Meet the Teachers

Allison Moon- TK

This will be my 21st year at Vargas Elementary, and I love being a Transitional Kindergarten Teacher.  I’m passionate about teaching my students to draw, and to introduce them to learning through play-based centers.  

I attended California State University, Chico for my undergrad and San Jose State University for my masters. 

I have two boys who love books, cooking and Legos, and you might see them with me at Vargas!  My boys are in 2nd and 4th grade. My family enjoys going camping every summer, weekly trips to the library and doing crafts together. 

I am also an active knitter and enjoy listening to audiobooks during my commute to work, and reading on my Kindle. I love growing flowers in my garden, and I collect smashed pennies from the places that I visit. Silly socks with pictures on them make me smile, so I wear them almost every day.

Stephany Haskins- TK

I was born in Oregon but moved to the Bay Area when I was in the 3rd grade and have been here ever since. Prior to having kids, my husband and I lived in Zimbabwe, Africa where we worked with orphans and children at risk. Our son is now a senior Fremont High School and our daughter is a freshman who will be joining the Color Guard team at Fremont High. Prior to coming to Vargas, I worked as a science instructor for Mad Science,  was a preschool teacher for 6 years, and a long-term substitute teacher in the Sunnyvale School District for 5 years.  My favorite part about teaching science is to explore the world around us through the use of all 5 senses and a hands-on approach that helps students get excited about science. My greatest joy about being a TK teacher is to help young children explore the world around them while learning to be compassionate human beings. 

Heather Willhalm- TK

Welcome to TK! I was born an raised in Sunnyvale. I have been teaching in Sunnyvale for over 20 years and at Vargas for over 13 years. I live in the Vargas community so you may see me out and about- please say "hi". I have two children, my daughter attends Vargas and my son attends Sunnyvale Middle School. I love working with TK students and families as their first school experience. In TK, we learn as we play. 

Alyssa Geffen- TK

Veronica Arcos- K

My name is Veronica, and I was born and raised in Southern California. I earned my bachelor's degree, teaching credential, and Master of Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and also completed additional studies at San Jose State University. In 2000, I moved to the Bay Area, where I live in Sunnyvale with my husband, our family and our pets. Our oldest son is 18 and recently headed off to college, while our 15-year-old son is a sophomore at Homestead High School. Our home is filled with furry companions: our Chihuahua, Peanut, our cat, Lena, and a new kitty who wandered into our backyard last year and decided to make our family complete! With 28 years of experience in education, I have been fortunate to spend my career doing what I love most- teaching! I enjoy helping students become confident readers with inspiring curiosity about the world around them. Through hands-on investigations, creative projects, and art, I strive to create engaging learning experiences that encourage students to explore, discover, and develop a lifelong love of learning. 

Kathleen Connolley- K

Carolyn Chin- K

Veronica Ponce- K

Jacquelyn Fortuna- 1st

Hello! I teach first grade here at Vargas! I was born and raised in San Jose and just so happened to attain all of my degrees there as well. I admire being a first grade teacher and watching my students grow in confidence. My favorite thing about Vargas is the community and family environment. In my free time I love being outdoors, reading, traveling, and learning to play the guitar. If we are on vacation you will likely find me camping near a lake or relaxing on a beach somewhere warm!

Maria Tellez Ramirez- 1st

Hi Vargas! My name is Maria Tellez Ramirez and I am very excited to be joining your school as a first grade teacher. I was born an raised in San Jose. I am a first generation college graduate having attended San Jose State University where I received my Bachelor's degree in 2024 and Master's degree just last December. From a young age I have enjoyed working with children. Watching them light up when they understand something new and /or master a new skill brings me a lot of joy. Also, I deeply enjoy learning from them. I believe each student brings unique knowledge into the classroom! In my free time I like going to the beach, spending time with friends and family, and doing arts & crafts. 

Martha Flores- 1st

I proudly hail from El Paso, Texas, and now call the South Bay home. As a native of the frontera, I value diversity and believe that every child deserves to feel seen and celebrated. I am passionate about serving the communities that nurture our families and am thrilled to join the Vargas Elementary team as a first grade teacher. 

Before coming to Vargas, I taught third grade at a dual-language school- an incredibly rewarding experience that strengthened my belief in the power of language and relationships. 

Outside the classroom, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two sons, exploring the outdoors, discovering new restaurants, going to the movies, and staying active through weightlifting and the occasional yoga class. 

