Haruhiko Cho is currently employed at Pacoima Middle School as a 6th grade Math/Science core teacher. Born and raised in Japan, where Sudoku was invented (as you might know), Haruhiko has lived in the United States for 20 years. He has a great appreciation for math and art and believes there is a strong connection between those two subjects. As a teacher, Haruhiko constantly investigates a new way or a different approach to teach math.
Jackie Chapman is a student at California State University, Northridge studying to be an elementary teacher. She will graduate with a degree in Liberal Studies concentrating in Literacy and Linguistics. Jackie also works for LAUSD as a teacher’s aide and has experience working in elementary, middle school, and high school classrooms. This is Jackie's second year working in a summer program like ECGC where she enjoys being able to inspire others to express their creativity!
Hannele Comacho
Kati Davis has been teaching Kindergarten at Hesby Oaks Span School in Encino for the past three years. She has worked with children ages 3-13 through various programs such as Gifted Children’s Association, YMCA, Aloha Beach Camp, and after school enrichment classes provided at Hesby. Kati attended Valley Alternative Magnet School and Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies and the Gifted Children’s Association as a child. Kati obtained her teaching credential and Bachelors of Arts at Loyola Marymount University. During her time at Loyola Marymount she had an opportunity to travel the world and study many diverse cultures. Katie is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Language and Literacy at California State University, Northridge. She has a love of travel, children, and life-long learning.
Gretchen Potts-Jones moved to Los Angeles from Oklahoma in 1995 to pursue a degree in art. She received her Master of Arts degree in 2000 from California State University, Northridge and her Master of Fine Arts degree at California State University, Fullerton in 2006 in sculpture with an emphasis in ceramics and art history. Gretchen has taught art and art history at CSUF and Long Beach City College since 2005. She has also taught art to children since 2000 for various programs throughout Southern California such as Gifted Children's Association and Grand Central Art Center. Gretchen continues to create her own art work in her studio in Toluca Lake while working on her favorite project; her 2 year old son, Brandon.
Melanie Watnick has been teaching for over 9 years with students of various ages and capabilities, including gifted children for the Gifted Children's Association and at other local private schools and non-public schools. She received her Bachelor of Arts from UC Santa Barbara and Master of Fine Arts from UC San Diego. Melanie is currently a faculty member at both UC Irvine and UC San Diego where she teaches costume design for theater and dance. Melanie has also designed costumes for various theater and dance companies throughout the United States including: The Julliard School, Seattle Rep, Kansas City Ballet and Great Lakes Theater Company. Melanie recently had great success teaching theater to students with autism in West Los Angeles. Melanie believes strongly in keeping the arts in education.
Aviva Weiner has a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development and a Master of Arts in Art with distinction from California State Univerity, Northridge. She also has California permits 4A and 4B (Instruction and Supervision) and CBEST Certification. Aviva has been teaching since 1969 and teaching highly gifted children since 1983. After receiving her BA, Aviva worked as Director/Head Teacher at UCLA University Parents Nursery School and later as a teacher at Westwood Presbyterian Church Preschool. She has taught for the United States Army Special Services Program (1 year), CSUN (6 years), Barnsdall Art Center (3 years), Los Angeles County Museum of Art (12 years), Gifted Children's Association of San Fernando Valley (25 years), and the Asian American Drug Abuse Program (20 years). Aviva has experience teaching to every age and every developmental level, and is a firm believer in respectful, challenging, open-ended curricula. Her current art work is paper based sculpture and artists' books.
