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When the temps rise, Sandia Prep teachers don’t vanish -- they just switch gears and turn up the fun at SummerPrep! We’re shining the spotlight on some of our superhero faculty who bring their passion, creativity, and energy to camp long after the school year ends.

Sandia Prep Classes: Geometry, Precalculus 
SummerPrep Classes: Battle Bots, Retro Game Arcade

From Solving Equations to Smashing Bots! It’s Ms. Jennylou Pangilinan-Riel’s first SummerPrep, and she’s diving in headfirst! During the school year, she teaches geometry and pre-calculus and coaches Sandia Prep’s powerhouse robotics team. This summer, she’s running the BattleBots and Retro Arcade Game Design classes. “When I saw the DesignLab and STEM classes, I knew I was meant to be part of this family,” she says. An official NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador for New Mexico and Director of RoboJam ASIA, Ms. Pangilinan-Riel brings serious STEM cred -- and serious fun. Her favorite summer memory? “Playing outside all day and staying away from phones!” Campers, get ready to build, battle, and beat the heat -- with bots.
 

Sandia Prep Classes: 7th-Grade History, Psychology
SummerPrep Classes: Outdoor Adventurer, Outdoor Leader

From History to Hiking! This will be Ms. Sora Wondra’s second summer with SummerPrep. During the school year, she teaches Senior Psychology and seventh-grade history, helping students try to uncover clues and understand why things happened the way they did. At SummerPrep, she’ll focus on sharing her love of the outdoors. “When I first talked to the Outdoor Leadership Program (OLP) staff and learned about all the cool skills we teach and trips we take, I knew I was meant to teach here! Summer always makes me think of backpacking, so I think of fun trips I have taken to hot springs in Colorado, ridge walking in Alaska, or enjoying the Pecos.” Ms. Wondra’s favorite summer memory: Lying on the ground outside (but in the shade), reading a book for hours on end.

Sandia Prep Classes: 7th-Grade History, 8th-Grade History
SummerPrep Classes: Minecraft

From Textbooks to Minecraft Missions! This will be Mr. Logan’s third year at SummerPrep. During the school year, he teaches 7th- and 8th-grade history. He grew up on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona. His favorite summer memory is a trip he took with his sister, cousins, and grandparents to Cedar Point Amusement Park in Ohio that, at the time, had the world’s fastest rollercoaster and a ride called the Demon Drop. While he’s teaching Minecraft at SummerPrep, Mr. Logan is  probably daydreaming of “an ice-cold Pepsi on a hot, humid day.”

Sandia Prep Classes: Sixth-Grade Social Studies, Dance, Dance Team Coach 
SummerPrep Classes: Assistant Theater Director 

From Classroom to Center Stage! If SummerPrep had a hall of fame, Courtney Giannini would already have her plaque. Now in her 19th summer with the program, Mrs. Giannini is bringing her boundless energy to the stage as assistant theater director for this year’s productions of The Addams Family JR. and Beetlejuice JR. Mrs. Giannini’s Sandia Prep journey began in 2007, coaching the dance team -- a role she still proudly holds, now with 18 years and multiple state championships under her belt. Her teaching career took her through two other schools, but she always felt the pull of Prep’s warm, supportive community. These days, she teaches sixth-grade social studies and keeps the dance team in winning form -- all while cheering alongside her biggest fan, husband Louie, Prep’s Performing Arts chair, who shares her love of coaching and teaching at SummerPrep. When school’s out, the Giannini crew hits the road in their RV for family adventures with sons Lucca ’31 and Hudson. Favorite stops include towering sequoias in California, historic cities in Tennessee, and, of course, Disneyland. Some of her best memories are of those long, sunny days from her own childhood -- riding bikes to the park, selling lemonade, and playing hide and seek. She loves recreating that joy for SummerPrep campers. “I’m so glad to be part of this community!”

