Faculty and Staff

Kirsten Born (center),
Lead Teaching Principal

Amanda Johnston (right),
Middle School Principal

Paul Marcondes (left),
Administrator of Finances & Facilities

One TK - 8th grade program. Three administrators sharing the leadership responsibilities.

As teaching principals, we have the unique challenge of balancing our teaching responsibilities with administrative roles. This is why our 3-person team is so great! For the day-to-day matters, we have our 3 separate domains to manage, while always coming back together to plan, discuss important issues, and hold each other accountable. Plus, as we work together, we can model positive and productive collaboration for our students.

Our recent 8th-grade graduation really highlights the lifelong friendships built here at South Bay Christian School. More than that, thanks to our emphasis on social-emotional intelligence, our students are always open to welcoming the new friends they meet along the way.

Our aim is to focus on the things that make South Bay Christian School special and guarantee that our campus stays a loving, friendly, and safe environment for all of our students. In that, we are adopting Micah 6:8 as a biblical text that captures what we hope to do here: To do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.

Last year our school theme was "Expect Great Things." While we still expect great things at South Bay Christian School, this year, we are looking for the evidence of the work the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives as we are "Growing in God's Love."

We want to take you on this journey with us! Whether as a student, a parent, or a member of our community, we all have a role to play in helping our children develop a life-long friendship with Jesus.

Most Sincerely,

The Leadership Team of South Bay Christian School

Kirsten Born, Amanda Johnston, and Paul Marcondes

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things."

Gal. 5:22-23 NLT

Mrs. Kirsten Born

Lead Teaching Principal,

3rd & 4th Grade Teacher

Another SBCS alumnus is third/fourth grade teacher Mrs. Kirsten Born. After the tenth grade she transferred to Monterey Bay Academy where she graduated. She then attended La Sierra University and graduated from Cal State Dominguez Hills. Mrs. Born has been the SBCS Jog-athon faculty sponsor for as long as any of us can remember and does a fantastic job. She is loved by 18 former classes of fourth graders.

Paul Marcondes

Administrator of Finances & Facilities

Mrs. Amanda Johnston

Middle School Principal,

Science and Language Arts Teacher

Mrs. Johnston has dedicated her life to Christian ministry. She worked as a pastor and musician for many years before transitioning to Education. Since then, she has taught students from Kinder thru to 12th grade as Resource Teacher and Classroom Teacher. She has a passion for helping students learn in creative ways and building skills that will benefit them for life. Mrs. Johnston completed her Masters program in Curriculum and Instruction from La Sierra University in 2022, and is currently working on her doctorate in Administration and Leadership.

Ms. Dwana Estrada

Transitional Kindergarten Teacher

Mrs. Estrada is a kind and caring person. She holds a Master's Degree in Education and a Child Development Director Permit. She has been in the field of education for 23 years. She has taught for LAUSD and RBUSD. Mrs.Estrada is dedicated to helping students succeed and sets high standards in her classroom.

Her favorite quote is, "Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best."

~ St. Jerome

Ms. Deborah Dahl

Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. Dahl says her life has been a testimony of God’s plans for her. He placed the desire to be a teacher in her heart when she was in second grade because of my love for her teacher, Miss Bailey. "My goal has always been to teach children that they can do anything they set their hearts on, with determination and self-confidence; that they are the children of the King of the universe and with such a high calling, their job is to always carry themselves as such and never give up on any endeavor set before them."

Mrs. Dinah Villanueva

1st Grade Teacher

First graders have the privilege of enjoying the kind and loving personality of Mrs. Dinah Villanueva, the perfect mentor for impressionable first graders. Mrs. Villanueva has taught for 20+ years, many of them at South Bay Christian School. She also taught at the White Memorial Adventist School and the Antelope Valley Adventist School. She graduated from La Sierra University.

Mrs. Silvija Sekulich

2nd Grade Teacher

Mrs. Silvija Sekulich is a wonderful example of a South Bay Christian School alumnus. She, along with her two sisters, attended SBCS throughout her elementary and junior high years, and it was at SBCS that Mrs. Sekulich decided to be a teacher. She went on to graduate from California State University at Long Beach, and subsequently earned her Master’s Degree in Education at La Sierra University. The Southern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists has used her expertise to train other teachers as they use our reading program, Pathways.

Mr. Chris Watkins

Middle School Math Teacher

Mr. Watkins is a man of many talents and serves as an upper grade teacher and our IT manager. Mr. Watkins grew up in Huntsville, AL, and graduated from Pacific Union College in Angwin, CA with a degree in French. He spent one year studying French at the Seventh-day Adventist college in Cologne, France. In addition to teaching, he is an expert bass player and is very competitive in basketball. Mr. Watkins makes all the school’s musical and drama productions look professional with his technical abilities and has been invaluable in his teaching role.

Mr. Mario Negrete

Middle School Social Studies, P.E., Spanish Teacher, and Athletic Director

Mr. Negrete has been a teacher since 2004 in different schools. He grew up in the home of a teacher and Education Superintendent. He has taught athletics, physical education, history (U.S./World), religion, learning resources, and English language learners. He has been the co-sponsor for Student Association, participated in biannually mission trips (international and domestic), coached boys varsity soccer, boys JV basketball, and junior high soccer. He is fluent in Spanish. He is very much in tune with physical, mental and spiritual needs of students. He loves spending time with his family, music, sports and plays the guitar. He and his wife have a baby boy. They are members of the Monrovia Bilingual SDA Church.

Francey Marzicola

Marketing & Development

Ms. Francey, as she likes to be called by the students, holds a Master's Degree in Business from the University of Southern California. She has been with the school for a decade and is dedicated and enthusiatic about the growth of SBCS.

Her role encompasses all things marketing, public relations, community engagement, event planning and management, donor relations and admissions.