Weil College Prep School Faculty

Emily Morris was born and raised in Ojai, California. With generations of educators in her family, Emily has deep roots in education and a passion for inspiring and supporting our youth. She holds a B.A. in English and Comparative Literary Studies from Occidental College and an M.Ed. in School Leadership from the University of San Diego.

She has been a member of the Weil teaching faculty since Fall 2016 and teaches Painting and Drawing and English 2. Within the classroom, she works to cultivate each student as empathetic, critically-thinking, and academically focused individuals who contribute positively to the classroom community. She believes that learning is a lifelong process and hopes to instill a love of learning within her students.

Outside of work, Emily enjoys hiking, painting, traveling, and spending time with her husband, newborn son, and dog.

Emily can be contacted at emorris@weiltennis.com

Patrick Praetorius is the history/social science teacher for Weil Prep. Patrick studied a wide range of disciplines at Whittier College, where he received his undergraduate degree in English. After that, he earned his master’s degree in education and teaching credential from The Claremont Graduate University. He has taught in public and private schools in the Southern California area since 1988.

Patrick says, “In my mind, education is the key to a successful, rewarding, and happy life. I believe that learning never stops for the individual. I take personal satisfaction from knowing that I am helping the Weil students to reach their goals. If by being their teacher I have helped them learn how to learn, and develop a love for learning, I feel very gratified. History and social studies are a passion for me, and I am excited to share in the learning exploration of these topics with the Weil students!”

When he is not teaching, Patrick enjoys attending lectures, concerts, and the theater. He also has a passion for communing with nature in such ways as hiking and cycling and camping with his family.

Christoph Thart is a math and science teacher at Weil Academy. He grew up mostly in California but has lived outside the USA in Germany and South Africa as well. He received a BA degree in Biology from University of California Santa Barbara and Multiple Subject Credential from Azusa Pacific University.

Christoph is new to Weil but this is his 10th year teaching math and science that includes years in middle school, high school and SAT preparatory work for The Princeton Review. Always interested in learning, it was Christoph's time living and traveling abroad that cemented his understanding of how important education is in preparing students for productive and fulfilling futures as global citizens. He strives to connect learning to outside the classroom and to prepare students for their future academic endeavours.

Outside of school, Christoph enjoys spending time with his three sons and getting away to the mountains for snow sports and hiking. He played 4 school sports in high school including tennis and now enjoys coaching his sons in AYSO soccer.

Chris can be contacted at cthart@weiltennis.com

Dr. Alex Benitz is a graduate of the University of North Texas with a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry and an alumnus of CSU Channel Islands with a Bachelor's in Biochemistry. He is a successful chemistry, biology, and physics classroom educator and has taught at the high school and university levels. Dr. Benitz's teaching development began by tutoring students in STEM at Oxnard College. He is a graduate of UNT's G-STEP (graduate student teaching excellence program) which promotes active learning in the classroom. As part of his graduate education, he worked with Dr. D'Souza to synthesize novel molecules that employed the principles of photosynthesis for applications in solar technology. In addition to teaching, Dr. Benitz is an avid and exploratory chef. During the summer, he enjoys spending time hiking and camping with his two dogs and husband of twenty years.

Alex can be reached at abenitz@weiltennis.com

P.J. Haring teaches Math, Statistics and Psychology at the Weil Academy. After receiving bachelor’s degrees in psychology and religious studies at Occidental College, he went on to earn a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University.

A teacher of math for many years, P.J. believes the combination of academic and athletic excellence is the ideal mix for adolescent development. The Weil Academy provides students with the tools they need throughout their life. Excellence on the court and in the classroom allows students to develop into strong, educated and confident adults.

An avid surfer, P.j. is often found at the beach, making time for meditation and yoga as well. As the father of teenage twins, PJ. brings a life rich in experience to the Weil faculty.

PJ can be reached at pharing@weiltennis.com

Claudia teaches Spanish at Weil Preparatory. Claudia's experience expands across multiple disciplines including instruction, the arts, and curriculum design. She studied art and illustration and earned her Bachelor of Art degree from Cal State University, Northridge. While doing graduate work towards her Master of Art degree, she caught the teaching bug. Shortly after receiving her MA she began her teaching career in higher education at Oxnard College and later at CSUCI where she taught Art History.

Claudia has since taught in a variety of K-12 classroom settings for the Ventura and Santa Paula School Districts, and in private schools including The Thacher School and Saint Bonaventure High School where she taught World Languages. Most recently she was the CTE and Digital Arts Media teacher at Renaissance High School.

