Dena Montague, AP U.S. History and AP Comparative Government instructor and Environmental Justice Lecturer at UCSB, accepted a position at Stanford starting at the end of December to be a lecturer in the university’s new Doerr School of Sustainability. 

“She let us know that this job would be starting in January. We are all incredibly thrilled for her because that is a wonderful position. It is also bittersweet and sad to see her go,” Head of Upper School Anna Alldredge said. 

Kevin Guay stepped in to cover both the AP U.S. History and the AP Comparative Government courses for the remainder of the school year.

“Teaching these classes means a great deal to me. I’m so excited to reconnect with students I’ve missed over the past few years. Perhaps equally as exciting is the privilege to immerse myself in a deeper study of world governments and further refine my expertise in U.S. history,” Guay said. 

In addition to attaining a doctorate in U.S. History, Guay demonstrates an “enduring dedication to our Laguna students over the years,” Alldredge said. 

“This process has emerged as a total win-win. We were able to make a plan that involved repositioning Dr. Guay into an area focus with both of these APs that are very aligned with his background and what his doctorate work focused on,” Alldredge said. “We think he will be incredibly well suited to these high-level history classes in that age group and also the content area.”

Daisy Altamirano joined the Social Sciences faculty team to take over Guay’s history classes: three sections of World History I and one section each of World History II and U.S. History. 

“We were lucky to encounter a candidate that is a perfect fit for Laguna. Her experience is incredibly impressive, and the energy she brought during her interview day and the way she interacted with our students during the sample lesson was incredibly energetic, smart, and student-centered,” Alldredge said. 

Altamirano was born and raised in Santa Barbara and earned her BA at UC Berkeley in Political Science with a minor in History, as well as her MA in Educational Policy and Administration at Loyola Marymount. 

“As a local, she has a great sense of our school. We were very excited to encounter such a strong candidate,” Alldredge said. 

Altamirano’s background includes teaching history and English as well as completing a Teach For America Rising Leader Fellowship, and serving as the After School Program Coordinator at the Turner Foundation. 

“I am very eager to bring new projects, activities, culturally responsive content, and student centered curriculum to the Laguna history department,” Altamirano said. “My love of history started in high school, and I hope that I can inspire that same enthusiasm for history in my classes. Above all, this year I look forward to developing strong relationships with students, families and the entire Laguna Blanca community.”

During the last two weeks of classes in December, Altamirano shadowed Guay’s classes, and Guay shadowed Montague’s classes. The instructor switch officially occurred on Jan. 2.

“I wholeheartedly believe my student-centered focus in the classroom will lend itself to creating a comfortable, cheerful, and encouraging learning environment,” Guay said. “Having taught history extensively at the university and secondary level, I am confident in my abilities to teach these classes. Beyond my educational background and teaching time, the current juniors and seniors — quite simply — know I care and want nothing more than their success.”