MEET OUR TEAM

SPANISH PROGRAMS

Ms. Blanca

Owner & Spanish Teacher

Hola! Me llamo Blanca Bastian and I am the Owner and Director of Yak Academy. I started with Yak Academy as a Spanish teacher over 10 years ago, and fell in love with the philosophy of teaching, families, and students. I am a mother of 3 beautiful girls. As a local resident of Redondo Beach, I believe in providing our community and neighboring communities with the opportunity to enrich their world experience through language. While I am constantly on the go, I always make time for family, friends, and my Lakers! I am a sports enthusiast, and enjoy traveling to different destinations with my family.

Ms. Maria

Spanish Teacher & Assistant Director

Hola! Me llamo Maria Zerpa- Useche. I am a native of Venezuela. When I arrived to California, I decided to pursue my passion for teaching, which led me to Yak Academy. I have been teaching at Yak Academy for over 7 years, and have enjoyed every moment of it. When I'm not busy creating authentic curriculum for my preschoolers, you can find me at a concert, soccer game, spending time with my husband and son, or shopping for unique clothing and accessories.

Ms. Marianna 

Spanish Teacher

Hola! Me llamo Marianna. Bio to come ...

Ms. Merci

Spanish Teacher

Hola! Me llamo Merci. Bio to come ...

MANDARIN PROGRAMS

Ms. Ella

Mandarin Teacher

Nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào Ella. Bio to come ...

FRENCH PROGRAMS

Ms. Kahina

French Teacher

Bonjour! Je m'appelle Kahina. Bio to come...

ADMIN

Ms. Karina

Financial Manager

Hola! Me llamo Karina. Bio to come ...

Ms. Marysol

​​Curriculum & Instruction Specialist

Hola! Bonjour! Ohayo! Me llamo Marysol Perez, and I am the Curriculum and Instruction Specialist that supports Yak Academy-- Redondo Beach. Although I'm a California native, I take pride in my family's Mexican roots. Many moons ago, I taught Spanish at Yak Academy, which led me to further my career in education. I stepped into the charter world and taught for many years a dual language elementary teacher. After receiving my M.Ed in Bilingual Education, I had the opportunity to continue supporting learners in a K-12 setting were I currently support Lawndale Elementary School District as a Language Arts Specialist. I am a lingophile and am fluent in Spanish, English, French, and semi-conversational in Japanese. I like to stay busy, but also enjoy some leisurely time with my husband and two children. I enjoy concert-going, writing (or blogging), and traveling.