LQHS Welcomes New Staff Members

Mr. Lawrence Strambi is a new addition to the English department this school year. Before his arrival to the desert, he taught at a high school in San Diego and moved here last year to teach at LQ. “The students and staff are both great,” he said. “I like the atmosphere here; everyone here has been welcoming.” He advises his students to keep up with and focus on their schoolwork.

Mr. Steven Zinner, LQHS’ new librarian, was the district librarian for the Ontario school system and oversaw 32 school libraries. Zinner, who taught special education prior to being a librarian, is excited that he will be able to work with the entire student population. So far, Zinner likes LQHS because the student body is so friendly and welcoming. In his free time, Zinner enjoys traveling, as we...

Ms. Maureen Wiser is beginning her fifteenth year of teaching, having taught previously at Albany High. Wiser graduated high school in three years, attending a junior college before she transferred to Santa Clara as a biology major. In the meantime, she worked with the 49ers as a student athletic trainer. She describes herself as a geek and likes anything science-related, including, but not limited ...

Ms. Christina Endres is a new U.S. History teacher, who is also teaching AVID to the sophomore class at LQHS. Before joining the Blackhawk staff, Endres taught history and AVID at Shadow Hills High, as well as at Desert Mirage High. “The students are really nice. My department has been really welcoming and they help me with anything I may need,” she said. In addition to teaching, Endres enjoys tr...

Ms. Merry Patton is a new addition to the math department. Patton earned her math credential through Cal State Long Beach and her bachelor’s degree in special education from National University. She commenced her teaching career as a resource specialist and has taught special education for the past nine years. “I grew up in Los Angeles and everything [switching of majors and moving to the desert] t...

Mr. Matthew Osborn is a new Math II and IB Economics teacher. Osborn has taught for 17 years, earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and his master’s degree from Seattle University. Osborn decided to move to the valley after traveling through the desert a few times while living in Yuma, Arizona. “I was attracted to this district first and I interviewed with Dr. Cook,�...

Mr. Joseph Padgett is a new addition to the special education department. Based in Florida, Padgett was formerly stationed in the military and worked for the government before he pursued a career as a teacher. “I liked the district and it felt like a great school,” said Padgett. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business from multiple universities offered by his military base. This is Patton's...

Mr. Mark Monroy was born in Guatemala and came to the U.S. at the age of 6. In the U.S., he attended A.B. Miller High School in Fontana, Calif. and went to Cal Poly Pomona for his bachelor’s degree. He came to teach physical education at LQHS because he “knew it was a great school and when I saw the job opening, I couldn’t help but apply.” At LQHS, Monroy looks forward to being “[a] part of t...

Educational specialist, Ms. Rebecca Stabenow, is new to LQHS and has spent six years teaching special education. She attended Bemidji State and is an avid fan of the Beavers. She previously taught at Pine River Backus High in Minnesota. She loves how great the people are and the relationships she has built so far. Stabenow chose to teach special education because she “like[s] to help students ov...

Ms. Krista Scharf is new to both teaching and LQHS. She originally student taught in Huntington Beach. Scharf attended Cal State Fullerton, where she received her bachelors in music, majoring in vocal performance. Scharf expressed, “I wanted to become a singer, but discovered I didn’t like the lifestyle of a performer.” She loves her students and the positive, welcoming climate at LQ. Scharf ho...

Mr. Tyler Salisbury, the new math teacher, is an alumnus of LQHS. He attended College of the Desert and then transferred to Cal State Long Beach. He previously taught at Redondo Union High School. He hopes to teach his students not just math, but other useful skills they can use for life. Salisbury felt that it was “time to come back and give back to the school that gave so much to [him].” How...

Ms. Alice Pedersen, a former Cal State San Bernardino counselor and graduate, has been welcomed onto the counseling team. “I think I’m prepared for the job, I feel like I fit in. The students and I are getting along just fine,” said Pedersen. “I feel like I’m able to throw in some college information [for them] as well.” Pedersen went to college to be a high school counselor and is glad LQHS...

New to LQHS’ English department, Ms. Irma Martinez graduated from Indio High School. She attended College of the Desert, later transferring to the University of California, Riverside and California State University, San Bernardino. She previously taught at Desert Mirage High School for six years. She most looks forward to “collaborating with other teachers, becoming a better teacher, and getting to k...

Local to the area, Mr. Joel Kiener actually attended LQHS and graduated in 2005. In fact, Kiener was a part of the second graduating IB class ever at LQHS. He attended the University of California, Irvine and majored in European history and classical civilization. Now, he teaches biology. At LQHS, Kiener is looking forward to “being back in the community, being a Blackhawk again, [attending] foot...

Mr. Peter Harker is a new Math III teacher at LQHS. “When I was a student, I loved math. It was the subject I excelled at the most,” said Harker. While he loved music, he chose to pursue teaching like the long line of educators before him. He added, “My dad was a chemistry teacher, my mom was a high school counselor, and my grandma was an elementary school teacher, so [teaching] runs in the fami...

Ms. Precious Daileg is a new biology teacher at LQHS. She attended Cal State Fullerton and moved from Orange County to teach in the desert. She is very excited for a change. She stated, “Everybody is so welcoming and helpful, so I don’t feel left out as a lot of new teachers may feel.” Aside from teaching biology, Daileg takes her mind off work by reading and dabbling in different art forms when s...

Ms. Lorrie Coonrad is a new addition to the LQHS math department who is teaching Math 1 and Math Lab. Prior to moving here, Coonrad lived in South Korea and taught math at a private high school for four years. She said the biggest difference between Korea and La Quinta is the culture, where Korean students were more protective of their culture than kids here. “The thing [that is] so impressive ab...

Mr. Bret Raven, born in Moreno Valley, is a Riverside native who teaches both U.S. History and Economics/Government. He attended Grand Canyon University and later attended to UC Riverside, where he received his masters. “[I hope that my students] will be able to use what [I] teach,” he said. He would like to become more involved with the school after he settles down into the year. He is an avid fo...