Amanda Baer
Subject: English
Last job: Galt High School for 10 years
Childhood: I grew up in the Bay Area, but I moved to Sacramento in the middle of my junior year and graduated from Bella Vista.
College: I swam for ARC right out of high school and then transferred to Sac State for my BA in English and my teaching credential and then later for my MA. I was originally a photography major but switched to English when I realized I wanted to be a teacher.
Family: My husband and I have a 4-year-old son named Owen, 2-year-old daughter named Elliot, a black lab named Walter and a cat named Ben.
Travel: My favorite place in the world is Yosemite Valley and my family goes camping there every Memorial Day weekend.
Hobbies: I love to cook and have my friends and family over to my house for dinner.
What book, movie or experience made an impact on you when you were young?
Swimming in high school and at ARC made a huge impact on my life. I still have best friends in my life from those teams! I would encourage everyone to go out for a sport, even if you’re not good at it—trust me, I wasn’t!
LaPrincia Befay
Subject: English
Last job: Bartender and server at Iron Horse Tavern in Midtown
Childhood: I grew up in Sacramento and am a product of the San Juan district. I graduated from San Juan High School in 2011.
College: I did most of my junior college credits in San Diego but finished my undergrad at Sac State. I studied English and journalism. I finished with my bachelor’s in Single Subject teaching in 2022. This past year I completed the Sac State credential program and did my student teaching at Louis Pasteur Middle School. During my time in college, I changed my major a few times in order to explore various contents and careers.
Family: I am newly married to my best friend, Rick Befay. We bought our first house together in 2021 and have a 6-year-old Black lab named Drax.
Hobbies: Some of my hobbies include practicing yoga, going to concerts and traveling.
What book, movie or experience made an impact on you when you were young?
My all-time favorite movie is John Hughes’s “The Breakfast Club.” Not only is it a timeless classic, but even as an adult I resonate with it. When I first watched as a young adult, it made me see that we all are going through similar changes and challenges despite our differences. I would recommend it to students now so they can see how words and judgments can affect others.
Naraly Guerrero
Subject: Spanish
Last job: Tutor for the Bridges after-school program in San Juan
Childhood: I grew up in Visalia, and I went to El Diamante High School
ColIege: I went to community college and got my AA in Spanish (2021). Then I transferred to Sac State and graduated with a BA in Spanish (2023). Then I got my credential in 2024. I was on the dean’s list all four years.
Family: I have a brother who is becoming a history teacher at Cal State Fullerton. And I have another brother who is starting his freshman year. Both my parents are hard working and have contributed to my career. I have one chunky Chihuahua named Nova, and she is 4 years old.
Hobbies: Outside of school I enjoy walking with my dog and sometimes playing tennis even though I am not the best since I haven’t played for a while.
What was your best job outside of education?
My most interesting job is that for eight months one year I worked as a physical therapist aide. It was a lot of work but it was enjoyable to meet so many different people.
Frankie Zamorano
Subject: PE
Last job: Will Rogers Middle School
Childhood: Brentwood
College: Sacramento State, Communication Studies
Family: I am married and we have one son who is 2 years old. We have two naughty dogs.
Hobbies: Riding bikes of any sort, disc golf, anything that gets me outside
What was your best job outside of education?
I worked for a nonprofit that ran summer camps so I did all sorts of strange things like dressing up in funny costumes, running a 300-person mud war, and yelling at bears to try to scare them away.
Victor San Pedro
Subject: Band/Music
Last job: Lighthouse Charter School in West Sacramento
Childhood: Rio Americano class of 2011!
College: I went to CSU Northridge for my undergraduate and got my master’s from University of Florida. College was great, it helped establish me in the LA music scene.
Family: My wife is Audrey San Pedro, also graduated Rio class of 2011, son Vincenzo (Enzo) turning 2 in October and our little poodle mix Leonidas (Leo).
Hobbies: Outside of school I like to explore different restaurants with my family, take little day trips around Northern California and find new music.
What was your best job outside of education?
The most interesting job I have had outside of teaching is being a professional musician, which I still do. I love working on my own music but will record and perform other music on occasion.
Becky Gibbons
Subject: PE
Last job: Encina for one year, Katherine Johnson for three years
Childhood: Yuma, Ariz. – Kofa High School
College: Northern Arizona University. Graduated in Dec. 2000. Bachelor’s in Physical Education and Dec. 2021 Master’s in Educational Leadership.
Family: I have a husband, a 16 ½-year-old step-daughter, a 14-year-old step-son and two dogs.
Hobbies: I play tennis at Gold River Sparetime Club and I participate in a league through the Sacramento Area Tennis Association. I also enjoy playing pickleball, swimming, hiking, and walking my dogs.
What is another interesting story or fact we should know about you?
I have been a Raider twice. Here at Rio and at Cibola High School in Yuma. Go Raiders. “It’s a great day to be a Raider!”
Marin Wright
Subject: Health
Last job: Orland High School
Childhood: Rio Americano class of 2018
College: I graduated with a Bachelor of Sciences in Health Science/Education and a Master of Arts in Kinesiology from CSU Chico. I played NCAA D2 college soccer for CSU Chico and graduated with a 4.0.
Family: I have the most supportive family in the world! My immediate family includes my dad, mom, brother and dog Bogey! My brother, JT, also graduated from Rio Americano in 2022. I am also lucky enough to be loved by my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and my high school sweetheart Dustin.
Hobbies: Some of my favorite hobbies include pickleball, golf, skiing, soccer and fly fishing.
What is the best job you have had outside of education?
I taught sailing, kayaking, canoeing and water safety at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center with Mr. Rumbaugh.
Adam Ponikvar
Subject: PE
Last job: Middle school for five years
Childhood: Grew up in the Bay
College: UC Santa Barbara, Sociology with a minor in Athletic Coaching. Worked for the women’s basketball team, traveled the states and even to Australia. My parents went to UCSB and I met my wife there; I hope my daughter will go there as well.
Family: Four fish and a cat named Star, looking for a puppy. My wife and I have been married 12 years and we have a 7-year-old daughter who attends Del Dayo, and she will be going to Arden and Rio when her time comes.
Hobbies: My daughter has gotten me into Pokemon Go and I like Fantasy Football.
Tell us about your travel last summer: I went to Disneyland with my daughter and niece, her first time. We spent time camping and visiting family in Northern and Southern California.
Mari Youngman
Subject: Biology
Last job: Online as an AI trainer and admin
Childhood: Orlando, Fla.
College: University of Southern Florida St. Petersburg campus, Marine Biology, graduated in 2022. I switched majors from Biomedical to Education and then ultimately to Marine Biology. I was part of the scuba diving club.
Family: I have two cats, King Edgar Mufasa Paws III and Purrfessor Sylvestor Pants. My dog is a german shepherd named Hugs. I have recently acquired a tortoise named Tuk Nuk and a hamster named Gustav. My fish is a betta fish named Triton.
Hobbies: My hobbies include crochet, baking, competitive napping and yelling at loud cars with my dog.
What book, movie or experience had an impact on you when you were young?
“The Little Mermaid,” it’s silly but I was a kid who didn’t speak English growing up and had difficulty connecting with my peers. Seeing how Ariel hated where she was and wanted to leave only to find hardship before finding her place helped me realize that integrating would be scary but in the end it would open my world.
