OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
CATHERINE CROWLEY
Board member
JENNY ELIAS
Board member
MARLA KENGEN
Board member
KYLE MYERS
Board member
CASEY NIELSEN
Board member
Catherine Crowley currently lives in Simi Valley, California. She has been involved in Education for over forty-five years having started as a substitute teacher at seventeen years old in her native city of Montreal, Canada. Both of her parents were involved with Education. She earned her undergraduate degree with honors from Concordia University, Montreal, Canada and her teaching credential from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA. She began teaching for Simi Valley Unified School District in 1994 with mostly sixth and third grades. She has always had a passion for world languages. She speaks five languages and learned English and French when she entered school as a young student. In 2017, Catherine developed and taught a FLAGS program (Foreign Language and Global Studies) to introduce four world languages, one language per quarter for the entire elementary school, Pre-K to sixth grade. She attended summer institutes in Canada and online Professional Development to perfect a particular world language teaching style that uses many modalities of learning. It is suited well to the elementary level student level as it initially focuses on speaking and listening with hand gestures to support the learning. As she retired three years ago, Catherine pursues her world travels and enjoys her grandchildren. It would be an asset for her to continue on the board as she brings her love for education and knowledge to IvyTech.
Jenny Elias is a mother of six and has been homeschooling since 2007, using the philosophy of Charlotte Mason (CM), an educator and reformer from the late 1800s. Jenny quickly developed an interest and excitement in sharing CM with others in her community. She started a CM discussion group, Learning Charlotte Mason in Conejo and Simi Valleys, with other homeschooling mothers in 2015. This group blossomed into a weekly CM co-op community known as the “Large Room,” which Jenny moderated. Among the subjects covered were history, nature study, literature, poetry recitation, and picture (art)/composer study. Jenny has participated and spoken at Charlotte Mason conferences throughout the years, which included representing the Charlotte Mason Institute at the Ontario Great Homeschool Convention in 2019.
Jenny's second oldest child joined IvyTech in the 2017-18 school year. Since then, two of her children have graduated from the school, two are still in attendance, and her youngest is poised to join when he is ready. Jenny's children have benefitted from the flexibility of the programs at IvyTech and have taken advantage of dual enrollment and early graduation opportunities. Jenny is extremely passionate about education and ensuring that everyone is provided with a quality learning experience that is tailored to their needs. Jenny strongly believes in the Mission and Vision that IvyTech promotes because she's seen the benefits in her own family. Jenny is excited to be on the IvyTech Board and help the school provide a unique and supportive learning environment to the community.
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Marla Kengen worked for Iolab, a Johnson & Johnson company, for 15 years from 1980 - 1995. She started out at 20 years old without a college education. Iolab was purchased by Bausch & Lomb and Marla continued with them until 2002. The business manufactures Intraocular lenses, surgical equipment, and lasers for Cataract and Lasik procedures.
All of Marla’s positions were Administrative & Managerial within the areas of QA, HR, Surgical & Pharmaceutical Support. She was responsible for major meeting planning including Regional Sales, National Sales, and Physician VIP trips. She reported directly to Directors and VPs. Marla loved her years at J&J and B&L. The corporate culture was professional but created an atmosphere like working with good friends. Many on-site benefits such as a full workout facility and a Cafeteria run by Marriott. She still has many friends from those days.
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Marla’s positions were very visible and her work ethic, professionalism, and personality took her a long way and led to several VPs recruiting her to work for them during her time with the company.
Marla credits her education as coming from her work experience, and not a 4-year degree. Her high school experience was not the best and no fault of her parents. But college was never really encouraged by them or even a high school counselor. But that didn't stop her from being successful.
Many years later, Marla entered an Esthetics program and received her CA License. She started her own business in 2010 and loved being her own boss. Her clients were great and supportive but had to close the business in 2020 because of Covid
Marla’s passions include rescuing animals, traveling, gardening, exercising, and health.
Marla loves IvyTech's ideals, curriculum, and how the school provides for the needs of students that may not thrive in a regular public school system.
