This will be my 19th year at Vargas Elementary, and I love being a Transitional Kindergarten Teacher.  I’m passionate about teaching my students to draw, and to introduce them to learning through play-based centers.  

I attended California State University, Chico for my undergrad and San Jose State University for my masters. 

I have two boys who love books, cooking and Legos, and you might see them with me at Vargas!  My oldest is in second grade and my youngest is in Kindergarten. My family enjoys going camping every summer, weekly trips to the library and doing crafts together. 

I am also an active knitter and enjoy listening to audiobooks during my commute to work, and reading on my Kindle. I love growing flowers in my garden, and I collect smashed pennies from the places that I visit. Silly socks with pictures on them make me smile, so I wear them almost every day.

I was born in Oregon but moved to the Bay Area when I was in the 3rd grade and have been here ever since. Prior to having kids, my husband and I lived in Zimbabwe, Africa where we worked with orphans and children at risk. Our son is now at Fremont High School and our daughter is at Columbia Middle School. I have been a long-term substitute teacher in the Sunnyvale School District for the past 5 years. Prior to coming to Vargas, I worked as a science instructor for Mad Science, and was also a preschool teacher for 6 years. My favorite part about teaching science is to explore the world around us through the use of all 5 senses and a hands-on approach that helps students get excited about science.

I've been teaching 20+ years at this wonderful school. I went to San Francisco State University where I got a degree in International Relations (which comes in handy at Vargas). Teaching under the science umbrella enables me to see growth and excitement on a variety of levels.

My name is Veronica, and I was born and raised in Southern California. I attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, for my undergraduate degree, teaching credential, and M.Ed  in Education. I  also attend San Jose State University. I moved to the Bay Area in 2000 and have lived in Sunnyvale with my husband, two sons, my Chihuahua dog Peanut, and my cat, Lena. With a rich experience of 27 years in education, I have been an educator who loves to teach students how to read! The best thing about teaching science is instilling curiosity about the world around us through hands-on projects and art.

Hello/Hola! I am Heather Willhalm and I am one of the instructional coaches at Vargas. I also run and teach in our science lab. I grew up in Sunnyvale and am raising my 2 children in the Vargas community. We also have a dog. Since we live in the neighborhood, you may run into me at the park, local events, or shopping- please say “Hi”. I am looking forward to you visiting the science lab to do hands-on investigations. You will also get to visit our Maker Lab and Garden Lab.

My favorite quote about science education is by Dr. Frances A. Córdova “Science is too wonderful for it to be exclusive, and too important to leave anyone out.”

Hello! I teach first grade here at Vargas! I was born and raised in San Jose and just so happened to attain all of my degrees there as well. I admire being a first grade teacher and watching my students grow in confidence. My favorite thing about Vargas is the community and family environment. In my free time I love being outdoors, reading, traveling, and learning to play the guitar. If we are on vacation you will likely find me camping near a lake or relaxing on a beach somewhere warm!

I grew up in Dallas and came to the Bay Area to attend Stanford for my undergraduate education. I majored in Human Biology, and then attended San Jose State to earn my teaching credential.  I live in Sunnyvale with my husband and daughter. We have two amazing dogs. We love all outdoor activities: hiking, biking, swimming, and so much more.   

I have been teaching for 15 years, and this is my 2nd year in first grade. I love teaching first graders how to embrace their curious natures around science and develop their ability to carry out inquiry based experiments. I also enjoy helping beginning readers learn the skills needed to become independent readers. 

Hi! My name is Navneet Khaira and I was born in Sacramento, California. I moved to the east coast to pursue my bachelors and returned back to Northern California to pursue my Masters. I love learning and showing others how to love learning as well. I would characterize myself as a life long learner. In my spare time, I enjoy listening to podcasts, exploring the outdoors, swimming in the ocean,  going for long runs, doing spin classes, and spending time with my friends and family.

