District Specialists

Greetings from the library! My name is Kathy Oldakowski and I have been the librarian at Andersen since 2018. I am thrilled to be able to work and give back to the same community where my own children attended elementary school! Prior to officially joining the team here at Andersen I served as a volunteer in classrooms, the library, and on the executive board of the PTA. I recently completed my Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science.

My passion is children’s literature and I truly get a kick out of sharing and discussing books with Andersen’s community of learners. I frequently tell the children that they are my greatest influencers and I love to learn what they are excited about! When I’m not busy hosting classes in our library I can be found working on collection development, supporting staff with classroom projects, or preparing for book club meetings and our annual Battle of the Books competition. I hope to see you all soon in the library!

Hello Families from Remy Carpino! I've been teaching elementary music since 2017. Prior to working in NMUSD, I spent 4 years in Orange USD as an elementary orchestra teacher. I hold a B.A. in music and M.A. in Education from Vanguard University. Helping students develop musical skills and a love for music is truly a dream career for me. 

At Andersen, students receive music education throughout their entire elementary school experience. These general music classes allow students to develop foundational musical skills in the areas of pitch, rhythm, form, and expression. These concepts are explored and developed through listening, movement, singing, and the playing of a variety of different instruments. Beginning in 4th grade, students have the opportunity to participate in a music ensemble. Andersen currently offers orchestra. In orchestra, students learn to read music notation fluently and perform on a stringed instrument (violin, viola, cello, or bass). 

 

My name is Nicholas St.Royal, and I am excited to teach music at Andersen this year. I grew up in Burbank, CA where I began my training in piano performance. I received my BS and MA in Music Education at the University of Southern California. Fight On. It has been such a pleasure to have been teaching elementary music with NMUSD since 2008, where my focus has been on band, show choir, and directing my school's musicals. I am passionate about instilling a love of music to children at the youngest ages, and watching it grow into bigger and better things. In addition to music, I also teach hot yoga, enjoy spending time with my dog,  travel and hike. I just hiked up Mt. Fuji this summer! I look forward to a wonderful year at Andersen! -Nick St.Royal

Best,

Mr. St.Royal

Music Teacher, Band & Show Choir Director

Physical education at Andersen is taught by Brian Gibson, a specialist whose lessons are well designed and organized sequentially, provide full inclusion of students, and allow maximum practice opportunities for a variety of skills. Different types of physical activities and motor skills are taught to help develop new interests, enhance teamwork and social skills, and enhance the physical, mental, and social/emotional development of every child.

I'm thrilled to continue my journey as your dedicated science teacher for the 8th year. It's been a privilege to witness the growth and curiosity of our amazing students. The enthusiasm of our young minds creates a fun and engaging learning environment in the science lab.

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Oregon, along with a Master's in Education from Vanguard University. 

Get ready for an exciting new adventure at Andersen science lab! In the 24/25 school year, we're launching Project Lead the Way (PLTW), a program that blends science with hands-on engineering projects. Our goal is to ignite students' curiosity and inspire them to explore the world of STEM and consider exciting careers in this field

 I look forward to another fantastic year of exploration, experimentation, and scientific inquiry together!

 

Hello Andersen! My name is Kenny Nguyen and I have been an NMUSD Science Specialist since 2016. I have a B.S. in Biological Science, a B.A. in Psychology, and a M.A. in Teaching all from UCI (zot zot)! Growing up, science has always been my favorite school subject, and I aspired to be an elementary classroom teacher that actually teaches science – as it is often one of the more neglected subjects in elementary schools. Now, I get to teach science all day, every day, what a dream come true! 

Beginning in 2024, students will be engaging in the newly adopted program Project Lead The Way (PLTW), where students develop skills such as problem solving, creative and critical thinking, collaboration, and communication through hands-on NGSS aligned lessons and engineering projects – hopefully inspiring students to use their natural curiosities to explore the world around them and interest them in a potential career in STEM. 

 

Sincerely,

Kenny Nguyen

STEM Specialist

 

I am honored to have been an educator in the Newport Mesa Unified School District for 28 years - the longest tenure of any staff member at Andersen Elementary! I am a UCI alumnus, and I dabbled briefly in pension consulting before returning to UCI for graduate school to earn my teaching credential. I also have a master’s degree specializing in Educational Technology. In my newest role at Andersen as a full-time support teacher, I have participated in extensive training in the Science of Reading, which has allowed me to gain considerable expertise about the latest research on early literacy. It is rewarding to help young students learn and practice effective strategies to master the art of reading. I love what I do! My family and I enjoy relaxing at the beach and riding our beach cruisers all over the Balboa Peninsula where we live. I am an avid reader, NPR supporter, animal lover, aspiring writer, love to cook, and listening to music is essential to my daily happiness. 

Alex Gladstone-Lamas