Staff Information

Janet Terranova, Principal
Marsha Mak, Counselor
Sheila Garcia, Secretary
Betty Bloemen, Registrar
Vivian Jeffrey, Paraeducator

Teachers

Henry Bailey, Teacher
Irene Brewster, Teacher (bio to come)
Gary Curley, Teacher
Andy Enzminger, Teacher
Kathy Dillingham, Teacher
Ann Ditlevsen, Teacher

This is Janet’s first year at Venture School. Prior to coming to Venture, Janet was an Assistant Principal at California High School for four years and a Resource Specialist at both California and Monte Vista High Schools. She has also taught in Oakland and a small elementary district outside of San Diego. Janet received her teacher credentials and Master of Education from the University of San Diego and her administrative credential from Cal State East Bay. Janet is married and has two children and one grandchild. In her spare time she likes to travel, camp, and read.

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Marsha Mak is one of Venture School’s counselors and has been working at Venture School since 1981. She absolutely enjoys working with Venture students. Prior to coming to Venture, she taught at Charlotte Wood Middle School for four years as a Home Economics teacher. Marsha likes helping students use a variety of creative means to make up lost credits or to help students complete their A-G subject requirements so that they are eligible to apply to four-year colleges. “Every student is an individual, so finding a way to meet each of their goals is a fun and creative process.” Marsha has one daughter, Rachel, who graduated from Venture School in 2003 and graduated from Wellesley College in Massachusetts in 2007 with a major in both Neuroscience and French. Marsha enjoys traveling and has visited such places as Bhutan, China, Morocco, Brazil, Taiwan, Europe, Australia and all around the United States. She has purchased land in Alaska and plans to live there in the winters when she retires.

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Sheila has been working in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District for 20 years, most of that time in Testing and Assessment in the District Office before coming to Venture this year as Office Manager. Sheila grew up in Anaheim, California and has two grown children. Bri, her daughter, is working on her teaching credential in Mission Viejo, California. Her son, Joey, has two Internet businesses and lives in Alpharetta, Georgia. On the weekends, Sheila enjoys boating with her fiancé, Tom, as well as riding their Harley Davidson motorcycle along California’s coastline.

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Vivian Jeffrey is Venture School’s Para Educator and Health Clerk. Her job is to keep the files filled with the worksheets, tests, etc. that go with each course contract.  She also keeps track of each student’s immunizations and makes sure that they are all up-to-date.Vivian has worked at Venture School for six years. She grew up in Concord and graduated from Mt. Diablo High School.Vivian is married and has two adult children (a son and a daughter), both of whom graduated from Venture School. Vivian loves to travel, especially to New York to visit her son, and cruises to Alaska.

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Teachers

Andy Enzminger has been a teacher at Venture School for many years. Andy is in charge of the Extended Day Program and runs the math labs. He grew up in Palo Alto, California and graduated from the University of California at Davis. Andy received his teaching credential from the University of California at Berkeley and his Master’s Degree from California State University at Hayward. Andy’s favorite subjects to teach are math and history. Andy is married and is most proud of his two wonderful children who also happen to share his political views. Andy’s wife is a college French teacher.

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This year will be Kathy's twenty-second year of teaching. She taught sixth grade for Redwood Christian Schools and then taught second grade at Colonial Acres School in San Lorenzo while pregnant with her first child. She then helped create and was a consulting teacher for the Dayspring Homeschool for the San Lorenzo Unified School District for six years, working with students in K-12th grades. Kathy taught for eleven years at Vista Grande Elementary School and taught kindergarten, second, third and sixth grades in both the traditional and alternative programs. She then taught sixth grade core for Windemere Ranch Middle School for two years. This included history and a focus on the New York Reading and Writing Project from Columbia University’s Teachers College.

Kathy grew up in Castro Valley, California. Her family still lives there so holidays and birthday celebrations are. She attended Chabot Junior College and Cal State Hayward, majoring in Sociology and got her teaching credential at Cal State Hayward.

Kathy has a daughter who is a sophomore at St. Mary’s College studying nursing, a son who is a senior at Monte Vista High and a daughter who is a freshman at Dougherty Valley High.

Kathy loves to read, usually completing at least a book a week. She also enjoys writing, mainly stories about family, friends and “life’s lessons.” She's recently been on a fitness kick, trying to exercise daily and she competed in her first sprint distance triathlon last year. Kathy also enjoys hiking and spending time with friends.

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Ann Ditlevsen has been a teacher at Venture School for nine years. She teaches grades six through twelfth. She also taught school for two years in Ohio and in California. Previous to working at Venture School, Ann and her sister owned and operated three retail stores for fifteen years. Ann’s favorite subject to teach is math. Ann grew up in Oakland and earned her B.A. and teaching credential at California State University at Hayward. Ann is married and has two adult sons. Her interests are golf and reading.

