Do you know who your academy director is?

Mr. Ted Hernandez ~ SJA Director

Mr. Ted Hernandez is the Social Justice Academy (SJA) director. He has been teaching here at Hoover High School for about 22 years now and has shown his love and passion for teaching every day since. Mr. Hernandez is a friendly and supportive teacher and truly shows his dedication to teaching by coming to work every day even though it takes up to 45 minutes to get here. To make such a trip every single day for 22 years is not so easy but he says his motivation for this is the students. He feels that being around his students is rewarding and makes him feel young again. As the first generation in his family to go to college, he did not get as much guidance and help that he would’ve liked, so he had to figure it out all on his own. Because of this, he knew that he wanted to help other young graduates how to make it to college and become successful and hoped to be able to lessen the stress and fears that comes with such a competitive and complicated journey to college. In the time he is away from work, and guiding students towards success, he spends his free time swimming, or spending time with his wife and two cats, going to the beach, going on walks or hikes, and loves his quiet time while reading or writing.

Miss Kristiana Riego de Dios ~ SABE Director

Miss Kristiana Riego de Dios is a teacher and director of the Sustainable Academy of Building and Engineering. Miss Riego has taught for over 10 years at Hoover. What Miss Riego likes most about Hoover is the community that we always try to improve and our students that always bring good energy to their teacher and the school. She is determined to make a change to our school spirit and student engagement. She works with student leaders to get Hoover’s new student section. Code Red, off the ground. This gives students the opportunity to create more community and student spirit so that everyone has more chances to change our school. What motivates Miss Riego to work all year is working with students, especially seniors. Her favorite things to do in her free time are playing trivia, paddle boarding, reading, and going to Disneyland. During after school she sometimes goes to athletic events such as football, soccer, basketball and other sports.

Ms. Ellen Towers ~ AOIT Director

Ms. Ellen Towers is a dedicated teacher who teaches both AP and regular US History in room 1053. She also serves as the Director of the Academy of Information Technology (AOIT). With 25 years of teaching experience, she’s first-hand experienced an evolution in the education industry. Her journey began as a business teacher and over time transitioned into social studies, where she remains. Her greatest challenge is keeping her students engaged at all times in their work as she is in her lessons. However, the reward she receives lies in observing her students develop a genuine interest in learning, allowing them to flourish in their studies. Ms. Towers holds dedication and commitment to educational growth not only within herself but also within the students in the Hoover community.

Ms. Ellen Hohenstein ~ AHHC Director

Ms. Ellen Hohenstein is a teacher and director of the Acadmey of Health and Healthier Communnities (AHHC). Outside of her teaching career, Ms. Hohenstein loves cycling, reading, spending time with her cat and dog. She loves her career and what she does along with all her classes. Ms. Hohenstein’s purpose here at Hoover High is to try and excite students about their future and help them learn and believe in themselves. Ms. Hohenstein wanted this job because she wanted to give back to the community and hopes to make a difference especially by working with teens to guide them towards success.

Mr. Michael Heu ~ ALMA Director

Being the director of the Academy of Literature, Media, & Arts (ALMA), Mr. Michael Heu definitely has a passion for the world of arts. He pursues this passion through his teachings of theater and is the advisor for his yearbook class. This year he reaches his 18th year teaching at Hoover High School. Besides his attempts to pretend that “he hates kids”, it’s obvious that he enjoys spending time with his students and cares about them and their well-being. He has a playful and fun personality that easily creates a comfortable environment in his classes and builds bonds between him and his students. I had the luck of becoming a part of the yearbook staff in my sophomore year, and at first, he was extremely intimidating, but as the year went on I got through his outer shell and got to know the real Mr. Heu. His class is always filled with humor and laughter and instantly became the highlight of my day, it gave me something to look forward to waking up in the mornings. He is definitely a teacher you can count on for anything. Of course, he loves his students, but they could never top the love he has for his rescue dog Cako, and his trips back to his family home in Hawaii. Not to mention his love for food, he loves trying new food restaurants and rating them on his very informational and honest Yelp reviews.