"We read the word to read the world" - Paulo Freire

Ashley Bondi- 2nd

I grew up in Merced, CA and went to college at Santa Clara University. I've been a teacher at Vargas since 2005 and my favorite thing about Vargas is that everyone feels like family. When I'm not at Vargas, I enjoy cooking and spending time with my husband and our three children, Nicholas, Juliet, and Christopher.

Susie Herrera- 2nd

Hi there! I have been teaching in Sunnyvale since 2016 and joined the Vargas community in 2021. In my free time, I enjoy reading and spending time outdoors with my family. This year, I am looking forward to exploring math and science concepts, sharing my love of reading, and learning right alongside my wonderful students. 

I am excited for a year filled with curiosity, growth, and meaningful learning, and I look forward to partnering with families to help make this a successful and memorable school year! 

Karen Tseng - 2nd Grade 

Hi Vargas! My name is Karen Tseng and I'm excited to be teaching 2nd grade this year. I was born and raised in Cupertino, then moved down to San Diego to attend San Diego State University. There, I received my B.A. in Liberal Studies- Elementary Education then I moved back home to get my Master’s and teaching credential at San Jose State University. I have always loved working with kids and guiding them to wonder and explore the world and believe in themselves! In my free time, I love to dance, sing, and play pickleball with friends.

Dennis Vaughn- 2nd

I’ve had the pleasure of teaching at Vargas School since 2000. During this time I’ve taught 2nd through 5th grade. 

I’m the first person in my family to attend a 4 year university and graduate with a degree, and proudly attended a community college before transferring to complete my BS degree. 

During my free time I enjoy camping, bike riding, reading and piddling around the house with various projects.

Each day seeing children grow and learn are the great joys of teaching. Throughout my time at Vargas I’ve seen so many students enjoy science and continue to learn more about this amazing field of study.

What I love about teaching is that at the end of each day I believe I’ve helped contribute to a better world.

Jessica Prettol- 3rd

Hi! I’m Jessica Prettol and I teach 3rd grade here at Vargas. I grew up in Sunnyvale, attended U.C. Santa Barbara for my degree and San Jose State for my teaching credential. I have been a teacher in this district for 20+ years, teaching 2nd to 4th grade.  I enjoy reading, walking my dog, watching my boys play baseball, and spending time with friends. I love teaching science because it gives my students a chance to explore the amazing world around them!

Monica Corral Delgado- 3rd

Hello! My name is Monica Delgado, and I am a third-grade teacher at Vargas. I was born and raised in EL Paso, Texas, where I earned both my bachelor's degree and Master of Education from the University of Texas at El Paso. 

I moved to the Bay Area last year with my husband and our dog, Luna. I have been teaching for 27 years and am passionate about creating a positive, engaging learning environment for my students.

In my free time, I enjoy exploring new places, hiking, and spending quality time with my family. I look forward to a wonderful year of learning and growing together! 

Jingxi Wu - 3rd

I’m so excited to move down to third grade this year! I've been living in the Bay Area for 8 years and I'm still finding new corners to explore. I earned my B.A. in Communication from the University of Colorado Denver, my M.S. Ed. in Education from University of Pennsylvania, and my teaching credentials through San Jose State University. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy rock climbing indoors and outdoors, working out, painting, making music, and hiking with my 2 adorable dogs. I also love cooking Chinese food to share with friends! 

Gregory Daniel Herron- 4th

Hello! My name is Gregory Herron (he/him), also known as Mr. G, and I teach fourth grade here at Vargas. I graduated from the University of California, Irvine (Zot! Zot!) and Stanford for my masters and teaching credential. My favorite part about being a teacher at Vargas is the supportive community and our awesome Maker’s Lab where our students build and create to their heart’s content. I enjoy playing new board games with friends, Dungeons & Dragons, and am looking forward to traveling more with my new passport!

Hillary Do- 4th

My name is Hillary Do and I'm a fourth grade teacher here at Vargas. I grew up in San Jose, attended UC Davis for my undergraduate education, and came back home to get my masters and teaching credential from SJSU. Before coming to Vargas, I taught 3rd grade for two years, and have experience in a Vietnamese dual immersion program in San Jose, In my free time, I like to read and play board games, as well as running and badminton to stay active. 

Julie Maddox- 5th

Teaching children is a passion of mine. I grew up in Carson City, NV and received my teacher credential at the University of Nevada, Reno. All of my family still lives there and I enjoy going home to visit. I also enjoy reading, exercising, traveling, and hanging around with my husband and my two very busy daughters. I love to see the wonder and excitement in my students' eyes when cool things happen in science.