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Claudia Doherty has been a teacher at Venture for over 15 years. She received her BA from the University of San Francisco and her teaching credential from St. Mary’s College in Moraga. Her favorite subjects are English and US History. She currently works with home study and independent study students. Claudia has been married almost 40 years and has three grown children, two sons and a daughter and three grandchildren. Claudia enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and walking. A favorite getaway is Lake Tahoe.

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Ed Olson has taught at Venture for 14 years. He teaches middle, high school, the Work Experience class, and works with students who are preparing for the GED. Ed has taught at Venture School for twelve years and as a high school baseball coach for ten years. Prior to teaching, Ed worked in the retail business world as a regional manager. He hired and trained management staff for his stores in the western region. Ed’s favorite subjects to teach are American Government, History, Psychology, Economics, and Work Experience. Ed grew up in Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin. Ed has been married for 37 years to his wife, Leslee. They have one son, Erik, who is married and lives in Pleasanton with his grandson, Lucas. Erik has also taught at Venture School. He also has a daughter, Annika, who is finishing her Master’s Degree at Boston College this year. She hopes to return to California and become a high school counselor. Ed enjoys working with Venture students and staff. Venture is a very special place! Ed’s interests include: Sailing, boating, travel, music, gardening, reading, and most sports.

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Jim O’Brien has been a teacher for thirty years, and has taught at Venture School for ten years. During the years before Jim began teaching at Venture, he taught at private and public schools, including Walt Disney Elementary School in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, Mt. Diablo Unified School District, Seven Hills School, and several private schools and at the Melmed Clinic. Jim is a Special Education teacher. Jim grew up in Orinda, California and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. He received his teaching credential at St. Mary’s College, and his Resource Credential at Holy Names College. Jim enjoys teaching all subjects. He loves helping his students in every way he can. His motto is, “A child’s education is only as good as the teacher that he/she has.” Jim is in charge of the annual Spelling Bee and one of his students has won the Regional competition two years in a row representing this Region in Washington D.C. both years, placing 16th in the nation two years ago and 14th in the nation last year. Jim is happily married and has two grown children.

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Lauralyn Tarasow teaches kindergarten through twelfth grade. She has both independent study students and home school students. She has taught at Venture School for eight years and other schools for over thirty-two years. Lauralyn has also worked as a swimming instructor, Ed. Testing Coordinator, Assistant Principal at Bollinger Canyon Elementary School and Country Club Elementary School, GATE Coordinator, and Career Education teacher/consultant. Lauralyn enjoys teaching all subjects. Lauralyn has two sons and three grandchildren. Her husband has a great Corvette and often comes to Venture in it and takes her to lunch! Lauralyn was born and raised in Michigan (Go Blue!!) and received her Bachelors of Science from Eastern Michigan University and her Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from St. Mary’s College. She loves art, reading a good novel and traveling.

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Michaline Youngblood is a teacher at Venture School. She started as the Special Education teacher’s assistant and soon became a regular teacher. Michaline has taught at Venture for eighteen years. She worked as a teacher in elementary education prior to coming to Venture, for a total of twenty five years. Before becoming a teacher, she worked for five years as an Optometric Assistant. Michaline’s favorite subjects to teach are English and Math and she coordinates the field trips for Venture’s students. Michaline grew up in San Jose, California and graduated from California State University at San Jose. Michaline has been a resident of San Ramon for 37 years. She has two adult children, Julie and John. Her daughter graduated from California High School and her son, a San Ramon Firefighter, graduated from Venture in 1991. Michaline’s husband, John, retired after 32 years with United Airlines. Michaline’s favorite pastimes are playing with her grandchildren, Luke (age 3 ½) and Hope (age 10 months), yardwork, cooking, and e-baying. She shares her house with her pets: four cats and two birds.

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Rich Sims has been a teacher at Venture School for twenty years. He previously taught at Monterey, Baldwin Elementary School, and Greenbrook Elementary School in Danville. He has been a teacher for 37 years. He teaches kindergarten through twelfth grade. He also teaches in the Extended Day program and coordinates the home school materials. During his college years, Rich worked in the college bookstore and was a mover. Rich’s favorite subject to teach is history. Rich grew up in Concord, California and graduated from California State University at Chico. Rich and his wife, a kindergarten teacher, have been married for over 38 years. They have a daughter (recently married) and two sons. Rich enjoys sports, golf, kayaking and hiking at Tahoe, and traveling to new places. One of his personal goals is to kayak the perimeter of Lake Tahoe with fellow teacher, Rich Johnson.

