Pathway Staff
Lisa Corley, M.A.
School Director
Lisa Corley has been the office administrator at Pathway since 2013 and became Pathway School’s new School Director in 2020. She received her Bachelor’s degree in liberal studies at CSU San Marcos and her Masters of Education from University of Phoenix. She holds a CA Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Prior to Pathway, Lisa worked for Capistrano Unified School District in various positions for twelve years, including three years as an elementary teacher. She served as a member of the curriculum development team for the children’s ministry at Hope Crossing church where she still attends today. Lisa’s priority as the School Director is to lead Pathway School in the direction of its vision and mission. Lisa is happily married to John, and they have two children; an adult daughter and a son in college.
Claire Zysman, M.S.
Learning Center Director
Prior to teaching at Pathway, Claire served as a Special Day teacher and a Reading Specialist in the Corona-Norco Unified School District. She was the facilitator of her school’s Student Study Team and Tutoring Programs. Claire also served on the CNUSD Elementary Leadership Team and IEP Writing Committee. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Special Education from University of Delaware. While at Delaware, she served in the AmeriCorps mentoring service and completed a semester of student teaching abroad in Pretoria, South Africa. Claire earned a Master of Science in Reading and Education Specialist Instruction from California State University. She currently holds California teaching credentials in Multiple Subject, Reading and Language Arts Specialist, Education Specialist Instruction, and Specialist Instruction in Special Education. Claire was a classroom teacher at Pathway prior to becoming the Learning Center Director.
Jennifer Alling
Lead Teacher
Jennifer Alling has an array of experience in the education world. She graduated from Arizona State University with a B.A. in English and later earned her teaching certificate in secondary education. Her love of working with students from grade school to high school is evident from the moment you talk to her. “Ms. A” (as her former students fondly called her), has had the privilege of working in Montessori education teaching 4th-6th grade. She fell in love with the Montessori pedagogy that allowed and encouraged children to learn in a very kinesthetic, concrete, and hands-on way. She went on to help open a high school in Palm Desert, Calif. teaching English and health, as well as did some college advising. Her last teaching position was at John Muir Charter School, a public high school that catered to students with learning disabilities, in Indio, Calif. Students were earning their GED while working in conservation programs for the state of California. Throughout her 14 years of teaching, she has worked with a variety of student learners that have been both gifted and impacted by learning disabilities. Jen is passionate about students succeeding and growing. She sees students with unlimited potential and unique gifts, thriving on helping them see their strengths.
David Anderson, M.A.
Drama Teacher
David earned a B.A. in Speech Communications at CSU Long Beach and a M.A. in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution & Peacemaking at CSU, Dominguez Hills. Prior to teaching Drama at Pathway, David retired from Saddleback College as the Director of Audience Development for Fine Arts & Media Technology and as the Executive Director for the Angels for the Arts. He previously served as the Director of the Emeritus Institute at Saddleback College, the Director of Extended Education at Irvine Valley College, and as a Community Services Supervisor for the City Of Irvine. David has served on the State Board of the California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS), and is a Past President of the Association of Community & Continuing Education Professionals (ACCE), District X of CPRS, and the Exchange Club of Irvine. David enjoys performing, having appeared in nearly 40 local productions.
Andrea Bayless, B.A.
Elementary Teacher
Andrea received a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature and a California Teaching Credential from California State University, Fullerton. Andrea previously taught in the Anaheim City School District as an upper elementary teacher. This is her ninth year at Pathway School and she is currently the lead teacher for the fifth and sixth grade class. Andrea first became interested in Pathway School from a longtime friend. Her friend’s enthusiasm and dedication to the children and mission of Pathway School inspired Andrea to share her passion for education as a Pathway teacher. While a part of the Pathway team, Andrea has served as a junior high and ninth grade math and study skills teacher, an instructional assistant, and as an interventionist supporting the Learning Center. Andrea’s training in reading and language intervention programs include Lindamood Bell and Read Naturally.
Mallory Beane
Lead Teacher
Mallory Beane graduated from Whitworth University in 2019 with a degree in Elementary Education. She has fallen in love with teaching the next generation of lifelong learners and is passionate about making learning fun and exciting. Her passion for teaching comes from her love of supporting students and celebrating their success. After a friend shared her wonderful experience at Pathway School, Mallory was eager to join the school family as the teachers love and support each student on their journey. She is an active member at her church and has a passion to share Christ’s love to each student. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, going to the beach and participating in her church life group.
Christi Beckwitt, B.A.
Instructional Assistant & Intervention Support Teacher
Christy received her Bachelor of Arts from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Business Administration with a Concentration in Marketing and went on to work for a publishing firm as a graphic designer in Marketing and Sales Support. Despite ample job satisfaction, her passion was to be a full-time mom alongside her loving and supportive husband. Christy has spent the last two decades as a career mom to two wonderful book-loving children, managing a home filled with love, hugs and plenty of home cooked meals, and diving head first into public school volunteer work. Prior to joining Pathway as a teacher’s aide, Christy has dabbled in several creative outlets: creating/designing handmade quilts and baby products for an Etsy site and working as a seamstress for a local purse designer. As both her children are now in college, she is presented with an opportunity to put her skills and passions to good use at Pathway to promote a love for education and uncovering children’s God given talents.
