Founder
Katie Haydon, founder of IGNITE, is a local teacher, nationally-known writer and speaker, and a mentor to students of all ages in Ojai and around the country. A life-long learner herself, she loves to find the most creative, innovative, hands-on ways to present math, writing, history, and science to kids. She has taught second grade, Spanish, creative writing, and journalism at Monica Ros, Topa Topa, and Valley Oak Charter schools in Ojai, and creative writing in various programs in Chicago. Katie is a published author on teaching, parenting, and early foreign language instruction, and her work was recently featured in Igniting Creativity in Gifted Learners, K-6 (Corwin Press 2009), edited by Joan Franklin Smutny. A graduate of Northwestern University, Katie majored in Spanish and Latin American language, literature, and culture, and minored in economics. She also serves on the Torrance Legacy Creative Writing Awards committee for the National Association for Gifted Children.
Teachers
Sarah Hodges is a teacher and a musician who specializes in a variety of musical and teaching styles. In the Los Angeles area, Sarah plays solo and collaborative music spanning from classical art music to improvisatory and world music. She has taught and performed solo and chamber music concerts across the United States, as well as in Japan, Taiwan, Italy, and Ghana. Sarah received her Master in Fine Arts (MFA) from California Institute of the Arts and her Bachelor’s (BM) from University of Colorado Boulder, College of Music. In 2004, she received a research grant to study music education in Accra, Ghana. Sarah teaches private music lessons in the Ojai/Ventura area and is also the music director for the Harmony Project of Ventura County. Sarah is thrilled to have become a part of Ignite over the last couple years. A lifetime learner herself, Sarah is constantly inspired with new ideas. The possibilities are endless in such a unique and creative space, especially when striving for excellence!
Nichia Huxtable began her education career teaching young children at Fresno’s Chaffee Zoo summer camp and as an outreach coordinator with the California Department of Fish and Game. For the last 12 years she has taught high school biology, zoology, and AP biology, but continues to enjoy science time with younger children through her involvement with Girl Scouts, her own children, and now Ignite. She received her BS in Zoology and Chemistry from Northern AZ University and continued her education at the Universitaet Wuerzburg, Germany. She received her teaching credential from Fresno State University.
Richard Senate attended Long Beach State University where he earned a degree in history. In 1978 he attended a field school at the old Spanish Mission of San Antonio de Padua (near King City, CA) to study archeology. He is a recognized authority of the subject of local history and the author of 19 published works. He met his wife, Debbie Christenson Senate, in 1983 and they were married in Ventura in 1985. Together they have three children and four granddaughters. Mr. Senate retired from the City of Ventura in 2004 where he served as a historian for 22 years. They reside today in Ventura, California where Mr. Senate still teaches history to home school groups and folklore at Ventura College. He writes books and articles, and conducts tours in the community. He believes that history is an important subject, perhaps one of the most important topics, because, as Lord Acton observed, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
Cindy Hansen has a Certificate of Gifted and Talented Education from UCSB and Masters of Education from UCLA and has been teaching since 1986. She is currently studying Special Education at CSUN in order to assist GATE students with learning challenges as an Educational Therapist. She has taught a wide variety of K-12 subjects including GATE pull-out programs in Ventura, Indian Education, Theatre Arts and creative mathematics, as well as having had the joy of being a librarian for 6 years. In addition, she has been assisting her own gifted children and their community of learners as they encounter the joys and angst of public and alternative education. She loves encouraging creativity, self awareness and having fun while learning with her students. She feels very honored and excited to be joining the Ignite community!
Educational Advisors
Joan Franklin Smutny, Director and Founder of the Center for Gifted at National-Louis University in Evanston, Illinois, is one of the foremost speakers and educators in the field of gifted education today. Joan has spoken with and counseled thousands of parents of bright and talented children over the years. In addition to teaching students from kindergarten through high school in her own programs, she teaches gifted education to graduate students; presents at seminars nationwide; counsels parents and educators on the unique needs of gifted children; is membership chair for the National Association for Gifted Children; edits and advises for published books, texts, and periodicals; and is the author or editor of 15 books on gifted education and parenting gifted children. To learn more about Joan and the Center for Gifted, please visit www.centerforgifted.org.
Audrey Werner, a faculty member at Whittier College and California State University (both Fullerton and Pomona), prepares and mentors teachers at the elementary and high school levels for state certification. Prior to this role, she was an elementary and middle school teacher throughout her entire career, where she applied her training in multiple school-related areas such as: cooperative learning, clinical supervision, all areas of literacy, gifted education, and English language development. Audrey also is a member of the Board of Trustees at Clairbourn School in San Gabriel, CA; a presenter at educational conferences; and an editor of educational materials. She received her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Cal State University, Fullerton, and her Bachelor of Science in education is from Miami University in Ohio.
Scott Rich, Assessment Specialist at Scholastic Testing Service, Inc. (STS) in Bensenville, Illinois, is a presenter at creativity and gifted education conferences throughout the country, specializing in scoring and interpreting results of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. Scott markets assessment solutions to schools and districts internationally, and he manages the company’s contractual and copyright matters. An Ohio State University alumnus, Scott received a J.D. from DePaul University. Prior to his position at STS, Scott practiced in the area of family law and domestic relations, with a concentration in adoption and custody litigation. Scott donates his time as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected children within the juvenile justice system in Chicago. He also holds a position on the board of the Equine Therapy Association of Illinois, conducting research and training for new equine-assisted therapy programs for disabled children. For more information about Scott and STS, please visit www.ststesting.com.