Sandia Prep Classes: Ceramics, Design, Architectural Studies, Industrial Design
SummerPrep Classes: Architecture, Woodworking

Designing Memories, One Project at a Time! Waseem Touma has been a creative force at SummerPrep for six years, teaching architecture and woodworking classes that turn imagination into hands-on masterpieces. During the school year, he heads the Visual Arts Department and teaches everything from ceramics and design to architectural studies and industrial design. Basically, if it involves shaping, building, or dreaming big, Mr. Touma’s your guy. Originally from Sydney, Australia, Mr. Touma remembers summer days that felt like scenes from a movie: walking 30 minutes to the local pool with friends, playing for hours, and strolling home without a care in the world. “Those small, casual moments with friends and loved ones turned out to be really special,” he reflects. “I carry that awareness that small interactions can be really powerful, life-changing events. You just never know.” That same mindset is what drew him to Sandia Prep. From day one, he felt something different here, he says. “The teachers and students had a connection that was inspiring. I knew I could be myself at Prep.”
 

Sandia Prep Classes: Guitar 
SummerPrep Classes: Guitar, Ukulele

Hitting the Right Notes! Paul Nielsen has been strumming up talent at Sandia Prep for the past 10 years, but this summer marks his debut at SummerPrep. The moment he brought his guitar students to perform at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History, Mr. Nielsen knew he was exactly where he was meant to be. Since then, he’s become a beloved fixture at Prep, known for his gentle spirit, calm presence, and ability to turn even the most hesitant student into a confident performer. As a child, Mr. Nielsen’s summers were filled with wonder and exploration -- from sandy toes at the beach to an unforgettable trip to the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City. Fun fact: This laid-back music teacher once ruled the football field! In high school, Mr. Nielsen was an all-state player. During the school year, Mr. Nielsen loves bringing his students out into the community, playing for retirement centers and local events to spread joy through music. This summer, whenever you hear the warm sound of guitars and ukuleles drifting through the air, you’ll know Mr. Nielsen isn’t far behind.
 

Sandia Prep Classes: Sixth-Grade Performing Arts, Seventh-Grade Drama, Dance
SummerPrep Classes: Musical Theater Director 

From Ballet to Beetlejuice! Louis “G” Giannini has been bringing the drama (in the best way) to SummerPrep for two decades -- and to Sandia Prep for even longer! He knew he’d found his home the first time he taught a sixth-grade drama class, and 22 years later, he’s still inspiring students from the stage to the studio. As Chair of the Performing Arts Department, Mr. G teaches and coaches dance at Prep alongside his wife and creative partner, Courtney. He also leads sixth-grade performing arts and the seventh-grade drama rotation, earning a reputation for his quick wit, infectious energy, and unmatched rapport with students. This summer, Mr. G is directing both of SummerPrep’s musical productions: The Addams Family JR. and Beetlejuice JR. -- helping campers bring Broadway magic to life. He’s also the executive director and resident choreographer for Landmark Musicals, a community theater group that frequently collaborates with Prep. A lifelong performer, Mr. G has danced with Festival Ballet Albuquerque, Ballet Repertory Theater, New Mexico Ballet, and Keshet. He dazzled audiences in iconic roles, including Jonathan Harker in Dracula, the title role in Billy the Kid, and multiple performances in The Nutcracker. When he’s not choreographing, teaching, or directing, Mr. G cherishes his time with family -- Courtney and sons Lucca ’31 and Hudson. Whether he’s onstage or in the classroom, “G” brings heart, humor, and a whole lot of talent to everything he does.
 

Sandia Prep Classes: Athletics Director 
SummerPrep Classes: Athletics Director, Flag Football

Powering SummerPrep’s Athletics Lineup! Sandia Prep Athletics Director Terry Darnell is bringing serious game to his first SummerPrep season. In addition to overseeing the entire athletics lineup, he’ll be on the field himself, leading flag football. While this is his inaugural year at SummerPrep, Mr. Darnell is a seasoned pro -- he spent 18 years as the Athletic Director for Bernalillo Public Schools and coached basketball and multiple other sports for over 30 years at Bernalillo High School. “I knew Prep was the place for me once I saw the way the school makes each student feel part of something bigger,” he says. Mr. Darnell grew up playing everything from basketball and baseball to soccer and track. Some of his favorite summer memories include camping and fishing trips with his parents and siblings. And here’s a fun fact: If you catch him off the field, ask about the two-story log cabin he and his six siblings built from scratch in the Jemez Mountains, complete with an outdoor pizza oven!

