Classroom Teachers

Olivia Griffin

Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. Griffin teaches Kindergarten at Holy Spirit School! She graduated from St. Mary’s College of California and previously taught special education preschool, where she had the joy of helping young learners grow, discover, and reach their full potential. Seeing the world through her students’ eyes and celebrating their milestones (big and small!) is what makes teaching so special to her. She believes that every student deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and feel valued. Every child learns differently, and she strives to create a loving, supportive, and inclusive environment where all students can thrive.

Outside of the classroom, Ms. Griffin enjoys painting and expressing her creativity through art!

Maria Moreno

1st Grade Teacher

Ms. Moreno is our 1st Grade teacher at Holy Spirit School. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from UC Berkeley, with a minor in Social Work. She began her career as a social worker at a non-profit, traveling all over Yolo County, helping the underprivileged. She came to teaching after realizing that what she valued most was mentoring and helping others grow – teaching gives her the chance to do that every day in a meaningful way!

Ms. Moreno believes that every child can learn and grow when they feel safe, supported, and valued. She loves watching her students grow academically and in confidence!

Ms. Moreno is the mom of two children – a 5th Grader at Holy Spirit and a rising Kindergartener. She enjoys traveling with her partner and children, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, and going to concerts! She loves the color green, Chinese food, and her Golden Doodle, Sunnie.

ANA RUIZ

2nd Grade Teacher

Mrs. Ruiz is our 2nd Grade teacher at Holy Spirit School. She is a first-generation college graduate with a B.A. in Liberal Studies from Cal State East Bay. The 2025–2026 school year marks her fourth year of teaching here, although she has been working with students for over 13 years, beginning her career as a preschool teacher.

Mrs. Ruiz’s inspiration to become a teacher came from her middle school teachers, Mrs. Halls and Mrs. Brown. They were caring, patient, and always willing to help whenever she needed it. Their kindness and dedication made a lasting impression on her and inspired her own educational path. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that it takes a village to raise a child, and she strives to create a classroom community where students grow not only academically but also in faith. One of the things she loves most about teaching is witnessing her students’ growth throughout the years, seeing them develop new skills and gain confidence in themselves. Her greatest accomplishment is when her students leave second grade with faith in their hearts and a deep sense of love and respect for one another, just as God intended.

Outside the classroom, Mrs. Ruiz’s world revolves around her husband and her two little ones. They love spending time outdoors, enjoying delicious food, and making lasting memories with loved ones. Her favorite color is black (it’s classic and timeless), and her favorite food is seafood. From aguachiles to lobster tails, she loves seafood! Some of her favorite restaurants include Boiling Crab and Mama Por Dios.

MARIA MEDINA

3rd Grade Teacher

Ms. Medina is the 3^rd Grade teacher at Holy Spirit. She holds a B.A. in Child Development from California State Sacramento, and an A.A. Degree in Liberal Arts from American River College. This is her fourth year of teaching, and her second at Holy Spirit. Before teaching, Ms. Medina managed a floral department in the grocery business for 12 years - she credits this experience with expanding her creativity and enhancing her ability to build strong relationships. 

Ms. Medina always knew she wanted to teach and make a difference in children’s lives. She aims to help all her students reach their fullest potential. She loves getting to know her students and building relationships with them, learning what they need, and meeting them where they are. Ms. Medina feels it is a blessing to see the joy on her students’ faces as they learn!

Ms. Medina enjoys spending time with her family and catching up with friends. She also likes traveling, music, and movies.

SARAH PAWLEY

4th Grade Teacher

Ms. Pawley teaches 4th Grade at Holy Spirit School. Her educational background includes coursework in Education at Grand Canyon University, where she developed a strong foundation in instructional practices, child development, and classroom leadership with a faith-centered approach. Before becoming a teacher, she worked at Callison Elementary in student retention, where she discovered her passion for helping students grow not only academically but in confidence and character. She truly believes that God guided her to Holy Spirit, and she feels blessed to teach in such a faith-filled community.

Her teaching approach is rooted in kindness, building strong relationships, and inspiring a love of learning in a positive and structured environment. One of her most significant accomplishments is raising her two sons, who are now 23 and 18, and she is incredibly proud of the young men they have become. Outside of teaching, she enjoys spending time with family and friends. Her favorite color is green, and some of her favorite places to eat include Los Reyes, Burger City, Murillo's, and Merchant and Main. She is grateful each day for the opportunity to support, teach, and guide her students!

Ban Koka

5th Grade Teacher

Mrs. Koka is the computer teacher for 3rd Grade – 8th Grade at Holy Spirit School. She received her A.A. in Business Administration from Cuyamaca College in San Diego and studied Financial Services at San Diego State University. She started at Holy Spirit as an involved parent – after helping in her son’s classrooms, a love for helping children learn was awakened in her!

