Mrs. Hipwood is a graduate of Fresno Pacific University with a Bachelors degree in Liberal Studies and earned her credential. She taught for Fresno Unified before going abroad. She has lived in Nairobi, Kenya for the past ten years where she taught English to young students in AIC Special Ministries and also in a British system Montessori school. Mrs. Hipwood is in her third year of teaching kindergarten at VASA.
Rachel Church – Kindergarten Teacher (Class Page) (Email)
Mrs. Church holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with distinction and departmental honors from the University of Kansas and a Master of Arts in Elementary curriculum and instruction from the University of Northern Colorado. She was the Gifted and Talented Coordinator for grades 1-6 in Colorado. She taught second grade in Clovis Unified and directed the school’s musical and supervised the drama club.
Joanne Campbell – First Grade Teacher (Class Page) (Email)
Mrs. Campbell holds a Bachelors degree in Liberal Studies and a multiple subject lifetime credential from California State University, Fresno. She holds a California Reading Certificate from Fresno Pacific University, is a support provider for beginning teachers through the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) program with the Fresno County Office of Education and is a teacher consultant with the San Joaquin Valley Writing Project. She is involved in Keeping Score through FCOE. During her 20 plus years of teaching she has also taught the Maypole dance and young childrens’ folk dancing. She also enjoys twirling baton and cooking with students.
Karen Konik – First Grade Teacher (Class Site) (Email)
Mrs. Konik received her Multiple Subject teaching credential from Fresno Pacific University. She also has a Master of Arts in Education with a focus on Multilingual Studies. Mrs. Konik also earned a Reading Certificate.
Andrew Fink – Second Grade Teacher (Class Page) (Email)
Mr. Fink earned his Bachelors degree in Liberal Studies with a focus in Mathematics from California State University, Fresno. He is a former youth basketball coach as well as a high school math tutor. Mr. Fink’s areas of interest are mathematics and physical education. This is Mr. Fink’s first year with VASA.
Andrea Rodriguez-Hernandez – Second Grade Teacher (Class Page) (Email)
Born and raised in Fresno, Mrs. Hernandez attended CSU, Fresno where she received her B.A. In Music Education. She also earned a multiple subject credential with an Early Childhood Emphasis along with a supplementary credential in music. Mrs. Hernandez has performed at Carnegie Hall as a member of the CSU, Fresno Wind Ensemble and also performed with the group in China and England. She belongs to the National Association for Music Education and the National Science Teachers Association. She also participated in Keeping Score, a program that teaches educators how to integrate music into the core curriculum to enhance students’ learning. Outside of school, she plays clarinet with the Clovis Community Band and enjoys spending time with her family.
Melissa Moorhead-Bugsch – Third Grade Teacher (Class Page) (Email)
Melissa Moorhead-Bugsch graduated from CSUF with a BA in Liberal Studies and a concentration in Children and the Arts. In 2008 Melissa Moorhead-Bugsch completed the Multiple Subject Credential program at CSUF. She has 20 years of dance experience in the areas of tap, jazz, hip-hop, character routines, and productions. This is her first year at VASA where she is currently teaching fifth grade.
David Hunter – Third Grade Teacher (Class Page) (Email)
Mr. Hunter’s Bachelors degree is in Liberal Studies with an emphasis Early Childhood Education. His interests include technology and animal conservation education. Mr. Hunter is a part of the Keeping Score Program with FCOE that’s focused on integrating classical music and connections into everyday curriculum. Prior to coming to VASA Mr. Hunter taught second grade at Sanger Academy Charter School for two years, and he was Lead Teacher at Stone Soup Community Center’s Hmong Cultural Academy Pre-school-first grade classroom.
Chester Goodale – Fourth Grade Teacher (Class Page) (Email)
Mr. Goodale comes to VASA with more than 20 years of classroom experience. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature, with a Liberal Studies certificate, from UCLA. His Multiple Subject and Bilingual teaching credentials are from Fresno Pacific University. Mr. Goodale has taught in inner-city Los Angeles, in Madera Unified, and has worked in both Fowler Unified and Fresno Unified (at Tehipite Middle School) as a Migrant Resource Teacher. He played trumpet from fifth grade to his first year of college, plays guitar, and has performed in vocal choirs and handbell choirs.
Sarah White - Fourth Grade Teacher
Carol MacNeill – Fifth Grade Teacher (Class Page) (Email)
Mrs. MacNeill graduated Summa Cum Laude from Fresno Pacific University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Humanities, where her course of study focused on literature and art. Mrs. MacNeill is an avid reader who brings to VASA a passion for children’s literature and textile arts.
Hasmik Canas- Fifth Grade Teacher
Mrs. Cañas is a graduate of Fresno State University with a Bachelors degree in Liberal Studies along with an Art concentration. She holds a multiple teaching credential as well as two single subject authorizations in Art and English. She has taught in both Fresno Unified School District and in Victor Elementary School District in Southern California. She has been involved in opening a Conservatory in Southern California as well as co-creating a music and art program.
I have been married for 15 years and I have three wonderful boys ages 7, 10, and 13. I love oil painting, swimming, reading, and traveling with my family. I also enjoy learning about all areas of visual arts. I am passionate about my profession and I’m thrilled to be joining the VASA team this year.
Teresa Busch- Sixth Grade Teacher
Fernando Rubio- Sixith Grade Teacher
Teresa Webb – Art Specialist (Class Page) (Email)
Ms. Webb is our art teacher at V.A.S.A. Ms. Webb began teaching in 1976. She did her undergraduate degree at C.S.U.F. in sculpture. She finished her Master’s degree at C.S.U.F. in painting.
Ms. Webb’s goal is to teach all of V.A.S.A. student artists the fundamentals of drawing. With an art program rich in art history and cross curricular activities.
Ms. Webb enjoys painting and spending time with her family on the weekends.
Lorlyn Bartel – Music Teacher (Class Page) (Email)
Mrs. Bartel holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, receiving her teaching credential from California State University Fresno. She is a certified Kodaly Specialist, receiving certification from the Organization of American Kodaly Educators. Mrs. Bartel has also directed many children’s theater productions. She has been a choral adjudicator, and is actively involved in the California Music Educator’s Association, Music Educator’s National Conference, American Choral Director’s Association, and the Association of American Kodaly Educators. Mrs. Bartel brings to VASA more than 15 years of teaching experience.
I have been married to my husband, Dwight for 27 years, and we have a grown son. In our spare time we like to hop on the motorcycle, and weave through the beautiful Sierras, or zoom along the Pacific Coast Highway. I love theater arts, and have participated in a number of community musical productions, even acting in a few television commercials! My favorite thing is to curl up on the couch on a rainy day with a great book, my mini dachshund in my lap.
Heather Mitchell – Intervention Teacher (Email)
Mrs. Mitchell received her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from CSU Fresno and her teaching credential from California Baptist University-Riverside, CA. She has interests in Theatre Arts, especially drama and puppetry. Photography is another activity that she enjoys, along with scrapbooking. She’s been known to drive across the amazingly beautiful United States of America and travel overseas to visit the Tropics, the Far East, and Western Europe. Two of her favorite things are a child’s smile and chocolate!
Dr. Karen Crozier- Intervention Teacher
