Faculty & Staff

The many efforts of our Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, parents, alumnae, and students provide a safe and supportive school environment. Hillside teachers and administrators are committed to the lives of our students, lead by example, and promote self-confidence. All of our faculty have degrees and many are continuing their education at a graduate level. Our administration, faculty and staff all have subject expertise with an inspiration for teaching. They bring a diverse set of backgrounds to our school and we are proud of them all.

FACULTY:

JOAO CORTEZ

Principal/Special Education Coordinator

BS, History, California State University Fullerton
MS, Special Education, National University

LINDSAY MCGEE

English

BA Theatre Arts/English, Bethel College

KAITLIN MEDRANO

Math

BS, Education, Dowling College
MA, Education, Azusa Pacific University

JOZI PEARSON

Science

BS, Geology, University of California Riverside
MS, Geology, California State University Northridge

ALEXANDRA SANFILIPPO

Design/Yearbook, PE

BA & MA, Music in Vocal Performance, California State University Northridge

JOSH SILVERMAN

Social Science

BA, English Literature, University of Redlands

ADMINISTRATION:

CYNDI HATCHER

Executive Director

BA/Education, University of West Florida
MA/Curriculum and Instruction, California State University Los Angeles

CHRISTIE WOOD-ELCIK

Business Administrator

CATHY SCHWARTZ

Administrative Assistant

Taylor Wesselman

Administrative Assistant

AFTER SCHOOL LEARNING PROGRAMS:

HECTOR HERNANDEZ

Spanish Instructor/Learning Specialist

BS, Geology
California State University of Los Angeles

ANGELA HOENSHELL

Educational Therapist

BA, University of South Florida
MA, School Psychology,
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

DANIEL JUN

Learning Specialist

BA, Economics & Anthropology
University of California, Riverside

PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES:

HILARY DECKARD, MFT

Psychotherapist

Hilary Deckard Healy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences with over 15 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, and families. Her professional background includes extensive work in nonprofit public mental health, serving K–12 students across San Gabriel Valley school districts. She currently maintains a private practice, where she specializes in working with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, and neurodivergence, among other areas of focus.

At Hillside, she provides social-emotional support and crisis intervention for students, working collaboratively with faculty in a team-based approach to promote both academic and personal growth. She meets regularly with students who have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), helping them develop and make progress toward their social-emotional goals. She also engages with parents and caregivers as needed to ensure a coordinated and supportive approach that fosters student success.