FOUNDERS/Directors

Little Surf Co. founders, Jason and Kayla grew up in Orange County and have been married since 2012. They have two young boys, who love hitting the beach with them any chance they get.

Coach Jason grew up in Fountain Valley and has been an avid surfer in Huntington Beach his entire life. He has experience as a surf instructor coaching for the past 25 years. He is also American Red Cross CPR certified and is a first aid/CPR/AED instructor so rest assured, your little explorers will be in great hands.

Prior to running Little Surf Co., Kayla spent 10 years in the classroom teaching a variety of Communication courses at local colleges. Therefore, incorporating education into Little Surf Co.’s daily schedule is a top priority to Jason and Kayla because they understand the value of hard work and a positive attitude.

If you would like your child to have a great surf and education experience from caring people, then Little Surf Co. is the place for him/her!

Operations Manager

Meet Emily LeMonnier, the Operations Manager at Little Surf Co.
Born and raised in Southern California, Emily has always been deeply connected to the local community and passionate about creating positive environments for learning. With years of experience in both educational and operational roles, she ensures the smooth functioning of the school and supports both staff, students, and parents.

In her role as Operations Manager, Emily manages daily operations and supports the development of programs. Her responsibilities include coordinating events and managing administrative tasks that contribute to the overall efficiency of the Learning Center. She enjoys working behind the scenes to create a welcoming and efficient space for the entire Little Surf Co. Institute community.

She is grateful to be part of a team that shares her passion for creating meaningful educational experiences for students.

Academic Advisor

Please meet Little Surf Co.’s Academic Advisor, Mrs. Amanda Katchka! Amanda comes aboard as our liaison for all-things homeschool related including providing guidance on navigating charter schools, curriculum, and more! 

A native of Southern California, Amanda obtained her undergraduate degree in sociology from UCLA in 2003, while competing as a world-class athlete in softball. A few of Amanda’s accolades include winning a National Championship at UCLA, and an Olympic Gold medal in Athens in 2004. Amanda has over 25 years of experience coaching and mentoring athletes of all ages as a team coach, group clinician, and private instructor. She earned her teaching credential and Master’s Degree from Grand Canyon University in 2020 in hopes of continuing to have the same impact on kids in the classroom as she does on the field. The Katchka family began their own homeschooling journey 5 years ago, with son Jack (3rd) and Addison (5th), and Amanda has found a wonderful balance of fulfillment in her role as a teacher and administrator, while also being able to spend quality time with her family. Little Surf Co. and its community has truly been a blessing for this family.

When not in the classroom, Amanda enjoys traveling, snowboarding, and spending time with her husband Joe at all ball fields, basketball courts, and at the beach watching their kids do what they love!

Preparatory Teacher

We are happy to have Miss Tessa Ortiz as our Little Ocean Explorers Preparatory Program teacher! Tessa was born and raised here in beautiful California, where she was homeschooled from 1st through 12th grade. She has a deep passion and love of the homeschooling community! Currently, she is pursuing her degree in Early Childhood Development, driven by her excitement to further nurture and educate young minds.

Having been with our team for over two years, Tessa has formed meaningful connections and truly values the supportive and vibrant community here at Little Surf Co.

She is enthusiastic to contribute to our school, and is incredibly excited to continue making a positive impact on our little ones’ lives. In addition to her professional aspirations, she is an avid lover of art, adventure, and nature. Tessa firmly believes that children should spend ample time outside, exploring and learning through direct experiences.

Her dedication, warmth, and innovative approach to early education makes her an invaluable part of our team!

TK Teacher

We are excited to have Miss Karina Sammartano as our TK and Morning Creative Expressions Course Teacher! Miss Karina is a dedicated and passionate teacher with over 10 years of experience in early childhood development and education. Throughout her career, Miss Karina has been committed to creating nurturing and thought provoking environments that foster a lifelong joy for learning. She embraces the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education, a philosophy rooted in the belief that children are strong, capable, and resilient, with a natural curiosity that drives their desire to learn. Miss Karina encourages children to work together on projects that foster social skills and a sense of community. She values the ideas and interests of each child, using them as the foundation for curriculum development. This emergent curriculum ensures that learning is relevant and engaging for every student.

