Socorro Chavez

Ms. Socorro Chavez is very proud to call Tehachapi, CA, her hometown.  The house in which she grew up is the second oldest house in Tehachapi and is part of the town’s historic walking tour.  Despite her attachment to her hometown, Ms. Chavez peeled herself away in order to attend UCSB where she earned her bachelor’s in Chicano Studies with an emphasis in Education.  

As one of IV School’s most experienced teachers, Ms. Chavez can credibly state that she loves the IV School community.  Without bias, she states that IV has the best students, parents, and staff. 

When not teaching, Ms. Chavez enjoys hikes with family and friends, as well as traveling and meeting new people.  In addition, she also enjoys a good book.  Lastly, she’s a devotee of the New Orleans Saints.

Lorena Chavez

It seems Mrs. Chavez was destined to become a teacher.  During her childhood in Santa Barbara, her favorite game to play was, “school.”  When she actually got to elementary school, she excelled at reading and spelling.

Mrs. Chavez attended UCSB where she earned both a B.A. and Master’s in Spanish.  She also holds teaching credentials for single subject, multiple subject, and community college.  She even did her student teaching at Isla Vista School!

Now in her 37th year at IV School, Mrs. Chavez appreciates the many backgrounds and cultures represented in the school community.  She also is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues, though her favorite activity on campus is reading books to her students.

Mrs. Chavez has many outside interests, including reading, walking, and cooking.  She also enjoys shopping, the Santa Barbara beaches, movies, and concerts.

Cheryl Takahara

Mrs. Takahara comes from the edge of the farmlands of Petaluma, in Northern California.  She adored her tiny school and its simple setting.   The playground with nothing on it fostered creative play!!  Every summer, her parents packed up the three kids into a sedan and pulled a tent trailer across the country and back for six weeks at a time.  (She has visited 47 states and, yes, she plans to visit the three New England states to get to 50.)

She went to school at UCSB in 1986 and has not homesteaded far since graduating.  Her favorite experience on campus was working as a Resident Assistant, Director, and other jobs in the Residence Halls and living in dorms for seven years!!  During her young years, she fulfilled a big life goal of learning to speak Spanish by studying the language in Costa Rica.  

Mrs. Takahara loves the warm hearted spirit and culture of Isla Vista School.  Riding her bike to school has become a favorite daily journey - what a beautiful ride!

Mrs. Takahara’s future dreams include writing a book called “Little Tent Trailer on the Prairie” based on her childhood travels.  

Stephanie Vo