My name is Kyle Myers, and I am a graduate from IvyTech charter school who completed the program in 2016. I was raised in Moorpark my entire life and was very involved in our community growing up. I volunteered for two city political campaigns, partook in little league, and was once a proud Moorpark Packer. After completing high school at IvyTech, I had the vigor and skills to go onto Moorpark college where I completed my associate degree in philosophy. From Moorpark, I transferred to California State University at Northridge. There, I earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 2022.
I plan on moving into teaching philosophy or theology as a career. Because I am attuned to critical thinking, I believe my contribution to the IvyTech school board is to be thoughtful and attentive to the task that has been set forth by the board. Using the skills from my degree, I can be deconstructive of the information given to us board members. This also means that I can be constructive with said information and bring a wealth of ingenuity to enhance the task at hand. Being alumni, the board has been a privilege and an honor to sit on and serve for the current community at IvyTech.
Casey Nielsen currently lives in Castaic, commuting to IvyTech. He is starting his fourth year both at IvyTech and as a teacher, teaching grades seven through twelve. He earned his undergraduate degree in Radio, Television, and Film from California State University, Fullerton, and both Master of Arts and a Master of Fine Arts degrees in screenwriting from California State University, Northridge. CSUN is also where he earned his English teaching credential when continuing his academic career. Casey is joining the school board in September of 2023 and brings technological experience and training in video and film production to the team. As the teacher of 3D printing and our new podcasting course, Casey is always looking for new ways to use technology in our courses - and provide experience with real-world workflows that will give the students a roadmap for continued studies and applications of the technology they are using at IvyTech.
ADMIN TEAM
ADREANNA DIAZ
Principal
GEOFFREY FRANKL
Director of Operations
Adreanna Diaz is a Ventura County native, who grew up in the Conejo Valley. Her passion for
working in education and supporting students started when she was just in 8th grade through
volunteering and tutoring. It was at the University of California, Irvine, where Adreanna
completed her undergraduate degree in Criminology, Law and Society with Minors in
Educational Studies and History, that her passions, purpose, and plans aligned and she decided to pursue a career as a teacher. Adreanna returned to Ventura County after college to complete her teaching credential with hopes of serving the community in which she grew up.
Adreanna was one of two teachers who greeted students and families on IvyTech's first day of
school in 2010. She has worn many hats while at IvyTech, including that of History and English
teacher and school counselor. Today, Adreanna is honored to serve as principal and has a deep admiration for IvyTech, its students, alumni, and families. She enjoys working collaboratively with the IvyTech team and educational partners to create an encouraging, enriching, and safe community of learning that strives to realize its vision "to produce learners and leaders who are brave enough to think outside the box."
Adreanna received her teaching credential, Master's in School Counseling, and Pupil Personnel Services Credential from California Lutheran University. She is in the process of completing her Administrative Services Credential. Adreanna lives in Moorpark with her husband, son, and daughter. They enjoy taking weekend adventures, especially up the CA 1, all things Disney, and spending time with family and friends.
Geoffrey Frankl grew up in Southern California and bounced between Los Angeles County and
Ventura County schools. Geoffrey first got a taste of being an educator when his high school
band class volunteered to teach elementary students how to play musical instruments. Well, that experience lit a passion in Geoff’s heart that followed him through high school, college, and then into adulthood.
Geoffrey worked in a plethora of industries as he completed his Bachelors's in Business
Management from the University of Phoenix. These professional experiences in retail,
manufacturing, the food industry, the video game industry, and entertainment all helped to
shape him into a well-rounded educator. Geoffrey completed his Master’s degree from UoP in
Secondary Education with an emphasis on Instruction and Curriculum Design.
Geoffrey joined the IvyTech staff as a math teacher in the spring semester of the school’s first
year of operation. During his years at the school, Geoffrey has taken on administrative duties
starting off with technology and IT infrastructure. This role grew to include him being named as
the school’s administrative designee in 2018. In the 2021-22 school year, Geoffrey officially
stepped out of the classroom completely and utilized his Administrative credential as the
school’s Assistant Director of Operations. Now as the Director of Operations, Geoffrey is excited to continue IvyTech’s mission and achieve its vision of making education accessible to all by doing school just a little bit differently.