Gina Campanella

• English 3
• English 3 Honors
• Journalism
• Yearbook

Kari Churchill

• English 2
• World Literature
• English 4 Honors

Melissa Feucht

• English 3
• Contemporary Literature

Georgiana Hays (Dept. Chair)

• English 1 Honors

• Public Speaking

Lisa Kellert

• English 1

• English 3

• Avid 2

John Manning

• English 1 Honors
• English 3
• AP English

Frank Medina

• English 1

• English 2 Honors

• Avid 1

Randy Melton

• English 1

• English 2
• CAHSEE Workshop

David Munro

• World Literature

• Read 180

Marissa Potts

• English 1

• English 2 Honors

• SDAIE

Dianne Sweeney

• English 1

• English 2

• English 3

9th Grade

English 1

Fundamentals of English is a standards-based foundation course for freshmen. This program emphasizes a variety of listening, speaking, critical thinking, reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar, and usage experiences to provide students with strong communication skills. Students develop these skills which enable them to demonstrate their understanding and appreciation of literary works through the use of several writing forms. Outside reading and writing are expected.

English 1 Honors

English IH is a rigorous language arts, literature, and writing course.  Students must have above grade level basic skills, enjoy independent learning, and be capable of completing extensive outside-of-class reading and projects.  This course builds on vocabulary, mechanics, and analysis of literary works.  Core works are supplemented with additional literature and summer assignments are required. Students must be active class participants and do a major oral presentation each semester.  An honors contract is required. 

10th Grade

Expanding on skills developed in English 1, this course integrates the skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening as students increase their awareness of the world’s diverse cultures. Student writing shall effectively argue a meaningful thesis and make use of secondary source material. Substantial outside reading is required.

English 2 Honors

Expanding on the skills developed in English 1/1H, this rigorous course will provide a study of multiple genres of challenging literature from diverse cultures around the world.  Additionally, continued development of writing skills will focus primarily on composition, analysis, and evidence.  Through various activities including simulation, group work, research and discussion, students will further develop their reading, writing, speaking, listening, and critical thinking skills essential to success in their endeavors.  An honors contract and summer assignments are required for this course..

11th Grade

English 3

In the third year of English, students study literature which reflects American traditions and values, from Native American poetry to contemporary classics. Students are encouraged to make connections between literature and history while continuing to refine and practice their skills in the writing genres mandated by the California State Standards. Methods of research and documentation are also developed. Classwork, activities, and homework integrate other significant aspects of communication such as vocabulary development, speaking skills, and critical thinking.  Significant outside reading is required.

English 3 Honors

In this course, students study literature that reflects American traditions and values with an emphasis on understanding the works within an historical context. This rigorous course offers students an intensive study of challenging American literature.. Students continue to refine their writing skills in the genres mandated by the California State Standards with an emphasis on the critical thinking required for literary analysis, which prepares them for Advanced Placement English. Class assignments, activities and homework expand vocabulary development, speaking and listening skills. An honors contract and summer assignments are required for this course.

12th Grade

Contemporary World Literature

This course offers literary selections from the 20th century, including multicultural works.  The literature presents themes and issues relevant to modern experiences and to the world in which students compete and live.  The course also focuses on oral and written communication skills needed for success in college, vocational programs, and the workplace.  The curriculum offers a variety of activities such as research, discussion, simulations, individual and group work, and projects.  Significant outside reading and writing assignments are required.

World Literature

This course emphasizes the power of language to influence an audience. Students will study rhetorical devices and types of arguments found in literature, public documents, and the media. In addition, this course explores how important themes are treated in major literary works from different historical periods and cultures. Writing is focused on revision for style, voice, audience, and employment of rhetorical devices. Writing will cover reflective composition, historical investigations, and workplace writing.

English 4 Honors

This course presents a sampling of major authors from various world cultures, with an emphasis on British Literature.. The curriculum emphasizes expository writing related to the literature. The course provides a rigorous and more traditional curriculum in preparation for college and requires significant outside reading, as well as other homework assignments.  An honors contract and summer assignments are required for this course.

AP English Literature and Composition

An AP English Literature and Composition course engages students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students deepen their understanding of the
ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers. As they read, students consider a work’s structure, style, and themes as well as such smaller-scale elements as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone. The curse materials and writing assignments, particularly literary analysis, prepare students to take the Advanced Placement Exam. English Advanced Placement is an intensive course designed for students who are ready for college level reading and writing.  An AP contract and summer assignments are required for this course..

