Meet Our Students & Staff

What makes you proud to be a LGHS Wildcat?
Being among such dedicated, intelligent, and expert teachers. They inspire me to refine my craft every day.

What was your 1st job?
Janitor, dishwasher at a restaurant.

What are your words of wisdom to live by?
"Tikkun Olam," Make the world a better place.

What's something we might not know about you?
I'm allergic to shrimp.

About Mr. Yanowsky:
A talented and inspiring educator, Mark brings an uplifting spirit and steady, kind presence to our campus each day. He skillfully balances a substantial teaching load - from Art 2 through AP Studio Art and Multimedia Production - while remaining deeply attentive to his students’ academic and emotional needs. 

Through thoughtfully designed projects and inclusive classroom practices, he empowers students with voice, choice, and confidence in their creative expression. 

Beyond his classroom, Mark is a trusted mentor and collaborative colleague, known for his wisdom, generosity, and authentic support of both students and staff. Whether guiding a young artist or offering encouragement, he consistently makes every student feel seen, valued, and capable. 

Staff share that they are grateful for the passion, care, and excellence he brings to our LGHS community!

What makes you proud to be a LGHS Wildcat?
I think what makes me proud to be a LGHS Wildcat is the community. Teachers and students come together and build a learning environment that makes it so that it can be 7th period on a Monday or Friday, and I am still laughing while learning. Teachers say hi to their students in the halls and students visit their old teachers just to pop by. I'm also proud that I get to go to school in a community where freshmen feel safe enough to come up to me and ask me where their next class is. Its the type of school that completely subverts bad high school stereotypes; people are genuinely kind to each other and there's friendships that span grade levels.

Who is your hero or inspiration?
I have a couple of heroes that inspire me to be my best self, in all senses of the phrase. One of those is my brother who is a LGHS alum. As a kid, I saw him go through high school, and I watched as he made the best of it. I saw him put all his effort into his classes and I heard him telling funny stories about school. He is someone who is a self-described introvert but has a way of pulling others to him, because of his intellect and because of his personality. Then there's my grandfather. He was someone who was tenacious and determined, who kept studying even when times were hard. He was an honest, hardworking, and incredibly smart person and every time I learn something new, I try my best, because I know that somewhere, my grandfather is smiling.

Do you have any hobbies/extracurricular activities you do outside of school?
A lot of my extracurricular activities are tied to LGHS. I've volunteered once a week at Cats Homework Help, for two and a half years helping Wildcats with classes that I've taken. I am a member of Helping Hearts Club, where we make care packages for sick children and visit a local hospital once a month. Outside of LGHS, I tutor a kid from another school district, and I altar serve at my church every other Sunday. For hobbies, I enjoy reading. I am an avid reader that has read a lot genres from high fantasy to non-fiction autobiographies, and will recommend series non-stop until I have a buddy to book club with.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years, I hope to have completed medical school and I hope to be just starting my residency to become an attending doctor. I have yet to decide my specialty, but wherever I decide to go, I hope to be helping others as much as I can. In 10 years I also hope to still be in contact with (and organizing hangouts with) my best friends.

About Fernanda:
Fernanda is an exceptional 11th-grade student at Los Gatos High School whose curiosity, intellect, and joy for learning set her apart. Across a wide range of rigorous courses—from AP English Language and AP Biology to AP Calculus BC, AP Physics 1, Anatomy & Physiology, AP U.S. History, and Honors French 4—she brings infectious enthusiasm, academic confidence, and a deep love of learning, tackling complex questions with preparation, insight, and humor. Teachers share that Fernanda is academically gifted, always prepared, and unafraid to tackle the toughest questions.

Equally impressive is her character: kind, hardworking, and widely respected by peers, Fernanda is a natural leader whose joyful presence, thoughtful engagement, and commitment to equity consistently elevate every classroom. Through her curiosity, positivity, and willingness to make a difference, she truly embodies what it means to be a LGHS “Roaring” Student of the Month, and we are proud to honor her and excited to see her continue to shine.

What makes you proud to be a LGHS Wildcat?
The staff and students at Los Gatos High School are very friendly. Everyone helps create a welcoming place in which students can learn and we build each other up.

What was your 1st job?
In high school I started working at AMC movie theaters as an usher.

What are your words of wisdom to live by?
As a Theatre Manager I am concerned with peoples safety in the theatre. 

What's something we might not know about you?
Once when I was in middle school we had a scarecrow building contest in which the winning class would get some pies. I said we should have a person dressed as the scarecrow. I ended up as the scarecrow and won the contest.