Hi Vargas! My name is Karen Tseng and I’m excited to be moving down to join the first grade team this year. I was born and raised in Cupertino, then moved down to San Diego to attend San Diego State University. There, I received my B.A. in Liberal Studies- Elementary Education then I moved back home to get my Master’s and teaching credential at San Jose State University. I have always loved working with kids and guiding them to wonder and explore the world and believe in themselves! In my free time, I love to dance, sing, and play pickleball with friends.

I grew up in Merced, CA and went to college at Santa Clara University. I've been a teacher at Vargas since 2005 and my favorite thing about Vargas is that everyone feels like family. When I'm not at Vargas, I enjoy cooking and spending time with my husband and our three children, Nicholas, Juliet, and Christopher.

Hello! My name is Jen Maylard. I moved to the Bay Area when I was in 2nd grade and I have been here ever since. I graduated from Humboldt State University with a BS in Environmental Science, so science is near and dear to my heart!

I am a mom of 3 boys -  2 high schoolers and a 3rd grader. All of my boys are on different baseball and basketball teams so life is hectic, to say the least! We also have an adorable American Bully named Bubba. As a family, we enjoy camping and going to the beach whenever possible. I am so excited to join the 2nd grade Vargas team!

Welcome to 2nd grade. I’ve had the pleasure of teaching at Vargas School since 2000. During this time I’ve taught 2nd through 5th grade. 

I’m the first person in my family to attend a 4 year university and graduate with a degree, and proudly attended a community college before transferring to complete my BS degree. 

During my free time I enjoy camping, bike riding, reading and piddling around the house with various projects.

Each day seeing children grow and learn are the great joys of teaching. Throughout my time at Vargas I’ve seen so many students enjoy science and continue to learn more about this amazing field of study.

What I love about teaching is that at the end of each day I believe I’ve helped contribute to a better world.

Third is the word! I have been teaching in Sunnyvale since 2016 and at Vargas since 2021. I love trying new things, exploring math concepts, and diving into interesting books with my students! When I’m not teaching, I enjoy reading and spending time outside with my wonderful husband and daughter.

Hi! I’m Jessica Prettol and I teach 3rd grade here at Vargas. I grew up in Sunnyvale, attended U.C. Santa Barbara for my degree and San Jose State for my teaching credential. I have been a teacher in this district for 20+ years, teaching 2nd to 4th grade.  I enjoy reading, walking my dog, watching my boys play baseball, and spending time with friends. I love teaching science because it gives my students a chance to explore the amazing world around them!

Hello! My name is Gregory Herron (he/him), also known as Mr. G, and I teach fourth grade here at Vargas. I graduated from the University of California, Irvine (Zot! Zot!) and Stanford for my masters and teaching credential. My favorite part about being a teacher at Vargas is the supportive community and our awesome Maker’s Lab where our students build and create to their heart’s content. I enjoy playing new board games with friends and looking forward to traveling more with my new passport!

Hello, my name is Carly Marquiss and I teach fourth grade at Vargas Elementary. I previously worked in Union School District at Oster Elementary and am looking forward to joining the Vargas family! I grew up in San Jose in the Willow Glen Area. I then moved on to undergrad at Chico state and then came back to the Bay Area for my Masters and Teaching Credential at San Jose State. In my free time I love doing anything active but I specifically enjoy playing roller hockey, golfing, playing volleyball or playing pickle ball. I also enjoy reading and doing puzzles.

Teaching children is a passion of mine. I grew up in Carson City, NV and received my teacher credential at the University of Nevada, Reno. All of my family still lives there and I enjoy going home to visit. I also enjoy reading, exercising, traveling, and hanging around with my husband and my two very busy daughters. I love to see the wonder and excitement in my students' eyes when cool things happen in science.

I’m so excited to be a part of the Vargas family and the 5th grade team!  I earned my B.A. in Communication from the University of Colorado Denver, my M.S.Ed. in Education from University of Pennsylvania, and my teaching credentials through San Jose State University. I enjoy working with 5th graders and promoting learning in creative ways!   

