Dr. Marlene Batista | Superintendent & Principal
- Joined the Mupu Family in 2022
- BA Liberal Studies, LMU
- MA in Education Multi-lingual/Multi-cultural Studies, CSUN
- MA in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, CSUN
- EdD in Educational Leadership, CSUN
- I love the feeling of stepping out onto a school campus and feeling the love exuded by children it can take any gray clouds away!
- I am a mom of 19-year old and 15-year old boys, the loves of my life!
- I enjoy music and dancing, especially salsa, and am the 2019 reigning winner of the Oxnard Salsa festival Dancing with the Community Stars competition!
- "It is only with the heart that one can see rightley; what is essential is invisible to the eye." ~ The Little Prince
Theresa Brock | School Secretary
- I have been a part of Mupu’s family since 2006.
- I love my job and being able to welcome scholars and their families with open arms and a smile.
- I enjoy spending time with family and friends. Just keeping it simple!
Sofia Pacheco | TK/Kindergarten Teacher
sofia.pacheco@mupu.org • Classroom Website
- Teacher at Mupu since 2022
- BA Liberal Studies, CSUN
- Multiple Subject Credential, CSUN
- I love traveling and spending time with my family.
- I am so excited to be a part of the TK/Kindergarten team!
- I look forward to get to know the Mupu community!
- “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
Nicole Misewitch | TK/Kindergarten & SAI Teacher
nicole.misewitch@mupu.org • Classroom Website
- Teacher at Mupu since 2013
- BA Liberal Studies, CSUCI
- Multiple Subject Credential, CSUCI
- Education Specialist Credential, CSUCI
- I love being able to witness a child reading for the first time!
- I love traveling, riding my bike, and spending time with my family.
- "I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples."-Mother Theresa
Kyla Colavito | 1st Grade Teacher
kyla.colavito@mupu.org • Classroom Website
- Teacher at Mupu since 2002
- BA in Child Development, CSUN
- MA in Education, Azusa Pacific University
- I love the family-like community at Mupu!
- I live in Ventura with my husband and 3 kids.
- I love spending time with my family, camping, exercising, riding horses, gardening, and chocolate.
Deana Sherry | 2nd Grade Teacher
deana.sherry@mupu.org • Classroom Website
- Mupu School Elementary teacher since 1998
- Multiple Subject California Teaching Credential CSUN
- BA Liberal Studies (Emphasis: Anthropology, Spanish, Religious Studies) UC Santa Barbara
- Graphic Arts Certificate SBCC
- Ceramics Ventura College
- I love, love, love to read. My goal is to keep an open curiosity about the world and to always keep learning. I love being a lifelong learner, and hope to inspire our Mupu community to do the same.
- “Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.” --Maya Angelou
Samantha Mellinger Hutchinson | 3rd Grade Teacher
samantha.mellinger@mupu.org • Classroom Website
- Teacher at Mupu since 2022
- Bachelor of Science in Public Relations/Advertising, Hawaii Pacific University
- Multiple Subject Credential, CSUB
- TEFL/TESOL certification, Global Leadership College
- I love being able to witness my student's "ah-ha!" moments when they overcome challenges!
- I love hiking, backpacking, camping, traveling, taking photos, soccer, riding my bike, and spending time with my family.
- "You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose!" -Dr. Seuss
Amanda Miguel | 4th Grade Teacher
amanda.miguel@mupu.org • Classroom Website
- Teacher at Mupu since 2022
- BA Liberal Studies, CSU Channel Islands
- Multiple Subject Credential and MA in Education, University of La Verne
- I’m looking forward to learning and growing alongside our scholars at Mupu!
- I enjoy spending time with my husband and our daughter, going to the park with our dog Hazy, gardening and going the beach.
Kaitlyn Marquez | 5th Grade Teacher
kaitlyn.marquez@mupu.org • Classroom Website
- Teacher at Mupu since 2019
- I have been teaching since 2015. I have a BA in Liberal Studies from Fresno State, a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from CSU, Channel Islands, as well as a MA in Literacy Education from Loyola Marymount University.
- My goal is to build and foster a classroom community where scholars feel they are listened to and supported in their learning.
- Outside of school I enjoy spending time with my husband, our son and daughter, singing, as well as playing guitar and the ukulele.
- "To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world." Dr.Seuss
Samantha Borgstedte | 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Teacher
samantha.borgstedte@mupu.org • Classroom Website
- Teacher at Mupu since 2018
- BA Integrated Educational Studies with minors in English, Spanish, and Language & Literacy: Chapman University
- MA Teaching: Chapman University
- "Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible." Helen Keller
Megan Escobar | 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Teacher
megan.escobar@mupu.org • Classroom Website
- Teacher at Mupu since 2010
- BS Liberal Studies, Cal Poly SLO
- Multiple Subject Credential, Cal Poly SLO
- I love Mupu because of the family atmosphere they have nurtured here. Every staff member, student, and family is supported, loved, and focused on the best possible education for all of our scholars.
- I love to bake, garden, and spend time with my two daughters and husband. I love all things Disney and rooting for the Dodgers.
- "Every scholar can learn; just maybe not on the same day or in the same way." ~ George Evans
Deanna Nese | 7th & 8th Grade Teacher
deanna.nese@mupu.org • Classroom Website
- Teacher at Mupu since 2008
- BA Liberal Studies, CSUN
- MA Multicultural Education, CSUDH
- Author of “Shelter in Place” (2014) and “The Needle’s Eye” (2016)
- I love being part of the Mupu family, and sending students on to high school knowing they are prepared to succeed. Having former students return and keep in touch is one of the best rewards.
- Things I enjoy: my family, my pets, writing, reading, traveling, paddle boarding, the beach, and being outdoors
- “And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.” -John Steinbeck
Lori Lory | Instructional Aide
- I have been working at Mupu School since 1995.
- I love working with our scholars as they keep me young at heart.
- In my spare time I enjoy reading, gardening, hiking and watching the Lakers play basketball.
Sara Peyton | Instructional Aide
- I’ve worked at Mupu since 2015.
- What I love about Mupu is that we’re like one big family.
- When I’m not at Mupu I love camping, reading and laughing with my three children.
Danielle Bautista |
- I’ve worked at Mupu since 2022
Jessica Maynard |
- I’ve worked at Mupu since 2022
KatieRose Lyons | School Psychologist
- School Psychologist at Mupu since 2022.
- MS in Counseling, Emphasis & Credential in School Psychology CSUN
- BA in Psychology, Minor in Education and Applied Psychology UC Santa Barbara
- Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis Brandman University
- I appreciate the welcoming and collaborative attitude of ‘Team Mupu’ & the dedication and care everyone shows to the students.
- At home I love my two cats, talking shop and psychoanalyzing Jane Austen characters with my partner (also a psych), reading, playing video games, and planning to write (eventually). I love backpacking trips and traveling, as long as I don’t have to plan them!
- “The way to know life is to love many things.” – Vincent Van Goh
| Language Specialist
Richard Apodaca | Interim Head Custodian
- I’ve been at Mupu since February of 2022.
- Staff and scholars are always warming my heart!
- I enjoy spending time with my wife and child.
Manny Mendez | Custodian
- I’ve been at Mupu since 2013.
- It’s been a blessing to be employed here at Mupu.
- The kids at Mupu are more than Scholars to me, they’re family.
- My favorite pastimes are spending time with my amazing family and listening to music.
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