Berkeley High Welcomes Many New Faces to the Teaching Staff

Melissa Poblete, CPA English

Melissa Poblete, a Communication Partnerships Academy (CPA) English teacher, has noticed the sense of a close-knit community that she previously experienced at Millsmont Academy, a small charter school in East Oakland. She is excited to get to know all of the CPA students over the course of this year. An alumna of the University of Florida, where she majored in history, Poblete also loves reading and writing. If she weren’t a teacher, she would probably work in book publishing, editing, or something related to writing. In her free time she enjoys contemporary dance.

Joe Bergeron, World History

Before coming to Berkeley High, Joe Bergeron taught political science at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. He grew up in Portland, Oregon, and several members of his family are also teachers. In his free time Bergeron likes to explore the Bay Area and go on hikes. He is very interested in politics and government, and if he weren’t a teacher, he would probably be part of an LGBT interest group. He is excited about the upcoming school year, and strives to make history relevant and interesting to his students. As he puts it: “A lot of people don’t really like history, and I want to try and change that.”

Sam Rozen, Chemistry

Last summer, Sam Rozen moved to the Bay Area from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he taught chemistry. Since the first time he taught at a summer camp when he was a teenager, he knew he wanted to be a teacher. He developed an interest in science while studying at the University of Iowa. If he weren’t a teacher, he would probably work in developing green energy or be a police officer. In his free time, Mr. Rozen enjoys exercising, reading, and hanging out with friends. He looks forward to helping students succeed in and out of the classroom, and has really enjoyed his time here at Berkeley High so far.

Benjamin Schalit, Latin

Benjamin Schalit began his teaching career in San Francisco, and most recently worked in the Tamalpais Union High School District. He has an outstanding background in classics; he obtained a degree in Greek and Latin from Stanford and went to graduate school at Princeton before getting his teaching credential at San Francisco State University. Prior to teaching, he worked in the computer industry. He enjoys mountain biking, riding his motorcycle, cooking, and hiking.

Photos:

• Melissa Poblete (Elon Walton)
• Benjamin Schalit (Hannah Bloom)
• Sam Rozen (Hannah Bloom)
• Joe Bergeron (Hannah Bloom)