English Department
2025-2026
Lulu Cardoza (Teacher Lulu)
English 9/English 11/English 12
Color Guard Director
Educational Background:
B.A. in Theater Performance, Communications, & minor in Dance from University of California- Berkeley
Teaching Philosophy:
Everyone has something to share with the world. It is our role as educators to help find that light, and encourage our students to be unapologetically themselves through our subjects as vehicles. Learning can and should be fun!
Best Way to Contact:
Email: cardozal@mdusd.org or ParentSquare
(Se habla español)
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Other Info:
Along with teaching, I am also the Director for Concord’s award winning Color Guard program. We twirl flags, dance, and perform as ambassadors of school spirit. Send me an email or come to the Band Room for more info on how to get involved. Hope to see you there! :)
Leah Darby (Mrs. Darby)
English 12/Leadership 10-12/Leadership 9
Activities Director
Educational Background:
Sacramento State University, B.A. in English
San Francisco State University, Single Subject Teaching Credential
Teaching Philosophy:
I believe in students’ ability to be curious learners and to be successful in whatever they put their minds to. As a teacher, my role is to help guide students towards discovering their passions, nurturing their abilities, and becoming critical thinkers. Best Way to Contact:Email me @ darbyl@mdusd.org
Hobbies: Reading, cooking, baking, scrapbooking Favorite Book(s):
Romeo & Juliet, 1984, Lord of the Flies, Their Eyes Were Watching God
Miguel Ivan Orona (Mr. Orona)
English 9/English 10
Educational Background:
B.A. English, Teaching Credential & M.A. Teaching - Sacramento State University
Teaching Philosophy:
It is my firm belief that all students have an innate passion for learning and exploring the world around them. It is the duty of the educator to facilitate and guide this hunger for learning into a positive experience through structured support and inclusion—challenging each student to take ownership of their growth and strive for excellence.
Best Way to Contact:
Email - oronam@mdusd.org
Hobbies:
Snowboarding, Watching Hockey (Go Sharks!), Reading, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and tinkering with my motorcycle.
Favorite Book(s):
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: A novel by Gabrielle Zevin, Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk, and The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Website:
Orona Website
Other Info:
Spent six years in the United States Army as a Combat Medic with the 1st Armored Division and the 82nd Airborne Division with a tour to Afghanistan
Azeema Yahya (Ms. Yahya)
English 11/ELD 2/Link Crew
Link Crew Coordinator & TUPE Co-coordinator
Educational Background:
Website
University of California, Davis, B.A. English
Alliant International University, Single Subject Teaching Credential
Alliant International University, M.A. Education
CCCOE, Preliminary Administrative Services Credential
Teaching Philosophy: I believe in helping students discover their passions and build confidence in their thinking. My goal is to create a classroom where curiosity is encouraged, critical thinking is practiced, and students learn to use their minds to understand and impact the world around them. Best Way to Contact: Email: yahyaa@mdusd.org Hobbies: I love to read, golf, go on beautiful walks, and hang out with family and friends! Favorite Book(s):Fiction - The Kite Runner
Non-Fiction - Educated2022-2023
Shannon Carr (Ms. Carr)
English 10/AP Lang/Ethnic Studies
BSU Club Advisor
Educational Background:
Teaching Philosophy:
Best Way to Contact:
Website:
Hobbies: Favorite Book(s):
Rebecca Blue Dell (Ms. Dell)
AP Lit/English 12/Yearbook/ELD 3 & 4
English Department Chair
Educational Background:
Cal State East Bay, B.A. in British & American Lit
CSUEB, Single Subject Teaching Credential
CSUEB, M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction
CCCOE, Preliminary Administrative Services Credential
Teaching Philosophy:
I believe all students can learn and succeed at high levels. I believe my role as the teacher is to encourage students to see the benefit of learning and to believe in themselves as capable, brilliant, and unique learners.
Best Way to Contact:
dellr@mdusd.org
Hobbies:
Reading, singing, hanging out with friends & family
Favorite Book(s):
The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
Website:
Dell’s Google Site
Andrew Smith (Mr. Smith)
English 9/Leadership 10-12/Link Crew
Link Crew Co-Coordinator
Will Zibell
English 10/English 11
Educational Background:
B.A. English/Secondary Education - Clarke University
MAE - Educational Leadership and Administration - Chapman University
Administrative Services Credential - MCOE
Single Subject Credential (English)
CLAD Certificate
Teaching Philosophy:
As an educator, I believe in access, equity, and success for ALL students.
Best Way to Contact:
zibellw@mdusd.org
Hobbies:
Spending time with my family swimming, surfing, and being outdoors.
2023-2024
2024-2025
Lisa Cattrone (Mrs. Cattrone)
ELD 1 & 2/ALD
Bilingual Ambassador Club Advisor & MLL Coordinator
Educational Background:
BA in Philosophy, MFA in poetry
Teaching Philosophy:
I know all students can not only succeed but excel. I see my role as a motivator for students to find their strengths and develop new skills to help them throughout their lives. These skills can be literacy skills and language skills, but also these skills are emotional skills, people skills, student skills, and personal growth skills. Teaching is love and I love my students.
Best Way to Contact:
Parent Square messaging or email: cattronel@mdusd.org
Hobbies: Poetry, cooking Favorite Book(s):
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Website:
click here for family support website
Gabrielle Loitz (Ms. Loitz)
English 12/Creative Writing/AVID 9/10 & AVID 11/12
AVID Coordinator
Educational Background:
BA - Creative Writing earned at the University of San Francisco, MA - Secondary Education earned online at the University of Phoenix
Teaching Philosophy:
I believe students should learn both how to cultivate a curiosity for topics and skills they find useful and purposeful for their goals, as well as learn a foundation of knowledge and skills everyone needs to become a productive member of their community and global society. Students also need to develop the social skills needed to be confident in who they are and what they contribute to their communities. It is important that they learn how to be a productive member in any collaborative setting, learning to work well with others and others who are in their community and work environments.
Best Way to Contact:
loitzg@mdusd.org
Hobbies:
Painting, crafting, listening to music and singing or playing my electric bass, hiking, and reading.
Favorite Book(s):
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen - Classic/Fictional Novel
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier - Gothic Novel
Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown - Non-Fiction Novel
Carolina Viscogliosi (Ms. V)
English 9/English 10
Educational Background:
B.A. in English from UC Davis, Single Subject Teaching Credential from Cal State East Bay
Teaching Philosophy:
Each student can thrive in a learning environment where there is effective guidance from the teacher. The students must also feel safe in the classroom environment.
Best Way to Contact:
Email: viscogliosic@mdusd.org
Hobbies:
Hiking, cooking, listening to music, creative writing
Favorite Book(s):
Untie the Strong Woman by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes
2021-2022
2019-2020
2020-2021
Grading Policy
