Who's Who at SOAR Prep

Hey, everyone!

My name is Nathan Armentrout and I teach 8th Grade Science and Engineering here at Soar Prep.  After a quarter century of teaching, I can safely say that Soar Prep is the best school and staff I’ve ever been a part of, and by a large margin at that.

I have a wonderful wife of 27 years and two twin daughters that have just entered high school.  I have lived in Lancaster my entire life except for my college years where I was in San Luis Obispo.  I enjoy many things, particularly making stuff.  I am an avid woodworker and am always looking for new skills, tools and hobbies that allow me to make stuff.  I enjoy playing the guitar and the bass, strategy card and board games, many genres of music (but mostly metal!), going to live music shows (mostly metal!), reading lots and lots of books, the Eastern Sierra Nevadas, museums, and lots of other stuff as well.  

Here’s to a great school year!

Hello Rocket families, 

I'm Briana Blundell one of the AVID teachers. This is my 18th year teaching. I've taught Physical Education for 10 years with a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and a master's in Curriculum and Instruction. 8 years ago I transitioned to middle school and moved inside the classroom for AVID to teach kids life skills of organization, collaboration, time management, college and career development. With our small environment, SOAR Prep is an amazing place to work, I truly love my job and my colleagues. My goal as a middle school teacher is to help prepare students for any high school they choose and encourage kids to dream BIG dreams. When my husband Aaron and I are not watching our kids Austin & Brooklyn play sports, we love to visit the lake and travel. Our new adventure is to try out the craze of pickleball. Looking forward to a great year!

7th & 8th Grade

Hey there SOAR families, I’m Nicole Guarino, one of the English teachers!

I’ve been teaching secondary English for 10 years, but I’ve had a passion for teaching my entire life. Growing up, when most kids dragged their parents to Toys R Us or The Disney Store, (okay, I did that, too) I would drag mine to the Teacher-Student Store. There, I would buy supplies for my imaginary classroom, where I would teach my imaginary students—my stuffed animals. Throughout the years, my heart for teaching never left, even after pursing other careers. To pursue my passion for education, I earned a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Teaching. Now, while my current classroom is far from the imaginary one I once created, I do get to explore the world of imagination with some pretty awesome kiddos. Teaching is just a part of my story. When I’m not in the classroom, I’m at home with my family. My husband Matt and I enjoy the light of our lives, Noah—a tender, determined, garbage-truck-obsessed, two-year-old boy, who keeps us on our toes and our hearts filled with joy. I look forward to working alongside you, knowing full-well how important our collaboration is for student success.

Best, 

Mrs. Guarino

Life Science & Physical Science

Hello,

I am Coach Johnson and I am the PE teacher for SOAR Prep and Athletic Director for the AAV.  I have been teaching at SOAR Prep since our first year in 2013.  I have also taught at Antelope Valley High School and SOAR High School.  I have been coaching Varsity sports for the past 20 years to include Football at Highland and Antelope Valley High School, Track and Field at Antelope Valley High School, and most recently baseball at Quartz Hill High School the past 10 years.  Prior to my career in education I served 10 years in the U.S. Army as a tank commander and in logistics after leaving the military.

Hello Everyone,

I'm Carol Macke and I've been teaching middle school for over 30 years. I graduated with a B.S degree in Business Administration and earned an MS in Curriculum and Instruction. I absolutely love working with this age group and have a blast teaching math and engineering. When I'm not in the classroom, you can catch me on a mission to visit every MLB baseball stadium as a dedicated ball park chaser. I also enjoy quilting, genealogy, and Rams football in my free time. I also wear the hat of yearbook advisor and mentor for new teachers. 

