Chef Collins is a graduate from Rio Mesa High School in the OUHSD.  She went on to graduate from the Cordon Bleu Culinary program with her Associates in 2006.  She earned her Bachelors in Culinary Arts from the New England Culinary Institute and finally her Masters in Education.

She worked as a professional chef and pastry chef in the industry for 11 years before joining the culinary academy at Pacifica in 2016.  She also loves animals, gardening, and anime.

Academy Classes Taught:

• Cultural Cuisine CA (CP)

• Intro to Baking and Pastry CA (CP)

• Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management Honors CA 

Academy Counselor

Lili Diaz is a graduate of Hueneme High School. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies from California State University Channel Islands and completed her Master’s degree in School Counseling at California Lutheran University. Passionate about supporting students’ academic, social, and emotional growth, she takes pride in being a highly organized and dedicated school counselor. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active through workouts, keeping her home organized, and exploring new places while traveling. 

Samouel Badalof was raised in Santa Clarita, California. He pursued his Biology degree at California State University, Northridge. While earning his college degree he worked in a restaurant and coached high school volleyball. After graduating from college he pursued making films in Los Angeles, and was involved in many productions for commercials and feature films for more than five years. Finally, he decided to earn his science teaching credential at California State University, Channel Islands and came to Pacifica High School as a first year teacher.

Academy Classes Taught:

• Chemistry of Food Science CA (CP)

• Biology of Food Science CA (CP)

Gina Rodriguez is a graduate of Santa Paula High School. She attended the local junior colleges in Ventura county and graduated with her AA from Ventura College and transferred to the University California Los Angeles, where she earned her BA in History. She earned a Secondary Teaching Credential from California State University Northridge and recently earned her Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Grand Canyon University in Arizona.

Her passions include spending time with her family, reading, swimming and of course exploring and tasting new foods (eating). She loves to create historical lessons that will engage her students to merge the elements of food, history and learning.

Academy Classes Taught:

•  World History CA (CP)

Candi Holva is a graduate of Austin Peay State University in Tennessee. In 2012, she relocated from Tennessee to California where she started teaching in the Oxnard School District.  During this time she earned her Master’s in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University in Arizona.  She joined Pacifica in 2021.  Outside of teaching, she enjoys spending time with her dogs, traveling, and working with computers.

Academy Classes Taught:

•  English 3 CA (CP)

Mr. Smuck is originally from Omaha, Nebraska. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincolin in 2003 with a Bachelor of Journalism. After a brief stint as an education reporter for the Antelope Valley Press in Palmdale, CA, he went on to complete his teaching credential at California State University, Northridge in 2006. Mr. Smuck began teaching English Language Arts at Pacifica High School during the 2006-07 school year. He has been a part of Pacifica's Culinary Arts Academy since its inception in 2009. He currently teaches ELA for the sophomore and senior CAA classes. 

Mr. Smuck currently resides in Camarillo, CA with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys playing golf, pickleball, country dancing, and of course telling jokes every Friday. 

Academy Classes Taught:

•  English 2 CA (CP)

• English 4 CA (CP)

Nancy Maravilla graduated from Pacifica High School in Oxnard. After high school, she attended Ventura College, then transferred to California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. She earned a Bachelor’s in History of Pedagogy and a teaching credential, then went to receive her Master’s degree at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. 

Nancy came back to Oxnard to join the Pacifica Tritons team in 2022. Before working at Pacifica, she worked at a Burger Bistro and managed a vegan restaurant. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two dogs, hiking, discovering new coffee shops, painting, and watching movies.

Academy Classes Taught:

• Economics CA (CP)

• Government CA (CP)

More info coming soon!

Academy Classes Taught:

•   US History CA (CP)