Math

Liz Swenson Dept. Chair Lauren Barahona Curtis Hoier Glenn Forster Polly Hwang Corrine Jacobs Alana Rice Michael Rigby Matt Rosa John Rosser Jake Schwartzberg Nic Smith Tiffany Wallace

TEACHER BIOGRAPHIES

Lauren Barahona

Teaching since 2003

Currently Teaches: Algebra I, Algebra II, Honors Algebra II, Honors Pre-Calculus

Lauren Barahona earned her Bachelor’s Degree from California State University, Fullerton and her Master’s Degree in Teaching and Teaching Credential from University of California, Irvine. Mrs. Barahona began her teaching career in 2003 and eventually joined the Dana Hills Family full time in 2016. Mrs. Barahona and her husband live in Rancho Santa Margarita and are welcoming their first child in April 2020. In her free time, Mrs. Barahona enjoys camping with friends, reading, and relaxing.

 

Glenn Forster

 

Curtis Hoier

 

Teaching since 2016

Currently Teaches: Algebra I, Honors Pre-Calculus

Curtis Hoier started teaching at Dana Hills in 2019. He is originally from Albuquerque, NM and earned his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from New Mexico Tech. He has three years of experience as a Project Engineer and two years of teaching experience at a private school, where he taught Math and Physics. He earned his Teaching Credential in Math from California State University, Fullerton. When not in the classroom, he volunteers at his church, either in the Children’s Ministry or playing violin on the worship team. He and his lovely wife have two very rambunctious boys.

Polly Hwang

Polly Hwang earned her Bachelors of Science degree from UC San Diego and her Master’s in Education from Cal State San Marcos. She joined the Dana Hills math department in 2003 and has taught Pre-Calculus, Honors Algebra 2/Trig, Algebra 2, and Algebra 1. Mrs. Hwang is a Southern California native and currently lives in Irvine with her husband and two boys. In her spare time, she loves to travel, volunteer at her kids’ school, and spend quality time out with family and friends.  

 

Corrine Jacobs

Teaching Since 2006

Currently teaches: Intro Statistics, Online Algebra I, Online Algebra II and Online Algebra II Honors

Corrine Jacobs earned her Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Cal State Fullerton, and her Master's of Mathematics Education from Cal State Long Beach. She has been teaching at Dana Hills since the beginning of her teaching career, and also enjoyed coaching girls swim for a few years. Mrs. Jacobs lives in Mission Viejo with her husband. In her free time, Mrs. Jacobs enjoys swimming, running, camping with friends, and gardening in her yard. 

 

Alana Rice

Teaching since 2014

Currently Teaches: Honors Precalculus, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC

Alana Rice earned her Master’s Degree in mathematics from CSUF, and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Minor in education from UCSB. She began teaching at Dana Hills in 2014, just five years after graduating from Dana Hills in 2009. Ms. Rice feels very lucky that she gets to teach high level math to extremely hard working students. It gets her excited to come to work each day. She recently moved from Dana Point to San Clemente, but don’t worry, she’s still a Dolphin through and through. Her favorite hobbies include snowboarding, wakeboarding, and running. As long as she’s near the beach or the mountains, she’s a happy camper.

 

Michael A Rigby

Teaching since 2001

Currently Teaches:  Algebra 1

Michael Rigby, originally from the Seattle Washington area (Everett 1969-2001), earned his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Aerospace) from Utah State University and his Masters in Education (Curriculum and Instruction) from the University of Phoenix. He played four years of college soccer at USU as a defender and a forward and tried out professionally for the Seattle Sounders in 2000. He and his aerospace engineering teammates at USU placed 4^th in the nation in the Inaugural AIAA Cessna ONR Student Design/Build/Fly Competition in 1997 at Ragged Island Maryland. He started teaching math in 2001 at William Workman High School in the City of Industry and became the math department chair and teacher of the year his third year teaching. He has been varsity head coach for both boys and girls tennis, assistant varsity coach for both boys and girls soccer, junior varsity coach for boys soccer, and assistant coach for boys and girls long distance track at other high schools prior to coming to Dana Hills High School in 2009. He has taught Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2. He enjoys running 5k’s, golfing, playing tennis, and playing high level competitive soccer in LA where he plans to join the 50+ league when he turns 50 later this year. He and his wife Kathy presently live in Fullerton and are the proud parents of a 5^th grader, Kylie, a 7^th grader, Kaylin, and a 9^th grader, Konner (all soccer fanatics), 3 cats, 2 bunnies, and a bunch of goldfish.

 

Matt Rosa

Matt Rosa earned his Bachelors of Science in Mathematics from the University of Redlands.  He stayed around the U of R to fulfill a 2 year graduate assistant coaching position for the Men’s/Women’s Water polo and Men’s/Women’s Swimming teams.  In that time he completed his Masters degree in Education.  In 2002, Mr. Rosa started teaching mathematics and coaching water polo/swimming at Dana Hills.  He has taught AP Statistics, Algebra II, Geometry, Algebra I, and physics in his time at DH.  He has also followed his passion for coaching by serving as the head coach of the boys/girls water polo teams and the boys swimming team.  He lives in Dana Point with his wife and 2 kids (1 son and 1 daughter).  He enjoys spending time with the family, going to the beach and taking the dog for walks to the park.

John Rosser

Jake Schwartzberg

Jake Schwartzberg grew up in Tucson, Arizona where he attended the University of Arizona (Go Cats!! Bear Down!!), graduating with a double major in Mathematics and History. After a short career in the Aero-Space Industry, Schwartzberg began teaching high school mathematics. He has taught every class within his department and still enjoys standing and delivering. He hopes to conclude his teaching career with 4 or 5 more years of service then he will begin his final career...SuperHero.

Nicholas Smith

Nic Smith earned his Bachelors of Science in Mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2011, and a Masters in Teaching from University of California, Irvine in 2016. He is a proud Dana alumnus (class of ’07) as is his wife (class of ’09). He re-joined the pod in 2016 as a member of the math department, and since that time has taught everything from Algebra I remediation to AP Calculus, and just about everything in between. Whatever level he is teaching, Mr. Smith believes in cultivating curiosity and critical thinking as keys to successful math learning. Mr. Smith is also the head girls’ cross country coach, a role he has held since 2018. Mr. Smith and his wife live in San Juan Capistrano where they have no dogs and no kids (yet), and in his spare time enjoys going to the beach with his wife, running long distances, and watching his beloved Los Angeles area sports teams. In the summer months, he is a California State Lifeguard.

Elizabeth Swenson

She is a Dana Hills grad, but she won’t say what year! She earned her BA in Mathematics from Cal State Fullerton and her Masters in Math from Long Beach State. She has been teaching at Dana since 2006! Outside of the classroom you can normally find her on the beach with her boys or soaking up sunshine somewhere. She is known for her enthusiasm for veggies as well as life. She is grateful every day to laugh with her students, to help them learn to think critically, and to see the ocean from her classroom.

Tiffany Wallace

Tiffany Wallace earned her BA in 1994 from UCI, teaching credential in 1997 and then years later, while teaching and coaching water polo and swimming, she went back to school and received her Masters in Education 2005 at Cal State San Marcos.  In 1997, Mrs. Wallace started her math and coaching career at DHHS and has been teaching in the Math department for 23 years. Currently, she is also the assistant varsity boy’s water polo coach. In her spare time, Mrs. Wallace loves to travel and spend time with her family and 3 fur children.