Social Studies

Mrs. P. ARMSTRONG - C Track - teaches 7th grade History. Mrs. Armstrong has taught at Gage since 1992. "I like working with the wonderful students and collaborating with the friendly and knowledgeable staff," she says. Mrs. Armstrong attended California State University, Dominguez Hills, UCLA, and Pepperdine University.

She loves to be outdoors. "Whether hiking at Torrey Pines or strolling through the many local gardens such as the Huntington and L.A. Botanical Garden, I find joy and serenity in nature."

Her favorite quote is: "I do not think of the misery, but of the glory that remains. Go outside into the fields, nature and the sun, go out and seek happiness in yourself and in God. Think of the beauty that again discharges itself within and without you and be happy." - Anne Frank

Ms. K. BEGICH - A Track - teaches Social Studies since 1985. Ms. Begich likes most about Gage her SLC team and teaching kids who value learning, and enjoy all work and play. Guess where she went to school!
College of St. Benedict in Minnesota, Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, Cerritos College, and East Los Angeles College (ELAC). Ms. Begich enjoys reading, going to the movies, photography, playing in the pool, star-gazing, and building her electric train set!

Mr. S. BOONE - B Track - teaches Ancient History and Computers with the Magnet SLC. Mr. Boone taught at San Antonio Elementary, Huntington Park, Brimmer and May School in Massachusetts, before coming to Gage. What Mr. Boone likes most about Gage is the teachers, staff, and the students. Mr. Boone attended Brockton High School in Massachusetts, Wheaton College in Norton, MA, and Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. His hobbies and interests are singing, laughing, and teaching.
Other information/thoughts: "You have 50,000 coaches. My China visit was over three weeks."

Ms. R. BURKE - A Track - teaches History & English since 2004, after teaching at Cypress H. S. What she likes most about Gage is the students. She attended the University of Wisconsin. She enjoys reading, going to the movies, working out, riding bikes, and traveling.

Mr. M. CALHOUN - B Track - teaches U.S. History since 1998, and he really enjoys the kids at Gage. Where did he go to school? Vanderbilt.

Mrs. H. CHANDLER - A Track - Graced the Gage stage from 1985 to 1989 and returned in 1993 after a four year hiatus. She has been with us ever since; she teaches Social Studies and 8th grade U.S. History. "The environment at Gage has been pretty safe. Students get along for the most part. There are great teachers working at Gage," she says.

Mrs. Chandler attended school in Puerto Rico, New York, and California. What are your hobbies & interests, we asked her, and she said: "I like to travel, go camping, and spend time with family and friends. I like to do things with my grandkids, and having them over in our cabin in the mountains."

"I have forgotten the French I learned in high school. Hawaii was a nice place to stay to teach for a short time. I travel to different States with my parents and husband; I went to visit Minnesota with Ms. Begich a while back.

Mr. D. CROOK - B Track - Teaches 8th Grade U. S. History since January 2006. Mr. Crook taught at Anaheim Union High School District. What he likes most about Gage is the students. He went to school at-California State University, Los Angeles. What Mr. Crook likes to do is traveling, the beach, and spending time with family and friends.

M. G. GOMEZ - B Track - (Social Studies) started working at Gage in 2004, and enjoys the people he works with. Mr. Gomez attended UCLA and Cal State University, Long Beach. Mr. Gomez' hobbies are reading, listening to music, and film.

Mr. B. HIGBEE - A Track - (History) came to Gage in 1983. He likes gardening, snow skiing, reading and dreaming about travel to faraway places he can't afford. What he likes most about Gage are the students, and he is here to teach those eager young minds and to contribute to their basic academic achievement and success.

Ms. I. MUNOZ - B Track - (6th grade Core Magnet & 8th grade Core Magnet) Ms. Munoz has taught at Gage since 2002, being her favorite of Gage, the students. She attended Cal State, Los Angeles. Her hobbies are watching the History Channel, spending time with her son Nick, and listening to music.

Mr. S. MUTSCHLER - B Track - (US History - World History) Mr. Mutschler has been part of Gage's family since 1987. He attended Indiana University at South Bend. His hobbies and interests? Playing soccer with his daughter, camping, traveling, and reading. "Society's laws are not for the individual who is a law unto themselves." --Aristotle.

Ms. M. G. PACHECO - A Track - (ESL/English/Social Studies) Ms. Pacheco has been part of the Gage family since 1995, after teaching at Nimitz Middle School. She enjoys her students and the friendly staff. She also enjoys spending time with her three children. Her alma matter: Cal State University, Los Angeles.

Mr. C. PFUHL - A Track - (History & English) joined the Gage faculty in 2000 after a career change. Mr. Pfuhl taught in Las Vegas, Nevada. What he likes most about our school is the camaraderie between teachers, and the students. He attended the University of California at Santa Cruz. Mr. Pfuhl enjoys stamp collecting, rare book collecting, cooking, and baking. Mr. Pfuhl has 30 relatives in Switzerland. His motto is: "Live and Let Live."

Ms. N. PLOESSEL - C Track - came to gage in 1997 after teaching at Nimitz Middle School. She enjoys collaborating with other teachers on interdisciplinary activities. She attended State Street Elementary, Gage Junior High (our school used to be Gage Jr. High), Huntington Park High School, UCSB, and USC. She enjoys gardening, and visiting local historic sites.

Mr. F. TATLILIOGLU - C Track - (World History & Geography - US History & Geography) Mr. "T" has been at Gage since 2001. Mr. T. went to school in Istanbul, Turkey, California State University at Dominguez Hills, and the University of La Verne. Among the things he likes to do are reading and studying, martial arts, philosophy, mysticism, and occultism besides history and law. Mr. T is studying toward his J.D. in law.

His favorite quotes:
"Learn and teach from cradle to grave."
"I am a teacher of what I know and a student of what I don't know."