Woodside High School
Science
Science Courses
![Science_Courses icon]()
Science Courses title
|
Course
|
Year Taken
|
Recommended Preparation
|
Teachers for 2023-24 (click to email them)
|
|
Astronomy
|
11 or 12 |
successful completion of Algebra 1
|
|
|
Biology
|
9 | (no prerequisite) |
|
|
Chemistry
|
10
|
Successful completion of Biology
|
|
|
Engineering, Introduction
|
9-12
|
Concurrent enrollment in another Science class
|
|
|
Engineering Design
|
10-12
|
Successful completion of Intro Engineering
|
|
|
Environmental Analysis through Chemistry
|
10
|
Only open to Green Academy students
|
|
|
Environmental Science
|
11 or 12 |
Successful completion of Biology or Chemistry
|
|
|
Human Biology
|
11 or 12
|
Successful completion of Biology | |
|
Physics
|
11 or 12 | ||
|
Plant and Soil Science
|
10 |
Only open to Green Academy students
|
|
|
Sustainable Design
|
12 |
Only open to Green Academy students
|
|
|
Water: California's Liquid Gold
|
11 | Only open to Green Academy students | |
|
|
|
||
|
AS Chemistry (honors)
|
10 |
Successful completion of Biology and Algebra 1
|
|
|
AP Biology
|
11 or 12
|
Successful completion of Biology and Chemistry
|
|
|
AP Environmental Science
|
11 or 12
|
Successful completion of Biology and Chemistry
|
Ann Akey |
|
AP Physics C: Mechanics
|
11 or 12
|
Concurrent enrollment in PreCalculus or higher
|
Science Department Staff
![Science_Department_Staff icon]()
Science Department Stafftitle
Biology
Mr. Joseph Ezrati teaches AP Biology and is in his 18th year teaching. He was born and raised in the Bay Area and graduated with honors from the University of Puget Sound with a B.S. in Biology and stayed for a fifth year to earn his Master of Arts in Teaching.
He also works part-time for the Sequoia Union High School District as a mentor for first and second-year teachers. He is the proud father of two children ages ten and six.
Mrs Ilka Handler teaches Biology and Biology EML. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from College of Notre Dame in Belmont and received her M.Ed. from Notre Dame de Namur University focused on Curriculum and Instruction. Born in San Francisco, her upbringing was both local and in Peru. She speaks Spanish.
Mrs. Shomace Ighanian Healey teaches Biology and Human Biology and is in her 16th year of teaching. She grew up in Mountain View California, received her bachelor's degree in 2004 from UC Davis (Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior), and received her graduate degree in Education from Stanford in 2007. She spent a year in Xi'an China and taught English while learning about Chinese culture (and a tiny bit of Mandarin). She has two children aged eight and six.
Mr. Alton Lee is in his 17th year of teaching. He was born in Hong Kong but has spent the majority of his life in San Francisco. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Biochemistry and Psychology, and an MA in Science Education. At Woodside, he currently teaches two classes in Woodside's Green Academy (Sustainable Design and Water: California's Liquid Gold), as well as 9th Grade Biology.In his spare time, Mr. Lee cooks, travels, volunteers, geeks out about airplanes, and watches college football games and gymnastics meets.
Mr. Ernest Lo teaches Biology and is in his 24th year of teaching. He graduated from the University of California at Riverside with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology with an emphasis in cell and molecular biology. He earned a Masters in Biology from San Francisco State and a Master’s of Education from University of California at Berkeley. Before coming to teaching he worked in a Neuroscience lab at UCSF where he authored two papers, one in Neuroreport and one in Nature Medicine. While he once had hobbies like surfing and climbing, his two young children occupy all of his free time.
Mrs. Davina Ortiz is in her 20th year teaching at Woodside. This year she teaches Human Biology, Biology, and Green Academy Plant and Soil Science. She has lived in Redwood City her entire life attending Clifford Elementary, McKinley Middle, and Sequoia High Schools. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry at San José State University and her teaching training at San Francisco State University. She has two children who currently attend WHS.
Mrs. Julie Paoli has been teaching for 25 years. She teaches Biology, Environmental Science and AP Biology. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in Biology from Pacific University where she also earned a MA in Teaching with a focus on inquiry and experiential education. She also enjoys cooking, making cakes, scrapbooking, and hiking.
Chemistry
Ms. Ann Akey, Ph.D. teaches AP Environmental Science and Environmental Analysis Through Chemistry. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Grinnell College, her Master’s in Botany (Plant Ecology) from Iowa State University, and her Ph.D. in Science Education from the University of Wyoming. She holds National Board Certification and served as an IISME fellow at Stanford for three years. This is her 25th year at Woodside High School, she started teaching in Africa with the Peace Corps.
Mr. Zach Larsen teaches Chemistry. He grew up in rural Oregon and received his bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Willamette University where he was also on the track and field team and in the university orchestra. He spent about 15 years in the pharmaceutical industry before going back to school to earn his Master’s degree from Stanford University. He has a son who will be two years old this year.
Mr. Shayan Lavasani has been teaching for three years but is new to Woodside High School. He teaches Chemistry, AS Chemistry and EML Chemistry. He has a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College, majoring in Public Policy Analysis-Economics and minoring in Chemistry.
Environmental Science and Green Academy
Ms. Ann Akey, Ph.D. teaches AP Environmental Science and Environmental Analysis Through Chemistry. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Grinnell College, her Master’s in Botany (Plant Ecology) from Iowa State University, and her Ph.D. in Science Education from the University of Wyoming. She holds National Board Certification and served as an IISME fellow at Stanford for three years. This is her 25th year at Woodside High School, she started teaching in Africa with the Peace Corps.
Mr. Alton Lee is in his 17th year of teaching. He was born in Hong Kong but has spent the majority of his life in San Francisco. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Biochemistry and Psychology, and an MA in Science Education. At Woodside, he currently teaches two classes in Woodside's Green Academy (Sustainable Design and Water: California's Liquid Gold), as well as 9th Grade Biology.In his spare time, Mr. Lee cooks, travels, volunteers, geeks out about airplanes, and watches college football games and gymnastics meets.
Mrs. Davina Ortiz is in her 20th year teaching at Woodside. This year she teaches Human Biology, Biology, and Green Academy Plant and Soil Science. She has lived in Redwood City her entire life attending Clifford Elementary, McKinley Middle, and Sequoia High Schools. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry at San José State University and her teaching training at San Francisco State University. She has two children who currently attend WHS.
Mrs. Julie Paoli has been teaching for 25 years. She teaches Biology, Environmental Science and AP Biology. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in Biology from Pacific University where she also earned a MA in Teaching with a focus on inquiry and experiential education. She also enjoys cooking, making cakes, scrapbooking, and hiking.
Physics, Engineering, and Astronomy
Mrs. Stephanie Finander teaches AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Calculus BC (in the Math Department). She has a Bachelor’s degree in Biophysics from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master’s of Arts in Teaching from Stanford University. She is in her 36th year of teaching. Stephanie has two children who attended North Star Academy and Woodside High School and have graduated (with honors) from the University of California.
Mr. Phil Hopkins teaches Engineering and Physics and is the faculty advisor for the FIRST Robotics Team. He grew up in the Bay Area and earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. After spending several years in industry he returned to academia and earned his Master's Degree in education from Stanford University. This is his third year teaching full-time.
Mr. Matt Sahagun teaches Physics and Astronomy