Presenters

About Mater Dei High School

Founded in 1950 in Santa Ana, CA, Mater Dei High School is proud to be Orange County’s oldest and largest Catholic high school.

Their mission is to provide a holistic education rooted in Catholic faith, values, and the tradition of Honor, Glory, and Love. Mater Dei is renowned for being a warm, welcoming, and diverse community where students flourish academically, athletically, artistically, and spiritually while embodying servant leadership. They empower their students to develop into ethical and inspirational leaders who positively impact their communities and the world.

The Mater Dei community is a melting pot of cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. Students come from over 195 zip codes and five Southern California counties. 

In 2020, Mater Dei forged a robust partnership with CHOC Children’s Psychology, enriching their wellness initiatives and addressing a spectrum of mental health needs. 

Mater Dei proudly offers a comprehensive array of academic programs including 53 Honors Courses, 22 Advanced Placement courses, and over 109 electives. The school also has an esteemed STEM Distinction Program, as well as an array of dynamic academic teams, including Academic Decathlon, Robotics, Model United Nations, and Mock Trial. 

Offering 28 CIF sports and 6 club sport teams with multiple levels for student involvement, the athletics program consistently produces top-tier athletes who excel both on the field and in the classroom. With state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated coaching staff, Mater Dei cultivates a culture of discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship, resulting in numerous championship titles across various sports.

Extracurricular programs are equally impressive, offering students a diverse range of opportunities for students to explore their interests and talents outside of academics through student leadership, clubs, campus ministry, and outreach. 

Mater Dei High School also prides itself on its vibrant Visual and Performing Arts program, which involves nearly 50% of the student body. The performing arts program provides a nurturing and collaborative environment where students can explore their creativity and express themselves artistically.

Experienced Leadership

Dr. Eric Mooney is a proven leader with extensive experience in educational leadership, curriculum development, community outreach, and K-12 and Higher Education.  He has advocated on behalf of educational issues at the local and state levels.

Dr. Mooney currently serves as the director of secondary education for the Colton Joint Unified School District, where he ensures all students have access to quality education and the opportunity to learn skills that will provide them with living-wage jobs.  Dr. Mooney oversees career technical education programs to provide students with experience in industries that operate in local regions and to expand opportunities for students to earn certifications that provide them with a career.

Eric previously served as director of secondary education at Placentia-Yorba Linda in Orange County and worked as a principal at Murrieta Valley High School in Riverside County, increasing schoolwide college and career readiness from 46% to 67% in just 4 years.  He also served as an assistant principal at Tustin High School in Orange County, where he was consecutively recognized as Secondary Co-Administrator of the Year for two years.

Effective and Knowledgeable in the Classroom

Before working in school administration, Dr. Mooney taught in the classroom for 13 years.  He was a history/social studies teacher and an instructional aide.  Passionate about sports and providing after-school opportunities for youth, Eric coached high school football, basketball, and track and field.  

Serving the Education Community

Dr. Mooney chaired the Association of California School Administrators Region 12 Equity Network for five years, providing cultural proficiency for educators to eliminate equity gaps.  He is also a Commissioner of the Western Accreditation of Schools and Colleges (WASC), where he chairs public school accreditation visits. He is a current member of the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA), and the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA). 

Qualified With Local Roots

Eric earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Thomas Edison State College, Trenton, NJ, and his master’s and doctorate in educational leadership from Argosy University.  He resides in the City of Riverside with his husband, Robert Armenta Jr.  Eric previously served his community on the Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance Board of Directors, American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, and currently serves on Planned Parenthood’s LGBTQ+ and African American Leadership Councils.

Jay C. Marquand, Ph.D., is the director of adult education for the Sweetwater Union High School District, San Diego, South County Region. His previous educational career experiences include district-level director, both principal and assistant principal of middle grades, as well as dean of student services, counselor, teacher, and coach in secondary/high school settings. Dr. Marquand holds various degrees and credentials that specialize in teaching, counseling, and administrative leadership. Many of these formal educational experiences and professional trainings come from California’s renowned public and private university systems including; the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB), the University of California at San Diego (UCSD), San Diego State University (SDSU), and the University of San Diego (USD).

During his career, Dr. Marquand has utilized his skill sets, knowledge, and experiences to create innovative and equitable systems of learning for both students and professional educators. He credits much of his success to mentors who have demonstrated true leadership qualities and instilled those values in him. As a result of these experiences, Dr. Marquand has been able to lead and transform schools and enhance programs and educational systems considered achieving or underachieving for both high and low socioeconomic communities, into healthy learning environments for students, professional educators, and the communities he is honored to serve. Some of these initiatives to support these endeavors include; implementing technology-based school-wide “one-to-one” computers for students, supporting the development of digital textbooks and curriculum, building mentor programs for at-promise, affinity, and military and new students transitioning to schools, advocating at the national and state levels to support educational reforms and policies. As a result, several of his schools and programs have been recognized as educational models for others and have gained the attention and visits from a former president, various congressmen, and other dignitaries.

In addition, Dr. Marquand also serves on various committees and foundations for the state and local region to expand his knowledge as a means to better support others. Some of these collaborations include being the president-elect for the Association of California School Administrators, serving as a board member for San Diego Character Education Resource Center, evaluating school districts for the WASC/national accreditation process, and participating as a parent and community member for a school district bond oversight committee, in addition to being a board member for a school district foundation to expand learning opportunities for students. Due to his efforts on behalf of students, staff, and school communities, Dr. Marquand has been honored by his colleagues as the principal of the year for San Diego and Imperial counties and has been invited to present at various conferences such as the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Association of College and Continuing Education, Google Application for Educators, and the National Military Educational Alliance, Computer Using Educators and other research-centered educational organizations and institutions.

Dr. Marquand was born and raised in San Diego. After being inspired by his own teachers, he knew education was his calling and an excellent way to contribute by supporting students and staff in school systems to build a stronger tomorrow. Although Dr. Marquand has a passion for education, he has other areas that balance his life as well. He is an avid outdoorsman and was a California State Beach Lifeguard for 17 years. Travel, the ocean, reading, and other activities encompass his life. Most of all, Dr. Marquand enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife, son, and daughter.

Telly’s optimism, inspired by Dr. Carol Dweck’s philosophy, “The Power of Yet,” is contagious. He recognizes that small changes can yield significant results. His belief in continuous improvement drives innovation. Telly excels at creating stakeholder buy-in through positive and affirming team development. He focuses on measurable outcomes to ensure that every effort contributes to the school’s growth. This approach was critical in steering Los Angeles High School from probationary status to full accreditation.

Telly recognizes that change is the only constant and consistent source of development. We can identify and capitalize on these growth opportunities through self-study and reflection. The WASC process encapsulates this focus. He firmly believes that, as long as the school remains connected to these possibilities, it will continue to find innovative ways to improve student outcomes.