Katie Loomis — ArtQuest Program Coordinator
Katie Loomis is a practicing artist, with a passion for arts education. Loomis received her MFA and BFA with an emphasis in Painting from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). In addition, Loomis worked in academic arts administration at SAIC for 10 years after graduating with her BFA.
Loomis’ path to becoming an arts educator began when she taught art to teens for the Summer Institute for the Gifted at UC Berkeley. Through that experience, she realized how fortunate she was to inspire and foster her students’ creativity, as well as to contribute to their growth as individuals. Loomis went on to receive her CTE in Arts, Media, and Entertainment, as well as her Single Subject Credential in Art from Sonoma State University. Prior to joining ArtQuest at Santa Rosa High School, Loomis taught Art 1, 2, 3 and AP Studio Art at Elsie Allen High School for six years.
Loomis’ artwork has been exhibited in group and solo exhibitions, including Natural Abstraction, Third Floor Gallery at The Union League Club of Chicago; Fall Exhibition, Lula, Chicago, Illinois; and the 21st Evanston & Vicinity Biennial, Evanston Art Center, Evanston, Illinois. Loomis’ work is in public and private collections and is in various publications, including Chicago Gallery News and New American Paintings, MFA Annual, No 99.
Katie Loomis is a practicing artist, with a passion for arts education. Loomis received her MFA and BFA with an emphasis in Painting from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). In addition, Loomis worked in academic arts administration at SAIC for 10 years after graduating with her BFA.
Loomis’ path to becoming an arts educator began when she taught art to teens for the Summer Institute for the Gifted at UC Berkeley. Through that experience, she realized how fortunate she was to inspire and foster her students’ creativity, as well as to contribute to their growth as individuals. Loomis went on to receive her CTE in Arts, Media, and Entertainment, as well as her Single Subject Credential in Art from Sonoma State University. Prior to joining ArtQuest at Santa Rosa High School, Loomis taught Art 1, 2, 3 and AP Studio Art at Elsie Allen High School for six years.
Loomis’ artwork has been exhibited in group and solo exhibitions, including Natural Abstraction, Third Floor Gallery at The Union League Club of Chicago; Fall Exhibition, Lula, Chicago, Illinois; and the 21st Evanston & Vicinity Biennial, Evanston Art Center, Evanston, Illinois. Loomis’ work is in public and private collections and is in various publications, including Chicago Gallery News and New American Paintings, MFA Annual, No 99.
Jereme Anglin — AQ Theatre Arts
Jereme holds a MFA in Acting and works professionally as an actor, director and teacher. For eight years he served as Director of Theatre Arts of an award-winning training program at one of the top ten private high schools in Connecticut. Jereme's own acting training was accomplished at schools such as the Sorbonne in Paris, The Moscow Art Theatre at Harvard, and the University of Connecticut. He has acted in many theaters on the east and west coasts as a member of Actors' Equity Association. In addition to acting and directing, he has served as fight choreographer for several productions, holds a black belt in Aikido, and is a practitioner of physical theater and the Suzuki Method of actor training.
Jereme holds a MFA in Acting and works professionally as an actor, director and teacher. For eight years he served as Director of Theatre Arts of an award-winning training program at one of the top ten private high schools in Connecticut. Jereme's own acting training was accomplished at schools such as the Sorbonne in Paris, The Moscow Art Theatre at Harvard, and the University of Connecticut. He has acted in many theaters on the east and west coasts as a member of Actors' Equity Association. In addition to acting and directing, he has served as fight choreographer for several productions, holds a black belt in Aikido, and is a practitioner of physical theater and the Suzuki Method of actor training.
Danielle Cain — AQ Theatre Arts
Danielle Cain has been a working theatre artist in the North Bay for over 20 years. She is on the theatre faculties at Sonoma State University and Napa Valley College. She works regularly as a voice, accent, audition, and Shakespeare coach. As a theatre administrator, she’s been an associate artistic director, casting director and media relations manager. As an actor, favorite shows include Angels in America, Arcadia, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Skylight, Enchanted April, Boston Marriage, Much Ado About Nothing, Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet and Top Girls. She trained at the British American Drama Academy, American Conservatory Theatre and received her BFA in acting from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Danielle leads summer Shakespeare classes in London for SSU theatre students. Both of her children are proud graduates of ArtQuest Theatre Arts!