Debbie Brogdon, M.A.
Office Manager
Debbie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing from Texas Tech and a Masters Degree in human resources from National University. Debbie has raised two children, served as vice-president, human resources for a large corporation, and is currently devoted to her grandchildren. Debbie has a special place in her heart for children that struggle in school. She joined Pathway School in 2018.
Pam Cole, M.S.
Occupational Therapist
Pam has been part of the Pathway family since 2009. Pam has worked for many of the OC school districts, as well as in private practice and hospital-based clinics. Her passions in the field include neurology, pediatrics and sensory integration. Pam earned her degree in occupational therapy from USC and is a proud Trojan fan! Her joy at Pathway comes from helping staff and students understand the students’ learning styles and particular sensory needs, and to develop strategies to enhance their learning with that knowledge. She loves seeing students grow and understand how to use their God-given talents to help lift up their weakness to become successful students. Pam is also the Advisor for the Yearbook Club at Pathway and guides the students as they create the school yearbook each year, including taking photos, planning and page design. She is so proud of the yearbook staff and their hard work each year!
Noe Ornelas
Instructional Assistant & PE Teacher
Noe Ornelas joined the Pathway family in 2022. He recently received his AA in Liberal Arts and is currently attending Arizona State University where he is working on earning his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. Once he completes his bachelor’s degree, Noe plans on pursuing his PhD in philosophy to become a professor. Prior to Pathway, Noe has worked for Los Angeles Unified District as an afterschool S.T.E.M teacher in elementary school. During Noe’s free time he enjoys reading up on the newest technologies, traveling with his fiancé, and spending time with his dog.
Lauren Rundles, B.A.
Instructional Assistant & PE Teacher
Lauren pursued her Bachelor of Arts at Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota. She entered the business world at Cal Fed in Los Angeles. She then took time off to be a full-time mother. She reentered the workforce at her children’s school, Aliso Viejo Christian School, as a Playground Supervisor. Over the years, she was promoted to obtain the title of Director of Supervision until 2016 when she left to spend time with her children. Her son had just been discharged from the Army on a medical disability. He had served for five years. Lauren had heard about Pathway School from a friend. She was very interested in what Pathway had to offer students. Lauren’s son struggled throughout his school life, so she appreciates what Pathway brings to its school community.
Jennie Storie
Intervention Support
Jennie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with minors in Early Childhood, Language Arts and Mathematics from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Although, she began and ended her thirty-year career at the United States Post Office, after retiring as a Michigan Postmaster in 2014, she finalized her life long dream in education. As a Paraprofessional in a public school, she assisted and instructed elementary students needing specialized or concentrated assistance for reading and math interventions. This experience has proven valuable in her teaching positions in the private schools as she taught third and fourth graders. She has been able to live out her passion for Jesus Christ and children by demonstrating Christ’s love and imparting knowledge with multiple learning strategies for all students. Her husband, Jim and her have five children and nine grandchildren living in Michigan. Jennie has personally experienced the value of empowering students to identify their own unique learning style through her grandchildren’s unique learning needs. Educational goals may be the same, however for many students, the pathway is not. For this reason, she enjoys walking alongside the students at Pathway School.
Kate VanDeCar, B.A. & B.S.
Science Teacher
Kate received her Bachelor of Science in psychology from Minnesota State University Mankato and her Bachelor of Arts in Education from CA State Long Beach. Kate is the owner of A Thinking Place, Inc. established in 2016. She teaches science and math through home-school programs for students in grades 5-12. Kate joined our middle school team in Fall 2019.
Tamye Vereeke
Instructional Assistant & Art Teacher
Tamye Vereeke is proud to be part of the Pathway staff and is passionate about equipping and empowering children to learn. She has worked with children in some capacity for over 25 years with her focus being early childhood education. Tamye was a lead preschool teacher for SVUSD for over 15 years and worked at the after-school childcare program TLC in the summer. In addition, she has served in the children’s ministry at her church and been on several mission trips with a focus on helping the children and area schools. Tamye is a proud mother of three adult children, two of which are now special education teachers and one still attending college. She enjoys snowboarding in the winter and paddleboarding in the summer with her husband. Tamye is excited to come alongside the Pathway teachers as an instructional assistant and looks forward to helping them foster their creativity as an art teacher.
Kelley Visca, M.S.
Middle School Teacher
Kelley is delighted to teach middle school at Pathway. She has taught at the school since 2003. Subjects in which she has provided instruction include science, language arts, history, and math (from sixth grade through geometry). Kelley graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Science degree, where she worked towards a major in Child Development and a minor in English. Following that, she received her teaching credential and Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from National University. Kelley worked in Capistrano Unified School District for over five years, teaching first through fifth grades and also serving as the District Science Coordinator and liaison to San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant, creating a curriculum to provide hands-on projects that addressed some of the challenges they experienced. The biggest educational blessing in her life continues to be Pathway School. In this environment, Kelley is able to use her God-given abilities and gifts to ultimately honor the Lord, while encouraging and cheering on each of her students. She believes in celebrating every victory and lovingly guiding each student to realize, if not exceed, their academic, social, and spiritual goals. There’s no other place she’d rather work!