Though adjusting to a new high school is usually experienced by freshmen, a new group of Brahmas were also introduced to Diamond Bar High School last month.

Among the new teachers for this school year include ROP Chemistry through Forensics teacher Ken Carlson and business teacher Nancee French.

Prior to being an educator, Carlson worked in law enforcement for thirty years, recently retiring from the Chino Police Department. During his time as a police officer, Carlson utilized his degree in Criminology to teach at Rio Hondo College in Whittier and Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria.

“I did my time, so I wanted to find a new career, and I found it more valuable to give back at the high school level than the collegiate level,” Carlson said. “It just seemed to be more fulfilling.”

French is a freelance marketing consultant-turned-educator. After she received her Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and a minor in Marketing, French taught ROP classes at La Habra High School, specifically visual communications and business finance, before transferring to DBHS to become the Business Management and Entrepreneurship instructor.

“I am hoping to build the FBLA back up and find ourselves competing in numerous events,” French said.

DBHS will also see a change in the staff in the special education rooms with the arrivals of Autistic Spectrum Disorder Intermediate teacher Tiffany Brito, speech pathologist Kristen Wong and education specialist John Rodrigues, serving as a long-term substitute for math teacher Morgan Galeener who is working as a GLC while Jenna Brummett is on maternity leave.

In addition, Richard Langham will be taking over as DBHS choir director, and Inger Turner was hired as one of the school’s psychologists.

Autism specialist Brito didn’t find her passion for being a special education teacher until after graduating college.

Though she previously taught at Allen Ave Elementary with a short stint at San Dimas High School, she always knew she wanted to teach at a high school.

“I feel like I could work more on vocational skills since it’s geared more towards their [students] independence at the high school level,” Brito said.

At DBHS, Brito hopes to connect the main student population with the special needs students. By doing this, she hopes to emphasize more on Diamond Bar’s Best Buddies program and start other programs.

“I want to really push for there to be a little more awareness on campus,” she said. “I want kids to come into my classroom and see that we like to have company, make it more family-oriented.”

A psychologist with over 20 years of experience, Turner has been a part of the Walnut Valley Unified School District since her internship years.

She has worked at CJ Morris Elementary School for five years and spent the last 15 years implementing programs that include nature hikes and camps at Suzanne Middle School.

“I’m gonna observe this year and get used to the culture, but my interest has always been to provide students with experiences, really in outdoor activities and culture,” Turner said.

Knowing the reputation and academia of DBHS, she is learning to adjust and hopes to positively influence the students along the way.

“There are high standards for everyone, from their behavior to their academics,” Turner said. “This is the step before we push you out to the real world, so it’s definitely more professional and focused on specific goals.”