Meet Your Teachers

Mrs. Kelly Kangas

Mrs. Elise Milling
Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching since 1997.  I came to Mesa Verde in 2000, however, before that I taught at Palm Middle School in Lemon Grove. I LOVE teaching and specifically enjoy middle school because students are beginning to understand where learning can take them in life, they enjoy challenges, and they want to be respected for who they are.  I came to Mesa Verde because it was the “technology magnet” for the district, but also because it has numerous opportunities for students to have fun while they learn and expand their lives. 

Educational Background:
I graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Arts in English. I received my Single Subject CLAD Teaching Credential from National University.  I finished my masters degree in Educational Technology in 2004!

Personal Background:
I love hearing from former students!  Email me!  I want to hear all about your exciting life!

My husband, Erik, is a math teacher at Clairemont High School.  We married in 2001, but are high school sweet-hearts. We welcomed our first little one to our family on December 24, 2003; his name is Carter.  We welcomed our second child on May 15, 2007; her name is Coral.

Although I LOVE teaching, if I could have any other job it would be to coordinate weddings!  I enjoy traveling, cooking/baking, trying new restaurants, scrapbooking, and reading a good book at the beach until sunset!  I love sunflowers because they are bright, cheerful, and just make me happy. 

Personal Background

     I have always wanted to be an educator.  I guess it runs in the family, since I'm a fifth generation teacher.  I grew up in beautiful Redlands, California, about 100 miles from PQ. So much has changed since my grandmother taught in a one room school house near San Luis Obispo in 1920!  The internet, new worlds of technology, and travel opportunities are so exciting today.

     After teaching second grade and elementary school music for four years, my new husband, Chad, and I decided to take a year trip around the world.  From May 2000 - March 2001 we backpacked in Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.  When we came home we moved to San Diego (just a couple of minutes from Mesa Verde), and I was fortunate enough to be hired as a seventh grade humanities core teacher.  After a wonder-filled year in seventh grade, I was then happily moved to eighth grade.  This especially thrilled me because American History is one of the most exciting and accessible subjects to teach.

This year will be my twelfth year of teaching.

     For fun, I love to be with my family, sing, travel, play the piano and flute, read, hike, camp, scrap book, work out (yeah, with all my free time), and go to sports games.  I also enjoy church, and love to support my family, friends, and students in their activities.  My very tall husband and best friend, Chad, is a financial planner downtown, and he always makes me laugh.   Our precious daughter, Nicole, will be 5 in November.   She loves singing, preschool, and talking!  Our second daughter, Corinne, is 1.  She is a bundle of laughter, and a total delight.

Educational Background

  • Bachelor of Arts:  Major in Music, 1995 University of Redlands

  • Teacher Credential Program:  1995-1996  University of Redlands, Whitehead College

  • Continuing Education:  University of San Diego 1997-2000

  • California Credentials:   Multiple Subjects Credential with a supplement in Music, and I have completed my CLAD certification.

  • Master of Arts in Education from National University, spring of  2004

Professional Background:

  • 1996-1997:  Garden Grove Unified School District, general music teacher

  • 1997-2000:  Redlands Unified School District, 2nd grade

  • 2001 - present (and here to stay!):  Poway Unified School District, 7th and 8th grade!