With many new changes to La Salle, there are also many new faces, including several teachers. La Salle has gained sixteen new staff members, including six full-time teachers.

Felix Barba

Our new Director of Service and San Miguel Scholar Program, Felix Barba, was the assistant hall director at University of Portland before coming to La Salle. Before either one of those jobs, Mr. Barba attended college at California State Sacramento and got his masters at Drexel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While attending these schools, he majored in the undergraduate program in government and spanish.With this new position, Mr. Barba’s goal is to be a life coach for students and follow the Holy cross spirit charazism, “walking along those who serve.” For the upcoming school year, the thing Mr. Barba is most excited about is being able to go on two service trips, Montana in November and LA in the spring. Outside of school and teaching, Mr. Barba likes to involve himself with intensive agriculture. He grows mushrooms and other sorts of vegetables and will soon be getting chickens.

Larry Swanson

In the math department, Larry Swanson can be found in room 135, teaching honors algebra 2, honors geometry, and geometry. With La Salle being a school built on a community of faith, service, and strong academics, it is the perfect fit for Mr. Swanson. He says that he loves getting to know the students and making an impact on them. When asked about the students at La Salle, he says that, “the kids are great; they work hard, ask good questions, and are patient as I learn the school.”  Mr. Swanson says that the best thing about teaching is the kids: that he does not go to work, he goes to school. Not only does Mr. Swanson enjoy teaching, but enjoyed going to college at Northwest Nazarene University for undergrad and University of Oregon for graduate studies. When Mr. Swanson leaves La Salle, he gets to go home to his houseboat on the Columbia River. He and his wife love to take long trips in the summer: they have already been to Hawaii, the Grand Canyon and done the Northern Rockies loop.

Aaron Hazel

Aaron Hazel, another new math teacher for our Sigma Fiedi program, PE and weight training, is back at La Salle. Coach Hazel is also the new football coach, hoping to make a change to the football team and season. Coach Hazel graduated from La Salle in 1998, and went to Eastern Oregon for his undergraduate then went to get his masters at Concordia. When asked why he came back to La Salle, Coach Hazel says the impact that La Salle made on him when he was a student made him want to teach at La Salle and be able to make the same impact as the teachers did on him. As the school year starts back up, Coach Hazel is most excited about getting to know the students personally: this is another reason why he loves teaching, his new relationships with students, as well as seeing students excel in subjects or areas that they may not before. Outside of school, Coach Hazel says he likes to mostly spend his time with his two daughters watching Frozen, Dora The Explorer, and playing My Little Pony.

Edward Kendrick

Edward Kendrick is the new Morality, Christian Lifestyles and Ecclesiogly teachers. He came to La Salle to move back to the north west and wanting to teach at a Catholic school. Mr. Kendrick attended University of Portland, then went to Boston College for grad school. While attending, he majored in theology and literature. Mr. Kendrick is excited to get to know his students, but also very excited to attend the sporting events and go on the Journey retreat this year. “The best thing about teaching”, says Mr. Kendrick, is “getting to know the students and the discussions we get into in these classes.” Some students may know this, but Mr. Kendrick makes his own board games and enjoys extensive backpacking.

Matthew Owen

In the science wing, Matthew Owen is found teaching four classes of Chemistry and AP Chemistry. Mr. Owen graduated in 2010 from La Salle and continued to be a Zag. Interested in teaching and finding out that a chemistry teacher job opened up at La Salle from close staff members, Mr. Owen knew it would be a great way to be apart of the La Sallian community by applying for the job of being a Chemistry teacher. In the upcoming school year, Mr. Owen is most excited for the labs that he gets to teach and show. The students will see how things in chemistry work and how it can be applied in the real world. On the weekends, Mr. Owen will get up early, sometimes 4:30 to watch soccer games, and to support his favorite team, Liverpool.

Rob Weakly

Another teacher who works in the science department, is Rob Weakly. He teaches honors chemistry and two sections of physics, which are the two things he majored in college. Mr. Weakly attended Colorado State and is a student at University of Portland right now. Mr. Weakly came to La Salle to become a La Sallian educator, and of course, to bug his good friend, Mr. Owen. The most exciting event that Mr. Weakly is ready for, is being an advisor for Karaoke club. But on the weekends, Mr. Weakly doesn’t take part in karaoke, he is a weekend pirate: sailing the seas with a PH of 8.1 and Salinity of 35 ppt and learning and plundering golden nuggets of knowledge. On the more academic side, the best thing about teaching for Mr. Weakly is when the students must sit and listen to him rant about science.