Other Department Offerings

CAHSEE Workshop

This is a one-year course designed to give extra support to those students concurrently enrolled in an English course. The goal of this course is to accelerate students’ reading and writing skills and comprehension so they can meet grade level standards.

Journalism

This activity course offers a variety of experiences that teach students how to produce the school newspaper. The course develops skills in news and feature writing, editing, layout, and desktop publishing and improves the student’s writing mechanics, structure, and style. The integration of photography, artwork, and advertising round out this course.

Public Speaking

This course develops effective persuasive writing and speaking skills. Students write, deliver, and critique a variety of speeches. This activity course offers many opportunities for research, debate, student congress, mock trial, group discussion/Socratic Seminar, and oral interpretation while building selfconfidence.

Read 180

Description to follow

SDAIE English 1

This is a foundation course for students whose native language is not English.  SDAIE English follows the same curriculum and state standards as English 1.  SDAIE strategies will be used to help students comprehend and follow instruction.  Placement is by ELD department recommendation. 

Gina Campanella, a San Jose native, grew up in Willow Glen, and attended Presentation High School. Ms. Campanella received a degree in English Literature from San Jose State University, where she also received her credential.  Ms. Campanella began her teaching career in the East Side Union High School District, but after two years, had the opportunity to join Yahoo during the "dot com boom."  Ms. Campanella's love of teaching called her back after three years, and she's been inside the classroom ever since.  American Literature is Ms. Campanella's passion, which she hopes to impart to the students in her English 3 and English 3 Honors classes.  In addition, Ms. Campanella enjoys teaching the Journalism and Yearbook classes at PHS.  Ms. Campanella is currently pursuing her Masters in educational leadership through SJSU's Urban High School Leadership Program, and is slated to receive her degree in May of 2008.  Ms. Campanella looks forward to rediscovering her hobbies after May, when she will have some free time again. 

E-mail address: gcampanella@cuhsd.org

Kari Churchill

Ms. Kari Churchill, a San Jose native, attended Pioneer High School and graduated from San Jose State, with degrees in English and Social Studies.  She has also been a teacher at Oak Grove HS in San Jose and Martin Murphy MS in Morgan Hill.  She is a Vietnam Veteran who served in the United States Air Force for 11 plus years, and she worked in a variety of occupations before becoming a teacher, both paths which she believes lend her strength in the classroom.  Ms. Churchill’s passion is classical literature, with an emphasis in world history, philosophy, and religious studies.  A lover of debate and discourse, her teaching style is Socratic Seminar, a discussion based setting where students discover knowledge through exploration of fact and opinion.  She was named Educator of the Year for the California League of High Schools in 2002.  Ms. Churchill is the mother of two grown children, Shayna and Tremaine, plus the grandmother of six, Hannah, Thai, Jack, Ryker, Emma, and Tristan.  Besides teaching, her other loves are her family, her friends, her animals, and her garden.

E-mail address: kchurchill@cuhsd.org

Melissa Feucht, a third generation Bay Area native, earned her BA degree in psychology at UC Santa Cruz ('95).  Inspired by her work at Natural Bridges Elementary School in conjunction with the campus chapter of Teach for America, Mrs. Feucht decided to follow her love of literature and pursue a career as an English teacher.  After earning her credential and MA in Education at Stanford University ('96), she began teaching for CUHSD at Leigh High School in the fall of 1996 and transitioned to Prospect in the fall of 2005.  Having taught most of the department's offerings during her career, Mrs. Feucht's passions are the English 2 Honors and English 4 Contemporary Literature courses.  She has been named a Who's Who Among America's Teachers winner and twice been honored with the Dorothy Wright Excellence in Teaching Award from SJSU (2003, 2004).  Mrs. Feucht feeds her creative nature through writing, quilting, scrapbooking and cooking.  She enjoys spending time with her two adorable children: Madison (3) and Andrew Paul (5 months).

E-mail address: mfeucht@cuhsd.org

Georgiana Hays, department chair, graduated with honors from Cal Poly SLO with a BA in English and a minor in PE.  Since beginning her career at Camden HS in 1974, she has taught everything from pre-algebra to PE to science fiction.  Her greatest love and expertise is in English IH and Public Speaking.  She is proud to be advisor for the Class of 2010 and the Table Tennis Club.  She was an award-winning speech coach for 27 years, was Prospect teacher of the year in 1998, is a winner of the Dorothy Wright Excellence in Teaching Award from SJSU, and is a 4 time winner of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.  She is married to Bill Rice, recently retired principal of James Lick, and they have two grown children. She is a team tennis player, never misses a mystery on PBS, is an avid baseball fan, devours modern fiction, and is a frustrated golfer.

