1st Grade

List of 4 items.

• Keara Devitt

  Keara is eager to begin her sixth year teaching at Carlthorp School and ninth year as an educator in Los Angeles. She values helping her students develop critical thinking skills as academic scholars and fostering their social and emotional growth. Originally from Long Island, New York, she is the youngest of seven children. In 2010, she traveled to California for college to pursue her teaching degree and professional career. She attended the University of San Francisco and earned a B.A. in Psychology and a master's in Elementary Education. She later attended Mount Saint Mary’s University and completed the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing program. In her free time, Keara enjoys the outdoors, running, and doing yoga.
  
  

• Tiffany Neilson

  Ms. Tiffany Neilson is excited to teach 1st grade again alongside Ms. Julie Paiva. Prior to Carlthorp, she taught for five years at Kenter Canyon Elementary School, where she was involved in many extracurricular committees, including the instructional leadership team, student leadership council, social committee, and governance. She loves being a part of the Carlthorp School community and inspiring children to learn and reach their highest potential. Tiffany was born and raised in Valencia and attended Concordia University in Irvine, where she received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. While attending CUI, she played intercollegiate volleyball. Her experience as a student-athlete fostered perseverance, commitment, teamwork, and leadership. Following college, Tiffany spent a year abroad in Rome, living with an Italian family and working as an au pair. During this time, she immersed herself in the culture and discovered a passion for traveling. When she isn’t teaching, you can probably find her at the beach playing volleyball, reading, listening to music, cooking, or traveling. She enjoys attending live theater, learning about nutrition, visiting art museums, and spending time with her two nieces.

• Jenny Morgan

  Jenny is a proud Southern California native from Palos Verdes. She graduated from Pepperdine University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and Television. Shortly thereafter, Jenny felt the call to work with young people, which led her to USC’s Rossier School of Education, where she graduated with a Master of Arts in Teaching. While completing her M.A., Jenny taught a summer kindergarten readiness program, and also began teaching a 6th and 7th grade study skills course at Rolling Hills Country Day School, which she continued to do for three years. Just prior to joining the Carlthorp School team, Jenny taught 11th and 12th grade English Language Arts at YES Prep East End in Houston, Texas, an urban charter school that serves mostly underprivileged students. 
  
  

  This is Jenny’s ninth year at Carlthorp School, where she has taught kindergarten, 1st grade, and 4th grade. She is thrilled to be with the 1st grade team. In her free time, Jenny enjoys being with family and friends, riding her beach cruiser on The Strand and appreciating the California sunshine!
  
  

• Julie Paiva

  Julie is excited to return for her sixth year of teaching at Carlthorp School. Prior to Carlthorp, she spent 16 years teaching at the elementary level in Brentwood’s Kenter Canyon School of Advanced Studies. She has a passion for inspiring students to become lifelong learners and compassionate members of the community. Julie graduated from UC Davis with her bachelor’s degree in Rhetoric and Communications, and a minor in Theater. She went on to receive her Masters in Teaching and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Chapman University. In 2009, Julie was awarded the Lori Petrick Award for Excellence in Education from the Palisades Charter Schools Foundation. When she is not in the classroom, she enjoys writing, performing, being outdoors, and traveling to new places.