Home School Staff

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INDEPENDENT STUDY COORDINATOR  Claudia Weintraub

Claudia grew up in Switzerland and moved to the United States in her early 20s. She earned her bachelor degree in English and German at California Lutheran University, where she graduated summa cum laude. She then went on to receive her single-subject teaching credential in English and her Masters Degree in teaching from CLU as well.

After teaching middle school and high school students at local public schools, she was approached by CLU to teach as a part-time adjunct faculty member in the German and English departments. When her own kids started to approach college age, she decided to look for full-time work and found a position at a charter school in Ventura as the Curriculum and Assessment Coordinator. During her time there, she learned as much as possible about charter schools, measurement and curriculum. She had the privilege of working under the director and was able to participate in such important tasks as the WASC re-visit, board presentations, creating math intervention strategies and the graduation committee, and more. She was also the high school counselor.

During her free time, Claudia breeds and raises alpacas and is a member of the Ventura County Sheriff’s K9 Search and Rescue team, where she works and trains her Labrador puppy, Toby, to be a search and rescue dog. She loves to be outdoors and spend time with her friends and family. Claudia is married and has three children, two of whom are in college and her youngest is a junior at Westlake High School. 

SUPERVISING HOME SCHOOL TEACHER    Leina Ball

Leina grew up on the Mendocino Coast of northern California.  She earned her bachelors in geography and enjoyed learning about various people and places.  Next she pursued her masters in teaching in a contstructivist program at Washington State University.  Over the last dozen years she has taught all subjects in 4th-8th grades, taught English as a second language to first graders, and tutored foster students K-12th grade in their homes.  She earned her national board certification in English and is a teaching consultant for the national writing project. 

Until discovering BRIDGES and Ventura charter schools the closest she had come to educating in the spirit she was trained was through the national writing project.  In the summer of 2010 she was fortunate to Co-Direct their summer institute which celebrates teachers teaching teachers and teachers who teach writing being writers themselves.  She is an avid reader and writer who loves to share her enthusiasm for learning with her students.  She also enjoys spending as much time as possible regenerating in nature.

SUPERVISING HOME SCHOOL TEACHER    Shirley Zimmerman

I was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  My undergraduate and graduate degrees are from the University of Arizona in Tuscon.  My educational work has been mostly in California as a classroom teacher in grades K-12, in educational administration, and as principal of a K-8 school.

After having retired twice, I find myself once again involved in the profession of teaching, this time as a supervision teacher for the Home School Programs at BRIDGES and Ventura Charter.

SUPERVISING HOME SCHOOL TEACHER    Annie Brokish

Annie knew at age 9 she wanted to be a teacher.  That year she wrote in her diary, “I now know what my purpose is here on this earth.  It is to teach children.”  She followed that dream and graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a bachelor of arts in Psychology, a minor in French, and an elementary education certification.  It was during her progressive teacher preparation program that Annie found her passion for project-based learning and constructivist education.

 During the past three years, Annie has loved gaining experience in a wide variety of classrooms, from long-term subbing in kindergarten to tutoring 4th and 5th graders with Ventura County’s Supplemental Education Services program.  She is passionate about helping children to discover their potential and empowering them to make choices for their own well being.  As a home school supervising teacher for Bridges and Ventura Charter Schools, Annie loves exploring new curriculum, developing exciting enrichment classes, and, most of all, connecting with students and parents who are just as passionate about learning as she is.

In her free time, Annie loves spending time with her husband Kevin and sweet cat Sufi, running, doing yoga, reading, and enjoying the beach.

SUPERVISING HOME SCHOOL TEACHER    Stephanie Forbes

Stephanie grew up in Burbank, down the street from her own elementary school. She loved helping her teachers set up their classrooms every summer, and often dreamed of having her own classroom one day!

After high school, Stephanie joined the ITEP program at CSUN. She earned a BA in Liberal Studies and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. While studying at CSUN, Stephanie worked as a paraprofessional and substitute at CHIME Charter for two years. It was during this time that Stephanie realized her passion for inclusive education and the charter school movement.

Once receiving her credential, Stephanie was hired by LAUSD as a first grade teacher. After one year she realized she missed the charter school environment too much. Stephanie returned to her charter roots and helped develop the Phonics and Grammar curriculum for NEW Academy Canoga Park, where she taught second grade for three years.

Stephanie is excited to join the Homeschool team and share her passion for phonics, reading, and writing with the students at BRIDGES. She also hopes to work on a deeper level with families so that students can reach their maximum potential in all social and academic areas.

In her free time, Stephanie likes to snuggle with her three cats, travel with her husband, and read lots and lots of pigeon books!

SUPERVISING HOME SCHOOL TEACHER    Samantha Watson

Samantha grew up in San Diego County, California.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies and Spanish from California Lutheran University, where she graduated cum laude.  She then went on to receive her preliminary multiple-subject teaching credential and is currently pursuing her masters in Teacher Leadership at CLU.

Samantha’s previous work experience includes teaching in the 2nd, 4th and 5th grades and working as a teacher’s assistant in a Montessori elementary school.  Joining the homeschool family in the Fall of 2011, Samantha has learned about many styles of teaching and curriculum and has been inspired by the teachers and parents she works alongside.  She has an enthusiasm for learning and discovering which she hopes to share with her students. 

She is passionate about traveling and learning about other cultures and people.  During her years at CLU, she spent a semester studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina and spent time in Peru where she volunteered in a local preschool.  In her free time Samantha likes to spend as much time as possible outdoors, exploring southern California and spending time with her family and friends.