News

Current position at St. Serra: Admissions Coordinator

Years at St. Serra: 2

What she enjoys most: “I love my coworkers and the friendships that I have developed from this community. It is wonderful working for a place that is teaching children to grow in their faith and that places Jesus at the center of all things.”

She Originally Hails from Washington State

“I am from Washington State and have been living in California for roughly three years now. I attended Washington State University where I graduated with a B.S. in Criminal Justice as well as a B.A. in Political Science. I then worked as a Paralegal in Baton Rouge before moving to California. I am a dedicated Washington State University Cougars fan. I even surprised my husband at our wedding with the WSU mascot ‘Butch.’"

She's a Newlywed and a Football Fan

“My husband, Ryan, and I were married in August of 2022. We love our beautiful golden retreiver, Sam. We are football fans and our teams are the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Francisco 49ers. We are going to see them play against each other this coming fall in Pittsburgh.”

What She's Looking Forward To

“I am so excited to welcome in all the new families for the 23-24 school year and show them why St. Serra is the best!”

Fun Facts!

• “I have seven brothers and sisters.”
• “I grew up on the water, so I love wakeboarding, water skiing, paddleboarding, etc.”

Current position at St. Serra: Extended Care Aide

Years at St. Serra: 25

What she enjoys most: “It brings me great joy to introduce classic games like hopscotch, jacks, marbles, and many others. They say these classics are lost to the time of an older generation, but it warms my heart to see the kids showing interest in them. I can only hope that they will continue to teach them to their own children and grandchildren.”

A Labor of Love Since 1997

“I started working at St. Serra Catholic School in 1997 and began in the Extended Care department. It was there that I fell in love with the St. Serra culture and working with the children. In 2005 I joined the Kindergarten team, where I was a Teacher Assistant for ten years. I had the pleasure of helping and guiding children of such a young age. It was an honor to serve so many children that have now grown up and possibly attended college or have gotten married and started families of their own. Ultimately, I returned to the Extended Care family [where I am now] and where, God willing, I plan to remain!”

Family and Free Time

“I have been married to my husband Gilberto, a retired engineer, for 41 years. We have two wonderful children and two beautiful grandchildren. I am very proud of my whole family. My son is a blacksmith and art teacher. My daughter is a fiber artist and historical reenactor. I have a granddaughter who is currently attending college and studying to be a psychologist. My grandson is an eighth grader at Serrano Intermediate School, where he is a percussionist in the school's orchestra, jazz band, and drum line. In my leisure time, I enjoy walking, sewing, gardening, and painting.”

Fun Facts!

• “I grew up in Mexico, in the beautiful state of Sonora.”
• “Our family dog, a senior pug named Secret, keeps me company in my garden.”

Current position at St. Serra: Middle School Learning Support Specialist

Years at St. Serra: 10

What she enjoys most: “I love working with the students. Being in middle school, I get to see students for 4 years and really enjoy watching all of their growth and success.”

She Was Originally Going to Be a Dentist

“I was a Biology major at San Diego State. I was studying to become a dentist. I ended up working in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry. I was a Chief Operations Officer (COO) for a pharmaceutical company and worked on getting new drugs through the FDA, as well as raising money for research and development.”

Family and Traditions

“I am married to a wonderful man, Michael and we will celebrate our 27th anniversary in September. We have two daughters who both attended St. Serra, now both in their twenties. Our youngest will be graduating from USC on her birthday in May and our oldest daughter was Student Council President at St. Serra her 8th grade year. I enjoy traveling and spending time with my family. Each year my family drives to Tahoe to cut down a 22-foot Christmas tree. We have been doing this for 26 years. Christmas and Halloween are my favorite holidays and I love to decorate for them."

Fun Facts!

• “I live on Candy Cane Lane.”
• “I love to read, cook and bake.”
• “I spend about 6 weeks in Tahoe each summer and it is one of my most favorite places.”
• “I was born in Massachusetts and lived there till I was 13, so I am a Boston Bruins, Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots fan.”

