Conservatory: Theater

Job Title: Theater Arts Teacher/Dept. Chair

Educator at SAHS since 2006

Terry Schwinge received a BA at California State University, Fullerton and an MA at Concordia University, Irvine. He is proud to have served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nicaragua (2003-2006). He began his teaching career in 1997 at Katella High School, although he has been directing high school theater productions since 1991. He came to Santa Ana High School in 2006. His 2001 production of Fiddler on the Roof was featured on Disney+’s ENCORE! and his productions have won six Macy Awards including the 2018 won Orange County’s Spirit of the Macy’s Show of the Year for RENT and this year, he was honored as Santa Ana High School’s Teacher of the Year.

Conservatory: Music - Orchestra  

Job Title: Orchestra Director

Educator at SAHS since 2012

Joseph Kaye received his B.S. in Music Education from Ball State University and his M. Ed. from Lesley University. In 2005 started his teaching career with the award-winning string program for El Centro Elementary School District. In 2009 Joseph was awarded the Imperial Valley ACSA Teacher of the Year award while maintaining a healthy private violin studio Then in 2012 he then moved up to Orange County and helped revamp the orchestra program at Santa Ana High School. In both districts, Mr. Kaye has hosted and adjudicated numerous SCSBOA festivals, served on various leadership roles within ECESD, SAUSD, IVMEA, and SCSBOA. In both 2014 and 2015 Joseph was recognized by the OCMAA as an outstanding arts educator. In addition to his teaching endeavors, Joseph is an avid chamber music and orchestral musician as he is a current member of Symphony Irvine, Bellflower Symphony Orchestra, La Mirada Symphony Orchestra.

Conservatory: Choral - Music

Job Title: Choir Accompanist 

Educator at SAHS since 1999

Laurie Cobb has been the accompanist and vocal coach for the Santa Ana High School choral department for the past 20 years. She has been the rehearsal accompanist for the Disneyland Candlelight Ceremony since 2007, working with Conductor Nancy Sulahian. She was also a Music Director for the Orange County School of the Arts Summer Best of Broadway program for 14 years, from 2004-2018. She served for 2 years as the Music Director for Shakespeare Orange County’s production of “Pirates of Penzance” at the Garden Grove Amphitheatre.  Laurie received her BA in Music with an emphasis in Piano Performance, from the University of San Diego in 1989, and her MM in Piano Accompanying from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina in 1996. She enjoys working with the students at Santa Ana High School and looks forward to many more years working with these wonderfully talented and inspiring young artists.

Conservatory: Music - Band

Job Title: Director of Bands

Mark Santos is the Director of Bands at Santa Ana HS and has been an educator in the Santa Ana Unified School District since Fall 2016. At SAHS, he teaches the Jazz Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and the Marching Saints. Since 2016, Mr. Santos has worked with various groups throughout SAUSD, including the district honor orchestras and bands. He received his Bachelor of Music in Bass Trombone Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music (Ohio), and his Master of Arts in Teaching (K-12 Music) from the University of Southern California. Mr. Santos began teaching as an Assistant Director for the USC Trojan Marching Band and at Lincoln HS in Los Angeles. He is an active member of the Los Angeles Lakers Band since 2004 and also performs regularly with Symphony Irvine.

Since coming to Santa Ana HS in 2021, Mr. Santos brought his ensembles to festivals and competitions all over Southern California and has performed at events for the district and community. Some recent program accolades include the Marching Saints earning 10th place at SCSBOA 2A Championships in the fall of 2023, the Indoor Percussion receiving a Gold Medal at ADLA Championships in 2022, the jazz ensemble receiving a Unanimous Superior rating in the Spring of 2023, and the Wind Ensemble receiving Unanimous Superior ratings at local and regional SCSBOA festivals in 2023 and 2024. 

Mr. Santos' philosophy is to build future leaders through performance. His belief that music, performance, and the spirit of competition are tools to create better humans in college, career, and life. Mr. Santos also believes that each member of his band program, especially the ones who graduate from it, become lifetime members of his family, and enjoys maintaining lifelong mentor relationships with the students who have come and gone. Mr. Santos was a quarter finalist for the 2024 Grammy Music Educator Award, and is a festival judge for the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association.

Conservatory: Music - Band

Job Title: Instrumental Music Director

Educator at SAHS since 2015

Jeremy DelaCuadra is an accomplished music educator, brass player, and conductor. Mr. DelaCuadra also is engaged frequently as a guest educator and clinician throughout the greater Los Angeles and Orange County area, having worked with the Orange County Youth Symphony, La Sierra University ensembles, and other groups throughout southern California. He received his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Music Education from Chapman University, where he received recognition for both his musicianship and teaching abilities.

