Page 53 - Laguna Blanca Magazine Summer 2018

TEACHERS ALUMNI
VOLUNTEERING AT LOCAL SCHOOLS HUSTLING FOR THEIR HOMETOWN
When news broke that local mudslides had prevented some 30 teachers Sisters Esther Tran-Le ’09 and Lea Tran-Le ’14 no longer live
from reporting for duty at Santa Barbara High School, Laguna teacher in the Santa Barbara area, but they weren’t about to let a natural
Blake Dorfman ’02 knew he wanted to help. Dorfman was a student- disaster overcome their hometown. Together, they organized a
teacher at Santa Barbara High earlier in his career, and his wife, Laura, Montecito Mudslide Fundraiser in Brooklyn, New York, raising
works in the Santa Barbara public school district. He knew firsthand how nearly $7,000 for those in need.
important it was to the greater Meanwhile, Laguna alumni Tracy Cooper Vidal ’92 turned
community that schools her Los Angeles dining room into an extended food bank for
remained open, as many Carpinteria Pantry, a grassroots food bank organized through
students depend on the schools Carpinteria Children’s Project following the mudslides. Vidal was
for hot meals, and others would able to deliver four entire SUV-sized loads of donations, helping
not have supervision at home. Carp Pantry fill 180 bags of food for those in need.
Dorfman recruited fellow “People out of state have ordered food via Amazon and Google
Laguna teacher and friend Express to my doorstep. Hundreds of dollars of gift cards have
Paul Chiment, and the two been given—many from people that I don’t know or will ever meet.
headed over to Santa Barbara You know that thing Mr. Rogers said about finding the helpers in
High School to help. They tragedy? Well, they have definitely emerged during this sad series
spent the day teaching a variety of events, and it has made a difference for the families in need in
of topics—some of which they Carpinteria,” says Tracy.
knew, and others—such as Check out more on alumna Denise Hess Sanders ’02 (p. 52)
digital arts—they weren’t who supported ground-level rescue efforts during the mudslides
so familiar with. But they through the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation in Santa
both emerged with a better Paula, CA.
appreciation for our local Santa
Barbara school teachers and
the work they do every day.
“Teaching at SBJHS for a day was fun but exhausting,” Dorfman
says. “There are 25 to 35 students in each class period, and
it’s a challenge to make sure all kids are getting the right level of attention
and instruction. I appreciate what our public school teachers tackle every
day. We are so very fortunate to have the class sizes and resources we have
at Laguna.”

… AND MEASURING MOISTURE LEVELS VIA THE IoT
Teacher Dan Ary and his Internet of Things (IoT) team here at
Laguna rallied to create a humidity and temperature sensor for Pearl Bay
Corporation, a company that helps monitor and prevent issues like mold,
lead, and asbestos contamination. Mark Lee, who is president of Pearl
Bay, is also father to Kipling Lee ’21, which led to the team’s connection.
The IoT device, which would allow Lee’s employees to monitor both
temperature and humidity data remotely, is capable of providing relative
humidity and temperature data, operating over any 3G network. Readings
can be automatically controlled by the user at any specified time period.
The tool even allows for automatic iPhone notification if temperature or
humidity reach a certain level.
The creation, designed by Laguna IoT students, could save valuable
time while also preventing damage to homes and businesses throughout
the area.
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