Out of the classroom, Mrs. Koka enjoys swimming, walking, and learning new skills. She speaks 5 different languages! She loves the color white, Mediterranean food, and Applebee’s. She came to the United States 30 years ago and feels thankful to God for her college degree, beautiful family, and joyful job.

MICHAEL REDDELL

6th Grade Homeroom Teacher

Mr. Reddell is the 6^th Grade homeroom teacher here at Holy Spirit. He holds a B.S. in Psychology, specializing in Child and Adolescent Development. He has worked in education for 17 years, including 8 years in Catholic schools, and has taught students from preschool through college.

When he was in college, two of Mr. Reddell’s part-time jobs were as a camp counselor and a teacher’s aide. After working at these jobs, Mr. Reddell realized that kids need someone to look up to and learn from, and that inspired his career in education. 

Mr. Reddell loves the energy and humor of his 6^th Graders and enjoys seeing their confidence grow over the course of the school year. He always tries to relate to his students and use their interests in his lessons. In his classroom, he develops clear routines, fosters strong relationships, delivers data-informed instruction, and assigns tasks that relate to real-world issues.

Outside the classroom, Mr. Reddell enjoys camping, hiking, and spending time with his wife and young daughter. He also likes technology like web design and creating digital media. Navy blue is his favorite color, and he loves eating sushi, hot pot, and In-n-Out; he also loves his two cats, Soy Sauce and Wasabi!

CHRISTINE MORRISON

7th Grade Homeroom Teacher

Mrs. Morrison is Holy Spirit’s 7th Grade homeroom teacher. She earned a B.A. in English from UC Berkeley and a Secondary School Teaching Credential from UC Davis; she also holds a Certificate in Change Management from Cornell University. Mrs. Morrison spent the first 25 years of her career in the technology industry, leading education, training, and enablement programs for global companies. After many years of teaching adults and building learning programs, she wanted to return to where she started and work directly with students. She loves the curiosity, energy, and opportunity to make a difference that comes with teaching middle school!

Mrs. Morrison believes students learn best when they feel supported, challenged, and curious. Her goal is to create an engaging classroom where students are comfortable asking questions, making connections, thinking critically, and taking ownership of their learning. Outside the classroom, she loves reading, swimming, traveling, and spending time with her family. She is also a big baseball fan and spends a lot of time at the ballpark. I especially enjoy traveling and experiencing the history, culture, and traditions of new places!

PEG PAPOE

8th Grade Homeroom Teacher

Mrs. Papoe is the 8th Grade teacher at Holy Spirit School. Mrs. Papoe has been teaching here for over 25 years! She earned her B.A. in Economics from Mills College and received her Teaching Credential from Chapman University.

Before teaching, Mrs. Papoe worked in the purchasing department at Midtec Paper Mill and in data processing at GE Capital Assurance. Looking for a career with more flexible work hours that was closer to home, she made the switch to education! She believes every student can succeed to the best of their abilities. She loves interacting with them, watching them grow, and embracing all the new things that 8th Grade brings.

Mrs. Papoe loves spending time with her baby grandson. She also enjoys animals – she has one dog and three cats, all from the shelter. During the summer months, she fosters kittens for the animal shelter. She also likes puzzles, crocheting, needlework of all sorts, gardening, and cooking! She loves the color green and Mexican food.

DANA STEVENS

Science (7th-8th), Math (6th-8th)

Mrs. Stevens is the math teacher for Grades 6-8, and the science teacher for Grades 7-8 at Holy Spirit School. She earned her B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior at UC Davis, her teaching credential and Master’s in Education at UC Davis, and is currently in the Notre Dame ACE Ascent Program.

Though she was curious about other professions in college, Mrs. Stevens always wanted to be a teacher. After an internship at Green Valley Middle School through UC Davis, she decided to pursue education. Her experience on her undergraduate Honors thesis with an amazing professor inspired her to research best teaching practices and support her students.

Mrs. Stevens aims to provide hands-on learning opportunities in her classroom. She also tries to integrate creativity into her math and science lessons because she believes it gives students a chance to explore the material in different ways. She loves it when a math or science concept “clicks” with students, and when she sees students teaching and supporting each other.

Mrs. Stevens married her high school sweetheart, and they enjoy traveling to U.S. National Parks together. Her favorite color is blue, and Rice Barn and Clay Oven are her favorite local restaurants!