Three Things You Didn't Know About Mrs. Leet

1. “I was on the Price is Right in college. I won prizes and got to spin the wheel - though I didn't make it to the Showcase Showdown.”
2. “I met Paul McCartney backstage at one of his concerts.”
3. “I am not a fan of heights.”

Current position at St. Serra: Instructional Assistant in Kindergarten

Years at St. Serra: Currently in her first year

What she enjoys most: “The students and staff at St. Serra!”

Teaching is in Her Blood

“I grew up in Mission Viejo, graduated from Trabuco Hills High School, and went to Vanguard University. I am currently taking ECE classes with the goal to eventually earn my teaching credential. Before working at St. Serra my mom, sister and I owned a dance studio, where I was the youth director specializing in the curriculum for, and teaching of, our youngest students. I have taken my experience working with youth over the last two decades into my role at St. Serra by motivating [students] to reach their goals in a fun, creative and nurturing way.”

Life Outside of St. Serra

“I have been married for 18 years to my husband, Ryan. We have an 9-year-old daughter who is in fourth grade, loves Jiu-Jitsu, and enjoys being the goalkeeper for her soccer team. We attend Saint Kilian's and have two German Shepard dogs, Lady and Ada. In my free time I like to knit, read books, and watch my favorite sport, soccer (GO Manchester United!). As a family we enjoy going to musicals and spending time at the beach or lake.”

Fun Facts!

• “I played collegiate soccer and I coach for the Pateadores academy!”
• “My favorite quote is, ‘Peace begins with a smile’ by Mother Teresa.”

Currently in her nineteenth year working at St. Serra, Mrs. Dana Hardenburgh says one of her favorite things is seeing the students everyday. It's something that certainly adds up. Her own Serra Bears once set foot on this campus as little Kindergarten students, and eventually graduated in 2009 and 2013. As both a St. Serra parent and staff member, she has been a witness to the impressive metamorphosis of the school; from a field with only a few portable buildings, to the completion of the Chapel and state-of-the-art STEAM classrooms, and everything in between.

Mrs. Hardenburgh began working at St. Serra in 2004, when her youngest child began Kindergarten. She started as a bookkeeper, and took on the role of Scrip Coordinator the following year. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from California State University at Long Beach, it was only a matter of time before she moved into a role as accountant, and thereafter, senior accountant. Prior to her time at St. Serra, she was a consultant for Robert Half where she worked to place qualified personnel in accounting jobs all over Orange County. She also spent a significant amount of time in various ministries and volunteering for her parish, San Francisco Solano.

Mrs. Hardenburgh and her husband, Ted, have been married for 32 years and have lived in the area for over 26 years. Their two children, now 28 and 24, are natives to Rancho Santa Margarita, and are both graduates of Santa Margarita Catholic High School. Their oldest, a son, lives and works in Spokane, Washington, and is engaged to be married this fall. Their daughter is currently finishing up her doctorate in physical therapy at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. On the weekends, Mr. and Mrs. Hardenburgh love being outside and spend a lot of time taking walks. One of their favorite activities is walking the trails in Dana Point in the summertime. They enjoy traveling and were fortunate enough to visit Europe last summer. Mrs. Hardenburgh also loves to bake, which is something that has proven to be an “added benefit” for her coworkers in the SCLC building. Often when she tries new recipes, she manages to bring some of her delicious creations to the office for everyone to try. A particular favorite, and one for which she is well-known, are her “buckeye” treats made of chocolate and peanut butter.

In her current role, Mrs. Hardenburgh wears many hats. In addition to managing every aspect of billing and accounts receivable for the entire school, she is a FACTS expert and helps set up payment forms for various needs and departments. She also manages our Rebate/Scrip program, oversees the submission of volunteer service hours, and supports the administration of tuition assistance. She provides key accounting support for departments such as Admissions, Advancement, Extended Care, as well as for sports, summer and after-school programs, student activities and clubs, lunch and student store programs, and PTO events. “I love the diversity of my position,” says Mrs. Hardenburgh. “I get to work with a lot of wonderful people, and I can honestly say that no two days are ever the same!” 

