Faculty & Staff
Faculty & Staff
We are pleased to introduce you to our highly trained and passionate team of professional educators. Most of our instructors have credentials that qualify them as adjunct professors with our partner college, which allows us to offer a comprehensive catalog of College in the High School courses. All of our staff are committed to helping students thrive.
Dr. Ammar Harb
Math
Dr. Harb has 20 years of experience teaching students at different levels, from middle schoolers to graduate students. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Portland State University, where he served as an adjunct professor before joining PCIA. Dr. Harb enjoys teaching mathematics and simplifying its concepts as much as possible, so his students can understand and transfer them to practical applications.
Elizabeth Brooks
English
Ms. Brooks is a PNW native and loves living in the Columbia Gorge where she is astonished by the natural beauty every single day. Liz grew up in Seattle and holds a BA in English from the UW, an MA in English from UConn, and is currently in the final stretch of earning her Master’s in the Art of Teaching from Central Washington University. She is regularly amazed by the talents of her students both in and out of the classroom and relishes the opportunity to get to work with such cool people.
Outside of reading and writing, Liz enjoys walking in the woods with her dogs, baking, gardening, hanging out with her two teenage boys and husband, and visiting her large family in Portland and the Puget Sound area. Liz hopes to one day own a loom where she’ll get to spend her free time weaving beautiful tea towels while listening to audiobooks and episodes of This American Life and Heavyweight.
James Harrison
History
Mr. Harrison is a passionate historian with an aptitude for predicting future events as a professional geopolitical forecaster. With an MA in History from Portland State University, he has taught as an adjunct professor for a variety of colleges and universities. Mr. Harrison enjoys hiking, fishing, chess, reading, and community service.
Ryan Van Duzor
Science
Mr. Ryan Van Duzor has been PCIA’s science instructor since 2017. He is also the Knowledge Bowl coach and Biology Club mentor at PCIA.
Mr. Van Duzor is a dedicated scientist with diverse scientific interests and background. He earned an MS in Biology from Loyola University Chicago, where he served as an Adjunct Instructor, as well as a Masters in Teaching from University of Washington. Mr. Van Duzor has extensive professional experience working for the USDA in invasive species detection and tracking as well as field research in entomology and ecology for the USFS and USDA.
In his personal life, Mr. Van Duzor is a husband, father and an avid fisherman, fly fisherman, fly tyer and Lego artist living in Stevenson. His Lego build “Wonders of the Fragile Reef” is being displayed at the “home of the brick”, the Lego House in Billund, Denmark.
Jeff Hawkins
Technology
Mr. Hawkins is a certified Scrum Master with a BA in English Literature from the University of Oregon, a Career Technology Education (CTE) certification from Central Washington University and 19 additional technology certifications. He developed and administered servers, networks and software systems with worldwide deployment during nearly 20 years of industry experience. He now brings his passion for teaching and personal growth to the classroom.
Rachel Duffus
PE/Health
Ms. Duffus is an enthusiastic physical education and health instructor who thrives on inspiring students. She earned an MA in Teaching from Grand Canyon University with an emphasis in physical education. Ms. Duffus has been motivating students to make exercise, wellness and nutrition an enjoyable part of their lives for more than fifteen years. A graduate of Mill A School herself, Ms. Duffus enjoys an active lifestyle in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge.
Margaret McLarney
Music
Mrs. McLarney has been teaching Music and the Arts for over 20 years and is a life-long resident of Skamania County. She earned her BA in Music and Theatre Arts from the University of Puget Sound. She has extensive experience as a choral conductor and stage director, having directed over 50 school and community concerts and productions. She is passionate about teaching students to understand how experiencing and participating in music is connected to and has a positive impact on our lives, our community and world around us.
Jessica Hoff
World Language
Profesora Hoff has used Spanish regularly in her professional and personal life since beginning study of the language at Columbia High School. She graduated magna cum laude from Central Washington University with a major in Spanish for Education and minors in Teaching English as a Second Language, Bilingual Education, and Anthropology. After studying English and French as a graduate student, she has an educational endorsement in English Language Arts and is conversant in French. She is a resident of White Salmon among many relatives and is a citizen of the world.
Kandy Giles
Art
Mz. Giles has taught art with all ages for over twenty years. She attended Webster University for her B.A. in Education with an Art emphasis. She builds upon students’ skills using classic art studio practices and collaborations across disciplines. Mz. Giles knows making art lowers stress, increases circulation and practicing creativity builds neural pathways. She loves spending time with her granddaughter, digging in the garden, cooking and creating botanical sculptures.