3rd Grade *

Lara Davis, 2nd/3rd Grades

lara.davis@simivalleyusd.org

I have been teaching elementary school for the last 18 years. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree from Pepperdine University and my Teaching Credential and Masters in Education from California Lutheran University. I began my teaching career in Kindergarten and have taught 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades. I was hired at Sycamore Elementary School the day before school started and have been lucky to be here ever since! 

I have one daughter who is married and now living in North Carolina. I was born and raised in Colorado and remain a die-hard Denver Broncos fan! I am passionate about reading and traveling. I have lived in Germany two different times and love to study and learn about WWII. I absolutely love my job and feel fortunate be a part of children’s lives and their learning. Their joy and passion, as well as struggles, inspire me to work hard, stay positive and enjoy life!

Kristi Hanretta, 3rd Grade

kristi.hanretta@simivalleyusd.org

I went to the University of California-Santa Barbara for five years. I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and then got my Teaching Credential there. I became a teacher at Sycamore Elementary School in 2014, after Simi Elementary School closed. I had been teaching Kindergarten through 2nd grade at Simi Elementary for 21 years, eight of which I taught a 2nd grade GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) cluster class. Sycamore has become my new home!

I am married and have two sons. Nathan is 20 years old and Kevin is 12 years old. I attended schools in Simi Valley from Kindergarten through 12th grade. I went to Garden Grove Elementary, Sequoia Junior High, and graduated from Simi Valley High School. I enjoy music and dancing. Growing up, I took ballet, tap, and jazz classes, and now I like doing Jazzercise. If you are looking for the shortest teacher on the staff, that would be me! I truly enjoy working with young students. I love watching the children grow academically, as well as, become more independent, confident students. I feel honored to get to be a part of their educational journey here at Sycamore.

Nicole Hrach, 3rd/4th Grades (SDC)

nicole.hrash@simivalleyusd.org

I teach the 3rd and 4th grades Special Day Class here at Sycamore Elementary School. I grew up in Ventura County, completing my K-12 education right next door in the Conejo Valley Unified School District. In college, I studied Biology and Comparative Religions at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. After earning my Bachelor’s degree, I moved back to the Conejo Valley and worked as a camp director and recreation leader. I earned my Moderate/Severe Education Specialist teaching credential at California Lutheran University, where I will soon complete my Master’s of Science in Special Education. I feel so fortunate to be a part of the Sycamore Elementary community, and love the inclusive, welcoming atmosphere here! We are incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful, highly-trained community of dedicated teachers and staff who are committed to serving and working with exceptional students and their families. In our classroom, my team and I work to create an environment in which all students have the opportunity to learn and grow. My favorite thing about teaching is helping students develop a growth mindset. It is so rewarding to see a student try, make a mistake, and then try again until they get it right! Displaying resilience and determination is something that my students and I aim for every day. Go Skyhawks!