About Tim:
Tim Nielson exemplifies what it means to serve a high school community with excellence, heart, and humility. As a member of the Instructional Technology team and as Theater Director and Technical Director, Tim approaches every challenge with calm persistence, creativity, and fairness. 

A master problem-solver and the dependable backbone behind countless events, performances, and presentations, he quietly ensures that technology, logistics, and learning run smoothly—from complex tech setups and backup microphones to WiFi access and student Chromebooks—earning him the reputation as the “Engine Control Unit” that keeps Los Gatos High School running. Nowhere is his impact more evident than in the Prentiss Brown Theater, where he is the heart and soul of the program, devoting evenings and weekends to directing productions, managing sound, lighting, sets, props, ticket sales, and mentoring students with patience, humor, and genuine care. Through every challenge, Tim’s professionalism, generosity, and positive attitude create a space where students thrive, staff feel supported, and creativity flourishes; the thousands of lives he has impacted stand as a powerful testament to his unwavering commitment and well-deserved recognition.

What makes you proud to be a LGHS Wildcat?
I am proud to be a part of the amazing community that has been created at LGHS. At LGHS, all the students and staff are super supportive and caring. There has never been a day at LGHS when I have not had someone say “hi!” to me with a giant smile upon their face! It feels great to be a part of a community where all students and staff feel valued.

I also enjoy the many opportunities that are available to students! Our school has something for everyone, from a variety of championship-winning sports to over one hundred clubs to an award-winning drama program. I think it’s great that we have so many options that students can choose from that allow students to find out more about themselves and express themselves!

Who is your hero or inspiration?
My parents definitely inspire me. They have done so much for me, that I am forever grateful for them! They are definitely my main source of motivation to work hard toward my dreams!

Do you have any hobbies/extracurricular activities you do outside of school? 
Inside and outside of school, I am a part of many activities! This is currently my third and final year in LGHS Leadership. For the past two years, I was part of the Advertising Commission, where I helped create the school's Video Announcements (You’ve probably seen me during your sixth-period classes!). This year, I have the role of ASB Support Officer, where I help the ASB commission, as well as the ASB President and ASB Vice President, with anything they need, such as planning the Blood Drive!

I am also a part of the LGHS Key Club! I have been part of this club for four spectacular years! This is currently my second term as President, where I have been able to achieve 200+ service hours for my club! I work very closely with the Kiwanis Club of Los Gatos, so you may have seen me at some of the events they host around Los Gatos. Outside of school, you can find me volunteering around Los Gatos or attending one of the many divisional events that Key Club hosts with other local schools!

I am also Co-president of the school's Asian American Association, where we help spread Asian culture to the LGHS community. I am also a member of the school’s Japanese National Honors Society!

A few hobbies I have include hanging out with my friends, reading, listening to music, and thrifting!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years, I see myself either becoming a toxicologist or a meteorologist. I would also like to uphold the amazing friendships I have created in high school, and to have created many new ones!

What makes you proud to be a LGHS Wildcat?
The amazing support and genuine interest that our community and school show for our student-athletes. Los Gatos is a very unique place. From teachers and staff, to administrators and community members — each and every person takes pride in what our students do both in and out of the classroom. Having taught at other schools and in other districts, I can confidently say that what we have here is very, very special.

What was your 1st job?
My first job was working construction during the summer of my junior year. I’d go to football practice in the morning at Los Gatos and then spend the rest of the day on the construction site.

My first teaching job was as a long-term substitute in the Special Education Department at Los Gatos High School back in 2005.

What are your words of wisdom to live by?
Always start with what’s best for students. When we make decisions through that lens - every time, without exception - we create opportunities, build confidence, and help young people discover who they can become. If we begin with students first, everything else will fall into place.

What's something we might not know about you?
Los Gatos High School has been a part of my life since 1989 - from playing Pop Warner football on Helm Field, to attending LGHS as a student in the late ’90s, to returning as a teacher in 2006. I’ve been fortunate to serve this school in many ways: as a wrestling coach, a football coach, and now as the Athletic Director. For 35 years, this place has always felt like home.

What makes you proud to be a LGHS Wildcat?
What makes me proud to be a Wildcat is the thoughtfulness and kindness of the students I get to work with each day. Seeing students make connections across texts with universal themes in literature—and how these apply to our current society—warms my English teacher heart! The supportive staff at LGHS also fills me with pride, as I get to work alongside them toward a common goal of making students successful.

