Global Media Studies Magnet Staff
Coleen Bondy
GMS Magnet Coordinator / English 9
Coleen Bondy is a GMS English teacher and our magnet coordinator. She has taught at Cleveland since 2006. Ms. Bondy holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and a master's degree in education from the University of Phoenix. Her teaching credential is in Secondary English. Before becoming a teacher, Ms. Bondy worked as a newspaper reporter for many years and has also worked in marketing and public relations. Her hobbies include hiking, reading, genealogy and traveling.
Rebecca Burney
English 11 & 12
Rebecca Burney was born and raised in Aloha, Oregon. She received her bachelor’s degree in Education and English from Providence College in Pasadena, CA, and her master’s degree and credential in secondary education from Pacific University. She enjoys traveling, reading, and hanging out with her family and her dog.
Matthew Clutario
Environmental Studies / Biology
Matt Clutario (he/they) is a GMS Environmental Studies and Biology teacher. He has been teaching at Cleveland since 2019. Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Mr. Clutario obtained a bachelor's in science from UCLA, majoring in Biology. After serving a volunteer year in an education non-profit in East San Jose, he obtained a teaching credential from the University of San Francisco's Urban Education and Social Justice teaching program and his master's degree in teaching. He enjoys listening to and writing about music, attending shows, playing bass and guitar, and road cycling.
John Crossley
Film Integrating Art / Media Technology / Video RM / Video IM Teacher
John Crossley is a seasoned and versatile filmmaker & photographer with over a decade of experience working closely on major brands with ad agencies, production companies and corporate, film and TV clients. Mr. Crossley is a credentialed educator with extensive experience instructing on the fundamentals of film and video production. He holds a bachelor's degree in architecture from Lawrence Technological University, a teaching credential in Visual and Performing Arts from CSUN, and a master of fine arts in filmmaking from New York University. Mr. Crossley joined GMS in 2020.
Gabriel Del Toro
Geometry / Algebra 2
Gabriel Del Toro joined the GMS teaching staff this semester to teach Geometry and Algebra 2. He received his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Secondary Teaching from California State University, Northridge. Prior to becoming a teacher, Mr. Del Toro worked for one year as a teacher assistant for ESL students at James Madison Middle School. Mr. Del Toro enjoys being with his family and friends. His hobbies are listening to music, playing soccer, and watching soccer matches. Mr. Del Toro joined GMS in 2023.
Andrew Jones
Physical Education
Andrew Jones is a Physical Education teacher. He has taught at Cleveland High School since 2014. Mr. Jones holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Salem International University. His Teaching Credential is Physical Education K-12. Mr. Jones is also an Ocean Lifeguard and has his EMT-1 certification. His hobbies include working out, watching sports, and traveling.
Kevin Keady
Animation / Drawing
Kevin Keady started as a student teacher at Cleveland High School in the 1996-97 school year, and has taught at Cleveland ever since. Graduating from Cal State University, Northridge with his Bachelors of Illustration, he brings that knowledge and love of art to Cleveland. As a part of the Art Department, he brought advanced drawing and illustration to Cleveland, always with an eye on creating an animation program. With the Global Media Studies Magnet program, Cleveland now has a clear career path for students wanting to pursue entertainment and art-related fields. Mr. Keady brings his love of art/illustration and heads our animation program under the GMS Magnet.
Crina Manole
Math
Crina Manole teaches Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry, grades 9 - 12. Mrs. Manole has been teaching since 2001. She has a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Technical University of Civil Engineering in Bucharest, Romania, and a Teaching Credential from CSUN. She joined Cleveland High School in 2019, and GMS in 2020. Her hobbies are gardening and traveling.
Carmen Mc Daniel
Spanish 1, 2 and 3
Carmen McDaniel teaches Spanish in the GMS program. She has taught since 2001 at Cleveland. Mrs. McDaniel holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from California State University, Northridge. Prior to her teaching career, Mrs. McDaniel worked in banking and accounting for many years. In her pastime, she enjoys knitting, reading, hiking, and traveling.
