Visual & Performing Arts Program

Karen Carrie is a seasoned art educator and multidisciplinary artist specializing in illustration, mixed media, and fashion and costume design. She holds a Bachelor of Art Education from Millersville University and has completed extensive graduate and professional studies at institutions including Towson University, the University of Toronto, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Otis College of Art and Design.

Ms. Carrie joined Fairmont Preparatory Academy in 2013, where she teaches a broad range of visual arts courses and leads students in studio-based learning, portfolio development, and creative exploration. Her work in costume and fashion design has been featured in numerous exhibitions, fashion shows, and theatrical productions, reflecting her dynamic engagement with both fine and applied arts.

With more than two decades of teaching experience, Ms. Carrie is deeply committed to nurturing students’ artistic growth and fostering creativity, confidence, and self-expression. She believes in the transformative power of art to connect individuals and communities and strives to inspire her students to see the arts as both a personal journey and a means of communication.

Bryana Haus is a proud Fairmont Preparatory Academy alumna (Class of 2007) with a B.A. in English and Screenwriting from Loyola Marymount University and an M.A. in TESOL currently in progress. She began her career at Fairmont in 2012 and has since served in multiple instructional and leadership roles, including ESL and Literature Teacher, Technology Coordinator, Canvas LMS Coordinator, Theater and Technical Theater Director, and Community Service Coordinator.

Ms. Haus integrates technology, experiential learning, and creative project-based instruction across her courses. Whether teaching English, supporting language learners, or directing theater productions, she blends mentorship and direct instruction to help students develop confidence, skill, and artistic voice. She also supports faculty by guiding curriculum innovation for 21st-century learners.

She views teaching as a form of mentorship, where meaningful growth happens through supported challenges and hands-on experiences. Outside the classroom, she loves traveling to New York City and attending Broadway shows, drawing inspiration from the art she brings back to her students. She is also a published playwright.

Nick Ochoa holds a B.A. in Film and Media Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has been teaching at Fairmont Preparatory Academy since 2010. Before entering education, he worked in the film industry for three years, where he gained hands-on experience in production and earned the Best Produced Short Screenplay Award (2007) for a film he wrote in college.

Mr. Ochoa specializes in writing, editing, and storytelling techniques, encouraging students to create meaningful, original content. His philosophy centers on experiential learning, providing students with a safe, supportive environment to develop creativity while mastering professional filmmaking practices.

Outside the classroom, he enjoys movies, television, and traveling to New York each year to attend Broadway shows, fueling the artistic inspiration he brings to his students.

Devan Rexinger is an artist and educator with eight years of experience teaching visual arts at the high school level. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts, with an emphasis in Painting, from Biola University. Ms. Rexinger joined Fairmont Preparatory Academy in 2022 after teaching for four years at Fairmont San Juan Capistrano and three years at Saddleback Valley Christian Schools.

Throughout her career, Ms. Rexinger has taught a broad range of courses, including Graphic Design, Digital Photography, Introduction to Visual Arts, Advanced Studio Art, and AP Studio Art and Design. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes process-based learning, encouraging students to take creative risks, think conceptually, and approach visual problem-solving with curiosity and persistence.

As a practicing artist, Ms. Rexinger’s work explores fiber arts, figurative painting, and design. Her piece “Broken Dishes” was featured in the All Media Exhibition at the Irvine Fine Arts Center in 2024, reflecting her ongoing engagement with both fine art and craft traditions.

Outside the classroom, she enjoys training for triathlons and baking sourdough bread, pursuits that mirror the dedication and discipline she brings to her teaching and artistic practice.

Ashley Song is an accomplished music educator with over a decade of experience inspiring students through performance and creative collaboration. She holds a B.A. in Music Education from the University of California, Los Angeles and is celebrating her 13th year at Fairmont Preparatory Academy, where she has taught a wide range of courses including instrumental and choral music, AP Music Theory, Music Technology, Music History, and IB Music.

In addition to her teaching, Mrs. Song has co-produced seven musicals and served as an ASB advisor for eight years, fostering leadership and community through the arts. Prior to joining Fairmont Prep, she taught private lessons, coached ensembles across Orange County, and collaborated with organizations such as the LA Philharmonic’s Music Mobile Program and the Children’s Song Association of America.

Fluent in English and Korean, Mrs. Song is passionate about helping students discover joy, confidence, and connection through music. With her expertise in ensemble performance, music literacy, and creative teamwork, she continues to enrich Fairmont Prep’s dynamic fine arts program—one note at a time.