LEAPS Teachers

Marilyn Garza
Santa Barbara Junior High School
Lead teacher Marilyn Garza received her BS in Materials Science Engineering from UC Berkeley. After working in industry for a year, she returned to school initially to pursue a higher degree in engineering but discovered a passion for teaching. Marilyn obtained her teaching credential and Masters degree in Education from UC Santa Barbara. She has been working at Santa Barbara Junior High School for her 12-year teaching career.

Julie Kluss
Santa Barbara Junior High School
Lead teacher Julie Kluss received her BA with highest honors in Zoology from the University of Hawaii in Manoa. There she studied the behavior of endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals on Kure Atoll, Northwestern Hawaiian Island. After returning to Santa Barbara, Julie became interested in teaching while volunteering at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center. She obtained her multiple subject and single subject science teaching credential from Chapman University. She has taught at Santa Barbara Junior High School for the past 6 years.

Michael Macione
Cesar Chavez Elementary School
Awaiting bio.

Melissa Woods
Santa Barbara High School
Lead teacher Melissa Woods received her BS in Physics and BS in Astronomy from University of Southern California. After working at Sandia National Laboratory for a year, she returned to school to pursue a career in teaching. Melissa obtained her teaching credential and Masters degree in Education from UC Santa Barbara. She has been working at Santa Barbara High School teaching Advanced Placement Physics, Physics, and Conceptual Physics for the past 12 years.