Danielle Cain has been a working theatre artist in the North Bay for over 20 years. She is on the theatre faculties at Sonoma State University and Napa Valley College. She works regularly as a voice, accent, audition, and Shakespeare coach. As a theatre administrator, she’s been an associate artistic director, casting director and media relations manager. As an actor, favorite shows include Angels in America, Arcadia, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Skylight, Enchanted April, Boston Marriage, Much Ado About Nothing, Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet and Top Girls. She trained at the British American Drama Academy, American Conservatory Theatre and received her BFA in acting from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Danielle leads summer Shakespeare classes in London for SSU theatre students. Both of her children are proud graduates of ArtQuest Theatre Arts!
Tim Decker — Instrumental Music
Tim Decker is an alumni of Santa Rosa High School, graduating in 1998. He was inspired by the great music educators that he had at SRHS; Mark Wardlaw, Dan Earl, and Nick Xenelis, to pursue music education with hopes of inspiring students in the same way that they inspired him. After graduation from SRHS he continued studying music at SRJC with Dan Goulart, and at Sacramento State University, where he studied Music Education with an emphasis in Instrumental Conducting with Dr. Robert Halseth, and Tuba and Trombone performance with Julian Dixon and Joel Elias. As a performer and conductor Mr. Decker has had the privilege of performing with bands, orchestras, and choirs in some of the greatest venues, including Carnegie Hall, the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, on the field at Oracle Park, and down Main Street in Disneyland. He has also performed with John Faddis, Steve Smith, Bill Watrous, Conrad Herwig, Bobby Shue, Mike Vax, and Ronald Romm.
Mr. Decker has been honored to be recognized as the Prudential Education Foundation Outstanding Teacher in 2009, The Rohnert Park Patch Reader’s Choice Best Teacher in 2012, and was twice awarded the SF Giants and Wells Fargo Step up to the Plate for Education Grant.
After 14 years teaching high school music in Sonoma County, Mr. Decker is excited to once again be a Panther.
Tim Decker is an alumni of Santa Rosa High School, graduating in 1998. He was inspired by the great music educators that he had at SRHS; Mark Wardlaw, Dan Earl, and Nick Xenelis, to pursue music education with hopes of inspiring students in the same way that they inspired him. After graduation from SRHS he continued studying music at SRJC with Dan Goulart, and at Sacramento State University, where he studied Music Education with an emphasis in Instrumental Conducting with Dr. Robert Halseth, and Tuba and Trombone performance with Julian Dixon and Joel Elias. As a performer and conductor Mr. Decker has had the privilege of performing with bands, orchestras, and choirs in some of the greatest venues, including Carnegie Hall, the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, on the field at Oracle Park, and down Main Street in Disneyland. He has also performed with John Faddis, Steve Smith, Bill Watrous, Conrad Herwig, Bobby Shue, Mike Vax, and Ronald Romm.
Mr. Decker has been honored to be recognized as the Prudential Education Foundation Outstanding Teacher in 2009, The Rohnert Park Patch Reader’s Choice Best Teacher in 2012, and was twice awarded the SF Giants and Wells Fargo Step up to the Plate for Education Grant.
After 14 years teaching high school music in Sonoma County, Mr. Decker is excited to once again be a Panther.
Brooke Delello — Visual Fine Arts
Brooke Delello has been a part of the ArtQuest faculty since she began her teaching career in 2006. She had the great fortune to student teach at ArtQuest under Mentor Teacher Tanya Braunstein, the AQ Photography teacher at the time. She used her powers of persuasion to get herself hired the very next year and has been here ever since! In her tenure Ms. Delello has had the opportunity to teach ceramics, photography, art 1, 2 & 3, Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Visual Fine Arts and AP Studio Art since 2008, where her students have achieved a 98% passing rate.
Ms. Delello discovered her love of art teaching while doing it. After trying out a few colleges and a few majors, she graduated with her degree in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Photography and her teaching credential from Sonoma State University. With a love of adolescent psychology, sociology, art and alternative education, teaching the arts and being at ArtQuest has been the perfect combination. Ms. Delello is the National Art Honor Society advisor, has assisted in planning and implementing the ArtQuest Fall and Spring Showcases, has facilitated juried student exhibitions, and planned and taken multiple student travel trips to Europe.
Before teaching, she was best known on the Rodeo Circuit for her Bronc riding. She now spends her days taking long walks on the beach and reading good books while curled under a blanket when not training her pet unicorn to do circus tricks.
Brooke Delello has been a part of the ArtQuest faculty since she began her teaching career in 2006. She had the great fortune to student teach at ArtQuest under Mentor Teacher Tanya Braunstein, the AQ Photography teacher at the time. She used her powers of persuasion to get herself hired the very next year and has been here ever since! In her tenure Ms. Delello has had the opportunity to teach ceramics, photography, art 1, 2 & 3, Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Visual Fine Arts and AP Studio Art since 2008, where her students have achieved a 98% passing rate.