About the Contributors

Alejandra Ramirez, Junior Editor

Alejandra is a Hispanic 16-year-old high school student, and now in her junior year at Hoover High School. She was born on January 25th. She hopes to get accepted into her dream college. Alejandra is very opinionated about her likes and dislikes. She likes the color green and brown, cats, music, and shopping, and going out with her friends. This contributes to some of her favorite things like socializing with her friends, cats, getting things done and feeling a sense of accomplishment, making her family proud, quiet places, all kinds of shoes (especially converse), music (except for country), jewelry, dippin’ dots ice cream.

Oliver Almeida-Renteria, Junior Editor

Oliver Almeida has been at Hoover High School for three years. He is a junior in the ALMA academy. He likes to go out with his friends and with his partner. He hopes this year is way better than last year, and also excited to reach goals and that everything goes well as planned for this year.

Currently his favorite classes are chemistry and yearbook because they are interesting and complicated for a challenge. Apart from that, there are always people who he enjoys and helps in classes and likes to have fun. His favorite colors are brown and black, because they are good clothing combinations and very solid . His favorite shows are Never Have I Ever and Shameless. They are very good to watch, when you have time" His two favorite movies are Cars 2 and Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift.

He is very grateful for my teachers who always try to help him, such as Mrs. Teuthorn and also Mr.Heu. This semester he is focusing on school but also on himself. Because sometimes you have to think of yourself. He does think of others, but if you also need to be smart sometimes and put yourself first.

" Always expect the best from you ." ~ Oliver

Gerardo Flores, Associate Editor

Gerardo Flores is a senior at Hoover High School and was born on February 20, in San Diego California. He is a part of the AHHC which stands for Academy of Health and Healthier Communities. His hobbies include biking, hiking, skating, playing video games, going to the gym, playing football, swimming, and hanging out with friends. The type of food he likes is seafood and Mexican food. Gerardo’s favorite drink is C4 Energy. He will drink any flavor. Gerardo is a really active person. After high school, he plans to join the military and go to college. He wants to study to become a doctor or surgeon. Gerardo is the type of friend who will try to put a smile on your face even on your worst days. He is a chill, understanding, and outgoing person. His favorite tv show is Spongebob Squarepants. Yes! Sponge Squarepants. You read that right. Gerardo says he is a kid at heart and loves to watch cartoons. His favorite movie is Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Gerardo is a hard working student who plans to do his best to succeed in life. Gerardo’s vision to change the world would be to find what makes everyone at peace with themselves.

Kenia Ortiz, Junior Editor

Kenia Ortiz is a Junior at Hoover High School. She was born at the spookiest yet coziest time of the year, October 6th. Like the season she was born in, the cold, crisp weather fall brings is her favorite. Outside school, Kenia spends her days listening to music, watching movies, and taking long walks. The Weeknd, Giveon, and The Internet band are her top artists. She’ll never tire of rewatching her favorite childhood movies, Madagascar and Cars. Her favorite meal is chicken alfredo and pink lemonade for any occasion. She despises slow walkers and loud talkers. She could come off as dull, but in all reality, she’s a tranquil and non-judgmental being who cherishes laughs and the petite things in life. She enjoys her independent time as an introvert although, pushes to be more out there by being additionally involved with the school. Kenia is part of Cardinals Interact, where they support their Cardinal family in every way possible. She plans to join clubs such as IMIN and Key Club. She adores the work of expressing her lens of the world through writing, especially with the opportunities her yearbook class brings. She aspires to graduate here at Hoover High, as it is traditional in her family, and at least four years in college, preferably SDSU, where she will strive for a career in the photography industry. Her biggest motivation is to be the first of her three siblings to attend and complete college for her mom, who she looks up to. Kenia desires improvement within herself, to acquire her full potential, and to find self-love for who she is. She truly believes the world could be better if we held love and basic respect for one another as a family. Today, she aims daily to own up to her beliefs, not only with care and love for her peers but understanding them as well.

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Do you know who your academy director is?

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