I moved to the Bay Area 5 years ago and am still exploring the area. When I’m not teaching, I like to play guitar, sing, go to the gym, play boardgames, and spend time with my dog. 

I am from Berkeley, CA. I have taught in many schools throughout the Bay Area and at all grade levels ranging from TK-Adulthood. I am passionate about the happiness and success of all students and their families. I love to play sports, especially basketball and football. If you are looking for me during recess, I am most likely on the basketball courts challenging students or teaching them new tricks.

Hi, My name is Rosmery Camargo and I was born and raised in Guatemala. I’ve lived in California since I was 8 years old and came to San Jose in 2017 to attend SJSU. I obtained my BA, credential and Masters at SJSU. I’ve always had an interest in teaching and I became especially interested in Special Education a couple years ago when I started teaching in San Jose. I am invested in helping students achieve their goals by meeting them where they are at and providing them the adequate amount of support for them to the challenged but also be successful. I am excited to join the Vargas community, collaborating with families and colleagues and to  continue learning effective teaching strategies. I also have two cats and enjoy going out with friends,  exploring new places, and trying new ideas. I look forward to making lasting memories with the Vargas community this upcoming school year!

Hello! I'm Jasmine Rodriguez, a Resource Specialist at Vargas. I am a Sunnyvale native and attended Fairwood Elementary, Columbia Middle School, and Fremont High School. I earned my bachelor's degree in Child and Adolescent Development from San Jose State University. Currently, I'm enrolled in a special education credential program and will begin an internship this fall. This will be my 7th year working at Vargas. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, exercising, traveling, and exploring new cuisines.

Hello! My name is Manny Dulai and I'm a first-generation American from Turlock, CA. I've been teaching Elementary PE for the past 5 years. I earned my BS degree in Kinesiology and Teaching Credential from San Jose State University. I enjoy building my students' socioemotional, physical and cognitive skills by participating in fun physical activities that promote teamwork and health. When I am not teaching, I love to spend time with my family, go on adventures and watch sports. 

This is my 12th year working at Vargas and my 1st  year working as the full-time instructional coach.  I live in East Palo Alto with my amazing wife, adorable pitbull, and the most passionate  and adventurous 2-year old you will meet…I grew up in Los Angeles and enjoy all sports as well as playing board games! Spicy food and boba keep me going. I am ALWAYS up for trying new things so I am open to ideas :)  I believe that science brings out the curiosity in students and pushes their imagination.

¡Hola! I grew up in Orange County where I attended Chapman University. After teaching in Southern California for a few years, I relocated to the Bay Area to join the loving Vargas family in 2010. 

My husband loves science and continues to open my eyes and mind to the world around us. My gentle, 8-year-old, daughter helps me slow down and take the time to craft and make cards to spread love and cheer. My  fun-loving,  4-year-old, son keeps me on my toes as we play with rockets and build innovative structures. We love spending time together and doing archery as a family.

Vargas has a special place in my heart! I enjoy building relationships with our students and their families. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Vargas community.

I grew up in the Bay Area, and went to college in Pennsylvania. I then taught kindergarten for a year in Thailand before earning my Masters in Social Work from San Jose State. I am now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and have been a School Social Worker at Vargas since 2018. I love being a supportive person on campus for our students, families, and staff, and helping students learn more about their feelings, how to manage their emotions, and develop coping skills to help them be more successful at school. My wife and I became moms in December 2021, and will be welcoming our second child in September 2023! We are also pet moms to our dog, Frankie, and two cats, Jax and Leia.

Became a school psychologist in 2008 and started my career at FUHSD. Worked in several states and moved back to the Bay Area in 2016 to be close to family. I have been at Sunnyvale School District since 2017.

I have two kids and a golden retriever. My husband and I first met in middle school.

Hi Vargas! My name is Rayna Steffl and I am the Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). I grew up in South Dakota and have lived in California for 5 yearsI I enjoy the sunshine, being by the water, and spending time with my husband and our two cats. I love being a part of the Vargas community and my passion is supporting inclusion for all of our students!