A typical day in the School Office is very busy for Mrs. Patricia Dominguez. As the Administrative Assistant for the School Office, Mrs. Dominguez keeps busy tracking student attendance, providing support to the middle school principals, assisting parents and students, and covering the reception desk. Relatively new to St. Serra as a staff member (she was hired only eight short months ago), Mrs. Dominguez appreciates the hustle-and-bustle nature of her job. What does she enjoy most about her role? “I get to work with the parents and middle school students,” she shares. “Also, I…[provide] support for Mrs. Radzai and Mrs. Stokes.”

Mrs. Dominguez was born in Lima, Peru, and came to California when she was just six-years-old. She attended elementary school at Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Habra, and graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School as a member of their second graduating class of 1992. She went on to study Communications at California State University, Fullerton, where she earned her degree. She then worked in the marketing department for a financial services company, prior to getting married. When she and her husband welcomed their daughter into the world, she took time away from work to be at home with her new baby girl.

Mrs. Dominguez and her husband have been married for thirteen years. Their daughter is currently a fifth grade student at St. Serra. The family of three have an adopted pit-bull/Labrador mix named Sonny, who they refer to as their “big puppy.” On weekends they enjoy spending time relaxing at home or visiting with family. They particularly love traveling and trying out new restaurants.

As Mrs. Dominguez can tell you, it's never boring in middle school! She is currently working on getting the sixth and seventh grade students ready for their trip to Pali Camp. She is also assisting with the preparations for the eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, and the eighth grade graduation events.

Meet Mr. Arturo Gutierrez, Extended Care Aide at St. Serra! Mr. Gutierrez also helps out when needed as a substitute instructional aide in the lower grades, as well as with yard duty. Known to students as “Mr. G” or "Mr. Arturo," he is thoroughly enjoying his first year at St. Serra. He has a passion for working with kids, and he appreciates being part of the Extended Care team because it allows him to “build connections with the kids [through] helping them with homework or playing outdoor [and] indoor activities."

Mr. Gutierrez graduated from El Toro High School in 2017, and went on to receive an AA in psychology from Irvine Valley College. He will be starting classes at Cal State Fullerton in the fall of 2023, with a goal of earning his Bachelors degree and becoming a school guidance counselor. He brings his experience from working in before- and after-school daycare with the YMCA to his role at St. Serra, and often finds himself enjoying games such as bingo, Uno and Monopoly with the children.

When he is not working or studying, Mr. Gutierrez enjoys being active and often works out at the gym or plays basketball. He often organizes 2-on-2 or 3-on-3 basketball games for the Extended Care students. He also loves spending time with friends and attending music and sporting events. Although he is a big Lebron James fan and will sometimes root for the Lakers just to see Lebron win, his favorite NBA team is the Oklahoma City Thunder.

While Mr. Gutierrez is looking forward to pursuing his education this fall, he plans to continue working in Extended Care at St. Serra. He says he wishes to “keep building connections with all [of] the students, as well as the wonderful staff, teachers and parents, who are all so nice and friendly!”

When someone first walks into our School Office, they are immediately greeted by a friendly face and welcoming smile. Mrs. Diana Myers, also known as “The Face of Serra,” has been a positive fixture at our school’s reception desk for a number of years. It’s a job that, of course, involves answering the phone and greeting visitors, but Mrs. Myers has always pitched in beyond standard receptionist duties. She is often a key contributor to PTO’s administration of events, she assists students in various ways, and she regularly acts as a liaison when parents need to get in touch with their student, a teacher, or staff. Working closely with our parents and students brings Mrs. Myers great joy. She shares, “Interacting with my Serra Bears [and] getting to know our families has warmed my heart in so many ways.”

