Leadership & Faculty Home / About Us / Leadership & Faculty Dedicated Leaders & Expert Teachers At our school, everyone works together to make sure students and families feel happy and supported. Our leaders, staff, and teachers are all here to help. Our teachers love sharing what they know, whether it’s about reading, music, or outer space! They make learning fun and exciting, helping students explore new things and find what they love. Together, we create a special place where students can grow and learn every day. From the Head of School Angela Peña Dear Future Van Avery Prep Family, When you walk in for a tour, there’s a good chance I’m the one who greets you. I sit in the main office. I know the parents, I know each child — I even know which grandparents do pickup on Thursdays. My mother founded this school in 1980, and I’ve been part of its story ever since. Van Avery Prep didn’t just shape the students who walked through its doors. It shaped me. When parents describe what keeps them here, the answer is almost always the same: my child is genuinely known. That’s not something that happens by accident. Some of our teachers have been in the same classroom for thirty-plus years, teaching children of children they once taught. Our teachers average 16 years of experience, and they use small-group instruction to make sure each child is getting what they actually need, not what’s easiest to deliver. We have 540 families on this campus, and not one of them is a number here. Those relationships are what make the academics possible. Our program runs through Algebra 2 — with Algebra I available as early as 6th grade — and all K-8 students receive Spanish instruction, graduating prepared for Spanish II. One hundred percent of our graduates are accepted to their high school of choice, and 100% place into advanced or honors-level courses when they get there. Accelerated doesn’t mean one path for every child. It means your child is always being stretched in the right direction. Here’s what that combination looks like in practice: our fifth graders spend the night aboard the Star of India — the oldest active tall ship in the United States, docked in San Diego — sleeping on deck, surrounded by the history they’ve been studying in class. That experience doesn’t stand apart from school. It is the point of school. Beyond the classroom, students compete in Science Olympiad, the Spelling Bee, and the Daughters of the American Revolution Essay Contest, play on 15 athletic teams, and explore over 20 electives and clubs. Our partnerships with Rotary, Habitat for Humanity, and the Special Olympics mean that serving others isn’t a field trip — it’s part of who our students become. The alumni who return as guest speakers have contributed to a NASA patent, worked as a senior propulsion engineer at SpaceX, and earned a Trident scholarship at the Naval Academy before going on to Stanford. They come back because this place meant something to them. That’s ultimately what we’re working toward — a student who greets a new teacher when they walk into a classroom, who thanks people, who has done something hard and come out the other side stronger for it. Local high school principals tell us they can pick out a Van Avery student on day one. I am incredibly proud of our reputation and legacy in this community. For many Temecula families, the journey begins right next door at Kid’s World Preschool — founded by the same family, rooted in the same values — and the connection to this community grows from there. We’d love for your family to be part of it. If you’d like to come see a regular school day, I’d love to show you around. Warmly, Angela Pena Head of School Van Avery Prep Read More Browse By Role All Roles Faculty Leadership Search Miss Amanda ELA 7 & 8 Miss Amanda ELA 7 & 8 Email Miss Amber Kindergarten Miss Amber Kindergarten Email Miss Angelica Third Grade Miss Angelica Third Grade Email Theresa Bolton Assistant Principal/Social Studies 7 & 8 Theresa Bolton Assistant Principal/Social Studies 7 & 8 Email Miss Bree Second Grade Miss Bree Second Grade Email Miss Chelsea Fourth Grade Miss Chelsea Fourth Grade Email Mr. Cleveland Math 6 Mr. Cleveland Math 6 Email Mr. Cody ELA 6 Mr. Cody ELA 6 Email Mr. Cole Science 6 Mr. Cole Science 6 Email Miss Courtney Second Grade Miss Courtney Second Grade Email Miss Crystal Kindergarten Miss Crystal Kindergarten Email Mr. Dash Athletic Director / PE 6 Mr. Dash Athletic Director / PE 6 Email Miss Heather First Grade Miss Heather First Grade Email Miss Ilana Fifth Grade Miss Ilana Fifth Grade Email Miss Jody Science 7 & 8 Miss Jody Science 7 & 8 Email Mr. Josiah Fourth Grade Mr. Josiah Fourth Grade Email Page 1 of 3 Jump to Page Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Learn More About VAP Teachers How does Van Avery Prep invest in its teachers’ ongoing growth? We believe that a school is only as strong as its educators. Van Avery Prep invests in ongoing excellence through regular Professional Development days. This commitment ensures our teachers stay current with innovative instructional strategies. Do you have long-standing faculty and staff at Van Avery Prep? While many schools face high turnover, Van Avery Prep is distinguished by the longevity of our staff. Our teachers have an average of 10 years of experience at our school. We are proud to have 12 teachers who have been part of the Van Avery Prep family for over 20 years. What makes teachers at Van Avery Prep exceptional? Teachers at Van Avery Prep are often described by parents and the school community as exceptional, not just because of what they teach, but because of how intentionally they support, connect with, and challenge students as individuals.
