Oceana Leadership

Welcome to Oceana High School! 

I am honored and it is my privilege to be the Principal for Oceana. I am excited to serve this community and support Oceana's vision and mission. I began my journey with Oceana in 2011 as a counseling intern while pursuing my Masters in School Counseling at San Francisco State University. Since then, I’ve served as Head Counselor, Academic Council member, Senior Exhibition Coordinator, College & Career Guidance Initiative Lead at the JUHSD district office, and Vice Principal. It is not an understatement to say that my educational career at Oceana High School. 

I am dedicated to Oceana’s curriculum, vision, mission, and school-wide outcomes.  I appreciate the strong sense of community at Oceana and the way we come together as  students,  staff, and families to make major decisions. At Oceana, we strive to support and challenge students to learn deeply  through project-based learning, intentional group work, and social emotional learning. Staff continuously innovate, interrogate and refine their teaching practice to provide students with an effective and meaningful learning experience.  

Oceana has a decades-long history of implementing programs that demonstrate how committed we are to student learning.  I also know we can do even better to meet the needs of every student. I look forward to this school year and to continuing this work together as a community. 

Maritza Torres, Principal

I feel tremendous gratitude to be accepted into this community and given the opportunity to serve you all as a Vice Principal. Everyone here has been so welcoming and supportive to me; I hope I can do the same for you!

Last year was my 11th year as a teacher, when I co-taught Humanities with the wonderful Ms. Peters and Mr. Millwee here at Oceana. Before that, I was a Physics teacher for 6 years, creating Phenomena-based curriculum aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. I was also an Education Specialist for 4 years, supporting students in various subjects: English, Math, and History. What I enjoyed most about being in the classroom was pushing students to be the best version of themselves. Naturally, I love Oceana’s School Wide Outcomes, as they also push students to be communicators, problem solvers, thinkers, and kind people. I look forward to supporting all of you in growing to be your best selves over your four years here.

I am dedicated to Oceana’s mission to empower students to know themselves and the world around them. Just so you know a bit more about me, I am a second generation Chinese American. It was tough for me growing up, because English was my second language. However, I had a very supportive mother who taught me that I can persevere through anything. With the grit that she instilled in me, I graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science degree in Cognitive Science. Eventually, I also earned a Masters of Education degree in Special Education at Alliant International University. I know I couldn’t have done everything without support, so my goal is to pay it forward and support you in your journey through Oceana!

Shou Leung, Vice Principal

I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Assistant Principal at Oceana High School. This role is a lifelong dream come true, as I am an alumnus of the graduating class of 1994. I have always 

been dedicated to making quality education accessible to all students. As a bilingual son of Mexican immigrants, I understand the unique challenges faced by children from immigrant families and other marginalized communities. My passion lies in helping students from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds become successful members of society. I firmly believe that today's educators must create learning experiences that nurture worldly citizens who are creative, practice critical thinking, collaborate effectively, and reflect on their growth. Over the past twenty years, I have dedicated my career to empowering youth and fostering cultures of excellence through collaboration with dedicated educators.

My recent roles as Assistant Principal and summer school principal in other San Mateo districts have provided me with invaluable experience directly applicable to my new position at Oceana High. My training in restorative practices and community engagement has been instrumental in addressing various challenges within educational settings. I am eager to bring my expertise to Oceana High School and contribute to its ongoing success by supporting a thriving, inclusive school environment.

My equity-based approach allows me to build strong relationships within the Oceana community to foster trust and create an authentic, shared vision for our school. I am excited to join Oceana High School and contribute to cultivating a school culture that enables all students to thrive. Thank you for welcoming me into the Oceana High School family.

Jose Campos, Vice Principal

The Academic Council (AC) at Oceana High School serves as our school’s central decision-making body, representing all stakeholders, including administration, staff, teachers, families, and students. This council ensures shared leadership by discussing and voting on major proposals that impact our academic program, policies, and culture. Through collaboration, the AC plays a vital role in maintaining Oceana’s commitment to innovation and inclusivity.

The Academic Council was established as part of Oceana High School’s restructuring in 1991 when our school transitioned to a model centered on smaller learning communities, integrated curricula, and project-based assessment. This shift marked a departure from traditional high school structures, emphasizing personalized learning and collaborative governance. Initially composed primarily of teachers, the council expanded to include administrators, staff, families, and students, reflecting our school’s commitment to democratic and inclusive leadership.
Today, the AC meets weekly to oversee our academic program, make major policy decisions, allocate site-based funds, and advise on hiring and staffing. Its collaborative governance ensures that the voices of all stakeholders are heard in shaping our school’s direction. Members serve two year terms and are elected by peers. Meetings, held Thursdays from 3:20 to 5:20 PM in Room 207, and all members of the community are welcome and encouraged to attend and contribute, though only AC members may vote.

The current members of the Academic Council are Facilitator Tony Marelich, Recorder Jeannette Herbert, Principal Maritza Torres, Student Rep Katlynn Nguyen, Student Rep Tatum Pon, Alyssa Owyang, Nancy Murphy, Laura Hodder, Erin Peters, Family Representatives Charlotte Allen and Veronica Brooks.