Science

Science Course Offerings 2025-2026

Science Courses

Course	Year Taken	Recommended Preparation	Teachers for 2025-26 (click to email them)
Biology	9	(no prerequisite)	Ann Akey Shomace Ighanian Ilka Handler Alton Lee Ernest Lo Davina Ortiz Julie Paoli
Chemistry AS Chemistry	10	Successful completion of Biology	Zach Larsen Shayan Lavasani Alton Lee
Engineering, Introduction	9-12	Concurrent enrollment in another Science class	Phil Kinyen
Engineering Design	10-12	Successful completion of Intro Engineering	Phil Kinyen
Environmental Analysis through Chemistry	10	Only open to Green Academy students	Ann Akey
Human Biology	11 or 12	Successful completion of Biology	Shomace Ighanian Davina Ortiz
Physics	11 or 12	Shawn McGarrah Matt Sahagun
Plant and Soil Science	10	Only open to Green Academy students	Davina Ortiz
Sustainable Design	12	Only open to Green Academy students	Shawn McGarrah
Water: California's Liquid Gold	11	Only open to Green Academy students	Ernest Lo
AS Chemistry (honors)	10	Successful completion of Biology and Algebra 1	Shayan Lavasani Alton Lee
AP Biology	11 or 12	Successful completion of Biology and Chemistry	Joe Ezrati Julie Paoli
AP Environmental Science	11 or 12	Successful completion of Biology and Chemistry	Ann Akey
AP Physics C: Mechanics	11 or 12	Concurrent enrollment in PreCalculus or higher	Stephanie Finander
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism	11 or 12	Concurrent enrollment in Calculus	Matt Sahagun

 

Science Department Staff

Biology

Mr. Joseph Ezrati teaches AP Biology and is in his 18th year teaching. He was born and raised in the Bay Area and graduated with honors from the University of Puget Sound with a B.S. in Biology and stayed for a fifth year to earn his Master of Arts in Teaching. 

He also works part-time for the Sequoia Union High School District as a mentor for first and second-year teachers.  He is the proud father of two children ages ten and six.

 

Mrs Ilka Handler teaches Biology and Biology EML. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology  from College of Notre Dame in Belmont and received her M.Ed. from Notre Dame de Namur University focused on Curriculum and Instruction.  Born in San Francisco, her upbringing was both local and in Peru. She speaks Spanish.

 

Mrs. Shomace Ighanian Healey teaches Biology and Human Biology and  is in her 16th year of teaching. She grew up in Mountain View California, received her bachelor's degree in 2004 from UC Davis (Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior), and received her graduate degree in Education from Stanford in 2007. She spent a year in Xi'an China and taught English while learning about Chinese culture (and a tiny bit of Mandarin).  She has two children aged eight and six.

 

Mr. Alton Lee is in his 17th year of teaching.  He was born in Hong Kong but has spent the majority of his life in San Francisco.  He graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Biochemistry and Psychology, and an MA in Science Education.  At Woodside, he currently teaches two classes in Woodside's Green Academy (Sustainable Design and Water: California's Liquid Gold), as well as 9th Grade Biology.In his spare time, Mr. Lee cooks, travels, volunteers, geeks out about airplanes, and watches college football games and gymnastics meets.  

 

Mr. Ernest Lo teaches Biology and is in his 24th year of teaching.  He graduated from the University of California at Riverside with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology with an emphasis in cell and molecular biology. He earned a Masters in Biology from San Francisco State and a Master’s of Education from University of California at Berkeley. Before coming to teaching he worked in a Neuroscience lab at UCSF where he authored two papers, one in Neuroreport and one in Nature Medicine. While he once had hobbies like surfing and climbing, his two young children occupy all of his free time. 

 

Mrs. Davina Ortiz is in her 20th year teaching at Woodside.  This year she teaches Human Biology, Biology, and Green Academy Plant and Soil Science.  She has lived in Redwood City her entire life attending Clifford Elementary, McKinley Middle, and Sequoia High Schools.  She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry at San José State University and her teaching training at San Francisco State University. She has two children who currently attend WHS.

 

Mrs. Julie Paoli has been teaching for 25 years.  She teaches Biology, Environmental Science and AP Biology.  She graduated Magna Cum Laude in Biology from Pacific University where she also earned a MA in Teaching with a focus on inquiry and experiential education.  She also enjoys cooking, making cakes, scrapbooking, and hiking.

 

Chemistry

Ms. Ann Akey, Ph.D. teaches AP Environmental Science and Environmental Analysis Through Chemistry.  She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Grinnell College, her Master’s in Botany (Plant Ecology) from Iowa State University, and her Ph.D. in Science Education from the University of Wyoming.  She holds National Board Certification and served as an IISME fellow at Stanford for three years.  This is her 25th year at Woodside High School, she started teaching in Africa with the Peace Corps.  

 

Mr. Zach Larsen teaches Chemistry.  He grew up in rural Oregon and received his  bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Willamette University where he was also on the track and field team and in the university orchestra. He spent about 15 years in the pharmaceutical industry before going back to school to earn his Master’s degree from Stanford University.   He has a son who will be two years old this year.

 

Mr. Shayan Lavasani teaches Chemistry, and AS Chemistry.  He has a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College, majoring in Public Policy Analysis-Economics and minoring in Chemistry.

 

Environmental Science and Green Academy

Ms. Ann Akey, Ph.D. teaches AP Environmental Science and Environmental Analysis Through Chemistry.  She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Grinnell College, her Master’s in Botany (Plant Ecology) from Iowa State University, and her Ph.D. in Science Education from the University of Wyoming.  She holds National Board Certification and served as an IISME fellow at Stanford for three years.  This is her 25th year at Woodside High School, she started teaching in Africa with the Peace Corps.  

 

Mr. Alton Lee is in his 17th year of teaching.  He was born in Hong Kong but has spent the majority of his life in San Francisco.  He graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Biochemistry and Psychology, and an MA in Science Education.  At Woodside, he currently teaches two classes in Woodside's Green Academy (Sustainable Design and Water: California's Liquid Gold), as well as 9th Grade Biology.In his spare time, Mr. Lee cooks, travels, volunteers, geeks out about airplanes, and watches college football games and gymnastics meets.  

 

Mrs. Davina Ortiz is in her 20th year teaching at Woodside.  This year she teaches Human Biology, Biology, and Green Academy Plant and Soil Science.  She has lived in Redwood City her entire life attending Clifford Elementary, McKinley Middle, and Sequoia High Schools.  She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry at San José State University and her teaching training at San Francisco State University. She has two children who currently attend WHS.

 

Mrs. Julie Paoli has been teaching for 25 years.  She teaches Biology, Environmental Science and AP Biology.  She graduated Magna Cum Laude in Biology from Pacific University where she also earned a MA in Teaching with a focus on inquiry and experiential education.  She also enjoys cooking, making cakes, scrapbooking, and hiking.

 

Physics, Engineering, and Astronomy

Mrs. Stephanie Finander teaches AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Calculus BC (in the Math Department).  She also coaches our Science Olympiad team.  She has a Bachelor’s degree in Biophysics from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master’s of Arts in Teaching from  Stanford University.  Stephanie has two children who attended North Star Academy and Woodside High School and have graduated (with honors) from the University of California.  

 

Mr. Phil Kinyen teaches Engineering and Physics and is the faculty advisor for the FIRST Robotics Team. He grew up in the Bay Area and earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. After spending several years in industry he returned to academia and earned his Master's Degree in education from Stanford University.  This is his third year teaching full-time.

Mr. Matt Sahagun teaches Physics, Astronomy, and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

Chemistry Students in Action

Biology in Action