What was your 1st job?
Babysitter and house cleaner

What are your words of wisdom to live by?
I will defer to Simone de Beauvoir — the French philosopher and writer: “Authentic love must be founded on mutual recognition of two liberties.”

What's something we might not know about you?
I'm 14 minutes older than my twin sister. :)

What makes you proud to be a LGHS Wildcat?
The staff at LGHS truly care about our students. It is wonderful to work with these amazing people. My two sons are currently attending LGHS and it is such a special opportunity to be here and a part of their journey.

What was your 1st job?
My very first job was as a babysitter. I have always found working with kids incredibly rewarding.

What are your words of wisdom to live by?
You can never go wrong by being kind.

What's something we might not know about you?
I have a huge collection of Archie Comics. They were my favorite books to read as a kid.

What makes you proud to be a LGHS Wildcat?
I am proud to be a LGHS wildcat because of how great the community is here at LGHS. I love how much the teachers care about their students, how the principal, assistant principals, and staff care about student well-being, and just how much everyone has a chance to share who they are in such an inclusive community! I love being able to join the sports that I love, golf (as the varsity captain) and track; being able to attend and be part of so many different clubs, especially STEM related ones; being in Leadership, which allows me to plan and organize so many different activities for the students, and so so much more. There are so many opportunities that are presented to us here at LGHS, and each of them brings me into a new community. Being a Wildcat makes me proud because of how much our school has to offer, and how much our school cares about its students, staff, and faculty.

Who is your hero or inspiration?
My inspiration is definitely my parents. They did so much and worked so hard to get to where they are today and to provide for me and my brother. The reason why I am where I am today is all because of what they have done for me, and I will be eternally grateful towards them. My mom is always busy because of us, but is still a passionate career woman. My dad is the first doctor in his family, and came to America to chase his American Dream. Because of my parents, I work hard in everything I do so I can make them proud one day!

Do you have any hobbies/extracurricular activities you do outside of school? 
Outside of school, I love playing golf for fun. I am the captain of the girls varsity golf team, but even when the season is over, I am still always practicing at the range at night, or playing on courses with my dad. I am also a cofounder of a Nonprofit Organization called the Youth Sleep Initiative, which aims to combat problems in youth sleep! You might remember the survey that was sent out at LGHS, which we conducted to find problems and solutions to help our youth community. Hopefully we will be able to implement solutions at LGHS and SHS soon! Out of school, I also love interning and shadowing at medical offices and hospitals because that is what I want to do in the future :) Little hobbies that I have include listening to music (especially R&B, indie rock etc), reading comics, writing poetry when I feel like it, etc!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In ten years, I see myself finishing medical school and being on my next step to becoming a doctor. My dad is my biggest inspiration for that. Just like how doctors saved me when I was young, I also want to do the exact same in the future for others, and to be on the track to be doing great things by saving lives.

I would love to have also become a scratch golfer in 10 years, but I doubt I would have much time since all the classes and trainings I would have to take!

Lastly, I would love to still be in touch with my friends and teachers and staff members whom I am close with today.

What makes you proud to be a Wildcat?
My colleagues and the students that I get to work with.

What was your 1st job? 
I worked at a pizza shop in high school. I always smelled like onions.

What are your words of wisdom to live by? 
You can accomplish anything. The key is to never give up on yourself. You are stronger thank you think.

What's something we might not know about you? 
I have a deep love of art and try to incorporate it into just about everything that I do.

What makes you proud to be a LGHS Wildcat?
I am proud to be a Los Gatos Wildcat and the ability to experience an amazing education, with inquiring peers, bright teachers and staff, and outstanding athletics! I am also proud to be able to participate in activities around the school that connect me with my peers and help me get to know the LGHS community better! Whether that's being involved in the community, being a team player on the field, or remaining inquisitive while learning! The school spirit at LGHS is unlike any other school; it's one of a kind and it makes me proud to represent what it means to be a Wildcat! I also enjoy having other peers who challenge and compete with me whether that's in my sports or in the classroom at LGHS. I am also proud to go to LGHS because of its reputable success with its students and I strive to be the best version of myself that I can be.

Who is your hero or inspiration?
My inspiration is my parents! They are the hardest working and dedicated people I know! They inspire me daily to push myself to be better, to do things outside of my comfort zone and to not be afraid to fail; as long as I get back up. They inspire me daily with how they love their family, treat others, and their determination and grit to accomplish their goals! encourage me to be kind to others, and to treat others with the same respect they are given. Always showing up daily for our family, and sacrificing so much for those they love. also inspire me to travel and to experience new cultures, and meet new people through those experiences. They inspire me to put myself out there and to get involved with new activities. They also inspire me to persevere through the obstacles I face and to hurdle my way through life!

