THE TEAM

Catherine Mancino

Catherine Mancino is a ‘SoCal’ transplant. Catherine, along with her husband and two boys moved to Manton in Tehama County in 2007. She holds a B. A. from San Diego State University as well as a Master’s in Religious Education from Loyola University.  She received her state of California multiple subject teaching credential from Chapman College. Catherine has 21 years teaching experience in grades K-8 in the California small schools system. She has taught at and sent her children to the small school in her community of Manton from 2008 until the present, teaching multiple subjects in a multi-grade class. Catherine is a firm believer in the power of small schools to find and build on the strengths of each unique child. She would like more than anything to see the small school system continue to exist and thrive in small rural communities.

HANNAH LICHNEROWICZ-MINAKAWA

Ms. Hannah brings to our community a diverse tool-box to share with our children. She works doing art installations all over the world. Her love for children and learning is a great combination to have on our team!

       MARLO EAKES MEYER

Ms. Marlo works behind the scenes on our MEC programs. She spends her time looking for funding opportunities for our programs, and ways to offer services to meet the Manton Community's needs. Ms. Marlo is a graduate of CSU Chico, receiving both her BA & MA in Socio-Cultural Anthropology. Ms. Marlo is a SoCal transplant to Manton, arriving in 2015 with her family. She telecommutes for the University of Virginia School of Medicine and helps out with her family's farm crops. 

Katheryn Zablan

​Katheryn brings a long history of education expertise and excellence to our group. She earned her BA at University of Hawaii, and her California Teaching Credential from CSU Sacramento. Katherine spent 4 years as a Waldorf School Administrator, and in 1997 returned to CSU Sacramento to earn a Resource Specialist credential in Special Education. Katherine worked for 10 years as a Resource Specialist, Art & Theater teacher and Department Chair overseeing 16 SPED teachers and 16 paraprofessionals at Armijo High School in Fairfield, California. After moving to the North State, Katherine developed and ran the Transitions Intervention Program at Red Bluff High School. Katherine also has experience as a home school teacher for high school students. Over the past several years, Katherine has worked as the resource specialist for the Manton School. She is dedicated to doing whatever she can to facilitate a well-established charter school in Manton.

KATHY HUDSON-VASQUEZ, Librarian
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Ms. Kathy has been the long-time librarian for our Manton library and has cultivated an awesome collection of books with the help of community donations. Ms. Kathy is  a wealth of information and a great resource for our Manton families. Ms. Kathy runs our 'Library Time' on Wednesdays  from 4PM to 5PM. 

KENDALL BENTON-FLEXER

AJ Jennings

AJ Jennings is K-8 certified Teaching Aide. AJ is a Manton School Alum and believes education should be offered locally for Manton Children. The children love Ms. AJ and we are excited to have her on our team.  

             PEYTON SMITH

Peyton is a High School Senior and Manton School Alum. Ms. Peyton will be working during our Friday open gym time. Her love for education, children and our Manton community is a welcome fit for our programs. 

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                     JEN ARENS

Jen Arens was born and raised in the midwest but has lived in California for the last 22 years moving with her partner to Manton in 2019. She received both her Bachelors and her Masters in Psychology from Grand Canyon University. She spent 30 years as a social worker in the inner cities of Detroit, Chicago, and San Francisco with 20 of those years being focused on youth; running STEM based after-school and day camp programs for students with educational challenges and those who speak English as a second language. Her son was fortunate enough to attend a small school for High School and she was able to see the incredible value this method of education offers. She loves music and plays piano, tuba, euphonium, alto horn, recorder, and most percussion instruments.