Ms. Delello discovered her love of art teaching while doing it. After trying out a few colleges and a few majors, she graduated with her degree in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Photography and her teaching credential from Sonoma State University. With a love of adolescent psychology, sociology, art and alternative education, teaching the arts and being at ArtQuest has been the perfect combination. Ms. Delello is the National Art Honor Society advisor, has assisted in planning and implementing the ArtQuest Fall and Spring Showcases, has facilitated juried student exhibitions, and planned and taken multiple student travel trips to Europe.
Before teaching, she was best known on the Rodeo Circuit for her Bronc riding. She now spends her days taking long walks on the beach and reading good books while curled under a blanket when not training her pet unicorn to do circus tricks.
Casey Elsa — English Language Arts
Casey Elsa has been teaching English Language Arts since the dawn of time. She teaches freshmen ArtQuest and Honors English. Over the years she's worked with other ArtQuest teachers on the ArtQuest Anthology, short films representing the creative works of her students, and Poetry Out Loud. She graduated with honors from the University of California, Riverside and went on to obtain her teaching credential in the following year. Beyond teaching English, Casey also publishes and advises the student newspaper, The Santa Rosan and the student yearbook, The Echo. She was also a debate coach for over 15 years at SRHS. She has a great love for musical theater, and has seen countless plays over the years both with her students and her family.
Casey Elsa has been teaching English Language Arts since the dawn of time. She teaches freshmen ArtQuest and Honors English. Over the years she's worked with other ArtQuest teachers on the ArtQuest Anthology, short films representing the creative works of her students, and Poetry Out Loud. She graduated with honors from the University of California, Riverside and went on to obtain her teaching credential in the following year. Beyond teaching English, Casey also publishes and advises the student newspaper, The Santa Rosan and the student yearbook, The Echo. She was also a debate coach for over 15 years at SRHS. She has a great love for musical theater, and has seen countless plays over the years both with her students and her family.
Hollis Fennen — English Language Arts
Hollis Fennen has been teaching English Language Arts for nine years. She teaches sophomore ArtQuest and Honors English. For the past three years, she and fellow English instructor Darlene Pullen have edited the ArtQuest Anthology, a published collection of student artwork and poetry, and coordinated the ArtQuest Poetry Slam. She graduated with Honors from Pacific Union College and received her teaching credential from Sonoma State University. In addition to teaching, Hollis is a professional harpist and enjoys playing for events in the North Bay. She lives with her husband and two sons in the Napa Valley.
Hollis Fennen has been teaching English Language Arts for nine years. She teaches sophomore ArtQuest and Honors English. For the past three years, she and fellow English instructor Darlene Pullen have edited the ArtQuest Anthology, a published collection of student artwork and poetry, and coordinated the ArtQuest Poetry Slam. She graduated with Honors from Pacific Union College and received her teaching credential from Sonoma State University. In addition to teaching, Hollis is a professional harpist and enjoys playing for events in the North Bay. She lives with her husband and two sons in the Napa Valley.
Janet Fisher — Visual Fine Arts
Janet graduated from Manchester University in the UK with an emphasis in History of Art and Ceramics. After graduating she worked for arts organizations in London and then in Hong Kong. Janet moved to the US in the 90’s and pursued art in Marin County and Sonoma County. She has exhibited in Sebastopol and Sonoma. For the last 8 years she has worked for Transitioning Families, an organization that facilitates reconnection to estranged families as an art tutor. In 2016 Janet earned her teaching credential and an MA in Education from the University of San Francisco. Janet’s two daughters both graduated from the ArtQuest Program before she became a teacher. She is thrilled to be part of the ArtQuest program again, this time as a teacher!
Janet graduated from Manchester University in the UK with an emphasis in History of Art and Ceramics. After graduating she worked for arts organizations in London and then in Hong Kong. Janet moved to the US in the 90’s and pursued art in Marin County and Sonoma County. She has exhibited in Sebastopol and Sonoma. For the last 8 years she has worked for Transitioning Families, an organization that facilitates reconnection to estranged families as an art tutor. In 2016 Janet earned her teaching credential and an MA in Education from the University of San Francisco. Janet’s two daughters both graduated from the ArtQuest Program before she became a teacher. She is thrilled to be part of the ArtQuest program again, this time as a teacher!
