Hello, my name is Anthony Milanés, and I am in my 18th year of teaching and 15th year at the Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences. Over the years, I have taught Advanced Placement Chemistry, (Honors) Chemistry in the Earth System, Biology of Living Earth, the Career Technical Education Engineering Design Courses of Engineering Development, Material Science Engineering, Computer Aided Design (1 & 2), Introduction to Nanotechnology, as well as all four grade levels of the VAAS College and Career (Advisory) courses. I have also served as our schools Chemical Safety Coordinator since 2011. Additionally, I started in 2011 and continue to mentor our VAAS, award winning robotics team, the Cyber Vipers. 

 

Outside of VAAS, I proudly serve on two teaching leadership teams run by the Los Angeles Unified School District. The Science Leadership Team (member since 2016), overseen by the Division of Instruction, works to develop professional development (PD) opportunities for secondary science (middle/high schools) educators. My work on the team focuses on developing chemistry teaching resources for new and veteran chemistry teachers, as well as assisting in the creation and facilitation of yearly PD opportunities for teachers throughout LAUSD. The recently created Robotics Leadership Team (member since 2024), also overseen by the Division of Instruction, works to promote the development of FIRST Tech Challenge Competition Robotics teams throughout LAUSD middle and high schools. In this endeavor, my work on the team revolves around supporting teachers through the process of setting up a robotics team at their school site, assisting them with the technical knowledge of how to build and program the robots and provide ongoing assistance throughout the year. 

 

I graduate from Granada Hills High School in Granada Hills, CA (class of 2002) and went on to earn a Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology with a Minor in Chemistry (and emphasis in Biochemistry) at the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2006.

 

Following graduation, I continued my work as a manager and lifeguard at various Citywide Aquatics pool facilities (run through Los Angeles Parks and Recreation); job locations that I had continually worked at in various capacities since high school. I also worked as a lab technician at California State University of Northridge under the direction of Dr. Maria Elena de Bellard, assisting her in her research of glial cells (a type of neural cell) found in bamboo sharks. You can read about the research conducted at the following link, where I was a co-author of Embryonic development of glial cells and myelin in the shark, Chiloscyllium punctatum. Additionally, I volunteered my time and started up a robotics team at Northridge Academy High School. It was here (in addition to my time tutoring peers in college/highs school) that I realized the teaching profession could provide me with the satisfaction in my career I was looking for.

 

I officially began my career in 2008 at Richard E. Byrd middle school in Sun Valley, teaching 8th grade physical science. I enrolled in and completed a CSUN credentialing program, earning Single Subject Credentials in the areas of Biological Sciences and Chemistry.

 

Having a childhood passion (that continues today) for music and the performing arts led me to jump at the chance to join the VAAS faculty when the school first opened in 2011.

 

In 2018, I went back to school and earned a Masters degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies along with an Administrative Services Credential. In 2022, I earned and became a National Board Certified teacher in the subject of chemistry.

 

Outside of teaching, I enjoy spending my off time with my family, fishing, biking, swimming, reading, or traveling to different national parks. 

 

If you need to contact me, I can be reached by email at: [email protected]

 

Go Vipers!