Mrs. Cano joined Orange County School of the Arts in 2011, after working with reading intervention programs in Long Beach Unified School District for a number of years. Mrs. Cano has taught students in all grades 7-12, but has found her joy working with OCSA’s 7th and 8th grade students. Mrs. Cano is passionate about exploring reading and writing with her students, and is thrilled to be a part of a school which fosters such creativity and enthusiasm for learning.

Mrs. Cesareo joined Orange County School of the Arts in 2013 and serves as an academic instructor of Literature and Composition courses for 9th grade honors and 10th grade college prep. Since early in her academic career, she has had a passion for teaching and helping to inspire a love of learning in her students.

She has served as a peer coach and mentor teacher since 1999 and works with new academic and conservatory teachers to develop instructional skills. Ms. Cruz earned a Greater Anaheim SELPA Honor for her work with Special Needs Students, 2001.  Since 1995, she has taught English and social studies to middle and high school students. She teaches 9^th Grade Literature and Composition I and Honors I. As a passionate consumer of film and popular culture she teaches OCSA’s twelfth grade course, Popular Culture and Film Composition. Additionally, she serves as an arts instructor of the Culinary Arts & Hospitality Conservatory teaching Food History. Ms. Cruz believes that learning is a process, not a result. She is passionately dedicated to supporting her students from whom, she is proud to say, she learns from every day.

Mrs. Gallagher currently teaches 7th Grade Literature and Composition and advises the yearbook staff. As a former entertainment cast member for The Walt Disney Company, Mrs. Gallagher shares a passion for performing with her students and enjoys integrating the arts into instruction. She is a proud mom of two boys and resides in Mission Viejo.

An artist at heart, who made her Broadway debut in 2010, she has worked with Tony Award winners and those stepping onstage for the first time, Ms. Harper considers creating an ensemble environment and community of collaboration in her classroom her greatest artistic feat yet.

Having taught 7^th through 10^th grade English at OCSA, Ms. Mo currently teaches 8^th and 10^th Grade English.  A recipient of the Thomas Owen Scholarship and a fellow of the UCI Writing Project, she also still teaches at their Summer Institute for Writing.

Mrs. Rush has been teaching middle and high school students since 2008. She joined Orange County School of the Arts in 2012 and currently teaches Literature and Composition for 8th and 9th grade.

She has taught Literature and Composition I, II Honors, and III, and has been teaching AP English Language and Composition since 2007. Ms. Smith is passionate about teaching critical reading skills, the strategies and conventions of written composition, and preparing juniors for some of the challenges they face during the academic year, including SAT and ACT preparation, the AP Lang Exam, and college application essays for senior year. Her ultimate goal is to develop the skills students will need to successfully meet the reading, writing, and research demands of post-secondary education.

Ms. Spicer joined Orange County School of the Arts in 2000 and serves as an instructor in the Literature and Composition department where she teaches or has taught senior Advanced Placement Literature and Composition, Sophomore Literature and Composition Honors, and 7th grade Literature and Composition. She also taught Poetry for the Creative Writing program for two years. Additionally, she served as adjunct faculty teaching Freshman Writing at Chapman University for one year and Irvine Valley College for fourteen years.

In addition to teaching 7th and 9th grade Literature and Composition, Ms. Tardif teaches String Literature and History as an instructor of the String Music conservatory.

Before he became a teacher, Mr. Thompson chased a music career and performed in several indie-rock bands in NYC.  He also enjoys music production, playing guitar and surfing.  Mr. Thompson is thrilled to work in an arts-based environment and is honored to be a part of the OSCA family.