Lauren Frost - AQ Digital Arts
Lauren Frost is delighted to be a member of the faculty ArtQuest, where she feels right at home. From a family of artists, she began her artistic journey at a young age. She began piano lessons at age six, studied drama and performed in community theater starting in elementary school, and, as a high school student, received the highest art award for her graduating class. Ms. Frost holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from The University of Kansas. She was awarded a Single Subject Credential in Art from Dominican University and has studied drawing and printmaking at Santa Reparata School of Art in Florence, Italy.
Ms. Frost began her teaching career in Sonoma County in 2003 and since then has had experience teaching music, environmental science, cultural geography, ceramics, studio arts, painting, drawing, graphic design, AP studio art, printmaking, and digital photography. She is passionate about arts education, and as a member of the National Art Educators Association and California Art Education Association, she attended the NAEA conferences in 2017 and 2011 in Seattle and the 2013 convention in Ft. Worth, Texas, and the CAEA conference in Sacramento in 2019. She has attended the Adobe Max conference and is a member of the Adobe Education Exchange.
In addition to teaching, she is a working graphic designer, painter, and illustrator for local community events and organizations, including Redwood Credit Union, Hopmonk Tavern Sebastopol, Maker Faire, Manly Auto, among many others. She has collaborated on murals with students at the Redwood Gospel Mission and for Santa Rosa City Schools. Her work has been exhibited at the SOFA district galleries, Mario Uribe Studio, The Imaginists theater, and Healdsburg Center for the Arts. She and her husband, a musician, enjoy live music, hiking, cooking, and spending time with their two daughters.
Lauren Frost is delighted to be a member of the faculty ArtQuest, where she feels right at home. From a family of artists, she began her artistic journey at a young age. She began piano lessons at age six, studied drama and performed in community theater starting in elementary school, and, as a high school student, received the highest art award for her graduating class. Ms. Frost holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from The University of Kansas. She was awarded a Single Subject Credential in Art from Dominican University and has studied drawing and printmaking at Santa Reparata School of Art in Florence, Italy.
Ms. Frost began her teaching career in Sonoma County in 2003 and since then has had experience teaching music, environmental science, cultural geography, ceramics, studio arts, painting, drawing, graphic design, AP studio art, printmaking, and digital photography. She is passionate about arts education, and as a member of the National Art Educators Association and California Art Education Association, she attended the NAEA conferences in 2017 and 2011 in Seattle and the 2013 convention in Ft. Worth, Texas, and the CAEA conference in Sacramento in 2019. She has attended the Adobe Max conference and is a member of the Adobe Education Exchange.
In addition to teaching, she is a working graphic designer, painter, and illustrator for local community events and organizations, including Redwood Credit Union, Hopmonk Tavern Sebastopol, Maker Faire, Manly Auto, among many others. She has collaborated on murals with students at the Redwood Gospel Mission and for Santa Rosa City Schools. Her work has been exhibited at the SOFA district galleries, Mario Uribe Studio, The Imaginists theater, and Healdsburg Center for the Arts. She and her husband, a musician, enjoy live music, hiking, cooking, and spending time with their two daughters.
Jonathan Gregory — English Language Arts
Jonathan Gregory teaches AQ English classes. He received his Master of Arts in English Literature from San Francisco State University, his Juris Doctor from UCLA School of Law (where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Entertainment Law Review), his English teaching credential from Sonoma State University, and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (with high distinction) from Indiana University-Bloomington, with minors in Psychology and Economics. Because of his avid interest in the Arts, Mr. Gregory interned at California Lawyers for the Arts in Santa Monica during law school. Before becoming an English teacher, Jonathan worked for twelve years as a civil litigation attorney in San Francisco and Santa Rosa. He is an enthusiastic songwriter, singer and guitarist with recording and (local) performing experience. He has also been involved in the visual arts since very young and now enjoys painting (oils and acrylics), reading and writing about art, and studying art law. Relatively new to teaching, Mr. Gregory describes himself as a “recovering attorney” and said at his first AQ meeting, “I feel like I have found my place here at ArtQuest.”
Jonathan Gregory teaches AQ English classes. He received his Master of Arts in English Literature from San Francisco State University, his Juris Doctor from UCLA School of Law (where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Entertainment Law Review), his English teaching credential from Sonoma State University, and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (with high distinction) from Indiana University-Bloomington, with minors in Psychology and Economics. Because of his avid interest in the Arts, Mr. Gregory interned at California Lawyers for the Arts in Santa Monica during law school. Before becoming an English teacher, Jonathan worked for twelve years as a civil litigation attorney in San Francisco and Santa Rosa. He is an enthusiastic songwriter, singer and guitarist with recording and (local) performing experience. He has also been involved in the visual arts since very young and now enjoys painting (oils and acrylics), reading and writing about art, and studying art law. Relatively new to teaching, Mr. Gregory describes himself as a “recovering attorney” and said at his first AQ meeting, “I feel like I have found my place here at ArtQuest.”