Judith Perez
Counselor
Judith Perez is the counselor for the Global Media Studies Magnet and has been at Cleveland since 2017. She received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Education from UCLA. She received her master’s degree in Educational Counseling from University of La Verne. Ms. Perez worked at Pierce College as a Counselor Assistant before becoming a high school counselor. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with her family, read, and travel.
Elias Rodriguez
U.S. History / Government & Economics
Elias Rodriguez teaches Social Studies for GMS. He currently teaches U.S. History (11th grade) and Government/Economics (12th grade). He is also the CHS Associated Student Body (ASB) Advisor. Mr. Rodriguez holds a bachelor's degree in History from CSUN, and has been teaching at Cleveland since 2005. Before he became a teacher, he worked for 17 years in the high performance auto industry as a sales person and technician. Mr. Rodriguez enjoys his family, friends, traveling, and teaching.
Alexander Segovia
World History / U.S. History / AP U.S. History
Alexander Segovia is the World History teacher for 10th grade GMS and the U.S. History and Advanced Placement U.S. History teacher for 11th grade GMS. He received a bachelor’s degree in history from CSU Northridge and a master’s degree in Education and Technology from Western Governors University. Mr. Segovia also holds a second master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from CSU Northridge. As a former Cleveland Cavalier student, he is excited to now be on campus as an educator. When not teaching, Mr. Segovia enjoys film, watching basketball, hiking, and sitting down with a good book.
Anna Thackeray
English 10 & 12
Anna Thackeray is the GMS English teacher for grades 10, 11, and 12. She holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with an emphasis in English and psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a master’s degree in educational technology/eLearning from Concordia University. In addition, Ms. Thackeray is a certified online/blended learning teacher and is a current candidate for the National Board Teacher Certification. Ms. Thackeray holds a California teaching credential in English and Social Studies, as well as a Nevada teaching credential in Secondary English and Psychology. She began her teaching journey in 2005 where she taught in Las Vegas, Nevada for eleven years before moving to the San Fernando Valley. Ms. Thackeray joined the Cleveland GMS family in 2020. Some of her passions include education, spoken word poetry, and basketball. It is also her strong belief that life is, indeed, a musical.
Amanda Zepeda
Ethnic Studies / Social Studies / Health
Amanda Zepeda (she/her) is an Ethnic Studies and History teacher. She is a second-generation Chicana who grew up in the San Fernando Valley. As a former Cleveland student, she was excited to return as a teacher after completing her undergraduate education. Ms. Zepeda obtained her bachelor’s degree as a double major in Latinx Studies and History with a minor in Race and Resistance at San Francisco State University and her teaching credential from Cal State Long Beach. When not teaching, she enjoys exploring different places, watching movies, reading fantasy, and relaxing at the beach. Ms. Zepeda joined the GMS family in the fall of 2023.
Honored Alumni / Website Designer
Tristan Kendall graduated from Grover Cleveland Charter High School in 2018, and was in the Global Academy of Interdisciplinary Media Studies, which became the GMS Magnet.
While at Cleveland, Kendall was an Executive for KCAV, a Guest Writer / Photographer / Social Media Director for Le Sabre, a part of the Publicity Team as a Filmmaker for the Drama Department, and had a lead in the Spring Musical “Oliver!” as ‘Mr. Bumble’. He was also involved with the Teen International Media Exchange Club, and Club Connections.
He previously worked at GMS Magnet from June 2018 until February 2020 in the role of Technical Specialist that complemented his love for teaching and film. In the summer, Kendall was the Summer Bridge Instructor and Director for the Los Angeles Youth Media Summit. He had such a strong love for GMS that he even volunteered to run to GMS Social Media accounts, create the GMS Website, and go to middle schools to advertise the magnet program.
Even though he no longer works for the GMS Magnet, Kendall still serves on the GMS Board of Advisors, is a member of the GMS Magnet Booster Club, and plans to help the program with the creation of an Alumni Group.