Spring Lizard Talks

Lizard Talks take place throughout the year and are an opportunity for professional adults, from within and without our school community, to share their expertise with high school students. This Spring has featured several Lizard Talks on the subject of meditation and consciousness, video game design, and better understanding of the LGBTQ+ community, gender, and sexuality.

Jaime Flores

Hacking Life: The Journey of Self-Knowledge

Jaime Flores is the IT Coordinator at Oak Grove School and a Facilitator of Pneuma Transpersonal Training & Pneuma Breathwork. In the talk, Jaime explored how to unlock the hidden potential of our consciousness by drawing upon the wisdom of both ancient and modern sciences of the mind, including the Allegory of Plato’s Cave. Through this exploration, students were shown ways to approach life’s challenges with greater clarity and purpose.

Michael Hemmert Jensen – Gaming

Oak Grove parent and Software Engineer with 15 years of experience, Michael gave a wonderful presentation on the inner-workings of computer game design and more. Since 2014, he has been working at Riot Games developing systems for managing professional players in Esports tournaments, tracking game stats for broadcast teams and viewers, and handling video for online streaming. Recently, Michael has been working on the League of Legends deploy team, building tools for delivering regular updates to the game. In his free time, Michael loves DIY projects, 3D printing, travel, and, of course, playing video games.

Azalea Corral

Understanding the LGBTQ+ Community: What is Gender and Sexuality?

Azalea Corral is Pacific Pride Foundation‘s Training and Education Manager. She is a Latina woman who is part of the LGBTQ+ community. She is completing her Master’s Degree in International and Multicultural Education. Azalea grew up in both Santa Barbara and Goleta, and has worked professionally to create inclusive learning environments throughout California in places such as the University of California, Riverside, and San Francisco State University. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, playing guitar, and practicing her photography skills.

Lizard Talk

Recent Blog Posts:

What is Education

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At Oak Grove School in Ojai, California, we often share moments of silence with our students, from preschool through 12th grade, as a whole community, in small groups, and individually.
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MLK Day Celebration 2021

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We are always honored to be part of this important community celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said, "Change does not roll on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle."
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Talking About Confusing World Events

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As educators and parents, we have an important role in contextualizing disturbing world events like the recent violent takeover of our country’s capitol. After a year of challenge after challenge, this will require reaching into our deepest reserves of energy and resilience. But we must do what we can to provide a sense of understanding and stability amid chaos. We are obligated to take an active role in building a healthier, more just future.
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