Girlie Zunega-Aguilar is an international speaker, teacher, missionary, and servant of God. She taught elementary, middle, high school students and graduates in urban, rural, and international settings. 

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Girlie is passionate about developing teachers and resources that are prepared to meet the needs of all students. She also engages in equipping future leaders and enjoys leading out Master Guide and Pathfinders, organizing international mission trips, and conducting seminars. She served as a missionary and English teacher in South Korea for three years and seven and a half years in Saipan, Northern Marianas Island (USA). She’s married to Pastor Antonee Leo Aguilar. Mrs. Aguilar is a Ph.D. Candidate in Religious Education with an emphasis in Campus Spiritual Leadership at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan. Her hobbies include reading, preaching, cycling, and spending time with her husband on road trips.

Mr. Valencia earned his Theology decree from Central Philippine Adventist College and his Master's degree in Social Studies in Education from Adventist University of the Philippines. He has worked for almost 15 years in the field of education. He discovers that the classroom is a perfect place to start the positive change he wants to see in the world. He is known to be a positive, warm, and genuinely caring teacher who finds joy in his students' success inside and outside the classroom. 

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Sharing the love of Jesus to young people is his calling in life. His other interests includes small cottages landscaping, music, arts, and exploring the great outdoors. These things he does after enjoying time with his wife, Elida Jae, and his three beautiful children.

I marched into the kitchen and declared, “My name means great teacher, so I am going to be a teacher!” While not the actual meaning of my name, this little story was the beginning of my teaching journey.  My name is Samantha Silva-Rivas. I graduated from Walla Walla University with an English Degree, a minor in education, and certification. Over the years, God has called me to teach in so many places and grades. Throughout this time, I have been slowly working on my Masters in Teaching and am hoping to finish that in the near future. I have taught in high school, preschool, lower elementary, and am so excited to join Scappoose Adventist School to continue my journey.

I believe every child has the innate ability to explore and create!  I love to encourage my students to use their own creativity, ingenuity, and curiosity to solve problems.  To inspire the kids’ creativity, I tend to decorate my classroom with a yearly theme and weave that theme through all the subjects. In the last four years, I have created superhero, pirate, and camping themed classrooms. Furthermore, I love to challenge them to explore their own learning through stem activities and events like a market day where students come up with, create, and then sell a product.  Classroom Market Days, Science and Literature nights, and so much more further encourages my students to dream big and make things happen. 

Beyond teaching, I love spending time with family, baking, reading, and hanging out with my two cats.

My husband and I are so excited to come back to the Portland area. I feel so blessed to join this school and share the joy of learning and our incredible creator with every child who enters my classroom.

Ms. Riza has been teaching young learners since 2006. She loves kids and has been known for being a fun and creative teacher. She spent 12 years teaching and studying in South Korea where she was able to finish two Master’s degrees. She has one semester left until she will graduate from her doctorate. Ms. Riza spent years studying the use of role plays among young learners and her textbook proposal won in the final presentation of curriculum development course, which was judged by prestigious Korean authors and publishers.

Aside from teaching; she loves reading, playing the piano, cooking, storytelling and writing!  

Ms. Hernandez is a freshly graduated, enthusiastic teacher who is excited to pour her energy and heart into her students. She earned her bachelors in elementary education with a minor in special education at Walla Walla University. She believes that the goal of teaching extends beyond the instruction of letters and numbers to a purpose more eternal. Her personal objective as a teacher is to reflect the characteristics of the Master Teacher through her interactions with students. She also endeavors to provide a stellar academic experience by creating opportunities for students to recognize the value in what they are learning and be inspired to take initiative in the classroom.

This is achieved in part by making learning accessible to all students, supporting dialogue in the classroom, and providing engaging learning materials. Ms. Hernandez is an Oregon native and enjoys making music on her harp and exploring nearby mountains and forests. 

Kindness, movement, and fun are integral parts of the educational experience in Kara’s classroom.

Exploring and creating is encouraged. Engaging with and learning about nature is a common theme

within her class as she loves to share her adoration for all of God’s creation with her students.

Kara is a lifelong Oregon resident. She is a graduate of Oregon State University with a Bachelor’s degree

in Sociology and History. She has been working and volunteering in schools and preschools for the last

decade and is a proud mom of two wonderful SAS students.

In her free time Kara can be spotted hiking with her dog, hitting the parks with her children, traveling,

learning guitar, creating art, gardening, antiquing, and studying Spanish.

Mr. Rivas is a second generation Adventist of Guatemalan descent. He graduated from Walla Walla University with a major in Religion and a minor in Spanish. He likes reading, writing both fiction and religious devotionals, cooking, watching movies, and playing board games.

Mr. Rivas have worked with children from toddler to early teens as an aide and substitute teacher for many years. He loves to share God's Word through preaching and leading out small groups for young adults and teens in English and Spanish--"just doing small parts for the Kingdom." He's so grateful and honored to be a part of the SAS family.

Ms. Nicole is originally from South Africa and now lives in Arizona with her adorable dog. Her hobbies include sewing, photography, restoring antique furniture and farming.