World History and Geography & English 7

Dear Parents and Guardians,

My name is Yvonne Miranda, and I am delighted to introduce myself as your child’s eighth-grade US history and AVID (college and career prep) teacher. I have had the pleasure of teaching at SOAR Prep Academy for the past eight years, and during this time, I have found great joy in guiding my students through academic, social, and personal challenges and seeing them come out stronger on the other side. 
A bit about my background: I earned my bachelor’s degree in Political Science from UC Berkeley. This foundation fueled my passion for understanding the complexities of our government and society, a passion I strive to share with my students when I teach about the founding of our country and the adoption of the US Constitution. After attending Cal, I completed my master’s in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of San Diego. I hold teaching credentials in English, Social Sciences, and Spanish, which allows me to bring a broad set of skills to the classroom. 
In addition to my teaching responsibilities, I serve as the advisor for the Black Student Union (BSU), where I passionately advocate for social justice and work to create an inclusive environment for all students. We hold our meetings on Wednesdays at lunch and all students are welcome to join, no matter how far along we are in the school year. I also supervise Homework Hub and I try to make it to at least one sporting event per season even if I have absolutely no idea what is going on. 
Outside of school, I am part of a book club that meets monthly. My favorite books are historical fiction, science fiction, and thrillers. I also enjoy staying active through yoga and strength training, and I spend as much quality time with my dogs -- two German Shepherd Huskies named Luna and Honey and a Maltipoo named Marley -- as possible. Finally, I love to travel. Oostende, Belgium, Panajachel, Guatemala, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Laie, Hawaii, are just a few of my favorite places. In fact, I love to travel so much that I’m leading two student trips in upcoming years. One is to Washington, DC, and the other is to Italy and France. If your student wants to travel, feel free to ask me about these trips.
My constant goal as a teacher is to help every child grasp just how much they are capable of achieving, and I hope to do that with your child this year. If you ever have any questions, I’m just an email away.

Warm regards,
Yvonne Miranda

Hey there!

My name is Matt Rodriguez, and I'm excited to share my love of math with our students. My goal is to show everyone that becoming a "math person" is simple:
- Be a person.
- Do math.
Math can be fun and interesting, and I hope to share that excitement with my students. One of the best parts of teaching is seeing the "light bulb moment" when a student understands a new concept. It's amazing to see their faces light up with pride and excitement as they learn new skills.
I've been lucky to spend my entire career with the Academies of the Antelope Valley family. I started as a substitute teacher for the high school district and hadn't planned on becoming a full-time teacher. One day, I subbed at a small campus called SOAR Prep Academy and had a great time with the students. I left a detailed note for the teacher, Carol Macke, and it must have made a good impression. That day turned into a long-term subbing position and eventually a full-time job at SOAR Prep Academy.
What convinced me to pursue teaching full-time was not just the wonderful students but also the amazing educators I met. These teachers brought rich experiences and unique perspectives, all working together to create a fantastic learning environment for students.
Outside of school, I have a passion for music, sports, and travel. You can often find me enjoying the local music and arts scene or attending concerts, which sometimes takes me to different places around the valley. Being a lifelong SoCal resident I'm a huge fan of the Dodgers and Lakers!
I love to travel and try to see as much of the world as possible. In recent years, I've visited Ireland, Spain, Uganda, and France. I believe that experiencing different cultures and perspectives is one of the best ways to learn and enjoy life. My photo is from the Louvre with a bust of my Renaissance era Doppelganger.)
I look forward to opening up the world of math to our students!

Best regards,
Matt Rodriguez

I’m Dr. Andy Glatfelter, your principal! This is my 16th year as a school principal, and I LOVE my job! It’s truly a joy to work with teachers and staff who care so much about our students and who give them their all.

We live in an amazing place, the Aerospace Valley. It’s the world headquarters of flight test. The B-21, the B-2, the Space Shuttle, and so many more planes were designed, built, and tested right here.

We’re the home to the F-35 production site at Northrop Grumman, to Skunk Works, and the first breaking of Mach 1, Mach 2, Mach 3, Mach 4, Mach 5, and Mach 6.7 by Pete Knight, the father of our Knight Prep namesake Congressman Steve Knight. Our students have hundreds of options for very high paying STEM jobs right in our own backyard, and Academies of the Antelope Valley is setting students on a course for success. Not all will become engineers. Jalen Nailor, one of our AAV alumni, plays in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings!

Knight Prep, SOAR Prep, and Virtual Academy are amazing campuses because of our amazing staff. Our teachers work diligently for our kids, and the results are borne out in our high academic achievement, our safe school environment, and our ability to help our students become creative problem solvers. Their ability to collaborate in teams, to speak in front of a group, to give a proper hand shake, and to think outside of the box will be valuable professional skills in whatever path they ultimately choose to take.

If you’re interested in learning more about our school, please give me a call. I’d be happy to talk with you, and if you’d like, to show you around. Our students will one day look back and say, “I’m so glad I had that as a kid.”

