Hello! My name is Kimberly Maramba, and I am very excited to be teaching middle school social studies and religion at St. John the Baptist School. As a child, I attended Catholic School at St. Lucy’s in Long Beach, CA before my family moved to the island of Kodiak, AK. After high school, I found my way back to California and obtained my Bachelor’s Degree from San Jose State University. I am currently pursuing my Master of Arts in Teaching at Santa Clara University. My experience as a catechist led me to develop a passion for teaching the youth about the Catholic faith and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to do so as a teacher. I hope to provide my students with a positive, fun, and engaging learning environment. My goal is to inspire and guide my students to become lifelong learners, responsible citizens, and faithful servants of God.

Hello everyone! My name is Aidan Lanz, and I am the 7th grade Homeroom teacher as well as the middle school Math and Science teacher (6th-8th). This is my 2nd year of teaching at SJBS, and I am so excited to continue supporting students in growing their academic and social skills. Originally from Stillwater, Minnesota, I completed my undergraduate degree in Neuroscience at the University of Notre Dame and am currently working towards my M.Ed. in the Notre Dame Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) program.

This year, I hope to cultivate a positive, productive, and safe learning environment in our classroom and provide opportunities for students to engage their natural curiosity, explore their interests, and learn more about the world around them. In our math and science courses, we will be investigating everything from the smallest bacteria in the depths of the ocean to the largest mountains on the surface of mars, as well as developing technologies to assist us in discovering more about all of these environments. I am looking forward to a great year filled with fun, faith, and creativity!

Welcome to 8th grade!  My name is Sarah Anderson, and I am happy to be teaching English language arts to our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students.  We will spend time this year reading, writing, learning new vocabulary, practicing grammar skills, and much more!  Our writing units will cover the major units of writing (narrative, persuasive, explanatory, and research) and will incorporate different ways to use technology as an educational tool.  We will also do novel studies together, read independently, analyze poetry, and read non-fiction. 

I will also be supporting our 8th grade students and families through the high school application process.  We will work on essay writing skills, practice taking standardized tests, and walk through each step of the process.  I know this is a stressful process for everyone, and I am here to be a resource to help.  

This is my 21st year teaching, and my 15th year in the Diocese of San Jose as an English Language Arts teacher.  I enjoy helping students develop a love for reading, and work intentionally to create an inclusive classroom where we work together.  I expect students to learn a growth mindset, focusing on the power of yet:  you may not know how to do something yet, but we are all learning and growing, all the time.  Please feel free to reach out to me at any time if you have a question.

My name is Sr. Lisa C. Abellaniza, AR, and I am a member of the Congregation of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters. I am proud to be a Middle School Math and 6th Grade Religion teacher.

I come from the Southern Philippines and hold a Bachelor's degree in Education, majoring in Math, from Colegio de Sta. Rita, Negros Occidental, Philippines. I am also a graduate of the MAEd program at National University in San Diego, California.

I have a true passion for working with tween learners, helping them develop their skills in all areas, especially in solving real-world problems.

I strive to create a community of learners that nurtures growth in a positive, fun environment.