Prior to working in education, Mrs. Myers had pursued her passion in the food industry. She was forced to make a change when a back injury and subsequent surgery made it too physically challenging to continue, and found a job as a secretary for a brokerage house in Newport Beach where they dealt in gold, silver and platinum. After many years of anticipation, she and her husband, Ralph, welcomed their first and only child, a daughter, into the world. Mrs. Myers enjoyed many years being a stay-at-home mom, and when her daughter began attending school at St. Serra, she started volunteering.

When her daughter was in her eighth grade year at St. Serra, Mrs. Myers began officially working as a staff member in the yard supervision department. A year later, she was asked to be an instructional assistant in fourth grade. She greatly enjoyed working with the fourth grade team of teachers, one of whom at that time was Mrs. Ellen Burrola, who is currently our Assistant Principal for the Lower School. When one of the fourth grade teachers had a baby, Mrs. Myers took some time away from her job as an instructional aide to provide care for him. But she could not stay away; she eventually returned to St. Serra and started working in our School Office.

Mrs. Myer’s husband, Ralph, is a retired engineer. They are looking forward to celebrating their 46th wedding anniversary this July. Mrs. Myers has decided to retire at the end of this school year, and will be spending more time doing things she loves, such as enjoying time with family, cooking, being outdoors, working in her yard, and traveling. And one of the things she is looking forward to most is traveling to Washington, D.C., where they will visit with their first grandchild, a baby boy, who was born just this past December.

And while Mrs. Myers may have plans to retire, it does not mean that she will be a stranger. She plans to occasionally help out as a substitute teacher. Her love for our school stems from our parent involvement and foundation of faith. “The success of our school is apparent by all the volunteers that pass through the School Office,” she says, and she loves starting everyday “in prayer with our Serra community on SerraVision, and then [praying] the Angelus at noon.”
 

Meet Ms. Cindy Melton, who works primarily as a senior accountant in our Business and Financial Operations department and spends a portion of her time supporting our Information Systems department. Although Ms. Melton originally thought she wanted to be a teacher, this is the first time she is working for a school. A graduate of the University of La Verne with a degree in English and French, she initially went to work in accounting for Rockwell International because teaching jobs were scarce at the time. Through her work experience and additional education in accounting and business administration, Ms. Melton found herself landing a job as the controller for an advertising agency. There, she had oversight of the finance and human resources departments as well as administrative staff, and managed a team of eight employees. Her time at the agency spanned more than thirty years, during which she held responsibility for two software conversions. The agency eventually closed, and Ms. Melton went on to manage all of the accounting functions for a mortgage company. She has also spent time as the accountant for a few small churches.

Having been at St. Serra now for almost a year, Ms. Melton feels that her background with various software programs and experience with all facets of accounting have helped her to succeed in her current position. She finds joy in working in a Christian environment; she loves walking by the chapel and reflecting pool each morning and hearing the Angelus at noon. Her favorite part of the day is traffic duty at 2:00 p.m., when she gets to help with the students in TK through second grade. “I love interacting with these students and keeping them safe,” she shares.

Ms. Melton lives in Lake Forest with her son and their two dogs - a pit/shepherd mix named Moose and a chihuahua mix named Ziggy. Weekends find them attending services at Calvary Chapel Foothill Ranch and walking their dogs at a nearby park. Ms. Melton has a passion for working with dogs, and volunteers regularly at the Pet Adoption Center in Lake Forest and the Irvine Animal Care Center. Last July, she and her son walked in the Lake Forest parade with the Pet Adoption Center, along with a chihuahua named Bud.

Having varied responsibilities at St. Serra is something Ms. Melton appreciates. She says, “I enjoy learning new things and doing lots of different things keeps it interesting.” Currently, she finds herself busy with accounting support for PTO events, as well as managing a few special projects on the technology side. “I am happy to help wherever I can,” she affirms, “and [I] look forward to contributing to the school’s success.”
 

