5th Grade

Ms. Alex Penner

Welcome to 5th grade! I am a California Lutheran University graduate, class of 2024, earning my teaching credential in 2025. This will be my second year teaching 5th grade, and my first year here at Cypress. I am beyond excited to be joining this team and school community.
I grew up in a small mountain community not too far from here. My childhood was spent dancing, playing sports and visiting family in this area and Massachusetts. Over the years, I have made many treasured memories with my parents, three siblings, friends, and lots of pets. I have had an unwavering passion for education for as long as I can remember. Growing up surrounded by educators, I spent a lot of my childhood babysitting, volunteering at my old preschool and working in my mom's kindergarten classroom. I found it to be very fulfilling! I’ve always related to children in a special way, looking forward to spending time with them. I find joy in a lot of the same things they do and I am constantly in awe of the optimism and wonderment they bring each day. I am so excited to build more relationships with students, promoting kindness and compassion while watching them flourish into whoever they desire to be. A firm believer in the potential of every student I encounter, it is my intention to provide the support, skills and motivation needed to reach that potential while nurturing the creativity and the individual strengths of every student.

Mr. Brant Walker

I was born here in Thousand Oaks. My family moved to Ohio when I was 4, where I lived until graduating from Wintersville High School. I returned to California, attended Pepperdine University where I graduated with a major in Accounting. I then worked for several years as a tax accountant before reentering the world of education. I have a Masters of Arts in Education and a teaching credential from Pepperdine. I also have a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from CSUN. 

This is my 24th year of teaching, all in CVUSD. I've enjoyed teaching 1st through 5th grades. I have had many roles, including working with GATE students, organizing the Talent Show and coordinating the Odyssey of the Mind program. I have also had many leadership roles and worked on many curriculum committees. 

When I'm not working, I enjoy spending time with my family. My wife, Kirsten, is a fellow educator. She currently works in an administrative role in the Oxnard School District. at our district office. We have two daughters, Katilyn (21) and Sophie (18) and son, Owen (13). Sports and other activities and school schedules keep us busy. We enjoy going out to restaurants, movies, the beach, Disneyland and Dodger games.

Contact: linktr.ee/brantwalker

Class website: sites.google.com/view/mr-walkers-class