Rowland High School Grads Return to the Classroom -- As Teachers!

ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA – SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 – How does a school make sure that it has the best teachers for its students? Principal Robbie Robinson at Rowland High School will tell you that’s easy -- at Rowland High School, they hire back their best students as teachers! This year, they are proud to announce that five of their new teaching staff for the 2007-08 school year are Rowland High School alumni. This illustrious group of young, eager teachers join the growing ranks of former Rowland High School grads who “have come home to roost” at the school -- bringing the total number of “students turned teacher” to lucky13.

Teachers Ron Cooper, Ryan Jacobsen, Shay Lohman, Allison Rodriguez, and Jennifer Tan may have had a surrealist feeling when the bell rang for their first class, but they are all delighted to share their knowledge and experiences with a new generation of “Raiders.”

Ron Cooper – Science

Ron Cooper attended Alvarado Intermediate School and Rowland High School where he graduated in 1998. He received a four-year football scholarship to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and after graduation, received his teaching credential. He served as a science teacher at Pacifica High in Oxnard where he also coached football and track. Cooper states, “I have always looked forward to coming back to Rowland High School where I had such a great high school experience. I look forward to being a part of the wonderful Rowland staff.”

Ryan Jacobson – Special Education

Ryan Jacobson graduated from Rowland High School in 1992. He attended Cal State Fullerton where he graduated with a liberal arts degree. For the past four years he has served as a football coach at Rowland H.S. and is now also coaching the varsity softball team. He resides in Chino with his wife, Jennifer, who is a drama teacher in Mission Viejo, his daughter Madilynn, who just started kindergarten, and this two dogs Jones and Jada Honey.

Shay Lohman – Social Science

Shay Lohman is a product of the Rowland Unified School District graduating from Rowland High in 2001. His two older brothers also graduated from RHS and one is now a pilot and the other is a school administrator. His mother just retired after teaching first grade for 40 years! Lohman attended UCLA where he graduated in 2005 with a degree in political science. Upon graduation, he had the unique opportunity to move to Washington D.C. where he worked in Congress and for non-profit organizations. Last year, Lohman decided to pursue his passion for education and is excited that he is able to begin his teaching career at his alma mater. He enjoys learning about history and politics, coaching football and baseball, and is a die hard Angels fan.

Allison Rodriguez – English

Allison Rodriguez graduated from Rowland High in 2002, but returned to campus in 2003 as an instructional aide in the special education department. She received her Bachelor’s degree in English at Cal State University, Fullerton in 2006. Allison also served in the special education department for the Walnut Valley USD where she worked with autistic children. She is now part of the Raider faculty as an English teacher. Some of her many interests are traveling and spending time with family. She has one brother and two sisters; one of whom teaches at another school in the Rowland Unified School District -- Oswalt Elementary School. In addition, her mother Velia, is the School Office Manager at Rowland High! This summer she traveled to New York twice and went white water rafting. She also enjoys watching sports, especially football, and has a passion for reading.

Jennifer Tan – English

Jennifer Tan, a proud graduate of Rowland High’s Class of 2001, is thrilled to join the faculty of her alma mater this school year. She moved to Rowland Heights from San Francisco in the middle of the fall semester in 7th grade, and never thought she would come to connect with the community as she does now. In high school, she was a member of Interact, CSF, and a self-proclaimed "Yearbook geek." She graduated from Cal State Fullerton as an English major in 2006, and is currently working on her single-subject teaching credential. She feels particularly thankful for the chance to work with such an amazingly supportive staff at Rowland High. When she's not in school-mode, she loves spending quality time with friends and family.

ADDITIONAL RHS ALUMNI TEACHING STAFF: The following teachers that are at Rowland High School who were also alumni are Ralph Harris, Karen Hunter, John Molla, Miriam Ocaranza, Alicia Robles, Kathy Stella, Nick Wong, and Kimberley Woo.

“We are extremely proud and delighted that these wonderful people continue to be part of our Rowland family,” said Principal Robinson. “They have been excellent role models for our students and, in fact, Mr. Harris and Mrs. Robles have been inducted into our Rowland High School Alumni Hall of Fame for their outstanding achievements and contributions to our students.”

Rowland High School is a National Blue Ribbon School (the nation’s highest honor a school can receive) and a California Distinguished School.

Pictured Top: Alumni teachers at Rowland High - Kimberly Woo, Kathy Stella, Ryan Jacobson, Karen Hunter, Shay Lohman, Ron Cooper, Jennifer Tan, Allison Rodriguez and Alicia Robles. (Not pictured are Ralph Harris, John Molla, Miriam Ocaranzaa nd Nick Wong).

Second Picture: The newest five alum teachers: Ryan Jacobson(Special Ed), Allison Rodriguez (English), Shay Lohman (Social Science), Ron Cooper (Science) and Jennifer Tan (English).

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Published September 12, 2007 Print