Mr. DelaCuadra is currently in his eighth season as assistant conductor for Symphony Irvine. Prior to this post, he acted as assistant conductor of Montage Civic Orchestra, director of the Irvine Junior Young Concert Artists, and assistant conductor of the Orange County Symphony. 

Also an active trombonist, he has played in many different ensembles including Symphony Irvine, Fullerton Symphony, Orange County Symphony, Dana Point Symphony, Montage Civic Orchestra, Orange Treelighting Orchestra, and as a freelance musician.

Conservatory: Dance 

Job Title: Dance Teacher

Educator at SAHS since 2016

Cyndi currently teaches at Santa Ana High School and is a freelance choreographer. She has taught high school dance for over 20 years. She received her BA and MA in Dance from California State University Long Beach and holds a Physical Education credential from California State University Fullerton. She has choreographed over the years for several local high schools and colleges. She loves teaching and exposing her students to the many aspects of dance. Her specialty is teaching choreography composition. In addition, to teaching at SAHS and the SanArts Dance Conservatory, she most recently assisted on the annual Shuler Awards opening and closing dance numbers in Atlanta, Georgia. She currently holds a position on the California Dance Movement Board for Dance Educators. “Teaching and choreographing for high school students has always been my passion and I am grateful I get to share my love of dance with so many young dancers”. 

Conservatory: Dance - World

Job Title: Ballet Folklorico Teacher

Educator at SAHS since 2017

Jesenia Gardea began her ballet training 1987 at the West Coast Conservatory of Ballet. Two years later, she began dancing ballet folklórico with Relámpago del Cielo. She joined Pacífico Dance Company in 2003 and was promoted to principal dancer the following year. Gardea has enjoyed leading roles in the company’s productions of La Llorona and Mictlán. Some of Gardea’s performance venues include: Kennedy Center, Segerstrom Center, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the Latin GRAMMYs. Gardea taught at Orange County High School of the Arts from 2004-2007. She was the lead choreographer for Our Lady of Lourdes ballet. Gardea travels to Mexico to take master classes, broaden her teaching pedagogies and expand her repertoire in the Mexican dance form. Gardea received her B.S. in Business Administration from Chapman University; teaching credential in Mathematics from California State University, Fullerton; and a Career Technical Education Credential in Arts, Media, and Entertainment. Currently, Ms. Gardea teaches math, art, and ballet folklórico at Heninger Elementary School and ballet folklórico at Santa Ana High School

Conservatory: Digital Art - Animation / Graphic Design / Film

Job Title:  Teacher

Educator at SAHS since 2017

Adrian Scherger, a seasoned educator committed to improving his craft and dedicated to student growth. In addition to his B.S. in Math from UC Davis, he acquired a Master's degree in Film, Television & New Media from San Diego State University. Mr Scherger spent ten years working in the entertainment industry as a Video Editor at companies such as Warner Bros Animation, Stereo D Deluxe, and Legend 3d.

 His love for teaching and having a positive effect on others brought him back to his career in education. Mr Scherger is a dual credentialed teacher with a Single Subject in math and a CTE credential in Art, Media & Entertainment. He began teaching at Santa Ana High School in 2017 and is currently developing an Arts Media pathway that includes Graphic Design, Animation 1 and 2. As an educator, Mr Scherger is devoted to his students’ success and ongoing professional development.

Conservatory: Art 

Job Title: Art teacher

Educator at SAHS since 1996

Ms. Westing believes everyone can learn to draw and enjoys seeing students develop their creativity in art and in life. Born in Michigan, she attended Calvin College with her B.A. in Art. She moved to California where she earned degrees at CSUF, UCLA and her Masters at Concordia. She’s mentored artists to win various contests such as the Imagination Celebration poster, John Wayne airport poster, We Care poster, Disneyland “Show your Character” and more. Ms. Westing encourages students to not only develop their artistic skills, but to use their gifts and talents to help others. This life passion is illustrated in the “Memory Project” where students donated their artwork to a child in a developing country and “Faces of Santa Ana” where students painted a portrait of a neighbor without a home benefiting the homeless and funding a scholarship for students. At the end of the year, students exhibit their best work in local galleries, their AP portfolios and the school’s Arts on the Lawn festival.