Meet Mrs. Luciana Swoboda, Instructional Assistant for Second Grade at St. Serra since 2019. Her position supports Mrs. Hoey and she works with students in learning elements of the curriculum, preparing classroom materials and activities, and managing daily class routines.  She also serves as a supervisor in St. Serra’s Extended Care program. "I love being part of my students’ life!” says Mrs. Swoboda. “There is nothing more gratifying than helping them learn new things and overcome new challenges everyday so they can achieve new milestones in their lives.”

Mrs. Swoboda received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at PUC-SP Catholic University in São Paulo, Brazil. She pursued a career path in the banking industry and worked at Santander Bank while in Brazil.She eventually moved to the United States to complete her Master of Business Administration degree from SSU – San Diego. It was while she worked in the travel and hospitality industry that she met her husband, Jeff. After having children and volunteering at St. Serra, she found her love for teaching and is now about to receive a teaching credential from Saddleback College.

Mrs. Swoboda has two children at St. Serra in seventh grade third grade. The Swoboda family lives in Dove Canyon with their sweet golden retriever, Charlie. Both she and her husband were educated in Catholic schools growing up, and after visiting St. Serra they knew that it would be the place for their children to grow spiritually and academically. She believes the opportunities provided by a strong Catholic education with a supportive faculty and staff can be life-changing for students and families alike.

Her husband, Jeff, works in the auto racing industry. Their family enjoys traveling, going to the beach, and going for hikes with Charlie. One of their favorite family traditions is to spend Christmas at their family beach house at Guaruja Island in Brazil. When Mrs. Swoboda is not working or tending to her family, she also loves serving as a volunteer at Solano Catholic Church in Rancho Santa Margarita.

In second grade, the students are currently learning math concepts about time and money.  They are also working on ocean habitat dioramas in Science. Mrs. Swoboda is currently working to prepare their classroom for the upcoming Grandparents and Special Friends Day, and is looking forward to seeing all the students that day with their special guests.
 

He says he is known to the students as “JJ, Mr. JJ, Mr. Lopez,” or as he jokes, “the guy who stands outside the [Chapel] gate in the mornings”. Mr. Jesse Lopez, Jr., affectionately known to most of the staff as “JJ”, is currently our Help Desk Technician, and the son of our very own Director of Facilities, Mr. Jesse Lopez (Sr.). He has officially been part of the St. Serra family for five years as staff, but he remembers visiting the St. Serra campus often as a young child: “Having my dad work at the school before I was even born gave me the opportunity to be around the school a lot growing up.”

Mr. Lopez graduated from Rancho Verde High School in 2017, and continues to take classes at Mt. San Jacinto College in order to earn an Associate Degree in Computer Information Systems. Having a job in a related field at St. Serra has helped him get a foot in the door of an industry that continues to grow. It’s work he truly enjoys because it allows him to interact with many different people at St. Serra, including teachers, students, and staff, and even our parish priests who visit the campus on Mass days. He especially appreciates the opportunity to get to know some of his co-workers, who he considers to be great people - yet he says the best part of his job is “getting to be with my dad everyday.”

He is the youngest of three children in his family, his older siblings being one brother and one sister, and enjoys being a proud uncle to two beautiful nieces. When he’s not working, he and his girlfriend, Daniela, both Disneyland Annual Passholders, find themselves enjoying rides and attractions regularly at the famed amusement park. JJ also finds time to enjoy multiple hobbies, including playing in softball and baseball leagues and making fun modifications to his car. He shares, “I am a big car guy and [I have] won a few awards at car shows.” He passionately follows his favorite sports teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Minnesota Vikings, and often attends games. “I usually go to Dodger games all season,” he says. “I have seen the Vikings play everytime they are in town and have seen them play a few times in Minnesota as well.”

Aside from managing the Help Desk and assisting students, teachers and staff with technical problems on a daily basis, Mr. Lopez also works on inventory management and internal deployment of software and devices. He feels fortunate to be working alongside his dad and the community at our school, stating, “I’m lucky to call Serra my home.”

