Undercover Teachers

Ms. Collins

Presentation Career: 25 years

Why She Returns to Pres: First, the students, and also because there are lots of different jobs and areas at Pres you can be involved in, so teachers aren’t always doing the same thing. Ms. Collins has done an array of things such as being a CI moderator, teacher, and a counselor.

Before Pres: The only other place she has ever taught was Independence High School, where she taught for a year.

Advice For Us Pres Girls: Not to take high school so seriously. It feels big while we’re here, but if we make it a job we won’t enjoy it and it doesn’t matter where we go to college as long as it’s a good fit.

Random Fact: Not many people know that she was an administrator for 9 years when it was just her, Ms. Miller and Ms. Hernandez.

Ms. Kissane

Presentation Career:  29 years, but retiring this year

Why She Returns to Pres: The students.

Before Pres: She taught for a year at St. Lawrence Academy.  Before that she taught in Smithfield, Rhode Island and Edison, New Jersey with Ms. Renner’s uncle.

Pres Changes Over the Years: When she first came here, student enrollment was in the 400s. There was also no gym, no pool, no CLC, and no theater.

Advice for Us Pres Girls: Don’t get too wrapped up in Facebook and other things.  Expand and experience the other things in life and find your calling.

Random Fact: She didn’t want to become a teacher when she went to college. However, her father was paying for her college and wanted her to take courses in education, and being the obedient daughter she was, she complied and found that she really enjoyed it.

Ms. Lagana

Presentation Career: 26 years

Why She Returns to Pres: Her passion for the subject she teaches, her love for the students and her belief in the school’s philosophy keep her coming back.

Before Pres: She started her teaching career at Sacred Heart Prep and went on to teach at Santa Teresa High School, Harker Academy, and finally Pres.

Pres Changes Over the Years: When she attended Pres, the only two sports were volleyball and softball. Because there wasn’t a gym, heir gym classes were held outdoors on the parking lot pavement.  They wore one-piece polyester gym suits that they had to iron and starch themselves.

Advice for Us Pres Girls: There are so many opportunities to be involved in so many different things, so when plan your schedules carefully and learn to balance things.

Random Fact: She holds a current EMT certificate with Santa Clara County, as well lifeguard and CPR instructor certifications.

Mrs. Newton

Presentation Career: 27 years

Why She Returns to Pres: She finds joy in watching students grow and succeed.  They always thank her for teaching them how to type.

Before Pres: Mrs. Newton and her husband owned a hardware store in Balboa, CA.  She originally hoped to major in music yet changed to a business major. She later became a community college teacher and taught at San Jose State University for four years.

Pres Changes Over the Years: Skirts have gotten shorter.  Current Pres students are smarter and more flexible than in the past. They are inquisitive, opinionated, and on the cutting edge.

Advice For Us Pres Girls: Focus in school, spend time learning, travel and become more global. She also recommends taking the class Women and Money.

Random Fact:  Long before she became a teacher at Pres, Mrs. Newton raced cars and loved spending time speeding down raceways.

Ms. Ray

Presentation Career: 30 years

Why She Returns to Pres: The fun students, creative opportunities, and great staff keep Ms. Ray returning to Pres each year.

Before Pres: She was a black jack dealer at Harrah’s in Tahoe where she attended pit school.

Pres Changes Over the Years: The students are similar. They are lively, outspoken, and fun loving, but fragmented.

Random Fact: Teaching at Pres was her first job out of graduate school. She obtained her undergraduate degree at Scripps College and Pomona and her graduate degree at Stanford. She has also traveled extensively and enjoyed her experiences across the globe. Five generations of her family members have grown up in Lake Tahoe, and she has many ancestral stories about the early pioneers and settlement of the west.

Princess and the Frog Hops Into Theaters

A handsome prince, endless riches, and a huge castle. What more could a young girl hope for? In the past, many Disney princesses have given the impression that the answer is nothing. But with their first animated heroine since Mulan, The Princess and the Frog defies many Disney stereotypes and gives young girls a proper role model.

Set in New Orleans before World War I, the movie’s heroine is a young woman named Tiana. Hard-working and kind to all, Tiana, voiced by actress Anika Noni Rose. has grown up with the ambition of opening her own restaurant. With the memory of her father to guide her, Tiana works hard all day to save up for a building in which to set up shop. Meanwhile, the spoiled Prince Naveen of Maldonia, cleverly voiced by Bruno Campos, comes to New Orleans in search of a rich bride to support his expensive tastes. During his visit, Prince Naveen runs into the sorcerer Dr. Facilier, voiced by Keith David, who turns him into a frog and puts royal assistant Lawrence in his place.

In an attempt to return to his human state, Prince Naveen convinces Tiana, who is dressed up as a princess for a party, to kiss him. She is turned into a frog herself, and the two new acquaintances are forced to head into the bayou for shelter. There they come across the usual challenges of Disney heroes, but they also meet some new friends. The trumpet-playing alligator Louis, voiced by Michael-Leon Wooley and Ray, a firefly who is in love with a star, voiced in a unique Cajun accent by Jim Cummings make spectacular additions to the cast. The four then set off in search of Mama Odie, priestess of the bayou, hilariously voiced by Jenifer Lewis.

The Princess and the Frog takes its audience on a magical journey. With vibrant color and music that would make even the stiffest want to dance, it doesn’t matter that you’re watching an animated movie. You’ll get pulled into the entrancing story no matter what. The cast of characters is diverse and entertaining, further enhancing the flick. Despite his selfish tendencies, Prince Naveen provides comic relief throughout the movie. Louis and Ray are the type of friends anyone would want, and Mama Odie gives the rest sound advice that eventually leads Tiana and Naveen back to humanity.

Unlike some Disney princesses who sit around waiting for someone to give them what they want, Tiana goes after what she wants. Through all her hard work she manages to keep a smile on her face and a song in her heart. It is women like this that young girls should look up to. She teaches us to be strong and to work for what we believe in, which is truly the best lesson any little girl could learn.

Another important lesson this movie teaches us is that money is not what is most important in life. In the end, Prince Naveen forsakes his dreams of marrying a rich girl because of his love for Tiana. The happy couple then works hard and eventually opens a great restaurant. If we could all follow this example, we could all lead happier lives. And if Disney comes out with more films like this, girls everywhere can grow to their full potential.