Weil Teaching Faculty

Emily Morris was born and raised in Ojai, California. With generations of educators in her family, Emily has deep roots in education and a passion for inspiring and supporting our youth. She holds a B.A. in English and Comparative Literary Studies from Occidental College and an M.Ed. in School Leadership from the University of San Diego.

She has been a member of the Weil teaching faculty since Fall 2016 and teaches Painting and Drawing and English 2. Within the classroom, she works to cultivate each student as empathetic, critically-thinking, and academically focused individuals who contribute positively to the classroom community. She believes that learning is a lifelong process and hopes to instill a love of learning within her students.

Outside of work, Emily enjoys hiking, painting, traveling, and spending time with her husband, newborn son, and dog.

Emily can be contacted at emorris@weiltennis.com

Patrick Praetorius is the history/social science teacher for Weil Prep. Patrick studied a wide range of disciplines at Whittier College, where he received his undergraduate degree in English. After that, he earned his master’s degree in education and teaching credential from The Claremont Graduate University. He has taught in public and private schools in the Southern California area since 1988.

Patrick says, “In my mind, education is the key to a successful, rewarding, and happy life. I believe that learning never stops for the individual. I take personal satisfaction from knowing that I am helping the Weil students to reach their goals. If by being their teacher I have helped them learn how to learn, and develop a love for learning, I feel very gratified. History and social studies are a passion for me, and I am excited to share in the learning exploration of these topics with the Weil students!”

When he is not teaching, Patrick enjoys attending lectures, concerts, and the theater. He also has a passion for communing with nature in such ways as hiking and cycling and camping with his family.

Christoph Thart is a math and science teacher at Weil Academy. He grew up mostly in California but has lived outside the USA in Germany and South Africa as well. He received a BA degree in Biology from University of California Santa Barbara and Multiple Subject Credential from Azusa Pacific University.

Christoph is new to Weil but this is his 10th year teaching math and science that includes years in middle school, high school and SAT preparatory work for The Princeton Review. Always interested in learning, it was Christoph's time living and traveling abroad that cemented his understanding of how important education is in preparing students for productive and fulfilling futures as global citizens. He strives to connect learning to outside the classroom and to prepare students for their future academic endeavours.

Outside of school, Christoph enjoys spending time with his three sons and getting away to the mountains for snow sports and hiking. He played 4 school sports in high school including tennis and now enjoys coaching his sons in AYSO soccer.

Chris can be contacted at cthart@weiltennis.com

Dr. Alex Benitz is a graduate of the University of North Texas with a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry and an alumnus of CSU Channel Islands with a Bachelor's in Biochemistry. He is a successful chemistry, biology, and physics classroom educator and has taught at the high school and university levels. Dr. Benitz's teaching development began by tutoring students in STEM at Oxnard College. He is a graduate of UNT's G-STEP (graduate student teaching excellence program) which promotes active learning in the classroom. As part of his graduate education, he worked with Dr. D'Souza to synthesize novel molecules that employed the principles of photosynthesis for applications in solar technology. In addition to teaching, Dr. Benitz is an avid and exploratory chef. During the summer, he enjoys spending time hiking and camping with his two dogs and husband of twenty years.

Alex can be reached at abenitz@weiltennis.com

Luke Cromwell is a native of Ojai, California, and has recently returned to his hometown to join the Weil Academy as an English teacher. He earned his undergraduate degree in English from CSU Channel Islands in 2013, where he also worked as an English tutor, wrote articles for the school newspaper, and contributed to the Island Fox Literary Journal. He has taught English abroad in China, Russia, and Hungary, and has a great deal of experience in teaching English to a wide range of ages.

Luke joined the Weil teaching staff in the fall of 2024. His methodology in the classroom relies on the Socratic approach, emphasizing classroom discussions and group analysis of literature. Of paramount importance to him is the development and improvement of critical thinking skills, which can be applied to all walks of life inside and outside the classroom.

Outside of his teaching responsibilities, Luke enjoys spending time with his wife and son, watching films, reading novels, and writing fiction.

Luke can be reached at lcromwell@weiltennis.com

Stella Arauz de Batey was born in the Republic of Panama and raised in the beautiful province of Chiriquí, known by the Ngäbe people as the Valley of the Moon. Ojai, whose name also means Valley of the Moon in Chumash, holds a special connection to her roots. The eldest of 6 children, Stella grew up in a hardworking farming family, where she learned the importance of dedication, resilience, and community.

Stella graduated with a Bachiller in Science from Colegio Félix Olivares in Panama before continuing her education in the United States. She studied at the School of International Languages in Los Angeles and earned a Business degree from Mount St. Mary’s College, where she lived on campus for 3 years alongside students from around the world. Her love of language and connection with people later led her to serve as a Spanish tutor at Ventura College.

Before becoming a Spanish teacher, Stella dedicated 40 years to a career in healthcare, including 27 years at Ventura County Medical Center. During that time, she served as a Clinical Assistant, CNA, Breastfeeding Counselor, and Official Spanish Translator in Telemetry, Labor & Delivery, and Pediatrics. Her work in healthcare deepened her commitment to service, communication, and caring for others.
After 5 years of retirement, Stella returned to one of her greatest passions: teaching Spanish. She enjoys creating meaningful learning experiences that help students build confidence, cultural awareness, and a love for language. She is grateful to be part of Weil Tennis Academy’s global and multicultural community, which truly feels like home.