Miss Karina is excited to be a part of the Little Surf Co. Institute community and looks forward to making a positive impact on the lives of her students.

KINDERGARTEN TEACHER

We are beyond thrilled to have Georgina Gennawey as our Little Surf Co. Institute Kindergarten teacher! She absolutely adores teaching primary grades and has over 14 years of full time teaching experience at the Kindergarten level. She is a New Jersey native, but loves the California sunshine!

She has extensive experience in teaching, including being the lead Kindergarten teacher at Kinetic Academy located in Huntington Beach for 6 years, lead Kindergarten teacher at Lifeline Charter School, Kindergarten Director at the Boys & Girls Club of Northwest New Jersey, Kindergarten teacher at Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology, and she is currently serving as a mentor to other teachers through Concordia University in Irvine in order to help them clear their California teaching credential.

She is so grateful to be on the Little Surf Co. team and feels blessed to be working with the Kindergarten class! She has three sweet children: Kinsley- 5, Vincent- 2 and one baby girl, Brooke. She loves living in Huntington Beach with her kids and husband, Michael.

Kindergarten Teacher

We are beyond thrilled to have Mrs. Kenzie Droll as our Kindergarten Teacher! She works side by side, co-teaching with Mrs. Georgina Gennawey on our ELA + Math core days!

Kenzie Droll is a compassionate Kindergarten teacher who believes deeply in shaping the hearts and minds of her students through a nurturing and hands-on learning approach. Growing up in Scottsdale, Arizona, Kenzie always knew she wanted to make a lasting impact in the lives of children. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Arizona, she embarked on her teaching journey, and eight years later, she continues to bring passion and joy to every classroom she enters.

Mrs. Droll creates an environment where her students are encouraged to explore, question, and grow, fostering a love for learning that stays with them long after they leave her class. Her hands-on learning approach ensures that every lesson is an adventure, designed to spark curiosity and build confidence. Whether it’s through creative activities or compassionate guidance, Kenzie teaches her students to be kind and confident in their abilities!

Beyond her professional life, Kenzie welcomed her first baby girl into the world in February, adding a new layer of love and perspective to her teaching. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, and watching sunsets on the beach.

Mrs. Droll’s classroom is a sanctuary where children feel safe, supported, and inspired to become the best version of themselves. Through her dedication and passion, Kenzie continues to make a positive impact on her students, helping to shape their futures with love, care, and endless enthusiasm!

1st Grade Teacher

Please meet Ms. Irma Perez, our first grade teacher at the Little Surf Co. Institute! Ms. Perez brings over 20 years of professional experience in elementary education. She has experience working with students at numerous schools in the Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, and surrounding areas.

She brings her wealth of knowledge and expertise in areas such as: organization, classroom management, academic excellence, and social and emotional needs to the classroom. Her specialized techniques, skillsets, and teaching philosophies will be implemented directly into the classroom on a daily basis.

She is a lover of all things ocean related and is an avid surfer herself. She has been surfing for 15 years and is an active member of the Wahine Kai Surf Club, a non-profit organization, dedicated to connecting women who love to surf, or want to learn. She has two wonderful daughters, as well!

2nd Grade Teacher

We are very happy to have Miss Courtney Waked as our second grade teacher! Courtney is a passionate elementary school teacher and health and fitness coach who loves nothing more than helping kiddos step into living their most joyful and active life! She grew up in Huntington Beach and attended Northern Arizona University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Education and went on to earn her California Multiple Subject Teaching credential.

Courtney taught 6th grade as an elementary school teacher at a non-traditonal private school for children with learning differences. Through that experience, she was able to practice understanding and empathy that goes far beyond any curriculum and was able to truly implement the practices of understanding the whole child, executive function skills, active engagement and hands-on learning.

