English Department

David Fiore was 24 when he started his teaching career in the Central Valley in 2008.  He thanks his mentor teachers for helping him along the way but quickly points to his students as playing a significant role in molding him into the educator and person he is today.  David was born in Berkeley, California, but grew up in Stockton. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Criminology from California State University of Fresno in 2007.  He went on to earn a Master's degree in Education with an emphasis in Technological Integration from Concordia University Irvine.  He has always taught middle-school, and appreciates this age group as students are not only impressionable, but can also appreciate his dry humor and outdated idioms.  His “dad jokes” are also on the rise.  Outside of the classroom, David enjoys spending time with his family, dabbles in home improvement (much to his wife’s dismay), plays golf and appreciates the beautiful outdoors Sonoma County has to offer. 

Email: dfiore@srcs.k12.ca.us | Extension: 23268

Tanisha Goudie was born and raised in Sonoma County. She attended the Santa Rosa Junior College before transferring to Sonoma State, where she earned her Bachelor of Art in English. After college, She joined AmeriCorps working in local elementary schools. There, she realized her passion for Education and returned to Sonoma State for her teaching credential. While student teaching, she was placed at a middle school and fell in love with this wacky age group.  Tanisha loves reading, sleeping, and spending time with her four younger siblings in that order.

Email: tgelottegoudie@srcs.k12.ca.us | Extension: 23267

Email: kherzog@srcs.k12.ca.us | Extension: 23214

Kristen O’Connor moved to Sonoma County in 1984 to attend Sonoma State University.  She spent an additional year studying at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and earned her teaching credential at Dominican University in 1989.  Kristen spent many happy years teaching 7th & 8th grade English at Gravenstein/Hillcrest Middle School in Sebastopol before joining the founding staff at Roseland University Prep High School in 2003.  Kristen’s heart still overflows with love for all the fantastic people she worked with, and the joyful memories she made in her 15 years at RUP.  Now teaching newcomer English, Kristen is excited to be a part of the CCLA family.  Kristen adores her students, and is motivated every day by their determination, dedication and resilience.  Apart from work, Kristen loves to do just about anything outside--hiking, running, paddleboarding, playing pickle ball and soccer, and taking walks along the Santa Rosa Creek Trail with friends and former students. 

Email: koconnor@srcs.k12.ca.us | Extension: 23216

Yesenia Perez was born and raised in Sonoma County. She graduated Sonoma State University with a BA in English and a minor in Spanish. She has always loved the idea of teaching and has been involved in teaching in some way throughout her life. While in high school, she volunteered for A Special Place Preschool and later went on to work for California Mini-Corps, and Adelante in college. After graduating, she worked for the Boys and Girls Club of Sonoma-Marin as a program coordinator and decided to receive her teaching credential from Sonoma State University soon after. There is nothing more rewarding than working with students for her. This is why she could not imagine working in any other field that was not teaching. She looks forward to learning more about her students, and can’t wait to see the collective academic and emotional growth that will be made this year. 

Email: yperezarzola@srcs.k12.ca.us | Extension: 23266

Cassandra Slagle grew up in the East Bay Area until moving to go to college at Sonoma State, where she earned her Bachelor of the Arts in both English and Theatre. After SSU, she went on to receive both teaching credentials through the University of Western Florida. Throughout her life, she has loved to act on stage and write creatively, and was able to find her voice and passion for public speaking as a middle schooler. It was her theatre teachers that inadvertently inspired her to go into teaching, because of the profound difference they made in her life. She enjoys the challenge and joy that comes with teaching middle schoolers, who are at the age of realizing their passions and goals for the future. In her spare time, Cassandra loves to cook healthy plant-based meals, work in her garden, travel, hike, do yoga, and spend time with her friends and family.

Email: cslagle@srcs.k12.ca.us | Extension: 23233