Outside the classroom, Stella enjoys traveling to peaceful, green places, camping, cooking, and walking along California’s Golden Coast beaches. She cherishes time with her sons, Alex and Nicolas; her husband, Everett; and their dog, Luke. Stella is also proud to serve her community as a Lions International member of over 20 years and currently serves as Vice President of the Channel Islands Club of Oxnard.

David Edwards was born and raised in Palos Verdes, California. After receiving his BA in Business Administration from Cal State, Long Beach he went to work at Lamborghini of North America. After a handful of years his desire was to do something a bit more fulfilling. He received his teaching credential from Cal State, Northridge and began his teaching career in Ojai in 1987. Because he was not a math major, he decided to earn his master’s degree in mathematics from the University of New Hampshire in 1994.

David is very interested in the math curriculum. In part, it is the specific topics and sequence. Also of interest is the future of math as it pertains to college, the workplace, and general utility and student relevance. He also feels that working with teenagers helps to keep him young and better in touch with another generation’s perspective on the world.

David has three grown children and is grandpa of two, a dog lover with three at home (and perhaps a fourth when you read this), and a motorcycle fanatic. David and his wife, Susan, operate a family business in Ojai. In any spare time, they love to garden and work on their house.

David can be reached at dedwards@weiltennis.com.

Ben serves as the Dean of Students at Weil Academy. Originally from Cleveland, OH, Ben studied music and musicology at Kenyon College and Indiana University. With over thirteen years of experience in boarding school education, Ben joined the Weil team in 2010 after stints at Olney Friends School (OH), Andrews Osborne Academy (OH), and The Bolles School (FL), where he served in various capacities as a teacher and student affairs administrator.

What Ben loves most about Weil is working with a student body that values hard work on and off the court and that supports each other on a daily basis. In his free time, Ben enjoys cooking, eating Zankou Chicken, and exploring the hiking trails of Southern California and the Central Coast with his wife and two children, Henry and Beecher.

Dr. Van Houten is a board-certified pediatrician with over 34 years of experience in the medical field and a proud resident of Ojai. He graduated from North Carolina school of Medicine where he honed his expertise in child healthcare. Currently, he serves as the medical advisor to the Weil Tennis Academy, where he provides valuable insights into the health and wellness of young athletes and is our dedicated-on Call Physician, ensuring comprehensive care for our student-Athletes. Dr. Van Houten is affiliated with Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura County, where he contributes to the delivery of high-quality medical care.

Miguel is excited to step into his new role as the Director of Community Life/ Dorm Parent at Weil Tennis Academy. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Miguel has a diverse background that combines a deep appreciation for the arts with extensive experience in leadership and management.

Raised in an artistic family, Miguel developed a keen understanding of creativity and expression, which has shaped his approach to community building and leadership. He spent many successful years at Lululemon, where he honed his skills in team management, strategic planning, and fostering a positive and inclusive culture. His passion for helping others reach their full potential is evident in his hands-on leadership style and commitment to community engagement.

In addition to his work in retail management, Miguel has a thriving career in real estate, with a particular focus on development relations. His expertise in this area has given him a strong foundation in project management, negotiation, and relationship building, all of which he brings to his role at Weil.

As a father of a Weil student, Miguel has a personal stake in the well-being and success of the community. He is deeply committed to creating a supportive and enriching environment for all students, drawing on his varied experiences to connect with them on multiple levels.

Outside of his professional life, Miguel enjoys staying active, exploring new creative outlets, and spending quality time with his family. He is thrilled to be part of the Weil community and looks forward to contributing to the vibrant life on campus.

Miguel can be reached at mfaulkner@weiltennis.com

Frances Angelica Santiago (Angel) is originally from Manila, Philippines. She Started playing tennis at the age of 7 and during her junior tennis career ranked top 10.

She was part of the Junior Fed Cup team in 2015 that was held in Melbourne, Australia And won her first women's open title in the Philippines at the age of 15 (TLH-Solinco Women's Open Tennis Tournament).

During 2016 and 2017 she competed in many national tournaments in Australia such as NSW Age Championships (Gold JT), 2016 Tennis World Twilight, 2016 Wollongong Queens Birthday. By the Age of 17, Angel had competed in many prestigious women’s single and double tournaments such as the AMT Macquarie Open Women’s Singles, and AMT New South Wales women’s doubles. By The Age of 17, Angel managed to receive her ATPCA level 1 coaching certification (Australian Tennis Professional Coaches Association) and began coaching by the age of 18.

She Played for one year in De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines leading the team to a first finalist (Silver medalist) for UAAP Season 82. She then came to the US in 2020 to play for the NCAA Division I University of Louisiana at Lafayette with full scholarship. During her time in Louisiana, she Helped lead the Louisiana Women's Tennis team to advance in the Sun Belt Conference tournament in 2022 for the first time since 2014. Angel Earned bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minored in Marketing.

Coach Angel can be reached at Fasantiago@weiltennis.com

Karen was born and raised in Ojai, CA and attended Nordhoff High School where she competed in various sports such as: track and field, basketball, and soccer. She studied abroad in Mexico for 2 years where she worked on perfecting her writing and communication skills in her first language, Spanish. In 2015, she graduated from Chaparral High School, and continued to study business at Ventura College.

She began her journey with Weil Academy in 2016 and enjoys working with a diverse group of student-athletes and colleagues. Outside of the office, Karen enjoys all decorative and functional crafting activities such as: macramé, painting, paper crafts, and jewelry making. She most enjoys exploring the Ojai Valley trails with her family and dog.