Faculty
Anna-Karin Li
Dean of Academics/ESLDept. Chair - CONTACT
M.A. East Asian Literature and Languages, U.C. Santa Barbara; B.A. Oriental Studies, University of Pennsylvania; TESOL Certification. In the early 80’s, Anna-Karin lived and taught English at both university and high school levels in China for many years. She returned to the United States to teach ESL at the Fay School in Massachusetts, and from 1989 to 1995 initiated the ESL program at Idyllwild Arts Academy. She left Idyllwild to create the Chinese Studies program at the Thacher School, and then served as the Academic Dean at Squaw Valley Academy. Most recently, Anna-Karin taught AP British Literature in Florida, before returning to Idyllwild Arts to begin her tenure as the Dean of Academics in July, 2003.
Nick Patrick CooperESL Instructor - CONTACT
B.A. in History from the University of Notre Dame de Namur; Level Two K-12 Teacher Certification, NM; Reading Resource training, NM; Early Childhood Education Certification, CA. Starting in 2001 to 2004, Nick taught in the Santa Fe, NM public schools district. From 2004-2005, Nick taught ESL in Jakarta, Indonesia working with students age 12 to University level. Returning to the United States, Nick worked at Northern New Mexico College in an administrative capacity while student teaching in the Humanities department from 2005-2009. Most recently, Nick Cooper was the Resource Collaborator at Judkins Middle School in Pismo Beach, CA. Nick was raised overseas, attending International Schools and studying several languages and cultures. He brings with him a rich educational background and is motivated to affect beneficial change within his department.
Jeni SponsellerM.A. History, University of Manchester, UK; B.A. History Oakland University, MI. Jeni has taught English as a second language to learners of all ages and levels in both Taipei and Manchester. From 2001 to 2005 she taught in Taipei, Taiwan where she was predominantly a kindergarten teacher teaching learners as young as two, as well as students aged seven to sixteen. In 2005, she relocated to Manchester, England to work towards her M.A. and during this time she taught adult learners working towards their IELTS exams, as well as elderly Chinese students learning the basics of the language. Jeni has traveled extensively and along with her love of history as well as contemporary writing brings an informed view to her classes.
Luther KillebrewM.Ed. - TESL, Temple University - Japan; B.A. Political Science, Hawaii Loa
CollegeLuther began his teaching career right out of college in Japan, first as a member of the JET Program and then at various schools in Tokyo and northern Japan, including the University of Aizu, Gakushuin University and Gakushuin Boys Junior High School. In 2001, he returned to Hawaii and spent the past ten years teaching in the high school ESL program at Mid-Pacific Institute, a private K-12 college prep high school in Honolulu. Along with teaching ESL, Luther has written much of his own teaching material and is currently building his own ESL website. His main passion is the ultimate puzzle, grammar.
Sabrina Verney
ESL InstructorSabrina Verney B.A. University of California, Riverside in Creative Writing, TESOL certification. Sabrina teaches ESL humanities – geography and ancient cultures and world history. She also teaches adult learners in the CA Community College system. Sabrina has lived in the Idyllwild area for twenty-five years. Her interests include writing, ceramics, gardening, and hiking the trails of the magnificent surrounding mountains. She has recently published a memoir and a CD of poetry, and her sculpture has been currently shown in a local art gallery. Her two children were students at Idyllwild Arts.