Ricky Delgado- 5th

Hello everyone! My name is Ricky Delgado-Martinez, and I am excited to be a 5th grade teacher here at Vargas Elementary! 

I earned both my bachelor's and master's degrees from Chico State! Before becoming a teacher, I spent nine years working in college basketball: 8 at Chico State and 1 year at Stanford. 

Outside of teaching, I enjoy coaching basketball, going to the movies, working out, taking walks, and Chipotle. 

For the past two years, I have worked throughout the Sunnyvale Elementary School District as a substitute teacher. I am thrilled to be joining the Vargas community and can't wait to get to know my students. I look forward to a great year! 

Go Dolphins! 

Joseph Ernst- SDC K-2

I am from Berkeley, CA. I have taught in many schools throughout the Bay Area and at all grade levels ranging from TK-Adulthood. I am passionate about the happiness and success of all students and their families. I love to play sports, especially basketball and football. If you are looking for me during recess, I am most likely on the basketball courts challenging students or teaching them new tricks.

Rosmery Camargo- SDC 3-5

Hi, My name is Rosmery Camargo and I was born and raised in Guatemala. I’ve lived in California since I was 8 years old and came to San Jose in 2017 to attend SJSU. I obtained my BA, credential and Masters at SJSU. I’ve always had an interest in teaching and I became especially interested in Special Education a couple years ago when I started teaching in San Jose. I am invested in helping students achieve their goals by meeting them where they are at and providing them the adequate amount of support for them to the challenged but also be successful. I am excited to join the Vargas community, collaborating with families and colleagues and to  continue learning effective teaching strategies. I also have two cats and enjoy going out with friends,  exploring new places, and trying new ideas. I look forward to making lasting memories with the Vargas community this upcoming school year!

Jasmine Rodriguez- Resource Specialist

Hello! My name is Jasmine Rodriguez, and I am the Resource Specialist here at Vargas.

I am a Sunnyvale native and attended Fairwood Elementary, Columbia Middle School, and Fremont High School. I earned my bachelor's degree in Child and Adolescent Development from San Jose State University and hold a Mild/Moderate Special Education Teaching Credential.

I began working at Vargas in 2017 as a paraeducator, and I am excited to continue supporting our students. 

Outside of school, I am a new parent to a wonderful 6-month-old daughter. My biggest challenge during the 2026-2027 school year will be balancing parenthood and work, but I am excited to see what this school year brings! 

Britney Rowland- Resource Teacher

Manveer Dulai- Physical Education Teacher

Hello! My name is Manny Dulai and I'm a first-generation American from Turlock, CA. I've been teaching Elementary PE for the past 5 years. I earned my BS degree in Kinesiology and Teaching Credential from San Jose State University. I enjoy building my students' socioemotional, physical and cognitive skills by participating in fun physical activities that promote teamwork and health. When I am not teaching, I love to spend time with my family, go on adventures and watch sports. 

Angie Cordova- Instructional Coach

¡Hola! I grew up in Orange County where I attended Chapman University. After teaching in Southern California for a few years, I relocated to the Bay Area to join the loving Vargas family in 2010. 

My husband loves science and continues to open my eyes and mind to the world around us. My gentle, 8-year-old, daughter helps me slow down and take the time to craft and make cards to spread love and cheer. My  fun-loving,  4-year-old, son keeps me on my toes as we play with rockets and build innovative structures. We love spending time together and doing archery as a family.

Vargas has a special place in my heart! I enjoy building relationships with our students and their families. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Vargas community.

Rachel Boone- Social Worker

I grew up in the Bay Area, and went to college in Pennsylvania. I then taught kindergarten for a year in Thailand before earning my Masters in Social Work from San Jose State. I am now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and have been a School Social Worker at Vargas since 2018. I love being a supportive person on campus for our students, families, and staff, and creating a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone. My classroom is a safe space where students learn more about their feelings, how to manage their emotions, and develop coping skills to help them be more successful at school. I live in Sunnyvale with my wife and our 2 kids, 2 cats and 1 dog, and I love being in nature and going on adventures. 

Caitlin McNerney- School Psychologist

Hi! I'm Caitlin and I am so excited to join the team as the new School Psychologist. I've been in the district for five years and love supporting students, families, and staff as we help every student grow and thrive. 

When I'm not at school, I'm usually spending time with my family, chasing after my little ones, trying new adventures, or enjoying a good cup of coffee (or two). I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone and being a part of the Vargas family! 

January Villarreal- Speech