E-mail address: ghays@cuhsd.org

Lisa Kellert is a graduate of Cal Poly SLO where she earned a B.S. in Business Marketing in 2001.  After working in sales and marketing in Southern California, she decided to pursue her passion for English and working with others. This meant substitute teaching and attending Chapman College for her credential.  She completed her student teaching in her hometown of Modesto then relocated to Santa Cruz. After teaching in Watsonville for a year she came to PHS to teach Eng I, Eng III, and AVID II.  Lisa is currently pursuing her Master’s in Education Counseling from SJSU. When she’s not busy grading papers or doing her own school work, she enjoys a variety of activities including practicing yoga, making jewelry, traveling, cooking, and, of course, reading.

E-mail address: lkellert@cuhsd.org

John Manning graduated from SJSU with a BA in English, a minor in history, and a single subject teaching credential. He spent the first 4 years of his career teaching 8th grade at his alma mater, Quimby Oak Middle School.  In 2000 Mr. Manning elected to make a transition to the high school level and accepted a position at PHS where he has taught every grade level (9-12). His current assignment is AP, Eng IH, and English III.  He is Key Club advisor and spent several years working with Mock Trial. He has also coached a variety of sports teams. He considers himself to be a seasoned and respected teacher who sets high expectations for his students.  Mr. Manning's interests include sports, film, books, trivia, and traveling.

E-mail address: jmanning@cuhsd.org

Frank Medina is thrilled to be back at PHS after a three-year stint in Idaho.  His undergraduate degree is from California State University, Chico, and he earned a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Southern Methodist University in 2002.  His teaching credential was earned at SJSU.  In addition to teaching at Prospect, he has also worked professionally as an actor, director, dramaturge, artistic director of a theater company, and as a fitness and soccer trainer.  He also enjoyed the time he spent teaching at a private residential high school on a working ranch.  Originally at Prospect as a drama and English teacher, he currently teaches English 1, English 2 Honors, and AVID 1.  He is also the Boys Varsity Soccer coach.

E-mail address: fmedina@cuhsd.org

Randy Melton graduated from U.C. Santa Cruz in 1990, and then received his teaching credential in English from SJSU. He taught one year at Britton Middle School and then moved to Pioneer High from 1995 – 1999.   Mr. Melton, who is fluent in Spanish, spent the next 7 years in central Mexico doing non-profit work and also taught English as a foreign language and basic reading in Spanish.  Returning to the Bay Area, he taught middle school in Morgan Hill.  We welcomed him to our staff this fall.  He teaches English I, English II, and CHSEE prep and is in charge of the speech and debate team.   He says he greatly appreciates the supportive community of PHS and the high standards of the English Dept.  He teaches because he believes communication skills are essential for success in today’s world.  At his home, he loves to spend time with his wonderful wife Flor, thriving 3 year old Ruth and smiling Sammy.

E-mail address: rmelton@cuhsd.org

David Munro, a graduate from Cal Poly SLO, is currently in his thirteenth year at PHS.  He recently completed a M.S. in Education from SJSU and is close to completing an M.A. in Film from SJSU as well. In 2000, Munro was one of twelve American teachers to receive a Fulbright-Hays scholarship to study in Poland and Hungary.  He has taught a variety of courses in the English and Title I departments and served as Career Pathways Coordinator in 1999. Currently, he teaches World Literature and Read 180. Outside of the classroom, he enjoys wrestling and reading to his sons Connor and Matthew and spending time with his wife, Kris. 

E-mail address: dmunro@cuhsd.org

Marissa Potts hails from Campbell and is a CUHSD alumna, having graduated from Westmont HS in 1997.  In the winter of 2005, Marissa received her BA in English Literature from Cal State University Long Beach.  She obtained her teaching credential from SJSU in the spring of 2006. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Marissa is  in the midst of obtaining her M.S. in Education at Walden University. Currently, she teaches English I, English II Honors, and SDAIE. In her spare time Marissa helps coach the Prospect HS Swim Team and enjoys traveling to see family and friends.  Her motto of teaching incorporates the following quote: “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”  W.B. Yeats

E-mail address: mpotts@cuhsd.org

Dianne Sweeney has worked in the CUHSD for 13 years.  She has been an English teacher, Activities Director, and a Dean.  She is excited about being in the classroom again. Ms. Sweeney enjoys spending time with friends, reading, watching films.

E-mail address: dsweeney@cushd.org