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Ron Houston has been a teacher at Venture School for the past 21 years. He has been the San Ramon District for 38 years. Previously, he has taught at three elementary schools: Green Valley, Greenbrook and Montevideo. He currently serves as a teacher and Assistant Principal as well as the coordinator for the California High School Exit Exam. Ron is a bay area native, having lived in Oakland, Moraga and Orinda and currently lives in Walnut Creek. He graduated from Cal State Hayward and began a career in the business world. He was a manger in retail sales and briefly was involved in the insurance sector. However, he was destined to be a teacher and after earning his teaching credential, was fortunate enough to be hired by the San Ramon School District in1971. Ron was selected as the San Ramon District’s “Teacher of the Year” in 2005. That same year he was awarded the “Warren Eukel Teacher Trust Award for Teacher Excellence” and honored at a dinner at Diablo Country Club. Ron enjoys teaching all subjects. Working with his students on an individual basis is his favorite thing to do.. Over the years, he has interacted with thousands of students and enjoyed them all. He looks forward to his job each day and feels so fortunate to be involved with such an incredible school. Ron has been married to his wife Pam for over 38 years and has two children, a daughter, Shauna, and a son, Ryan. In his spare time he enjoys travel, reading, playing sports and involving himself in activities around his home such as gardening and various construction projects. He is an avid photographer and loves to create videos for friends and family. His philosophy: Why retire when you are having so much fun?

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Vince Lazo has been a teacher at Venture School for twenty years. He teaches Kindergarten through twelfth grade. He works with many home school families. He has worked in the teaching profession for 40 years and retired last June. He is currently working one day per week at Venture. Vince’s favorite subjects to teach are Math, Social Studies, and Physical Education. Vince grew up in Oakland, California and graduated from San Francisco Vince is married. His wife is a retired teacher. They have an adult daughter and two granddaughters. Vince enjoys golf, fishing, skiing, and cards.

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This is Holly¹s second year teaching at Venture. She participated in the Venture Home Study Program for 6 years with her daughter, Amanda, and son, Robert, now in high School.

Holly grew up in Sacramento and Arcata where she received her elementary teaching credential and a PE minor from Humboldt State. She has had a variety of teaching experiences, from an alternative elementary ³one-room classroom² to specialty classes such as horseback riding lessons, Bible study, folk dancing classes, summer drama production, and science classes. Other areas of teaching include 1st, 5th, and 6th grade classroom instruction in southern California.

Holly taught 6 years of PE classes for middle school and high school. She also enjoyed coaching her son¹s and daughter¹s basketball, and softball teams. Holly is currently teaching PE classes at Bollinger Canyon Elementary School when not at Venture.

Holly enjoys yard work, reading novels, traveling, studying the Bible, creative arts and crafts, taking walks long, and being with her family and friends.

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Henry Bailey is the Concurrent Enrollment Coordinator/Counselor at Venture School.Henry retired from California High School two years ago. He was one of their guidance counselors for 31 years. He taught social studies at San Ramon Valley High School for five years before becoming a counselor at California High School. After retiring, Henry wanted to continue working part time and Venture School is very fortunate to have him on staff for two afternoons per week. He has been with Venture for two years and is a wonderful asset to the staff.Henry’s favorite job is advising students about college and about academic preparation for college. Henry’s wife is an English teacher and his daughter is also an English teacher and an English Language Development teacher.Henry enjoys sports, especially the Oakland A’s and the Cal Bears. He travels extensively during the summer.

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Maria DuBose has been a teacher at Venture School for three years. Previously, she taught math at California High School and is now a part-time counselor there. Her favorite subjects to teach are math and science. Maria loves working one-on-one with students and helping them with their educational and life goals. Maria was born in Nicaragua and grew up in San Ramon. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UC Davis and her Master’s in counseling from Chapman University. Maria is married and has a little boy. She enjoys traveling, visiting family and friends, and most outdoor activities. Her hobbies include reading, exercising, baking and cake decorating.

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Gary Curley has been a teacher at Venture School for six years. His favorite subjects to teach are English, math, and art. Gary retired early from banking because he always wanted to go into teaching. He especially enjoys working with students to help them find the motivation to perform at their maximum potential. Gary states, “We have a wonderful, diverse population of students at Venture. One of the benefits of teaching at Venture is that we get to know students personally and become very interested and involved in their future.”Gary grew up in the East Bay and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. He was the Chief Credit Officer at a $50 billion dollar bank, lending money to insured financial institutions to facilitate mortgage lending. Gary said, “One of my favorite responsibilities was giving away about $20 million dollars a year to facilitate low-income housing development.” Gary is married and has two grown sons who also graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. He and his wife enjoy traveling, friends, and family. His interests include tennis, physical fitness, golf, and painting.

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Mark began working at Venture School in November of 2006 as one of the Guidance Counselors. Prior to Venture, he taught Chemistry and Biology and was a Counselor at Monte Vista High School from 1983 to 2000. From 2000 to 2006 Mark worked as a Guidance Counselor at Del Amigo High School.Mark’s favorite subject to teach is Chemistry and he loves helping students “find their way.”Mark grew up in Lafayette, California. He earned his BA degree in Biology and Science at the University of California at Davis and his Masters degree from University of LaVerne. Mark is married and has two sons, one is 17 years old and the other is 20 years old. Mark’s hobbies are home construction projects and he enjoys cycling.

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