John Sappington — Photography
John Sappington is an artist/educator working in photography and digital media. Mr. Sappington graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Kansas City Art Institute and a Masters of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute - both in photography. Mr. Sappington has taught Photography and Design at the Santa Rosa Junior College since 2003. He is presently the Photography Instructor for ArtQuest.
John Sappington is an artist/educator working in photography and digital media. Mr. Sappington graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Kansas City Art Institute and a Masters of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute - both in photography. Mr. Sappington has taught Photography and Design at the Santa Rosa Junior College since 2003. He is presently the Photography Instructor for ArtQuest.
Marla Tusa — Vocal Music
Marla Tusa grew up in rural Canada where she developed a love of choral music at a young age. She has a Bachelor of Music from Brandon University where she majored in voice with a piano minor and a Bachelor of Education from Vancouver Island University. She has over 15 years of classroom music experience, 20 years of private piano and voice lesson experience and has directed youth and adult choirs, musical theater productions, rock bands and concert bands. Mrs. Tusa taught music at Merryhill School in Santa Rosa from 1999-2004. She spent 10 years living on Vancouver Island where she sang with The Island Consort, directed music and choir at Brechin United Church and taught K-10 music and French at Aspengrove School.
Marla directed the choir and taught music at Strawberry and Yulupa Elementary Schools in Santa Rosa from 2016-2021 and began teaching Elementary music with Santa Rosa City Schools in 2019, most recently at Proctor Terrace Elementary. She directs the Training and Intermediate Groups of the Santa Rosa Children's Choral Academy. Marla has sung with choirs her whole life and now sings alto with the chamber ensemble Cantiamo Sonoma. Mrs. Tusa is thrilled to step into her new role for this 2021-2022 year as Choir Director at Santa Rosa High School.
Marla Tusa grew up in rural Canada where she developed a love of choral music at a young age. She has a Bachelor of Music from Brandon University where she majored in voice with a piano minor and a Bachelor of Education from Vancouver Island University. She has over 15 years of classroom music experience, 20 years of private piano and voice lesson experience and has directed youth and adult choirs, musical theater productions, rock bands and concert bands. Mrs. Tusa taught music at Merryhill School in Santa Rosa from 1999-2004. She spent 10 years living on Vancouver Island where she sang with The Island Consort, directed music and choir at Brechin United Church and taught K-10 music and French at Aspengrove School.
Marla directed the choir and taught music at Strawberry and Yulupa Elementary Schools in Santa Rosa from 2016-2021 and began teaching Elementary music with Santa Rosa City Schools in 2019, most recently at Proctor Terrace Elementary. She directs the Training and Intermediate Groups of the Santa Rosa Children's Choral Academy. Marla has sung with choirs her whole life and now sings alto with the chamber ensemble Cantiamo Sonoma. Mrs. Tusa is thrilled to step into her new role for this 2021-2022 year as Choir Director at Santa Rosa High School.
Megan Whyte — English Language Arts
Megan Whyte has been an English and Fine Arts Drama teacher at Santa Rosa High School since 2001. She joined the ArtQuest program in 2011 where she teaches ArtQuest English to mostly 9th and 10th graders. She attended Napa Valley College where she earned three Associates Degrees in Social Science, Fine Arts, and Humanities, and then graduated from Sonoma State University with a Bachelors of the Arts in English. She enjoys playing music, mostly guitar and piano, and enjoys performing in occasional community theater productions. You might also see her riding her mountain bike or paddling her kayak. Megan is grateful to be a part of the ArtQuest program.
Megan Whyte has been an English and Fine Arts Drama teacher at Santa Rosa High School since 2001. She joined the ArtQuest program in 2011 where she teaches ArtQuest English to mostly 9th and 10th graders. She attended Napa Valley College where she earned three Associates Degrees in Social Science, Fine Arts, and Humanities, and then graduated from Sonoma State University with a Bachelors of the Arts in English. She enjoys playing music, mostly guitar and piano, and enjoys performing in occasional community theater productions. You might also see her riding her mountain bike or paddling her kayak. Megan is grateful to be a part of the ArtQuest program.
Lea Brown Poisson — Dance
Jason Pedri — Video Arts