SIMI VALLEY SCHOOLS
3RD GRADE
Lara Davis
3rd Grade
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 grade. I was hired at Sycamore 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 Bronco 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!
Sonya Zavala
3rd Grade
I have been in the classroom for over 20 years in some capacity. I have always loved working with kids, from toddlers to teens. I have worked in classrooms as a volunteer, substitute teacher, and paraeducator. I have worked 7 years as a paraeducator working in ⅚ combo classrooms at Simi Elementary, Mountain View and Katherine Elementary. During this time with the encouragement of some wonderful teachers, I finished my teaching credential and completed my student teaching at Katherine Elementary and Hollow Hills. I began to substitute teach again and was fortunate enough to be hired as a long term sub for Ms. Bowman at Sycamore.
I earned my Bachelor’s of Science degree from Cal Poly, SLO (Go Mustangs!), and my MA in Education with a PPS credential in School Counseling. My husband and I have been married for 22 years and have 3 teenagers- 19, 16, and 13. We love spending time together, and supporting the various activities the kids are involved in. I especially enjoy playing board games with the family. In the summer, you can find me at the beach, or camping.
Nicole Hrach
3/4th Grade Special Day Class
My name is Nikki Hrach, and I teach the 3rd and 4th grade Special Day Class here at Sycamore Elementary. I grew up in Ventura County, completing my K-12 education right next door in CVUSD. In college, I studied Biology and Comparative Religions at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA. 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 dedicated to serving and working with exceptional students and their families. In our classroom, my team and I work hard 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!
