was adamant that I did not want to teach high school.  After all, my mother taught high school for over thirty years, and I saw how time consuming of a career it was. 

When I was 29, I moved to Israel for a year to “find me” and figure out what my next steps were.  When I returned home, I lived with an old sorority sister from college.  She was a Math teacher at Antioch High School.  She convinced me to accompany her to work one day and check out what she did.  Needless to say, I loved it.  That night, I enrolled in my credentialing classes and signed up to take my exams.  I was hired at Antioch High School the following month and began my career on an intern credential.  That was 12 years ago, and I am still here doing what I love!

Currently, I teach 9th grade English and 11th grade AP Language and Composition.  I am also the Peer Advocates/Conflict Mediation Coordinator.  In my free time, I love to sing karaoke, listen to live music, walk, and read.  I also enjoy spending time with my family.  I am married to a great guy, and we have a 16-year-old daughter.

Email Shira Sweitzer

I have been teaching for the better half of my life, first to adults, and then to teenagers for over ten years.  In 2014, I decided to take a year off to explore my own growth – writing a novel and spent the year living in Egypt and traveling to far-flung destinations.  I have a 16-year-old son, who is just who is a junior in another district, who has learning disabilities.  If you look around the room, you will see pictures from all the places I’ve been to (43 countries!).  Before or after class you should check them out!  I was born in Ohio, and then left home (way to early) and came to California, where I lived in SF and Oakland.  I then went back to school and got my bachelor's degree with an emphasis in microbiology and physiology.  I am pretty goofy, I love a good joke, and love teaching.  I also enjoy singing and dancing.  But mostly, I love bio, I love love love doing labs, and I especially enjoy students.  If you have any further questions about me – my door is always open J

Email Elizabeth Terry

Stevi Grimm teaches US History, World History and AP World History in the Environmental Sciences Academy. Ms. Grimm has lived in the Contra Costa County most of her life and graduated from Concord High School in 2003. She started attending DVC in 2007 to pursue a degree in history. She transferred from DVC to UC Berkeley, where she graduated summa cum laude in diplomatic history. Ms. Grimm received her master’s degree in social science from the University of Chicago, with a specialization on Urban Sociology and History. Ms. Grimm received her credentials from San Francisco State, where she was awarded the Distinguished Graduate Award in Education and is returning this year to pursue a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership with a specialization in the impact of school culture on a student’s success.

Email Stevi Grimm

Jeannine was born in Miami and lived in Kansas, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Washington, and in three cities in California, (San Diego, Fremont, and San Jose) before the age of ten. Her father was an engineer with Lockheed and her mother put herself through college while raising four children. Later, her mother earned two master's Degrees and worked in the education field. Jeannine heard French spoken in the home between Mom and Grandma (Memere), but in those days, unfortunately, the first language was not passed on, so what French she knows came from learning it in school, starting in Junior High. She also takes Spanish classes at Diablo Valley College and her AHS students correct her work before she turns it in. Jeannine also knows a few swear words in Polish from Dad. Miss Lewis went to UC Berkeley to pursue a degree in Drama and hoped to become a famous actress. After graduating and working at a low paying job as a bank teller for a year, Mom suggested a credential as a back-up plan and Miss Lewis agreed. In Los Angeles, she got a few acting jobs, and she worked in elementary schools. Returning to the bay area to raise her kids, she began to teach high school. Jeannine has two grown daughters, five cats, (okay - one is one daughter’s, another is another daughter’s, one she is caring for a friend fallen on hard times, and two are “hers”), a dog, Flounder, and a chicken, Esther, who likes to sneak into the house whenever possible.

Email JeannineLewis

Email Rick Barton

Email Ms. Govoni

Email Mrs. Zamora

Email Mrs. George