Class of 2027

Alena chose Innovate because, as someone who experiences extreme test anxiety, she believes testing isn't the only way to demonstrate learning. She appreciates Innovate for teaching necessary skills customized specifically for her. Her favorite Innovate moment was during the English workshop when the class went on a hike at Refugio State Beach.

After school: Alena enjoys running with her dog, riding her horse and participating in equine shows and competitions.

Class of 2026

Aricin chose Innovate for its unique approach to learning, which focuses more on projects and mastery than traditional assignments and tests. It's been a great fit for him. One of his favorite workshops was 'Innovate Press,' where students analyzed news articles and wrote their own. Aricin wrote about the boys' water polo season, and his classmates covered a range of topics from video games to teacher interviews.

After school: You will likely find Aricin in the water playing club water polo, racing for DP varsity swim team or surfing. When out of the water he values spending time with family and friends.

Class of 2025

Angel has expressed that Innovate has brought meaningful change to his high school experience. He appreciates the workshop format. When asked to select a favorite, he couldn't pick just one, citing the JFK, Aliens, and Trig Bootcamp from this year as the highlights, and adding previous favorites such as 'building the boats' and 'making burgers' to his list.

After school: Angel spends time with family, enjoys going out with friends and playing soccer.

Class of 2027

Brianna selected Innovate because of its dynamic class structure, with courses changing every 4-6 weeks, and because she is able to choose her classes. In her first 20 days, she engaged in what she described as "an unforgettable learning experience" when she was involved in building a boat. She appreciated that she learned about construction, durability, stability, and also how these lessons are helpful in the real world.

After school: Brianna appreciates a good book and devotes time to helping out her mom and customers at the grocery store.

Class of 2026

Innovate's unique approach to schooling, offering more support compared to regular classes, is what first attracted Diego to the program as a freshman. He appreciates the hands-on nature of Innovate's workshops, where students get to choose what they learn about. His favorite workshop so far has been 'Dining Like The Rich And Famous,' where the class went out to eat dinner together and later wrote an essay review. He finds Innovate unique for its various forms of support, particularly the presence of mentors and life coaches in the classroom, which he believes greatly enhances his learning experience.

After school: When his parents are busy, Diego helps out by taking care of his siblings. He also enjoys hanging out or grabbing a bite with friends.

Class of 2026

Jade chose to be part of Innovate because its approach to learning was better for her compared to a traditional classroom experience. She appreciates that Innovate offers the same teachers throughout high school, and she prefers its project-based focus. This format has improved her ability to learn and grasp subjects. Her favorite workshop was 'Cookin’ Jambalaya' with Mr. Shive where they made a dish after learning the history of how the ingredients got to America.

After school: You can often find Jade enjoying time with friends and family, on a run, reading, spending time outside or doing something creative.

Class of 2026

Lesly Gonzalez chose to be part of Innovate because she loves the support she receives. She also enjoys spending time with all the teachers, students, and mentors, who have helped her better herself in many ways. “Reading Books About Today” has been her favorite workshop because the story was very engaging and gave her the opportunity to practice essay writing in a unique way.

After school: Lesly appreciates walking in nature to free her mind, spending time with family and friends or watching documentaries.

Class of 2025

Lizbeth appreciates Innovate's built-in community structure because of the connections she's established with her teachers and classmates during her high school experience. She's also grateful that Innovate allows her to grow individually. When asked, Lizbeth could not choose a favorite workshop because she enjoyed all of them for teaching her something different.

After school: Lizbeth spends time hanging out with friends, organizing her room and shopping for clothes.

Class of 2026

Ollie decided to join Innovate after hearing about its numerous benefits while still in middle school. His favorite workshop was titled 'Cookin’ Jambalaya,' a history class that taught him about the Silk Road, the sand, and the sea Roads through the lens of food. His group chose to make gumbo, utilizing their new knowledge of the recipe's origins, ingredient sourcing, transportation and historical significance.

After school: You can find Ollie rehearsing for an upcoming musical or playing video games with his bestest friends.

Class of 2025

Phu chose to be a part of Innovate because of the enjoyable activities he gets to participate in. His favorite workshops revolve around the World Wars because he's always been interested in learning about the big wars.

After school: Phu prioritizes time with his family and learning about finance with his brother. He also enjoys playing video games.

Class of 2025

Quill values Innovate for the ease of getting help with the program's focus on 1:1 student relationships with teachers and mentors. The “Music Video Production” workshop in English class is Quill's favorite so far.

After school: Quill is helping prepare costumes and props for the next theatrical production or playing video games with the bestest friends.

Class of 2026

Riley opted to be a part of Innovate because he wanted a less stressful experience at school. Before he joined, he was constantly strained by homework and tests. Since then, school has been a much more enjoyable and engaging experience for him. His favorite workshop has been the mini golf course, a team building activity at the beginning of the year that integrated science and art.

After school: Riley is out in nature, his happy place, hiking, biking, swimming or enjoying time with friends.

Class of 2027

Vivi decided to be a part of Innovate because she enjoys hands-on learning and the opportunity to experience what she's learning firsthand. Her favorite workshop was a math session with Mrs. Yeh, where they predicted the Super Bowl teams and winners using statistical analysis of multiple teams, quarterbacks, and receivers. Incorporating her passion for football into school made it one of her favorite workshops.

After school: Vivi is playing flag football or at Friday Night Lights working with kids or helping athletes in training.

