Mrs. Elisabeth Cerne – special education and language arts, room 11

“I heard it is a great school and I feel like it’s the right fit for me,” said new Special Education Teacher Mrs. Elizsbeth Cerne. She is “super excited” to start this school year and is especially excited to see the students grow academically.

Cerne will be teaching a two-period block of language arts to seventh graders during periods four and five in room 11, as well as providing in-class support to other students on her caseload.  Her hire helps to replace retired teachers Mrs. Dee Bayley and Mrs. Maryellen Primm, both of whom were long-tenured faculty in the special education department.   

“I wants to get to know a lot of the students on campus,” said Cerne.  She has been teaching for 17 years and wants her students to grow mostly in reading and writing, which she can foster because of her previous experience teaching language arts.

Cerne wants her students to enjoy learning and have fun.  Her fourth and fifth period classes focus on developing literacy skills for her students.  During second period in room 11 she helps out in language arts and in third period she helps out in social studies, too.

Cerne studied at Rutgers university and at National University to earn her degrees in preparation for her current role.  

Mrs. Nicole Eastly – choir, room 37

Filling in the big shoes of retired choir teacher Ms. Vee Balma is no easy task.  Not only did Balma serve at MacArthur on two separate tenures, but she maintained a highly successful and competitive choir program.

Mrs. Nicole Eastly brings 11 years of music teaching experience to MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate School Intermediate School, prepared to continue Balma’s program.  Eastly teaches sixth, seventh, and eighth graders choir, including beginning, advanced, and concert levels.  

“My goals for my classes are to sing beautifully and to learn to love music,” said Eastly, who decided to teach at MacArthur because she heard it was such an amazing school.  She came from Lathrop Intermediate School in the Santa Ana Unified School District.

Eastly expects this year to be full of great singing and fun. “I am thrilled and excited for this year,” said Eastly.

Eastly studied at Cal State University of Long Beach. “Go Beach,” she said of her Alma Mater.

Besides choir, Eastly also has experience teaching instrumental music.  She is mostly excited for the opportunity to sing and make music.

Mrs. Melissa Robinett – science, room 25

There’s a new face in room 25. Yes, the computer lab is not there anymore but a new teacher has taken over, Science Teacher Mrs. Melissa Robinett. Robinett teaches eighth and seventh grade science.

“I am super excited for a new school. I wanted to give middle school a try,” said Robinett.

For 13 years she has been teaching at a high school. Robinett studied at Cal State Fullerton.   She is excited to teach at a new school because she will be able to expand her students knowledge. Robinett wants to get to know all her students and expects her students to have fun and follow all of MacArthur’s rules.

According to Robinett she was a bit overwhelmed at first, but the other teachers were very welcoming. She teaches periods one through sixth except for third period.

Robinett  wants her students to earn greater respect and understand Earth through science.