Born in Lima, Perú, Claudia is a native Spanish speaker who was educated in Spanish and English simultaneously. She is an enthusiastic storyteller who fosters inclusive environments and engages students for their unique strengths. Her approach to teaching involves immersion in Latin American culture, relatable real-life situations, arts integration, listening, reading, writing, and repetition. Claudia wants to instill in her students the importance of Latin America as a diverse and rich culture that is vital to understanding the world.

When she's not in the classroom, you can find Claudia drawing, camping, reading historical fiction, eating spicy food, and spending time with her family. Often, it's all of these at the same time. She also enjoys creating meticulous itineraries.

Claudia can be reached at cpardo@weiltennis.com

Karen was born and raised in Ojai, CA and attended Nordhoff High School where she competed in various sports such as: track and field, basketball, and soccer. She studied abroad in Mexico for 2 years where she worked on perfecting her writing and communication skills in her first language, Spanish. In 2015, she graduated from Chaparral High School, and continued to study business at Ventura College.

She began her journey with Weil Academy in 2016 and enjoys working with a diverse group of student-athletes and colleagues. Outside of the office, Karen enjoys all decorative and functional crafting activities such as: macramé, painting, paper crafts, and jewelry making. She most enjoys exploring the Ojai Valley trails with her family and dog.

Ben serves as the Dean of Students at Weil Academy. Originally from Cleveland, OH, Ben studied music and musicology at Kenyon College and Indiana University. With over thirteen years of experience in boarding school education, Ben joined the Weil team in 2010 after stints at Olney Friends School (OH), Andrews Osborne Academy (OH), and The Bolles School (FL), where he served in various capacities as a teacher and student affairs administrator.

What Ben loves most about Weil is working with a student body that values hard work on and off the court and that supports each other on a daily basis. In his free time, Ben enjoys cooking, eating Zankou Chicken, and exploring the hiking trails of Southern California and the Central Coast with his wife and two children, Henry and Beecher.

Dr. Van Houten is a board-certified pediatrician with over 34 years of experience in the medical field and a proud resident of Ojai. He graduated from North Carolina school of Medicine where he honed his expertise in child healthcare. Currently, he serves as the medical advisor to the Weil Tennis Academy, where he provides valuable insights into the health and wellness of young athletes and is our dedicated-on Call Physician, ensuring comprehensive care for our student-Athletes. Dr. Van Houten is affiliated with Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura County, where he contributes to the delivery of high-quality medical care.

Miguel is excited to step into his new role as the Director of Community Life/ Dorm Parent at Weil Tennis Academy. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Miguel has a diverse background that combines a deep appreciation for the arts with extensive experience in leadership and management.

Raised in an artistic family, Miguel developed a keen understanding of creativity and expression, which has shaped his approach to community building and leadership. He spent many successful years at Lululemon, where he honed his skills in team management, strategic planning, and fostering a positive and inclusive culture. His passion for helping others reach their full potential is evident in his hands-on leadership style and commitment to community engagement.

In addition to his work in retail management, Miguel has a thriving career in real estate, with a particular focus on development relations. His expertise in this area has given him a strong foundation in project management, negotiation, and relationship building, all of which he brings to his role at Weil.

As a father of a Weil student, Miguel has a personal stake in the well-being and success of the community. He is deeply committed to creating a supportive and enriching environment for all students, drawing on his varied experiences to connect with them on multiple levels.

Outside of his professional life, Miguel enjoys staying active, exploring new creative outlets, and spending quality time with his family. He is thrilled to be part of the Weil community and looks forward to contributing to the vibrant life on campus.

Miguel can be reached at mfaulkner@weiltennis.com

Frances Angelica Santiago (Angel) is originally from Manila, Philippines. She Started playing tennis at the age of 7 and during her junior tennis career ranked top 10.

She was part of the Junior Fed Cup team in 2015 that was held in Melbourne, Australia And won her first women's open title in the Philippines at the age of 15 (TLH-Solinco Women's Open Tennis Tournament).

During 2016 and 2017 she competed in many national tournaments in Australia such as NSW Age Championships (Gold JT), 2016 Tennis World Twilight, 2016 Wollongong Queens Birthday. By the Age of 17, Angel had competed in many prestigious women’s single and double tournaments such as the AMT Macquarie Open Women’s Singles, and AMT New South Wales women’s doubles. By The Age of 17, Angel managed to receive her ATPCA level 1 coaching certification (Australian Tennis Professional Coaches Association) and began coaching by the age of 18.

She Played for one year in De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines leading the team to a first finalist (Silver medalist) for UAAP Season 82. She then came to the US in 2020 to play for the NCAA Division I University of Louisiana at Lafayette with full scholarship. During her time in Louisiana, she Helped lead the Louisiana Women's Tennis team to advance in the Sun Belt Conference tournament in 2022 for the first time since 2014. Angel Earned bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minored in Marketing.

Coach Angel can be reached at Fasantiago@weiltennis.com