Program Coordinator

With seven years of experience in academic mentoring and life coaching, Antonña Mollo serves as Innovate’s Program Support Coordinator. Holding a bachelor's degree in psychology, she is a former student of the Academy for Success and Dos Pueblos High School. With Innovate, her goal is to provide comprehensive assistance and support to students while building strong relationships in the process.

After school: She loves hiking with her dog and seeking out adventures, especially ones that involve tasting new foods.

Mentor

Austin has worked at Dos Pueblos for the last five years as a mentor. He primarily assists with academic work but also provides students with a safe and supportive environment to decompress or talk about the stresses of school life. Austin chose this line of work because he loves education and the sense of purpose it gives him.

After school: Austin is carving wood, drawing, working with people in addiction recovery and juggling classes at SBCC.

Mentor

Daniel's focus in Innovate is to support all students, particularly those who have had challenging childhood experiences and that now need guidance to find the right path. He chose to be a part of Innovate because the entire team showed him love and respect, especially Antonña, who provided him with guidance and taught him valuable lessons. He's now happy to pay it forward as a mentor in the program.

After school: Daniel is happiest when he's at the gym working out or training in boxing.

Mentor

Estevan's primary goal in Innovate is to empower students in every conceivable manner. He strives to offer additional support to students, serving as a pillar they can lean on, whether it's providing a listening ear or aiding them academically. His decision to engage with Innovate stems from his enduring passion to mentor and assist the next generation.

After school: Estevan is busy advancing his education and pursuing his goal of becoming a therapist specializing in assisting adolescents.

Coach

G Torres was drawn to Innovate because he believes it provides a great structure for guiding students. As the Innovate coach, he inspires and encourages students' success each and every day. Understanding from his own experience the challenges students can face he is fueled to support young people and partner with them as they grow and make the best of their high school experience.

After school: G is working out, off-roading in his '72 Bronco, snowboarding or enjoying time outdoors.

Mentor

Graduating DP class of 2020, George Cornejo grew up benefiting from after school programs. As a way of giving back, he serves Innovate as a mentor, and appreciates supporting students in any subject and enjoys honing his own math skills by sharing them with students as they complete their "Aleks" assignments.

After school: George is attempting new recipes in the kitchen, going for drives, playing video games or spending time with friends and family.

Mentor

Jazmin, a first-year Innovate mentor, focuses on working with students individually across various classes. Having been fortunate enough to have mentors guide her through high school, she's always aspired to do the same for others.

After school: Most likely buying clothes or random things she may or may not need; blasting One Direction in the car or buying concert tickets with friends.

Mentor

Johan, a Dos Pueblos alumni, provides support with classwork. He chose to be part of Innovate because he wanted to help students become the best version of themselves and succeed academically.

After school: He's most likely weightlifting, training, thrifting, watching anime, or learning new recipes.

Therapist

Kristi Miller, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice, specializes in adolescents, family dynamics, co-parenting mediation and EMDR therapy. With nearly two decades of experience, she has been a valuable asset to Innovate since its inception.

After school: When Kristi isn't in the "Therapist's Chair," she is on the court playing pickleball, hiking, biking or spending time with her family and friends in her hometown of Santa Barbara.

Mentor

Leilani Manzo, a member of the DP class of 2020, received invaluable guidance from Mrs. Choi, an experience for which she's immensely grateful. Feeling welcomed and part of something greater, she chose to join Innovate, aiming to empower students to reach their fullest potential and supporting them through challenges, both personal and academic. When asked why she chose to be a mentor, she responded, 'It's all for you and everyone around you; I want to make a difference in the lives of students.'

After school: Leilani is spending time with her family or baking something sweet for Mrs. Choi and to share with others.

Mentor

Mika contributes to the Innovate program by offering students a safe space to reach out for support. She joined the program to empower students to grow academically and personally. Her main focus is encouraging student Innovators to expand their knowledge and explore new perspectives.

After school: Mika is at SBCC pursuing her degree in political science or spending time with her pet bunny or chasing the sunset with friends.

Mentor

Mikaela directs her efforts towards encouraging students to stay focused and engaged in class. She prioritizes building intentional relationships with students, ensuring they feel supported in every aspect of their high school career. Mikaela chose to be a part of Innovate because she values the community and support it provides to students.

After school: Mikaela enjoys spending time with family, hiking with her dog and dining at yummy restaurants with friends.

Life Coach

Paige Vazquez holds a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, complementing her Bachelor's from UCSB. Dedicated to mental health, she has been at Dos Pueblos for 6 years, offering a safe space for teens to be heard and nurtured. As an Innovate life coach, her relationships with students span their entire high school experience from freshman year through graduation, fostering trust and providing opportunity for genuine growth.

After school: Paige is generally cheering on one of her two teenagers at a sporting event or enjoying the hiking trails of the Santa Ynez Valley.

Academic Counselor

With degrees in Communication and Sociology from UCSB and licensed as an MFCC and PPS, Scott Guttentag, known as Scotty G, has been a counselor at DPHS for more than three decades. As the Innovate counselor, he supports students' academic and career goals, serving as a liaison for the program facilitating communications between parents, teachers and students. In addition, he provides counseling support services on an as needed basis.

After school: Scotty G, dressed in cargo shorts, DP gear and flip flops will be found at the beach, by the pool or near a lake. He's also not afraid to push himself, taking on marathons, triathlons and most recently, Spartan Races.