Teacher Spotlight

Meet Mr. Surrey! 

Mr. Surrey brings a wonderful international perspective, a passion for innovation, and a love of learning to the Golden Hills School community!

Born and raised in New Zealand, Mr. Surrey earned his Bachelor of Education in Primary Teaching from the University of Auckland. He began his teaching career in South Auckland, where he developed a passion for creating engaging and meaningful learning experiences for his students. His love of education—and adventure—then took him across the globe to Japan, where he taught English in elementary and junior high schools and gained a firsthand appreciation for different cultures and approaches to learning.

After returning to New Zealand, Mr. Surrey continued to expand his teaching experience, working with students in Grades 2–7 in both traditional classrooms and innovative open-plan learning environments. Throughout his career, he has been especially passionate about finding creative ways to bring technology, problem-solving, and hands-on learning into the classroom.

His enthusiasm for innovation led him to serve as Head of Digital Technologies, where he helped students and teachers explore new ways to use technology to enhance learning. He also led a robotics and coding club—giving students opportunities to build, create, experiment, and discover—and contributed to a nationwide initiative focused on strengthening collaboration between schools across New Zealand.

In 2023, Mr. Surrey and his wife traded New Zealand for El Dorado Hills, beginning an exciting new chapter here in California. He is thrilled to be part of Golden Hills School and to continue sharing his enthusiasm for teaching, technology, creativity, and innovative learning with our students.

We are so lucky to have Mr. Surrey bringing his global experience, creativity, and passion for learning to GHS!

Meet Mrs. Blanco!

Mrs. Blanco brings a wonderful combination of energy, enthusiasm, and a love of culture to her Spanish classroom at Golden Hills School. She is passionate about helping students in grades K–8 develop their Spanish language skills while encouraging them to be curious about the diverse cultures, traditions, and people that make our world so special.

Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Mrs. Blanco earned her bachelor’s degree in Marketing before her journey took her to several countries around the globe. Living and experiencing life in different parts of the world sparked an even deeper appreciation for languages and cultures—something she now loves sharing with her students. In addition to her native Spanish, Mrs. Blanco is also fluent in Portuguese!

After moving to the United States 12 years ago, Mrs. Blanco discovered a new calling in education. She earned her certification in Early Childhood Education and spent three years teaching young learners before joining the Golden Hills School community in 2019. Since then, she has had the joy of teaching Spanish to students from Kindergarten through 8th grade.

For Mrs. Blanco, learning Spanish is about so much more than vocabulary and grammar. She strives to make language come alive by introducing students to the history, traditions, celebrations, and rich heritage of Hispanic cultures, while helping them understand the many important contributions Hispanic culture has made to the United States. Her goal is to inspire students to become confident language learners who are excited to explore and appreciate the world around them.

When she’s not in the classroom, Mrs. Blanco loves spending time with her two sons and staying active. You might find her working out at the gym, camping, paddleboarding, biking, or cooking something delicious with family and friends. Above all, her favorite moments are the ones spent making memories with her family.

We are so fortunate to have Mrs. Blanco here to share her love of language, culture, and learning with our Golden Hills students!