Director of Instrumental Music

Director of Instrumental Music

Rachel Casey started her musical journey when she was just 7 years old and eventually attended the nationally recognized, grammy nominated Mt Carmel High School, in San Diego, California. She excelled at the french horn and was a member of the All-Southern California Honor Band for four years, the California All State Honor Band for two years in a row and a member of the All State Honor Orchestra and All National Honor Band her senior year. 
Upon graduation, Rachel received a scholarship to attend the prestigious school of music at Indiana University in Bloomington receiving a B.M. in horn performance. There, she studied horn under Michael Hatfield and Jeff Nelsen of the Canadian Brass and was awarded the opportunity to study horn performance abroad at IES Vienna. 
Rachel has over  fifteen years of teaching experience and earned a Masters of Education in 2018. After graduation, she returned to Mt. Carmel High School as assistant director of bands earning numerous awards and multiple championships over her ten year tenure. 
In 2018, she was awarded a directorship at Helix Charter High School, one of Southern California’s most prestigious programs. While at Helix, the music program has flourished and earned numerous awards over the last several years.     
In addition to public education, Rachel has served as a choral conductor at Hope United Methodist in Rancho Bernardo. Rachel has also served as a judge for the American Drumline Association since 2011. Rachel has her own horn studio and is one of San Diego’s most sought after private instructors. 

Bagpipes Teacher

Check out the latest article about our Bagpipe Program here. 

Teacher, Speech & Debate and Theater

Coordinator, Performing Arts Center

Gregg has been teaching at Helix for 27 years. In that time, he has taught multiple courses, including Theater, Speech & Debate, English & Math. He has coached the Helix Speech & Debate team for the past 24 years. 

He majored in math at SDSU before switching majors and getting his degree in Theater. His two sons graduated from Helix and his wife Jennifer helps him coach the speech and debate team. 

Theater Teacher

Paul has been a part of the Highland Players since 1994, when he enrolled at Helix as a ninth grader. As a student he served as an actor, stage manager, director, and the president of the Highland Players. 

After completing his Bachelor of Arts in Theater from San Diego State University, Paul moved to New York City where he taught elementary school as a New York Teaching Fellow, completed the coursework for a Master’s of Education at Hunter College, and watched the Broadway production of Phantom of the Opera most Monday nights. 

After three years in New York City, Paul returned to Helix, accepting a position as an English and Theater teacher. Since 2005, he has regularly taught 9th grade Honors English, 12th grade Literature of Hip Hop, and a variety of theater courses, including Theater 110 through Grossmont College.
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As the co-Artistic Director of the Highland Players, serving alongside his friend and mentor Gregg Osborn, Paul has directed more than 25 productions at Helix and served as technical director on dozens more. In 2017 and 2018 he won back to back National Youth Arts Theater Director of the Year awards for his productions of In the Heights and Mr. Burns, a post-electric play. 
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Paul lives in City Heights with his wife, Amy, and his children Lucy and Gideon.

Dance Department Director & ASPIRE Coordinator

Katie Pipes hails from Modesto, California where she began dancing at the age of seven. She studied Cecchetti Ballet for eleven years while also taking Jazz and Tap in her youth under the instruction of Ms. Debbie Holtzclaw. She continued dancing throughout high school where she was introduced to Modern Dance as well. She began choreographing and teaching dance at her local studio while in high school and this is where she further developed her passion for dance.  Mrs. Pipes continued to dance at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2000 under the guidance of acclaimed dance professors, Valerie Houston and Christopher Pilafian. From 2000-2004 she danced in several dance companies, including Pulse Dance Ensemble and Blueprint Dance Company, both contemporary dance companies based out of the Sacramento area.

Today, Katie has been teaching dance at Helix Charter High School since 2007 where she oversees the dance department as the Artistic Director and Program Director.  Mrs. Pipes received her Master of Arts in Dance at California State University, Long Beach in early 2014 where she studied under Andrew Vaca, Colleen Dunagan, Kim Davis, Sara Pfeifle Gallo, and Sarah Wilbur.
Mrs. Pipes loves being able to share her creativity and passion for dance with her students and the La Mesa and Diego communities.

Director of Vocal Music

Michelle Tolvo-Chan has been teaching vocal music in California public schools for over 20 years. Michelle has directed many award winning groups, including Bonita Vista High School’s “The Music Machine” and “Sound Unlimited”. In 2004 she was awarded a Masters of Music degree in Choral Conducting from San Diego State University, and a year later began working for the Walt Disney Company, where she was both a Stage Manager and Guest Talent Coordinator for performing groups from dance teams to choirs to marching bands performing at the parks and resorts. Michelle was also a music professor at Southwestern College and San Diego Christian College. In addition, Michelle has performed with the Southwestern College Concert Choir in the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the Sydney Opera House, the Apollo Theatre in Syros, Greece, Saint Peter’s Cathedral at the Vatican in Rome, Italy and New York City’s Carnegie Hall…twice! In addition to singing with Southwestern College Choirs since 2002, Michelle has also been singing professionally with the “Full Measure Carolers” since 1998. Michelle is currently the director of vocal activities at Helix Charter High School in La Mesa, where she directs 4 award winning choirs as well as vocally directing several of the Highland Players musicals. Michelle continues to be active in the vocal music community, coordinating clinics and exchanges with choral directors and departments at La Mesa Arts Academy, Point Loma Nazarene College, Southwestern College and San Diego State University.