Faculty/Staff

Anna Marie Savino M.Ed. - High School English

"Education, to me, is teaching people how to be fully human in a world fascinated with robotics."

Kelly Mann – MS English/Reading

Kelly Mann grew up in Sacramento and attended Sacramento Adventist Academy from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Helen Dowser - MS/HS Science

Helen has spent 24 of her 35 teaching years at Orangewood Academy. Although she has taught all of the grades from 1 - 12 at some time, her first love is teaching of Biology and Science.

Maritza Duran - HS History

Maritza Duran graduated with a bachelor's degree in history and a minor in Spanish and gender studies from La Sierra University in 2000 and immediately moved to Oakland, California to work at Golden Gate Academy.

Ruben A. Escalante - Principal

Married to Penny, and the father of Amanda, Ruben (Janelle), and Robert, Ruben is a proud grandfather to Elyse. Born in Calexico, California and educated in the finest Southern California preparatory schools, Ruben graduated with collegiate and graduate degrees from Loma Linda University and Andrews University.

Aime Cuevas - 2nd Grade

Currently the second grade teacher at Orangewood Academy, Aime has been teaching for the past 8 years, in which 7 of those years have been at Orangewood.

Victoria Karsten - 5th Grade

Victoria Ermshar Karsten is an alumnae of Orangewood Academy. She was president of her Senior Class.

Sam Lopez - Business Office

Sam Lopez was born in Lima, Peru on September 9, 1961. He grew up in Santa Ana, California where he went to school at Santiago Elementary through the fourth grade.

Martha Machado - Registrar

Martha graduated from Orangewood Academy in 1976 and was married later that same year. She and her husband moved to Riverside and then Loma Linda immediately thereafter.

Melissa Olson - Receptionist

Melissa Olson feels it is a pleasure working as the receptionist for Orangewood Academy. Although born and raised on the lush green (rainy) Oregon coast, she has acquired a love for hiking and four-wheeling in the deserts and mountains of southern California with her husband, Bill.

Carol Pawluk - HS Band/Choir/Handbells

Carol Pauluk was born in India of missionary parents. She came to the States when she was five and moved from the East coast to California when she entered the eighth grade.

Malisa Smith - Kindergarten Teacher

Born in Riverside and raised in Sunnymead, California, Malisa attend Sunnymead SDA Elementary and San Pasqual Academy. She received her Bachelor of Science in Child Development and Education in 1992, and a Master of Arts in Elementary Education 1998 both from La Sierra University.

Audry Whan - Director of Sunrise Preschool

Audry is the Director of the preschool and teacher in the Pre-K classroom. She graduated from Orangewood Academy in 1972.

Sandra White - 3rd Grade

Sandra White was born in Bangalore, South India to missionary parents. She lived her first five years in Rangoon, Burma.

Nicole Woltosz - 4th Grade

Nicole Woltosz has a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Cal Poly Pomona and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Cal State Long Beach. She is currently working on a graduate degree at La Sierra University.

Steve Zeller - MS Vice Principal/Bible Teacher

Steve was born in Nebraska and moved around a lot as a child. He attended Orangewood Academy for high school and graduated in 1972.