760.952.1760


Meet Our Team

Meet the dedicated staff that makes ICA the premier charter school in the Helendale area. Our faculty’s collective goal is to provide every Independence Charter Academy student with the tools they need to succeed academically and beyond.

Our mission begins in the classrooms, but it extends throughout every aspect of our student’s lives. We are passionate about the role we will play in your child’s life and understand that we aren’t just teachers, coaches and administrators. Our faculty members are dedicated to enabling our students to achieve their goals and fulfill the immense potential they all possess.

Our Office is open Mon.-Fri. 7am-3pm. We are closed on Holidays and School Breaks. 

Summer Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-3pm.

Chris Ontiveros

Principal

Lia Ditulio

Secretary

lditulio@helendalesd.com

Tara Munoz

Tech/Clerk

t.munoz@helendalesd.com

Larry Kast

Larry Kast

High School Instructor

lkast@helendalesd.com

Kurt Young

High School Instructor

kyoung@helendalesd.com

Maureen Ratajesak

Maureen Ratajesak

Math Instructor

mratajesak@helendalesd.com

Ricardo Maldonado, Teacher

Ricardo Maldonado

High School Instructor

rmaldonado@helendalesd.com

Natalie Lagergren

Elementary School Instructor

nlagergren@helendalesd.com

Michelle Lada

Middle School Instructor

mlada@helendalesd.com

Candice Ratajesak

SAI Instructor

cratajesak@helendalesd.com

Paula Lawrence

EL Instructional Aide

plawrence@helendalesd.com

Aaron Byrd

Counselor

abyrd@helendalesd.com

Kristy Olmstead

Counselor

kolmstead@helendalesd.com

Gabriela Rodriguez

Psychologist

Viviana Bravo

Director of Educational Services

Madeline Dietrich

Educational Services Secretary

mdietrich@helendalesd.com

Mental Health Clinician