Meet Our Staff

Kenneth Kahn, Principal

Kenny Kahn is in his second year at the Redwood High School site and in Castro Valley Unified School District. An East Bay native, Principal Kahn is overjoyed to connect with all students, staff, parents, and school community members. He previously worked at Monte Vista High School in San Ramon Valley, where he was an Assistant Principal for the past five years. Prior to working in school administration, Principal Kahn worked for 10 years as an English teacher, head football coach, Restorative Justice coordinator and School Climate coordinator at his alma mater, El Cerrito High School in West Contra Costa Unified School District. He graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a bachelor’s degree in Literature/Creative Writing, followed by a master’s degree in Education and teaching credential in English Language Arts. He’s a graduate of UC Berkeley’s ‘Principal Leadership Institute’ program that continually emphasizes and promotes Equity and Social Justice within school communities. He’s a lifelong California Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Athletics, and Golden State Warriors fan. He’s a father of two boys, Theo and Harris, and husband to Alexandrea Creer Kahn, Senior Director of Academic Programs at Alder Graduate School of Education, and co-author of Identity Safe Classrooms: Grades 6–12 Pathway to Belonging and Learning.

"Educators have the power to change the direction of young people's lives and have a positive impact on the lives of future generations. Teaching and learning require great enthusiasm, thoughtful planning, deep desire, time and effort. I have the utmost respect for teachers and their practice. Learning is a joyous and continual process that leads to better living and has a positive impact on our families and communities. It is imperative that I share my journey as a learner, and continually model my love of learning where I expect our students, teachers, and parents to do the same. As a school principal, I am responsible for the safety, learning, and emotional growth of our students and teachers, and working with every part of our school community to achieve this is both my obligation and invitation."

Stephanie Aponte, Registrar & Secretary

Stephanie Aponte is Redwood's newest registrar and secretary. Ms. Stephanie joined the Redwood staff at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.

Ms. Stephanie loves all things Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars. Her hobbies include reading, graphic design, and going to Disneyland.

Tony Stavropoulos

Tony Stavropolous (“Mr. S”) has been teaching for twenty four years, and has worked at Redwood for the past year. Mr. S manages the Independent Study and Home Hospital programs, which offer kids alternatives to the traditional classroom.

Goal setting is the most important thing for Mr. S’s students, and he supports his students by making achievable short, mid, and long term goals. Mr. S loves that Redwood is small enough for the students and staff to really understand the student’s needs for success.

Outside of school, Mr. S loves to play music and see live music. We’re living in a golden age!

Matt Hassebrock

Matt Hassebrock currently teaches US History, Government, and Foods at Redwood. Mr. Hassebrock loves teaching at Redwood because our students constantly overcome huge obstacles. To help students continue learning at home, Mr. Hassebrock makes all classroom work available through Google classroom.

Mr. Hassebrock enjoys spending time with his wife and children. Their favorite family activities include hiking, hunting, riding horses, and are always looking for the next great book to read.

Photo of teacher in jui jitsu uniform — Joshua Wheeler

Joshua Wheeler

Joshua Wheeler is one of our newer teachers at Redwood, but has been teaching for twelve years. He loves how our school provides an academic, social, and emotional reset for students. Mr. Wheeler uses a variety of cooperative and creative strategies to engage our students, and provides constant one-on-one support.

Mr. Wheeler is also a wrestling coach and competes in Brazilian Jui Jitsu. Mr. Wheeler was just awarded the Alameda County Teacher of the Year Award, and everyone at Redwood High School is so proud of him!

Photo of teacher with child and dog — Kelly Abbott

Kelly Abbott

As a teacher of seventeen years, Kelly Abbott has chosen to work at Redwood High School because she loves the smaller campus and amazing students. With shorter days and caring staff, Ms. Abbott knows that Redwood can help students stay organized and remain focused on graduating. Ms. Abbott teaches Integrated Math 1 at Redwood, and is also the Math and Science content teacher at the Castro Valley Virtual Academy.

Outside of school you will find Ms. Abbott exploring the great outdoors with her son and Kilda, Redwood's resident Therapy Dog. Hiking, camping, and sporting events are always favorites, and Ms. Abbott loves travelling internationally over the long summer breaks.

Ninah Asuncion

Ninah Asuncion has been a high school counselor for seventeen years, and is in her 7th year at Redwood. As the counselor for our students, Ms. Asuncion believes that working together with students and families is essential for academic success. At Redwood, students are encouraged to plan beyond high school and explore their post high school options. Ms. Asuncion really feels that it's important to build positive relationships based on mutual trust and respect.

Ms. Asuncion considers herself an urban homesteader, and loves to garden, knit, crochet, sew, and do many crafts. She loves spending time with her family, and her tortoise, Taco.

Matt Hoffmann

Matt Hoffmann has been teaching at Redwood High School for twenty-one years, and teaches economics, virtual academy courses, credit recovery courses, and horticulture. When Mr. Hoffmann started at Redwood, he transformed a desolate concrete pad into our lush garden area full of trees, vegetable plans, and a green house. Our students have the opportunity to get their hands dirty and see their hard work come to fruition.

Mr. Hoffmann offers support to our students by listening to them and not passing judgment. In his years of teaching, he has learned that our students often give themselves the best advice after being able to speak candidly with their teachers.

Ray Villegas

Ray Villegas has been a teacher for over twenty years, and has spent his last 13 years at Redwood. Mr. Villegas always makes himself available for students, and he knows that when students get the help they need, they succeed. His goal at Redwood is to see every student graduate.

Mr. Villegas teaches Integrated 2 and Integrated 3 math, as well as Physical Education. He also runs many after-school athletic clubs for students. When Mr. Villegas isn't at school, he loves to watch sports and play sports.

Khaleisheia Jones

Khaleisheia Jones has been teaching at Redwood for seventeen years, and loves the diverse student population. Ms. Jones knows that Redwood is a school of choice for some students and a necessity for other students' success. She knows that the teachers and staff at our school make students feel welcome and comfortable. Ms. Jones wants her students to be able to reach her when not in class, and is available to students after school, by email, and through Google Classroom.

Ms. Jones teaches biological science, forensic science, and runs our Cyber High program. Ms. Jones also teaches at the Castro Valley Adult School in the concurrent program.

Noa Mandel

Noa Mandel joins Redwood High School with over 10 years of school social work experience. At Redwood, Ms. Noa will be focusing on family engagement, student engagement, connecting families to community resources, social and emotional support for students throughout the school day, and crisis support as needed. As the school social worker, Ms. Noa strongly believes in social and educational equity for all Redwood students and families and is excited to join the Redwood community and all of support our families.

In her free time, Ms. Noa enjoys exploring nature, playing soccer, doing yoga, crocheting and other crafts, spending time with friends and family, and playing with her dog Sienna.