2008 Cohort Bios
Kirk Ankeney
Kirk Ankeney is currently Principal at the School of International Studies. Prior to this position he was Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction in the San Diego Unified School District. He previously served as a district curriculum leader for history/social studies and as a school administrator and history teacher at both the middle and high school levels.
A former chair of the California Curriculum Commission, Ankeney has published numerous articles and lessons and led scores of workshops on myriad topics in curriculum, instruction, and assessment. He is chairman of the state’s history-social science Curriculum Framework Criteria and Evaluation Committee (CFCC), serves on the Assessment Review Panel (ARP) for the history-social science assessments for California schools (CSTs), and is on the board of directors of the Friends of the California State Archives and of the California Council for the Social Studies.
A product of San Diego Unified School District schools, he earned a B.A. in History at UCSD, an M.A. in Educational Leadership at SDSU (where he also completed coursework for an M.A. in history), and additional units in history and education from UCLA, USC, UCSD, Penn, the University of Virginia, Wake Forest, and UCSB. He is the recipient of two NEH summer scholar designations, two National Fellowships for Independent Study in the Humanities, and two Gilder Lehrman seminar awards. Ankeney returned to public education in the fall of 2007 after an absence of nine years, during which he served as director of curriculum and instruction/vice president of district partnerships for an educational publisher.
He and his wife Christina are the proud parents of two boys who attend their neighborhood schools in Tierrasanta.
Eric Banatao
Eric Banatao presently serves as assistant principal at EastLake Middle School in the Sweetwater Union High School District. Banatao has been a teacher leader and assistant principal at middle school and high school levels. His work encompasses leadership in the areas of curriculum and instruction including the Advanced Placement program; International Baccalaureate Programme; Gifted and Talented Education; Categorical Programs; Western Association of School and Colleges (WASC) Focus On Learning as WASC Visiting Team Member and WASC Visiting Team Chairperson; Teacher Technology Trainer; Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA2) Support Provider; and staff professional development. Eric Banatao leads collaborative efforts with implementation of continuous cycles of improvement, site and district-level strategic planning, and systems of support and intervention. His classroom instruction in Advanced Placement English Language and Composition, International Baccalaureate language and literature, life sciences, and Pilipino represent his commitment to students of diverse backgrounds and unique learning needs.
A native Californian, born and raised in San Francisco’s Mission District, graduate of Lowell High School, Banatao moved to San Diego to proudly earn his B.A. in English, CLAD teaching credential, M.A. in Educational Leadership, and administrative services credential at San Diego State University.
Eric and his family reside in Bonita, CA. Together, they founded Canyon Court Labradoodles and enjoy raising multi-generation Australian Labradoodles. Canyon Court puppy donations and adoptions provide families with special needs, such as autism, non-shedding, allergy-friendly service pets for therapy, assistance-work, and lifelong companionship. Eric Banatao and his family at Canyon Court have established a partnership with the North Star Foundation, sharing a mission to “help children find their way.” Banatao’s research interests include investigations of school environmental factors that maximize student achievement.
Susie Fahey
David Lorden
David Lorden is the Middle School Improvement Officer in the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD). He has been an educator for 24 years at the secondary level. Throughout his career, David has served as a district director, high school principal, vice principal, teacher, coach, and adjunct professor.
As a proponent for closing the racial achievement gap, David works with site leaders to build their leadership capacity and has engaged in extensive equity training and professional workshops sharing what he has learned as a white man working in a culturally diverse community.
Throughout his administrative career, David has been a change agent, moving schools forward in their educational practices. David’s strengths lie in his ability to listen, surmise the situation, intuitively understand strengths, areas of need and bring in structures, changes, and vision to bring about reform.
David is the recipient of the Region VI Association of California School Administrators Pupil Personnel Administrator of the year for 2008.
Consuelo Manríquez
Consuelo Manríquez de Beltrán, known as Chelo by her family and friends, is a Cachanilla by birth and a Chicana by choice. Born in Mexicali, México, she holds dual Mexican and US citizenship. She is the fourth of five children. She graduated with a BA from the University of San Diego, and a Bilingual Teaching Credential and MA from San Diego State University. Ms. Manríquez started her educational career in 1989 at a private school in Los Angeles and since then has taught in San Diego Unified for over 14 years and is currently a Vice Principal at Correia Middle School in Point Loma.
Greg Ottinger
Greg Ottinger is currently the Technology Integration Architect for the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE). The SDCOE serves San Diego's 42 school districts along with its own internal programs (Juvenile Court and Community Schools, Safe Schools, Pupil Services, HOPE Infant Family Support Program, and Outdoor Education).
The Technology Architect position works closely with school/district technology staff, teachers and administrators to provide consulting and guidance in the selection of hardware and software for instruction and administrative functions; participate in the use of data driven decision-making; and has responsibility for technical specification development, project scoping, solution testing, client training, and project management.
Formerly, Greg spent eight years in the Cajon Valley Union School District as a teacher, Title I Facilitator, and instructional coach. Greg also served as a Master Teacher for student teachers acquiring their teaching credential through San Diego State University.
Greg earned a B.A. in Political Science from UCSD, a Multiple Subject Credential from SDSU, a M.S. in Education Technology from National University, and a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential from SDSU
Bobbie Plough
Regula Schmid
Regula Schmid was born and raised in Switzerland. On her 16th birthday she flew to San Diego to learn English. During her nine months stay here in San Diego she fell in love with the city and all it has to offer and, though she had to go back to Switzerland, she was determined to move to San Diego one day.
Meanwhile, she studied at the University of St.Gallen, Switzerland, and started her career in education teaching English, P.E., Dance, French, German, and History at the very same middle school that she had attended years prior. In 1995, while heartbroken to leave her family and friends behind, she moved to San Diego where she studied at the University of San Diego, United States International University, and San Diego State University, where she also taught.
Her first teaching assignment in an American K-12 school was at Wilson Middle School in City Heights where she also worked as a peer coach/staff developer. Later she became a literacy administrator at Montgomery Middle School in Linda Vista and Mark Twain High School. In 2005 she became the assistant principal at Cajon Valley Middle School. In 2006 she became principal at Johnson Elementary School. She enjoys that post tremendously.
In her free time Regula travels, reads, finds interesting restaurants for long relaxing dinners, entertains, takes canine agility classes, runs, and goes to the theater. She lives with her husband Edwin Lim, Alley and Wilson (her dogs), and Kitta (her cat).
Mario Martinez
Christina Willis