Over the years, Courtney has had her own weight loss journey and now helps woman find joy in movement through her own health + fitness business. She is so thrilled to work with our students here at Little Surf Co. as our 2nd Grade Teacher! Courtney is excited to help her students step into their confidence and nurture the belief that they are wonderfully created and uniquely capable of achieving great things.

3rd-5th Language Arts Teacher / Spanish Teacher

We are excited to have Erika Lieu as our 3rd-5th Grade Language Arts and Spanish Teacher at the LSC Institute!

She has over 5 years experience in the classroom and was also an elementary school librarian. She LOVES reading and believe in the power of literature to spark imagination and build critical thinking skills. In her classroom, students focus on developing foundational literacy skills through interactive storytelling and hands-on writing activities. Her goal is to inspire a love of reading and writing in our students. 

Lieu is a native spanish speaker, born in Peru and raised in Downey, CA. With a passion for Latin American culture and language, she was inspired to teach Spanish. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and also obtained a certificate of Spanish Interpreting from the Southern California School of Interpretation.

Erika is known for creating dynamic and interactive learning environments that inspire students to embrace Spanish with confidence. She is dedicated to promoting linguistic proficiency and cross-cultural understanding through engaging lessons and personalized guidance.

Besides teaching, Erika enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 sons and their goldendoodle Teddy, going on beach walks, hikes, and exploring nature.

3rd-5th Grade Math Teacher / Primary 5th Grade Teacher / Business Teacher

We are happy to have Miss Alison Zimmer as our our fifth grade primary homeroom teacher! Alison also teaches grades 3-5 Math, Financial Management on Mondays, Entrepreneurship/Public Speaking on Fridays, and our Thursday Morning Enrichment Yoga class at the beach!!

Alison has entered her 20th year of teaching kids in Huntington Beach. She started as an instructional aide for high school special education, and developed a love for making difficult math concepts feel easy for those who struggled. Ms. Zimmer help helped hundreds of kids in the HB community pass their algebra classes, and get their high school diplomas. 

After graduating from CSULB with a Summa Cum Laude BA degree in Sociology, she studied abroad in Costa Rica to get a TEFL degree. This allowed her to teach English as a foreign language. It was while teaching English in Japan that she realized how much she missed the HB community she grew up in. Since then, she has been of service in many ways to her hometown. 

Alison has also been teaching yoga since 2011 and owns a local yoga studio, The Zen Den HB. She has been creating Kid’s Yoga programs in Huntington Beach for over 10 years. Her classes specialize in teaching kids how to connect to their self-love through breathing, movement, and meditation. 

She loves teaching kids yoga because it provides an opportunity for all types of kids to connect their body to their brains, and help build self confidence. They gain flexibility and strength, while learning tools on how to relax and feel peace. 

Two “fun facts” about Alison are that she was Miss Jr. teen Huntington Beach in 1998 and she was a live-in nanny for David and Victoria Beckham! Amazing.

Creative Consultant

We are thrilled to have Quinn Olesiuk as our LSC Institute Creative Consultant! Quinn is a creative, organizational, and planning expert with over 10 years of experience in helping business operations and supporting creative content development. Quinn has a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising from Chapman University and has a background as a creative consultant for various companies, celebrities, and industry leaders. She worked for eight years on the Creative Team at Orange County School of Arts (OCSA). At OCSA, she worked to create, develop, promote, and coordinate various programs for the Foundation and their 22 arts conservatories, one of which is an annual fundraiser gala. Some of the events she helped organize for OSCA, included: the Walt Disney Pictures film library, Broadway and television stars, Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Make A Wish Foundation, South Coast Plaza, the Hollywood Bowl, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Quinn has also helped with events for Universal Studios, various fashion shows, television shows, magazines, and media outlets.

Quinn was born and raised in Orange County, California and currently lives with her husband, Sean, and their two year old son. Quinn is looking forward to being a part of the vibrant Little Surf Co. community and to serving its incredible families!