7th Grade Teacher
6th - 8th Grade Language Arts Teacher

Zena Yamamoto, a native of Southern California, joined the St. Brendan community in the fall of 2018. Zena holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Journalism from the University of Southern California, and a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential as well as a California Single Subject Credential in English from Azusa Pacific University.  She teaches literature and writing to the middle school. Zena has taught at St. Mark’s School in Altadena and Pasadena Polytechnic School. Zena has taught everything from Shakespeare to geometric construction to writing; often developing the curriculum for these classes.

A mother of six children, Zena has directly experienced and loved children at all ages and stages.  It is perhaps during her time as a stay-at-home mom that Zena developed her abiding belief that all children are unique, each with beauty, integrity, and profound gifts.  With her own children and the many children she has taught, Zena has had the privilege of nurturing these gifts.

A lifelong Catholic and member of two small-faith communities, Zena is thrilled to incorporate her love of God into her teaching.  When not teaching, Zena adores spending time with her husband, “St. Steve”, her children, and regally goofball corgis.  Every summer, she participates in a beachside basketball beatdown tournament with the eight members of her family, where the only “skill” she possesses is fierce defense, elbows sometimes inadvertently included!