Sandia Prep Classes: Assistant Director, Outdoor Leadership Program
SummerPrep Classes: Outdoor Leadership, Disc Golf, LEGO

Outdoor Educator Brings Breath of Fresh Air to SummerPrep! Some people just aren’t built for desk jobs -- and Charles Gwinn is proud to be one of them. As the Assistant Director of Sandia Prep’s Outdoor Leadership Program (OLP), he’s all about movement, exploration, and hands-on learning. This summer, he’ll bring that same energy to SummerPrep, leading outdoor skills, disc golf, and even LEGO adventures. During the school year, Mr. Gwinn helps guide students through unforgettable experiences like kayaking, backpacking, fly fishing, skiing, caving, and climbing. So it’s no surprise that when asked about his favorite childhood summer memory, his answer is simple: “So much outside time!” He even managed to keep winter at bay by visiting Patagonia with his wife during their summer, which runs from December to February. When he’s not out on the trail or guiding an expedition, you’ll find Mr. Gwinn enjoying time with his family, bikepacking, fly fishing, and experimenting in the kitchen. He’s especially proud of his homemade pizza and baking skills. What drew him to Sandia Prep? “The culture, the students, the staff, and the faculty,” he says. With Mr. Gwinn on the team, SummerPrep is sure to be full of fresh air, adventure, and fun.

Sandia Prep Classes:  Chemistry 1 and 2
SummerPrep Classes:  Aikido

Lab Coat by Day, Aikido Gi by Summer! During the school year, Amy James is all about atomic orbitals, stoichiometry, and the occasional explosive demo -- guiding students through everything from modern atomic theory to the mysteries of nuclear chemistry. But come summer, she channels a different kind of energy. At SummerPrep, Ms. James teaches aikido, a modern Japanese martial art that’s all about non-competitive movement and flowing with power. Ms. James has been part of the Prep community for 14 years, and she knew it was home before she was even hired. “During my interview, I had multiple students come up and introduce themselves. I also saw a group of high school kids playing Quidditch on the Quad,” she recalls. “I was impressed with the sheer nerdiness of the science department. In one day, I saw the huge variety of experiences kids were encouraged to have here.” Growing up in Michigan, she spent summers swimming in small lakes. That love for water stuck -- these days, Ms. James spends her summers on multi-day river trips through the Chama, San Juan, and Green rivers, trading lab goggles for paddles and beakers for dry bags. She’s also a card shark of the Midwest variety, having mastered cribbage, sheepshead, euchre, and pinochle-- games that require strategy, memory, and a healthy dose of mischief. What does she love most about Prep? The joy, whimsy, and unabashed spirit of the students. “Lion & Unicorn Day, Color Day during Spirit Week -- the students aren’t afraid to be themselves and have fun,” she shares. Whether she’s explaining electron configurations or practicing aikido rolls, Ms. James brings a deep sense of balance, curiosity, and fun to everything she does -- and encourages her students to do the same.

Sandia Prep Classes:  Seventh- and Eighth-Grade English
SummerPrep Classes:  Gods, Myths & Monsters, and NightScares

From Monday Crosswords to Monsters and Myths! Ellie Kerbleski doesn’t need to switch gears for SummerPrep -- she sticks with what she loves year-round: reading, writing, and sharing that passion with students. During the school year, she teaches seventh- and eighth-grade English, and this summer -- her first at SummerPrep -- she’s diving into two exciting courses: Gods, Myths, & Monsters and NightScares: Horror Writing. A proud Prep alum (Class of 2013), Ms. Kerbleski returned two years ago as a faculty member and knew she was home the moment her book bingo project took off. “The first year I launched it and students came in with lists of dozens of books they wanted to read, I knew it was the place for me,” she says. When she’s not sparking literary enthusiasm in the classroom, Ms. Kerbleski is usually on -- or in -- the water. Swimming, kayaking, sailing, paddleboarding, floating -- she soaks it all in. During the school year, she coaches Prep’s swim team. On dry land, she enjoys hiking and biking. Indoors? She’s likely conquering a New York Times crossword puzzle: “I can crush the Mondays in about five minutes,” she says. From grammar to ghost stories, Ms. Kerbleski is excited to help students tap into their own voices and bring their stories to life.