EPAPA is able to attract highly qualified teachers with strong educational backgrounds. These committed individuals are the heart of our school's remarkable success.

Learn what school our staff hail from as well as why they teach at EPAPA.

Louis Barrios teaches 9th and 10th grade Algebra 2. He graduated from University of San Diego with a bachelors of arts and science degree in Mechanical Engineering. Prior to working at EPAPA, he served in an HIV/AIDS hospital in Gulu, Uganda, worked as a design engineer at Solar Turbines and as a continuous improvement engineer for Kraft Global. Louis is excited to be a member of the Phoenix Academy family and is constantly impressed by the staff's energy and dedication to work with our amazing students and families.


Matthew Brownstein earned his BA in Government and certificate in International Relations at Wesleyan University in 2007. Mr. Brownstein spent his collegiate years in the swimming pool, competing on Wesleyan's varsity team and serving as a captain for his water polo team. Additionally he was heavily involved in local tutoring program, as well as a program to help university custodians learn English. Over the summers, he was the head swim coach for local swim teams. Before joining the EPAPA staff in 2008 as the World and U.S. History teacher, Mr. Brownstein spent the year abroad in South America learning, studying and immersing himself in local culture. He is excited to apply the experience in his recent travels and his experiences as a swim coach to help continue the academic success in the EPACS/EPAPA system.


Javier Cabra joined EPAPA as a 9th and 10th grade Humanities teacher in 2007. He currently teaches English to our sophomores and seniors. Mr. Cabra's family is originally from Colombia, but he hails from New Hampshire. He earned a BA in Computer Science from Boston University, and then went on to pursue graduate work at the Savannah College of Art and Design, focusing on Art and Visual Effects (like the Matrix!). Over the years, he has worked as an assistant teacher at a daycare center, part time at IBM through college, and with an environmental organization in Boston. Most recently, he worked at Match School, a charter school in Boston that prepared students for the rigors of college. In this position, he focused on integrating creative opportunities for students into the school by starting a publication to showcase student work, inviting community artists to connect with students, and focusing on poetry and visual arts. Mr. Cabra chose EPAPA for the motivation, diligence, and commitment he sees from the students, and the sense of teamwork he has experienced among the staff at the high school.


Jon Felder teaches 9th grade Composition and 12th grade Government & Economics. He earned his bachelor's degree in American Studies from Cornell University, a master's degree in Social Sciences of Education from Stanford University, and obtained his teaching credential from San Francisco State University. Before coming to EPAPA, Jon taught Civics at Los Altos High School and worked as a researcher at an education policy organization. He has been a volunteer tutor at the Boys and Girls in San Mateo for the past three years and enjoys playing tennis. His favorite things about teaching at EPAPA are the energy and cohesion of the staff and the excitement students bring to the classroom every day.


Joanna Ho teaches 9th and 11th grade English. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Psychology. Prior to working at EPAPA, she studied traditional African dance in Ghana, served a mission in Taipei, Taiwan and worked for two years as a special needs instructor and student council advisor at Beechwood School in East Menlo Park. Joanna is thrilled to be a part of the EPAPA family and is continually inspired by the passion and dedication of the staff, students and families with whom she works.


Emily Hortenstine teaches 10th grade Biology and 11th grade Chemistry at EPAPA. She is from Gainesville, GA and graduated from Georgia Tech in May of 2008. While at Georgia Tech she earned a B.S. in Applied Biology and did genetic and evolutionary research on the jaw systems of Malawi Cichlids. Emily has been working at EPAPA since August 2008. Though she is new to teaching Emily was on the executive board of a mentoring and tutoring program at a local YMCA in Atlanta and is very excited to use her experiences with the program to impact her new students in East Palo Alto. She chose to teach at EPAPA because of the motivation of the staff and their dedication to the students and their families in this dynamic community.


Griffith Montgomery is Resource Specialist at EPAPA. He is a Bay Area Native born in San Francisco. He holds a B.A in Liberal Studies from San Francisco State University and an A.S. in Multimedia/Web Design from Art Institute International, San Francisco. Currently he is pursuing his M.A. in Special Education from Notre Dame de Namur University. Like a "CSI" detective, Griffith specializes in investigating learning styles to better help General Education teachers meet the needs of Special Education students and other diverse learners. He prides himself on advocating for children with learning disabilities.


Elisa Romero joined the EPAPA team in September 2008. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in Chicana/o Studies with a focus on Chicana/o Education. She is currently teaching Spanish and doing college advising. Having grown up in East Palo Alto, Elisa enjoys working with the students at EPAPA. Here she plans to give back to her community by helping students receive the education and experiences they need in order attend and succeed in college.


Ben Savitzky joined the EPAPA staff as a physics and geometry teacher in July 2008. He was born in Cleveland, OH, but spent most of his life in Providence, Rhode Island. He graduated from Brown University with a degree in Chemical Physics, and has been published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry for his work on molecular dynamics simulations. In his copious amounts of "free time," Mr. Savitzky loves rock climbing, backpacking, painting, singing, tai chi, and kung fu. His academic interests include high dimensional geometry and the Everett Many Worlds Hypothesis of quantum mechanics. When he first visited East Palo Phoenix Academy as part of his job search, he realized that this school represented the model of effective urban education he'd been looking for.


Brandon Teris teaches 10th and 11th grade Art at EPAPA and a 6th-8th grade elective art class at EPACS. He received his undergraduate degree in art studio from UC Santa Barbara and loved the city so much he returned to UCSB to earn his teaching credential and Masters in Education. Brandon is a professional artist and works heavily with watercolors and calligraphy, translating prose and poetry into a visual emotion and presents a type of art usually placed in historical contexts as contemporary fine art. He was a Resident Assistant for two years at a private residence hall at UCSB and taught Alcohol and Drug Awareness classes to college students, informing them of the risks alcohol and drugs have on the body, physically and mentally, as well as the social consequences of substance abuse. Brandon joined the team at EPAPA and EPACS in August 2009 and is very much impressed by the high level of student expectations and the intensely strong support of higher education these schools offer their students. He leaves work everyday with a smile.


Nicolas Valdes is a special education teacher who supports all students at East Palo Alto Phoenix Acadamy. Hailing from Palo Alto, Mr. Valdes earned his undergraduate degree in studio art at the University of Redlands. Mr. Valdes came to EPAPA from Gunn High School, in Palo Alto, where he worked as a one-on-one aid for three years. During his free time, Mr. Valdes dabbles in all forms of art, from drawing and painting to cinema and screen printing. Mr. Valdes is excited to help students accomplish their goals by helping them exceed those of their educators.


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