About Us

Leslie Paragas, TK Teacher

E-mail: LParagas@stischoolcypress.org

"The best part of teaching is watching my students grow intellectually, developmentally, and spiritually."

Teaching Experience

I have been working with children since 1998. My teaching career began as an aide at my home parish’s Religious Education Program when I was in high school. Upon graduating high school and barely 18, I taught my first class of second graders and was an important part of their sacramental lives. I witnessed my students receive their First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. During my volunteer days at my parish, I also taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. Throughout high school, I already knew I wanted to become an elementary school teacher.

During college, I worked as a teacher’s assistant for the Los Angeles Unified School District. I worked with students in Pre-K. That was a wonderful and learning-filled experience which led me to love working with Transitional Kindergartners!

Education

I received a Master of Education in Cross-cultural teaching in 2009 from National University. My undergraduate degree was awarded from the California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with an option in Literacy. I currently have a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential authorizing me to teach in the elementary levels (Early Childhood to Grade 6).

I thank my parents for allowing me to have a Catholic education from Kindergarten to 12th grade. I went to St. Joseph High School in Lakewood and Our Lady of Fatima School in Artesia from kindergarten to eighth grade. I am fortunate to be able to give back to the Catholic School system.

For Fun
I have 2 dogs, Cotton, a Malti-poo, and Meeko, a Miniature Long-haired Dachshund. I love to spend time with my husband, relax and travel, scrapbook, work on making stationery and be with people I care about. I also enjoy working on teacher created resources and sharing it with my professional community on TeachersPayTeachers.  I enjoy blogging about education as well.  I also love Disneyland and my favorite character is Goofy!

Michelle Marshall, TK-A Teacher

E-mail: MMarshall@stischoolcypress.org

"I enjoy showing children how much fun it is to learn and I love finding new ways to make lessons interesting and engaging. It is very rewarding for me to see a child's eyes light up when learning something new and seeing their growth throughout the year."

Teaching Experience
I have 5 years of experience teaching 1st grade and a K/1 combo in the Garden Grove Unified School District. Once I had my two daughters, I decided to take some time off to raise my young family. Prior to becoming a teacher, I worked at a private tutoring facility where I worked with children who had difficulties with reading, I was trained in a specialized program called Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes. This experience is what made me realize how much I loved to work with children and gave me a very strong background in reading instruction. My younger daughter was in a TK class and I loved helping out in her classroom so much I decided it was the grade for me! For the last few years I have worked as a long-term substitute in the primary grades and I am very excited to have my own classroom once again and to be teaching TK.

Education
I received a B.A. in Communication Studies and my Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from California State University, Long Beach. I graduated from a Catholic high school, University of San Diego High School.

For Fun
I live in Long Beach with my husband, two daughters (ages 8 and 10), and our golden retriever Cholula. I love to read, run, and spend time with family and friends. The beach is my happy place, we also try to get up to the mountains to snowboard a couple of times a year which is even more fun now that my daughters are learning to snowboard too!

Mrs. Paragas, Mrs. Marshall, Ms. Rozak and their aides make an awesome team!  They love children and are always excited to watch them grow.