Do you have any hobbies/extracurricular activities you do outside of school? 
I am currently involved in many activities outside of school! I am a three sport athlete, and I play field hockey, soccer and run hurdles in track and field. I have been a three sport athlete my whole high school career at LGHS! I also play competitive soccer for Los Gatos United and have been playing for their club since middle school! I also partake in NCL, (National Charity League) a philanthropic organization led by mothers and daughters. I am currently the VP of Leadership in my chapter. That means I help plan events to bond our chapter, plan leadership activities, and organize speakers to speak at our meetings.

I am also involved in FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) at LGHS! This is a student-led organization at schools and in communities that uses sports to unite students with a shared faith in Jesus Christ. I am the Co-President and we are currently working on planning a Field of Faith at LGHS. A Field of Faith is where we have students from around the area gather at our school to listen to a professional athlete speak about their faith and athletic journey. We are hoping to host it at Los Gatos Football Field this year!

I am also involved in Interact club which is sponsored by Rotary. It is a club where we do lots of community service involvement and service projects. I recently attended Rotary's ELC (Enterprise Leadership Conference) last March. It was a three day conference where Junior students from all different schools came together to develop and present a business plan to foster leadership and presentation skills. It was also a really cool opportunity to learn more about entrepreneurship, and meet new people, and I was super grateful for the experience!

I am also on the MOSAIC (Making Our School An Inclusive Community) Club where we help plan the lessons for MOSAIC, and find different activities and lessons that will get students more engaged in the lessons at LGHS.

I am also very involved at my church! I was on the student leadership team for my youth group and I helped get new students involved with our ministry, helped set-up events, led games, and encouraged people to come! I also regularly volunteer on Sunday's at my church! Where I volunteer in the nursery some days and other days I volunteer with the five year olds!

During the winter season, you can find me at Black Road Christmas Tree Farm on the weekends working from 7am-6pm helping regular and new customers find the perfect Christmas tree! This job has really helped me gain knowledge about Christmas Tree's and how the farms are run. As well as how to run a successful business, and all the working parts it takes to make everything move smoothly.

I have also been in Leadership at LGHS for the past four years and am currently the Senior Class President! I help plan a lot of the Senior class activities, and fundraising for our events like Senior prom, etc. I think it's a super fun way to get involved even more at LG and to make the experiences of the seniors last a lifetime!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In ten years I see myself becoming a pediatric registered nurse (RN). I also see myself starting my own organization. The organization would be made to help impoverished villages in Africa. The reason I want to do this is because I actually have a sponsored child that I sponsor and he lives in a small village in Africa, called Malawi. He lived in a very poverty stricken area and I was more than happy to sponsor him! I have seen all the amazing opportunities that he has been given after becoming sponsored and I want to give other children those same opportunities that he has been given! I would also want to work at my organization as a RN helping the children. The organization would consist of giving children access to education, healthcare, clean water, food, and ministry! The reason I want to do this is because I love helping others and want to make a difference for the lives of those who need it the most!

What makes you proud to be a LGHS Wildcat?
I'm proud to be a LGHS Wildcat. I love our school spirit and the way everyone supports each other. Being part of this school makes me feel connected and proud to be a Wildcat.

What was your 1st job?
I was 7 years old when I worked as a waiter in Guadalajara, Mexico, at a place called El Parian.

What are your words of wisdom to live by?
Assist others whenever they need help.

What's something we might not know about you?
Something you might not know about me is that I have a passion for music and even enjoy mixing my own tracks. It’s a creative hobby I truly love, and I've been DJing since I was 13 years old.
 

What makes you proud to be a Wildcat? 
I am proud to be a LGHS Wildcat because I feel inspired when I see those who came before me. Lots of my friends' parents graduated from Los Gatos High and I think its cool to continue legacy.     

Who is your hero or inspiration? 
Both my parents inspire me everyday because I have seen how much they have both done for me my whole life. My mom raised me and two siblings and as soon as we were grown enough she started teaching again. My dad has made collegiate student athletes lives better for my whole life.

Do you have any hobbies/ extracurricular activities you do outside of school?  
I am a three sport athlete. I played on the varsity team as a sophomore in all 3 and led the lacrosse team to a CCS title. I also like to fish and golf. 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I see myself coaching most likely lacrosse and trying to help the younger generation be better.