Zoom: Aztec Superfans

Carla and Tim Kriss — Aztec superfan couple, teachers Carla (’97, ’02) and Tim Kriss (’03, ’18)

Carla Kriss (’97, ’02) and husband Tim Kriss (’03, ’18), alumni educators and proud SDSU parents, aren’t shy about their love for SDSU. It’s on display in their respective elementary school classrooms.

By Mike Klitzing
Photographs by Matt Furman

SDSU foam finger and bobble head — Of course the Krisses were at the men's basketball game on Jan. 18 to collect the program's first bobblehead: Brian Dutcher, head coach.

A POINT OF RED AND BLACK PRIDE

Step into the third grade classroom of Carla Kriss (’97, ’02) and her affinity for SDSU is hard to miss. The proud alumna teaches at Ella B. Allen Elementary in Bonita, California, surrounded by Aztecs posters, pennants, foam fingers and bobbleheads.

Her husband and fellow educator, Tim Kriss (’03, ’18), insists the SDSU theme in his fourth grade classroom at Salt Creek Elementary in Chula Vista is even better— a notion Carla playfully scoffs at. What they do agree on, however, is that SDSU swag has become popular as prizes for scholastic achievement and good behavior among their students. “They love it,” Carla says. “It keeps them motivated.”

SDSU championship ring — They were also in attendance in January 2022 to receive a coveted replica championship ring at a men's basketball game.

Carla estimates that there are 13 SDSU alumni staff members at her school, including teachers, a school counselor, a school psychologist and a nurse.

Yet it’s hard to imagine anyone more spirited. She and her family are fixtures at SDSU sporting events, and their two daughters, Sierra (’21) and Sequoia (’24), both now work at the university.

For the Kriss family, SDSU is just a way of life.

Editor’s note: Shoutout to Aztec teachers Juliette Solis (’00), Kelly Murphy (’92) and Shannon Kelly (’91) at Marvin Elementary in San Diego, my son’s past three teachers and the inspiration for this story.