 

Meet Mrs. Kathy Tonokawa, St. Serra’s Director of Information Systems (IT). Mrs. Tonokawa first joined St. Serra in 1995 as a volunteer before her children were old enough to attend the school. At that time, she supported St. Serra’s Founding Principal, Mrs. Audrey Tellers, as her assistant. She formally joined the St. Serra ranks in 1996 as the Office Manager, and has worked in a variety of positions since then. She assumed the role of Director of Technology in 2010, and has been notably influential in our school’s technology systems and infrastructure ever since.

“I love working at the school and seeing the students on a daily basis,” says Mrs. Tonokawa. “Education has always been very important in our family growing up, and with our own children. Working with the Principals, it is very rewarding to be part of the team that is making a difference in our students’ lives and preparing them for jobs which may not even exist today.”

Mrs. Tonokawa has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, with an emphasis in Advertising, from Cal State Fullerton. In addition to her roles at St. Serra, she has also worked in the HOA industry for over 30 years, producing newsletters and special projects for a large association in Irvine. One of her roles at St. Serra was Director of Communications, where she put her marketing and advertising skills to good use. She shares, “Marketing all of the activities and accomplishments of the school over the years, I knew that we were doing great things.” Mrs. Tonokawa’s affinity for technology and problem solving eventually led her to her current role as our IS Director, where she feels she has even greater involvement in shaping the educational experience at St. Serra. “My team and I now have the opportunity to directly impact what happens in the classroom, supporting the teachers and students to be successful.” Her team at St. Serra is currently working to evaluate the school’s network to ensure the strongest foundation possible to support current and future projects on campus.

Mrs. Tonokawa has been married to her husband, Kyle, a Civil Engineer, for 35 years. They have two children who are both St. Serra alumni. Their son, who graduated from St. Serra in 2005, is now practicing veterinary medicine in Naperville, Illinois. Their daughter graduated from St. Serra in 2009. She was trained as a pastry chef at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, and currently works as the Assistant General Manager at Din Tai Fung in Las Vegas.

Outside of her work at St. Serra, Mrs. Tonokawa and her husband spend time together enjoying many activities, including photography, volunteering, walking and traveling. One of their most memorable trips was to Rome to see the Vatican. There, they stood in St. Peter’s Square to see the Pope and listen to him recite the Angelus, the same prayer recited together at noon every day by all of the students, teachers and staff at St. Serra.

Meet Mrs. Tania Alvarado, Instructional Assistant for First Grade at St. Serra. Her position supports Miss Mazloomian, working with students to help them understand the curriculum, keeping them focused, and preparing their learning materials. “I LOVE to get to know my students and their families,” said Mrs. Alvarado. “Helping them grow academically, emotionally, and most of all spiritually, is a blessing for me.”

Mrs. Alvarado received her Bachelors of Science in Industrial Design from the ITESM University in Mexico. She continued her studies through UCLA extension with Interior Design courses. She also earned a Certificate of Proficiency in Early Childhood Assistant Teaching from Irvine Valley College.

Prior to St. Serra, she worked for an Architectural Firm in Mexico as a furniture designer and at Kelly Wearstler Interior Design Firm in L.A as graphic designer. Mrs. Alvarado has also worked for multiple church ministries, teaching faith formation to children in Grades Kindergarten through Fourth. In addition, she has performed as coordinator for Catholic Family Missions in Dallas, Texas, where groups of families ministered to a mobile home community.

Mrs. Alvarado’s hobbies are hot yoga and running! She has two children at St. Serra in 3rd grade and 7th grade. Mrs. Alvarado’s husband, Juan, is an AR/VR producer for live events. They also have a lovely Aussie labradoodle named Ollie. Their family recently moved to Rancho Mission Viejo, where they have volunteered in several community events, such as Gather and Give for the Mission Basilica and the Pumpkin Patch at the Farm.

Currently, Mrs. Alvarado is working with the first grade class getting ready for the upcoming Catholic Schools Week and Open House.