Academics
Learn it, do it, discover it.
At Catalina, true learning is rooted in self-discovery. Our academic standards are high, and the level of support and care we give to each student is even higher. We challenge students at just the right level, helping them flourish in areas of strength and providing reinforcements in areas of growth. No matter the subject, students are encouraged to explore and pursue questions of meaning. In the process, they learn more about themselves and their place in the world.
Meet Our Teachers
With a 7:1 student-faculty ratio, Catalina teachers get to know you exceptionally well.
Amy Azevedo Mulgrew '02
From: Livermore, CA
Degrees: B.A., applied mathematics, UC Berkeley
M.S., applied mathematics, CSU Long Beach
Mrs. Mulgrew's ties to Catalina began when she was a boarding student. “I am still inspired by the teachers I had here. They showed me that I could do anything, and that support carried me through much of the rest of my education.” After graduating in 2002, she attended UC Berkeley and California State University Long Beach, where she also taught math. She enjoys crafts, swimming, and playing with her three young children.
Claire Lerner
From: New York City
Degrees: B.F.A. and M.F.A., State University of New York
Ms. Lerner is an award-winning photographer and painter who has taught at Catalina for more than 20 years. Prior to coming here, she was a member of the photography faculty at Monterey Peninsula College. Her work has been exhibited both locally and internationally and has been collected by a broad range of private and public institutions.
Blake Riley
From: St. Louis, Missouri
Degrees: B.A., political science and religious studies, Saint Louis University
Mr. Riley began teaching at Santa Catalina in 2006. He and his wife live on campus with their two daughters. Mr. Riley loves the collaborative nature of the Religious Studies department, where teachers work together on service projects, spiritual retreats, and weekly chapel services. “We want students to feel comfortable and confident to reflect on faith, and we want them to be open to the spiritual and God,” he says.
College Prepped
Santa Catalina School girls are accepted into the top schools in the country every year. Through one-on-one college counseling meetings and the Veritas Journey advisory program, students are carefully guided through each stage of the process so they select the school that is the best fit for them. Wherever their next steps take them, new graduates report being more than prepared for the college academic experience.
Class of 2023
Santa Catalina’s newest graduates were accepted into four Ivy League schools: Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, and Yale.
