Jedd Bloom
7th Grade Humanities
Jedd Bloom is originally from New York City. He attended college at the University of California- Santa Cruz, where he received a B.A. in History. During his studies at the university, Jedd was inspired by several professors who encouraged him to pursue a career in education. Jedd moved to southern California after college to intern with Northwest Neighbors of Pasadena, a youth mentoring and tutoring program focused on empowering and preparing urban students to succeed in college. Jedd found the work with his group of teenagers to be both engaging and fulfilling, and it led him to pursue further education in teaching. Jedd holds an MA in Teaching from the University of Southern California, with a credential in Single Subject English. Jedd enjoys playing tennis, basketball, and going surfing with friends. He’s also been known to play the guitar and piano from time to time.
Gina DeVore
7th Grade Humanities
Gina began her teaching career eleven years ago as a founding teacher of Camino Nuevo Charter Academy. Her experience with the charter school movement gave her ample opportunities to learn about all aspects of education and spawned her passion for curriculum and assessment design. She recently returned home to So. Cal after five years in Little Rock, AR where she was honored with the title of History Teacher of the Year for the state of Arkansas. Gina is excited to join the New LA team and looks forward to being a part of a learning community that values social justice.
Patrice Harvey
7th Grade Pre-Algebra & 8th Grade Algebra
Patrice Harvey is a graduate of the University of Southern California. “Fight On! Trojans!!” As an undergraduate, she majored in Education with a concentration in Mathematics. She recently completed her Master’s degree from USC in Teaching and will earn her single subject teaching credential in mathematics. Patrice loves athletics, and she has played softball all her life, including three years in college while attending USC. She currently plays in an adult league and coaches girl’s softball in the City of Carson. In her spare time, she loves to take pictures and she then turns them into scrapbooks! Patrice is in her 3rd year at New LA passing on her enthusiasm for mathematics.
Paul Mason
7th Grade Pre-Algebra & 8th Grade Algebra
Paul Mason is an experienced middle school math teacher. He spent the first 15 years of his career as an engineer at NASA/JPL and as the chief engineer at the Federal Reserve Bank. He decided to return to teaching, which is his passion. For the last five years, he taught at Long Beach Unified and ICEF Charter Schools. Mr. Mason has a BS degree in Mathematics from Cal State University, Los Angeles, and an MA from the University of Phoenix. He has coached basketball and tennis, and he enjoys bike riding and playing golf.
Queenbe Monyei
7th Grade Science
Queenbe Monyei is a Los Angeles native whose childhood shuffled between England and the U.S. She earned her undergraduate degree at UCLA where she studied Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics for 2 years before finishing with Anthropology. During college she tutored low-income students and aided students who were below reading level. After UCLA she taught English for a year in Turkey and subsequently earned her Professional Graduate Certificate of Education in London Metropolitan University in England. She has worked with children in the Philippines, Mexico, Turkey, England, and the U.S. She is an avid traveler having visited 4 continents and living in 3. She also enjoys art, culture and writing. She recently published her first children’s novel Nalia and the Potion Maker.
