School

 

Raul Castorena / Social Worker

I’m the Social Worker at Hillview High School.  I grew up in Santa Ana, Ca.  At the age of 19 I made the decision to join the United States Navy, I felt the military could give me the discipline I was missing, and it did.  I served 4 years in the Navy which included time overseas during the war in 2003.  The Navy is actually where I started my college education, I took college classes on board the ship.  When I got out of the Navy I continued my education at Santa Ana college and Santiago Canyon College, I then transferred to Vanguard university where I got my Bachelor of Science in Psychology.  A few years later I went back to school and earned my Master's in Social work from USC.  I’ve always had a strong desire to support my community and I use social work to do so.   The biggest thing I can say to our students is, have a vision for yourself and don’t be afraid to fail, failure was my best teacher. 

Karen Ramirez - Community Liaison / Language Specialist

My name is Karen Ramirez or Ms. Karen! I recently started working for Tustin Unified School District but have worked with children since 2014. I began at the YMCA program for the Anaheim School District as a program leader. I then accepted a position for Santa Ana Unified as a Biliterate paraprofessional teaching students how to read and write in both English and Spanish for four years. It was such a rewarding job, but I always wanted to work for a high school which led me to my current position as the new Community Liaison for Hillview High School. I am grateful for the opportunity and happy to be working with such a great team.

Frances Torres

I’ve been working for the Tustin Unified School District since 2006. I was first hired as an office Assistant for the Nutrition Services Dept where I processed over 4,000 Free and Reduced Lunch applications. I then re-located to Riverside County for a year and a half and left Tustin District. After that I ended up relocating back to Orange County because moving out there was not a good idea. After my return I was hired as a Nutrition Assistant, serving students lunches where I worked there for about 6 years. In Spring of 2016 I was hired as an Office Assistant for Adult ED which I enjoyed a lot and met a lot of great people. Winter of 2017 came and I became a Community Liaison at Hillview and in 2022 I was promoted to Attendance Clerk at Hillview High School. I really enjoy working between the Students, Parents and Community I feel grateful to work with such a great team.

Ruth Darlington

It has been a privilege for my husband, Bill, and myself to live in Tustin and to have raised our two daughters within TUSD. I spent my earliest years in the mid-west, and have mainly lived in Orange County since 1962, attending public schools in Orange, California. I attended Covenant Bible College in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada ( a one year certificate program), and later worked as Dean of Women there for two years. I graduated from North Park College, Chicago, Illinois in the bi-centennial year, 1976, with a K-8 teaching credential and a BA in Social Studies. A number of other work experiences include fifteen years of insurance claims as an adjuster and supervisor,teaching pre-school while my children were young, and presently finishing my eighth year at Hillview High School as a paraeducator/ RSP aide. My passion is good literature and reading, and I enjoy helping our students become better readers and writers.

Joseph Arballo

I’ve been at Tustin Unified School District for 6 years. During this time I have worked at Utt Middle School, Foothill High School, and for the past 4 years, Hillview has been my home. When I’m not at school, I am training in the MMA Gym, or going fishing.

 Crystal Benson

I have lived in Tustin for 16 years. I started working for the Tustin Unified School District in 2016. My career started at Beckman High School as a Paraeducator for two years. For the next four years I worked for Adult Transition. In 2022 I started the position of Campus Supervisor at Hillview High School. I love spending time with my family going on trips to the river and watching baseball. 

Micah Lievanos

I have been working for Tustin Unified School District for 10 years. I started as a Wrestling Coach at Foothill High School for the Boys Varsity Team. I began working as a substitute Campus Supervisor and Substitute Custodian for Tustin Unified, Santa Ana Unified and Laguna Beach Unified School Districts before making my way to Hillview High School. I am currently a Campus Supervisor at Hillview High School as well as the Girls Wrestling Coach for Foothill High School. I find it a privilege and also enjoy working with our students at this campus.

Yolanda Santibanez

    I have been working in the Tustin Unified School District for about 20 years, as a Nutrition Services Assistant for the Nutrition Services Department.   I worked 15  years at Lambert Elementary and Foothill High School sites, and the remaining have been at Hillview High School.  I’m very thankful and grateful to work for Hillview High School, the staff makes me feel welcome all the time and treat me like family.   I really enjoy what I do, especially interacting with Hillview’s respectful students and serving their meals.   I have two daughters and my hobbies include dancing cumbia and playing  with my 6 grandchildren that I Love.  I’m proud to be part of  #Team Hillview High School.