New OVS resident coordinator, counselor, and girls’ soccer coach, Paloma Sandoval, is returning to her roots.
OVS has played a huge role in Ms. Sandoval’s life. She arrived in the third grade and graduated from the Lower and Upper Campus.
“OVS holds such a special place in my heart,” she said, expressing appreciation.
Ms. Sandoval believes that her teachers had a large impact on her experience at OVS. They helped her through a hard part of her life, academically. Many teachers who were around when Ms. Sandoval attended are still teaching at OVS, such as Mr. Weidlich, Mr. Colborn, Ms. Wachter, Ms. Davis, and Ms. Wilson.
Spanish teacher Ms. Wachter, who had the pleasure of coaching Ms. Sandoval soccer at OVS, is really happy about her return.
When asked about how she feels about her return to the Upper Campus, she described it as “really fun.”
“She brings a lot of energy to the weekends,” said Ms. Wachter. “She is spunky.”
In 2015, four years after graduating college at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Ms. Sandoval returned to the Lower Campus to work at the health center. She was pregnant with her first daughter Nayelli and returned so her daughter could attend OVS, like her.
Ms. Sandoval worked at the lower health center for four years and loved it. She enjoyed being around the little kids and had an amazing experience working with two other women in the health center. Once her colleagues left, Ms. Sandoval thought that it was the right time to leave.
“I felt like I was ready for a new challenge,” she said..
Ms. Sandoval was enthusiastic about going into nursing at the Ventura County Medical Center. She loved her job but balancing time with her family and work became too difficult.
Ms. Sandoval was finally able to return to OVS this year but is new to teaching at the Upper Campus. She believes that over the years, OVS has kept its core values but has also progressed. She thinks the students are much more involved and smarter than when she attended.
Ms. Sandoval likes working at the Upper Campus even more than the Lower Campus.
“I think that I connect more with the students at Upper and I have more of an impact,” she said happily.
Senior boarder Annie Heinemann has struggled with getting along with certain dorm parents in the past, but she feels delighted with Ms. Sandoval’s arrival.
“I can feel her passion and determination,” Annie said. “She is very committed to the community.”
OVS has played a huge role in Ms. Sandoval’scareer and life and she is excited to rejoin the community.