EDWIN PAWLEY

Advanced Math (6th-8th)

Mr. Pawley is our advanced middle school math teacher and has been at Holy Spirit School since 1987, after learning about an opening from the head of the math department at USF, where he earned his BS in computer science with a minor in mathematics. When he arrived on campus for his interview, Sr. Margaret immediately immersed him in the world of Catholic education! He draws on his experience working as a waiter during college, which taught him to be comfortable speaking with people and solving problems, skills that have been valuable in his teaching career.

Mr. Pawley teaches his students to be aggressive learners – to him, that means “politely questioning authority” and learning to be logical, sensible, and curious about the concepts that are being taught. Mr. Pawley loves the challenge of teaching new students and enjoys watching them grow and prosper. His goal is for all his students to achieve success in high school math!

Mr. Pawley grew up at the New Jersey shore in Wildwood. He loves seafood, pizza, cheesesteaks, and the color red! He has been married since 1980 (do the math) and has five grandsons. He plays guitar in a band in his free time and loves being at the beach and walking the boardwalk!

AMBERGRACE ARGUELLES

Music

ANTONIO ESCOBEDO

Art/Band

Antonio Escobedo has been a dedicated music educator in the Fairfield-Suisun area for over 25 years. He has served as a percussion and brass instructor and as a marching band director at Sullivan Middle School, Crystal Middle School, Golden West Middle School, and Vanden High School. An accomplished musician in both brass and percussion, Mr. Escobedo has performed with ensembles including the Solano Winds, Awesome Orchestra, Temple Hill Orchestra, the Delbert Bump Organ Big Band, the Concord Blue Devils, and is also an on-call musician for Blue Devils Entertainment.

In addition to his work as an educator and performer, Mr. Escobedo is the Gallery Director for ÆRENA Galleries’ Napa location, where he curates exhibitions, represents artists, and works with collectors and organizations from around the globe.

For the past 12 years, Mr. Escobedo has been part of the Holy Spirit School community, teaching band and orchestra alongside his colleague Mrs. Arguelles. Now in his 4th year as the school’s art teacher, he draws upon his knowledge of art history, technique, and appreciation to guide students through five distinct pedagogical approaches to visual art.

A lifelong advocate for the arts, Mr. Escobedo is proud to share his passion and decades of experience with the students at Holy Spirit School.

VERONICA DIAZ

Spanish

Shamone Malbrough

Physical Education / Athletic Director

Mrs. Malbrough wears many hats at Holy Spirit School—she is the Physical Education teacher, the computer teacher for Kindergarten-2nd Grade, and the Athletic Director. She graduated from Vallejo High School in 1992, Solano Community College in 1994 with an A.A. in Liberal Arts, and Northern Arizona University in 1997 with a B.A. in Health Education.

Mrs. Malbrough has had an impressive athletic career, playing basketball at Vallejo High, Solano College, and Northern Arizona University on a full basketball scholarship. She coached at Solano College from 1997-2000, and at Vallejo High from 2000-2007, where she earned Coach of the Year honors in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006. She also coached girls and boys basketball teams at Holy Spirit. She counts her induction into the Solano College Hall of Fame in 1999, the Vallejo Sports Hall of Fame in 2018, and the California State Women's Basketball Association Hall of Fame in 2023 among her most significant accomplishments.

Mrs. Malbrough’s priority is teaching students how to work with others and be leaders. Students will learn life lessons that will help prepare them for high school and the future. She enjoys seeing her students mature and develop social and life skills that help them navigate their adult lives. When students can do a skill or task that they struggled with in the past, it's a joy to see their face light up with confidence and excitement that they were able to push past adversity.

In her time away from the classroom, Mrs. Malbrough enjoys watching her two sons (both Holy Spirit alumni) play high school sports. She also loves going to see the Golden State Warriors and 49ers play. Her favorite color is blue, and she loves dried cranberries, popcorn, and a good sandwich from Jersey Mike’s! Her favorite restaurant is Uncle Wongs.

DEBBIE HANNA

Educational Achievement Specialist; Vice Principal

Born and raised in Ireland, Mrs. Hanna moved to California after marrying her husband, John, who was serving in the American Air Force. Shortly after her arrival, she learned of Holy Spirit Church through a chance encounter. The rest is history! She was introduced to the Sisters of the Holy Faith and has been a part of this wonderful community ever since. Even though the sisters have retired, their mission and values continue to shape Holy Spirit School's culture, something Mrs. Hanna is deeply committed to upholding. With all four of her children as alumni, she finds great joy in supporting new generations of students and parents within the same faith-filled community.

Mrs. Hanna holds a Master's in Educational Psychology and is a Certified Educational Therapist. Passionate about helping students reach their full potential, Mrs. Hanna values collaboration, inclusivity, and fostering a Christ-centered learning environment. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, boating, traveling, playing guitar, and reading with her book club pals. She is also the proud grandmother of Emma, Bridget, and Danny.