LOS ALAMITOS, Calif.– This year at Los Alamitos High School, along with new friendships, new classes and new experiences, LAHS has five new amazing teachers! They are excited about joining the LAHS family!
Ms. Kim — Intro To Algebra, Algebra 1, and Geometry
Q: How long have you been teaching? What’s your past as a teacher?
A: I’ve been teaching for two years now. This is my third year. For two years, I was at John Burroughs High School in Burbank.
Q: What do you like about Los Al? How has your experience been so far?
A: It’s been super fun. I love the students. They’re so funny. I love the campus, especially my room, because I’m on the third floor. The stairs can be a little tiring, but the view is really nice.
Q: What are you looking forward to this upcoming school year?
A: Honestly, (I’m looking forward to going to) all the sports events and I’m really excited (about them).
Q: What are some goals you have for the future and for your time at Los Al?
A: My goal is to connect with as many students as possible and get a lot of my students to think that they are (good mathematicians).
Q: Who’s your hero or your biggest inspiration outside of school?
A: My biggest inspiration outside of school would be my dad because he’s been working for a long, long time now, and I wish to continue that pathway and work for a really long time as a teacher.
Q: What are your hobbies or interests? What is your favorite pastime?
A: My favorite hobby is (watching) sports. I am a huge Steelers fan. I love football, basketball, baseball, and all that good stuff.
Q: What type of music do you listen to?
A: Right now, I’m listening to just more R & B kind of music. I’ve been listening to a lot of Daniel Caesar.
(Kayla Beltran)
Mr. Callanan — Life Skills Program
Q: How long have you been teaching? What’s your past as a teacher?
A: This is my seventh year teaching.
Q: What do you like about Los Al? How has your experience been so far?
A: It’s been great. I grew up here. I went to school here, so this is my home.
Q: What are you looking forward to this upcoming school year?
A: I’m looking forward to meeting all the new people (and learning a lot).
Q: What are some goals you have for the future and for your time at Los Al?
A: My goal is to just run the best life skills program I possibly can.
Q: Who’s your hero or your biggest inspiration outside of school?
A: (My biggest inspirations outside of school are) probably my two children and my wife.
Q: What are your hobbies or interests? What is your favorite pastime?
A: I like to surf.
Q: What type of music do you listen to?
A: I listen to all kinds of music. My favorite musician right now is Jack Johnson.
Q: What’s your favorite food?
A: I like Mexican food.
Q: What are some special talents or fun facts about yourself?
A: (The only fun fact about me is that) I like to surf.
Mr. Shim — Intro to Algebra, Algebra 1
Q: How long have you been teaching? What’s your past as a teacher?
A: I’ve been teaching for about 2 and a half years. I used to teach at Sunny Hills High School and Troy High School, but then this past year, I spent a year living in Mexico with my wife, teaching at a school there.
Q: What do you like about Los Al? How has your experience been so far?
A: I love how well-rounded Los Alamitos is. It makes me so excited to be a part of not just a math classroom, but also be able to go watch volleyball games.
Q: What are you looking forward to this upcoming school year?
A: (I’m looking forward to watching) future basketball games, choir concerts, drama shows. (I’m also excited for) seeing my students in different aspects and the extracurriculars that they’re involved in, and also just being a part of a new basketball program is super exciting… I will be a part of the basketball staff (here). I (also) get to learn a lot and hopefully also contribute (to the school community).
Q: What are some goals you have for the future and for your time at Los Al?
A: I have two goals: I want to add value in every kind of area I’m involved in, whether that’s clubs or basketball or the math department, and (also) I want to become a great math teacher…(and) I want to be a better mentor, to teach better, be a better communicator to students… and also be able to communicate thoughts and give meaningful assignments and projects.
Q: Who’s your hero or your biggest inspiration outside of school?
A: My biggest hero is my wife, Taylor. Everything that I do is supported by her, is inspired (by) her and with the hope of continually building a happy family with her.
Q: What are your hobbies or interests? What is your favorite pastime?
A: I like basketball, playing and coaching, and I love to eat.
Q: What type of music do you listen to?
A: I actually don’t like listening to music that much.
