Volunteer-led. Community-powered. Student-focused.
Grove Parent Teacher Group, Inc. (GPTG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and enriching the educational experience of students at The Grove School in Redlands, California.
Our mission is to strengthen the Grove School experience by raising and responsibly stewarding funds that expand opportunities for students, support educators, and build meaningful connections among students, families, teachers, and the greater Redlands community. Through fundraising, community partnerships, and volunteer engagement, GPTG helps make key experiences, programs, and opportunities possible that enrich student life and help our Grove community thrive.
Hi everyone, I’m Damian Hobson. After holding the office of GPTG Vice President, I am honored to serve as the GPTG President for the 2024-2025 school year. I am equally excited to have a voice about the school’s future and developmental growth as I will also be representing The Grove families on the school’s governing board as well.
I am Victoria’s husband of 25 years and the father to Getty, who will be entering his sophomore year. He has been a student of the Montessori pedagogy since he was 18 months old, and we are committed to seeing him through to graduation here at The Grove School.
In my free time, I enjoy watching movies, listening to music, and tending to my young citrus and avocado trees. Victoria and I can be found volunteering around campus. If we haven’t met, please come find me at the next event and introduce yourself. I’m looking forward to meeting you.
KATHLEEN OJO
Hi everyone! I’m Kathleen Ojo, a long-time Redlander and brand new to the Grove community. My older daughter, Amaliya, will be starting 7th grade this year. Her younger sister, Asha, is going into 3rd grade at Kimberly Elementary. I am a marketer by trade and worked for Esri for almost 14 years before transitioning to another tech company, where I work remotely from home. In my spare (ha!) time, I'm often found sitting in the gymnastics studio watching my daughters train, lifting weights, taking long walks, gardening, reading books of all genres, or experimenting with gluten free loaves in my brand new bread machine. I look forward to meeting you all and working together to make this a great year!
CRAIG SEAL
Craig and Prae are the parents of Will (11th grade). They have been in Redlands for over 10 years. Craig works as a professor of management at California State University, San Bernardino. His wife is an amazing cook (specializing in baking and ethnic cuisine) and his son is volunteering at the Veterans Administration (VA). They have a 5-year old pug, named ‘Buddy’, who has extreme separation anxiety since being with everyone through Covid. Last summer they took a European Vacation (hence the photo)
CARRIE PADILLA
Hello Grove Families! I'm Carrie, proud mom of three wonderful kids. My oldest recently graduated from Cal State Fullerton and my middle is a sophomore at Riverside City College. My youngest, Jacob, is entering his sophomore year here at The Grove. He has been a part of The Grove community since 7th grade, and we've cherished every moment of our experience.
Outside of my career as a Realtor, I'm often found outdoors, whether hiking with our dogs, enjoying the beach, or tending to my garden. Our family loves cheering on the Dodgers and I'm definitely a foodie at heart!
Hello All, I’m Cobb and I am excited to be the 2024-2025 communications manager for the Grove PTG. As the father of Henry and Keaton it means the world to me to be able to help make both the Grove and MIR better places for our kids. My wife Erin and I are committed to doing anything that we can to ensure that our children, and all children that they share their schools with, have a safe, supportive, and fun environment in which to learn. As the owner of Make Me Tees / Blume Kreativ I am fortunate to be able to run online stores for both MIR and Grove. I have also had the good fortune to teach a mini course at the Grove and I look forward to doing so again soon. Between my business, my kids, and a house that I am remodeling, I stay pretty busy. When we do you have free time the family and I love Disneyland, Concerts, and exploring the vast array of interesting places that Southern California has to offer. I love to meet fellow Grove families so please say hello if you see me around. I look forward to getting to know you.
Ms. O’Brien joined The Grove School in 2016. She is grateful she works in a community where she can provide her students with a diverse yet, rigorous curriculum that allows students to construct their knowledge through active involvement. Ms. O’Brien earned four AAs in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Biological and Physical Sciences, Environmental Studies, and Real Estate at SBVC and two BAs in Environmental Studies and Geography at CSUSB. She also earned an Urban Planning Certificate while at CSUSB. While attending LMU (Loyola Marymount University), Ms. O’Brien earned a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Biological and Life Sciences and authorization to teach Geosciences. She also earned a MA in Urban Education – Policy and Administration at LMU. In 2018, Ms. O’Brien earned a NAMTA/AMI Montessori Orientation to Adolescent Studies certification. In addition, Ms. O’Brien was also an AmeriCorps/Teach for America corps member. Ms. O’Brien teaches Environmental Science, Anatomy and Physiology, and AP Environmental Science. She is also the Senior Project Coordinator and advisor for the HS ASB and Environmental Club. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family, traveling, volunteering, and experiencing the beauty of nature.
