Faculty & Staff Profiles

I love seeing the students finally understand a concept they’ve struggled with and just generally gaining confidence in their abilities.

Ms. Ongley started at Santa Catalina in 2004 after serving as an adjunct math instructor at Cabrillo College in nearby Aptos. She was born in Finland but also claims Michigan, Chicago, and Alaska as home. She enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, reading, and watching movies. She and her husband have a son and a daughter. Students credit Ms. Ongley with making math exciting. The Class of 2015 dedicated their yearbook to her, saying, “Her dry yet hilarious humor, caring and passionate nature, and ability to work well with others make her a treasured member of the community.” Ms. Ongley, who describes calculus as classic and beautiful, teaches Precalculus and AP Calculus.