Five teachers have joined the ranks at Mount Madonna School (MMS) this year. Brendan Dilloughery, Haley Campbell, Salvatore Talamo, Stewart Diaz-Mogollon, and Tiffany Wayne will be educating our students in the areas of middle and high school mathematics, science, outdoor adventure, English, Spanish, creative writing and history.
Brendan Dilloughery joined the faculty as middle and high school mathematics and eighth grade science instructor. He holds M.A.s in Mathematics and Education from the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), as well as three California teaching credentials in mathematics, science and physical education. A longtime resident of Capitola, Brendan recently returned to the area after teaching high school mathematics at The American School in Switzerland.
“I was drawn to teaching because of an amazing fifth grade teacher, Ms. Joanne Roster. [MMS teacher] Nate Rockhold was actually in that class, as well, and multiple students from that class have become educators. I am immensely excited to join the strong community and be a part of MMS for years to come. I want to share my passion, curiosity, and joy for learning with students. Every day I read about new scientific breakthroughs, watch new YouTube videos, and use mathematical logic to make informed decisions. I want to share that and the life experiences I have gained thus far with the next generation, and hopefully create mature life-long learners.”
His previous experience includes two years teaching middle and high school science at the Fundacion Colegio Americano de Quito in Ecuador and three years teaching middle school math and science at Scotts Valley Middle School (SVMS). While at SVMS, Brendan applied for and received a $6,000 grant that was used to fund a student-run eco-friendly fundraising business. The students designed and sold reusable metal canteens on campus and oversaw the installation of filters on all campus drinking fountains.
Brendan will also help facilitate the MMS Outdoor Adventure and Life Skills class. He has previous experience chaperoning students on extended overnight field trips – both to wilderness and urban destinations. Currently Brendan is also teaching mathematics at Cabrillo College. Brendan says his two daughters (ages 2 and 10 months) and wife are “100% the most important thing” in his life, though he also enjoys many hobbies including climbing, bicycling, yoga, weiqi, soccer, surfing, disc golf and basketball.
Alumna Haley Campbell (’02) is teaching high school English and Creative Writing. She holds an M.F.A. in Writing from the University of San Francisco, along with a B.A. in English, and an M.A. in Teaching, Secondary Education and a teaching credential from Westminster College in Salt Lake City. Haley recently returned to this area after working at The Writing Salon in San Francisco. Her previous experience includes two years teaching English and Honors English at St. Francis Xavier Regional School in Kearns, Utah, and a year teaching several English classes at Park City High School in Park City, Utah. She is a published writer and reconnected with MMS last year, when she accompanied the juniors and seniors on their journey to Washington, D.C.
“The culture at MMS is so unique because there is such a strong emphasis on academic excellence, but it’s equally balanced with love and support,” commented Campbell. “Today’s educational philosophies highlight the importance of educating ‘the whole child,’ catering to the intellectual, emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual needs, but often the reality falls short. MMS is the embodiment of the ideal. I knew it was an amazing place in my twelve years as a student, but as a teacher, it’s an absolute dream to teach at a school like this where you have the freedom to honor your students as individuals.”
Haley began attending MMS as a first grade student. She discovered her passion for language – and a talent, in particular, for creative writing – in elementary school.
“I have always loved reading, writing, and storytelling. I think these are such powerful ways to engage with the world, to ask the big questions, to explore new perspectives. I grew up on the mountain as an only child and spent a lot of time wandering through the woods narrating stories in my head. To me, literature is as much a sage guide as a friend or therapist – we can learn so much about human kind, nature, and ourselves by engaging with a good story.” In addition to teaching, Haley enjoys singing, yoga, hiking, animal rescue, nature and travel.
Salvatore “Sal” Talamo will teach seventh grade Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1 for eighth grade students, as well as co-instruct sixth grade math with James “PD” Rohan. Sal has an extensive background in accounting and mathematics, and holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Accounting from California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. His previous experience includes teaching accounting at Heald College and Los Angeles Pacific College, middle school math and science at All Souls Catholic School in Alhambra, California, and high school math and economics at Don Bosco Technical High School in Rosemead, California.
“I look forward to the open, progressive and flexible environment that MMS offers its students,” he noted. “I strive to motivate students by being caring and passionate about mathematics, and striving to make each class session memorable in some way so that students will look forward to returning and learning.”
Sal grew up in Morgan Hill and then lived in Los Angeles for nearly two decades. For the past two years he’s lived with his wife and three sons in Santa Cruz County. When he’s not teaching, Sal enjoys spending time outdoors, cooking, and attending Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants games.
Stewart “Stew” Diaz-Mogollon will be teaching Spanish for eighth through eleventh grades. He has lived in Colombia for 7 years, while teaching and conducting ethnographic fieldwork at the graduate level. He holds an M.A. in Anthropology from La Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia with Diplomas in Latin American Culture, Ethnoeducation, and Literary Criticism. His undergraduate background includes a B.A. in English and Theatre Arts from Virginia Tech, where he played D-1 soccer. He is currently working on a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT).
Stew brings 15 years of experience teaching language and outdoor education to students, kindergarten through twelfth grade, including most recently teaching HS Spanish and Anthropology at the Brightmont Academy in Seattle, WA. He has worked extensively with the Arhuacos, an indigenous community in the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, Colombia. He helped them develop an English language program, while cooperatively designing a pilot program in Intercultural Environmental Education (IEE), which seeks to integrate their traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) system and shamanic stewardship.
When he’s not teaching, Stew enjoys playing guitar for his two year old daughter, Ari, hiking, kayaking, kicking the soccer ball around, conducting fieldwork, visiting sacred sites and territories, and learning about Native American cultures in northern California.
“I feel very thankful and honored to be working with such a talented staff,” commented Stew, “and look forward to sharing what I have to offer with the students and families of MMS.”
Tiffany Wayne, Ph.D., will teach sixth and seventh grade World History and, by student request, a twelfth grade elective, American Women’s History. Tiffany is the parent of Lillian (8th) and Miles (11th), and a longtime resident of Santa Cruz County. She was awarded a Ph.D in History from UCSC and her previous and concurrent experience includes teaching history and women’s studies at UCSC, Cabrillo College, and Ashford University (online).
“I love to get students excited about history by making connections to many issues today, whether it’s social justice, human rights, politics or war,” said Tiffany. “Middle and high school students want to know and truly understand what is going on in the world and what motivates our leaders and decision-makers. History is the foundation of everything. Literature, art, politics, science – everything has a history!”
Tiffany is the editor of six encyclopedias in the fields of U.S. history, women’s history, literary history, and the history of science, including a 4-volume history of Women’s Rights in the United States planned for publication later this year. She is also a freelance writer and editor of textbook chapters, book reviews, and study guide and test prep materials for several different educational publishers, along with creating an iPad app that is a study guide for the SAT II U.S. History exam. When she’s not in the classroom, Tiffany enjoys creative writing and beach walks with her family.