Best regards,

Dr. Andy Glatfelter

(661) 943-2091

aglatfelter@avhsd.org

I suppose a little biographical background might be interesting to share:

• Mission Viejo High School, IB full diploma.
• B.A., The Master’s University. Biblical Studies major with an emphasis in Missions and Biblical Languages.
• M.A., CSU Bakersfield. Master’s in Education: Curriculum and Instruction, core emphasis in educational technology.
• Ed.D., UCLA. Doctorate in Educational Leadership. 
• Certificate in School Management and Leadership, Harvard University.

Experience:

• Antelope Valley Christian School. 5th Grade. 1999-2000.
• Desert View Elementary. 4th Grade. 2000-2006.
• Assistant Principal. Piute Middle School. 2006-2009.
• Principal. Piute Middle School. 2009-2011.
• Principal. Discovery School. 2011-2016. Founding principal.
• Principal. Fulton & Alsbury Academy. 2016-2023. Founding principal.
• Principal. Academies of the Antelope Valley: Knight Prep, SOAR Prep, and Virtual Academy

I teach a course called Instructional Leadership for CSU Bakersfield’s master’s degree program in administration. I’ve also taught Educational Research and Educational Statistics at CSUB.

Other interesting things:

• I was an honorary commander at Edwards AFB for two years, assigned to the Electronic Warfare Group.
• I’ve climbed Mt. Whitney three times, once with my brother-in-law, once with my wife, and once with a group of teachers. 
• I crossed the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim in a day
• I rode my bicycle 137 miles in a day, from Seaport Village to the Santa Monica Pier.
• In 2021 I ran 5 marathons.
• I finished my first triathlon, Olympic distance, last summer.
• My mother’s cousin’s husband’s great-uncle is Ernest Hemmingway. True story.
• I’m known to run outside when I hear the rumble of unusual aircraft!
• I like to tell Dad jokes. Usually he laughs.
• And I’ve never been to Boston in the fall.

Tools are in my blood.

My great-grandfather was a ship’s carpenter back when boats were propelled by the wind and calls for help didn’t exist. When things went sideways on open ocean, it was my great-grandfather’s job to keep the whole shebang moving forward by creating solutions with nothing more than his tools and his brains. This was a mighty task, and other men’s lives relied upon his handiwork.

Great-grandpa eventually gave up the sea for a ranch, but his oaken toolchest saw no less action. It was passed down from generation to generation, filling with more tools for more projects. My dad climbed off the tractor to become a diesel mechanic, a remarkable welder, and a pretty doggone good woodworker. Out in my garage, I continue to shape steel and wood into my own creations, thanks to what my dad taught me in his garage.

Many of my tools used to belong to Dad, and a few objects from my great-grandfather’s toolchest can still be found on my workbench. One out-of-place looking vernier caliper belonged to my wife’s grandfather: after World War II, he was invited into this new scheme called The Skunk Works, and he used this caliper to build the A-12 spy plane for the CIA and, later, the SR-71 for the Air Force. 

Tools hold a potential for magic that folks no longer seem to understand. Too many generations have withered in front of TV screens, and then computer screens, and then smartphone screens to the point that we’ve now fostered a society of Lotus Eaters.  

I’d like folks to rediscover the potential of tools. Importantly, though, I want kids to understand that the tools themselves—things—are not the magic, and neither is simply “doing.” Anybody can do something: creation elicits pride. Thus, it is the act of creation that is the real magic, and this magic is the key to education.  

I can think of no better way to learn geometry than to design and build a piece of furniture that is actually used at home. Ever see a kid smiling ear-to-ear as he serves food to his friends after baking for the first time? That’s called chemistry in action. How else should we learn the strange voodoo of electricity than to successfully wire a circuit to perform the task of our choosing? And for those looking forward to the future, then why not learn coding by… well, actually coding?

The passion to create is what drives people to learn. My great-grandfather knew this. My wife’s grandfather knew this. My father knew this. His son was taught this. And, my son will know it.

At Knight and Soar Prep, we present kids with projects that we’re betting will inspire passion in them, we then provide them with the tools to do these things, and then we enjoy the privilege of watching them take home their creations.  

I welcome your child to join us so that the magic of creation may be a part of his or her future.

Thank you,

John Kleespies 

Vice Principal

jkleespies@avhsd.org