Meet Our Social Studies Teachers
Our StaffSocial Studies Staff
Tim Minami – History Teacher
Hello, my name is Mr. Minami and I am a history teacher at San Diego Virtual School. I grew up in Mira Mesa where I attended Mira Mesa High School. After high school, I went to Simpson University in Redding, CA. At Simpson, I majored in History and played soccer. I also met my wife in college! After college, I had several different jobs until I went back to school and earned my Social Science credential from Simpson. Later, I added a Multiple Subject credential from National University. Much of my teaching career has been in Redding, but I did teach one year in Covelo, CA at a small charter school. My wife and I have three children. I feel blessed to live in San Diego where the weather is beautiful and I have family close by!
My favorite part about teaching is that I get to serve and help different students. I love that my job is to help young people be successful and achieve their goals. Seeing students grow academically, socially, and personally is exciting for me!
When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with family, exercising, coaching, and playing various sports and video games.
Jenny Weller – History Teacher
Hi everyone! My name is Ms. Weller and I am super excited to be teaching at SDVS. I am originally from Orange County, but I moved to San Diego in 2015. I got my Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies at Cal State Long Beach. Then, I got my Single Subject Credential in Social Science and my Master’s in Cross-Cultural Education at National University. This is my ninth year teaching and first year at SDVS. I taught Social Science, in Asia for three years, at International Schools in Shanghai, China and Danang, Vietnam.
Fun facts: I coached water polo and swimming for seven years. I have been to 40 countries and love to explore new cultures. My brother and his family live in Scotland.
MADELINE ROLISON - HISTORY TEACHER
Hello everyone, my name is Ms.Rolison.
I am originally from San Jose, California, but moved down to San Diego when I was 18 to attend SDSU. I earned a degree in Political Science and minor in Sociology. I am currently teaching my 4th year as a Social Studies teacher at SDVS.
After teaching English as a Second Language all over the world, I returned to school to get my Social Studies credential and Masters in Teaching from USC.
I have a passion for technology, which is why you can find me updating the schools various social media accounts or hosting webniars. I love traveling to new countries, practicing yoga and barre, listening to podcasts, playing with my daughter, and going to the beach as often as possible.
Olivia Antenore: History Teacher
Greetings! I’m Mrs. Antenore; a Social Studies teacher here at San Diego Virtual School. I attended San Diego State University right out of high school! I received my bachelors degree in Social Science with a single-subject teaching credential. I spent 2 years studying abroad in Florence, Italy and became trilingual (English, Spanish & Italian). I also taught English as a second language for the pasta company Barilla in Parma, Italy. I am a San Diego Native and I have been teaching now for 10 years! I have taught both middle and High School in Sweetwater, Grossmont and San Diego Unified school Districts. I also had a great experience teaching middle school in North Carolina for two years. What I love about teaching is the ability to help my students recognize and seize their potential as successful individuals. In my spare time,I enjoy working out, watching my 14 year old daughter play soccer and being social by enjoying the awesome fooderies San Diego has to offer! I also have a huge passion for travel! I have been to 18 countries so far and have no plan on slowing down! Catch you all online! Ciao!
Randall Upczak: History Teacher
My name is Randall Upczak and I am a part of the amazing Social Science team at San Diego Virtual School. After struggling mightily through high school I discovered an interest in History and Cross Cultural Studies classes at Grossmont College. I eventually went on to Simpson University where I played baseball and graduated with a degree in Cross Cultural Studies. I came home to San Diego with the idea of becoming a teacher so I enrolled at National University and completed my teaching and Masters programs both in Cross Cultural Education. Needless to say, I love culture and history. I feel that with the right perspective and understanding we can value who we are today and what the world was in the past to become pro social participants in society, everyday heroes, doing things that would make our ancestors proud while molding a better world for ourselves and for future generations.
My family consists of my wife Kat who is also a teacher, 3 year old son Luca and little baby boy Arlo. I am for sure a geek in my free time where I am into Star Wars, board games, video games, baseball stats/history, and anything else Luca has on the schedule for me.
Fun Facts: I owned my own Farrier business where I manicured and put shoes on horse feet, I am a third generation educator and in college my big claim to fame was when I hit 3 home runs against Cal Tech which is the #1 academic school in the United States.