Q: What’s your favorite food?
A: As long as it’s well made and good, it has a spot in my favorites.
Q: What are some special talents or fun facts about yourself?
A: Fun fact about myself is that I have a green eyelid. I didn’t get punched in the face.
Ms. Thieme — Chemistry
Q: How long have you been teaching? What’s your past as a teacher?
A: I have only been teaching…for two years. This is my second year teaching. My first year was last year, so I’m kind of new to it, but…loving it so far.
Q: What do you like about Los Al? How has your experience been so far?
A: The kids are great…(and) the faculty…has been super helpful. All the people in my department have been super, super helpful. I just like the sense of community here. It’s really cool. (Having) one high school…and the sense of the whole community surrounding this high school is a really cool experience.
Q: What are you looking forward to this upcoming school year?
A: I’m super excited to go to football games, go see some shows, and then just getting to know the kids a little bit more. I think building those relationships throughout the year, (is something) I’m super excited about.
Q: What are some goals you have for the future and for your time at Los Al?
A: (A goal would be) definitely extending (my career here) longer than just this one year. I think definitely staying around and really becoming a part of this community would be really cool.
Q: Who’s your hero or your biggest inspiration outside of school?
A: My mom (because she) is just such a hard worker, and I think that’s what I try (to) embody, working hard and loving what you do…That was my biggest inspiration, deciding what I wanted to do in life, and…loving it, showing up every day and being excited to be (at) work.
Q: What are your hobbies or interests? What is your favorite pastime?
A: I love reading…I coach club volleyball a couple days a week. I go to the gym…(and) I try to catch up on as much sleep as I can.
Q: What type of music do you listen to?
A: I love country (music). I’ll listen to, like, the current pop or alternative (music), but country is my jam.
Q: What’s your favorite food?
A: (My favorite food is) pizza. I feel like you can’t go wrong, like you put so many toppings on it, so if you have it the next day, it can be different.
Q: What are some special talents or fun facts about yourself?
A: I have five cats at home…I’m really an animal person… Dogs are my favorite but (cats are) a close second…I (also have) three dogs.
Mrs. Fairchild — 3D Design, Art and Design
Q: How long have you been teaching? What’s your past as a teacher?
A: This is…my 10th year (teaching) in public schools.
Q: What do you like about Los Al? How has your experience been so far?
A: It’s been amazing. Everybody here is so warm and welcoming…Everybody talks about how much of a family it is here, and I truly feel that way, from the very beginning.
Q: What are you looking forward to this upcoming school year?
A: I’m looking forward to my kids making some awesome art (in my class).
Q: What are some goals you have for the future and for your time at Los Al?
A: My hope is to really develop this program a little more…and get some of my kids to come back for the advanced class.
Q: Who’s your hero or your biggest inspiration outside of school?
A: My mother (because) she was a teacher. (She) was probably my biggest inspiration.
Q: What are your hobbies or interests? What is your favorite pastime?
A: I do ceramics. I have a studio that I work out of. I make them all on my own…[and] I used to sell my work, but now I am taking whatever time I have (and making) stuff for my house.
Q: What type of music do you listen to?
A: I really like ambient music and I like Shoegaze music. I like stuff that’s a little more mellow because I usually listen to it while I’m working. I also listen to a lot of podcasts.
Q: What’s your favorite food?
A: (I love) tacos. I’m a big fan of fish tacos and (I love the tacos from) Taco Mesa. They’re so good.
Q: What are some special talents or fun facts about yourself?
A: I’m so art driven (but) I like reading sci-fi, I’m a sci-fi nerd…I’ve also been skydiving…it’s terrifying, but really fun.
These five outstanding new teachers are so excited to be at LAHS and cannot wait for a great and amazing year! Let’s show them what being a Griffin is all about!
Mirtha Gutierrez • Sep 5, 2025 at 1:39 pm
Congrats on your first article Kayla! I learned so many interesting and fun facts about the new teachers at Los Al. I can’t wait to read more articles from you.
Presley Morad • Sep 5, 2025 at 12:21 pm
I love the way your article is set up. There is so much information. Great first article!!