Presenters

Rodrigo Rodríguez-Tovar is a Dual Language Instructional Coach for the Austin Independent School District. He is a National Board Certified Teacher in the area of Middle Childhood Generalist. He is a member of the Certification Council for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, NBPTS, and serves on the Board of Directors for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, NBPTS, the Network of Accomplished Minoritized Educators, NAME, and also for the Texas National Board Coalition for Teachers, TXNBCT.

Reflective Practitioner: Teaching & Leading in Diverse Communities

I am a recently retired primary teacher. I assess micro credentials for NEA and serve on the board of WestEd’s West Region of their Regional Education Laboratory. I helped NBPTS write standards for DEI.

Cultivating Community: Teacher Leadership & Advocacy

Tan-A Hoffman is an Anishinaabe Culture and Anishinaabemowin teacher in the upper peninsula of Michigan, as well as a board member of the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. She was 2020 Michigan Regional Teacher of the Year and a member of the 2021-2022 Michigan Teacher Leadership Collaborative between Teach Plus and Education Trust Midwest. You can find her on TV as the Detroit Learning Channel’s 3rd grade teacher for their PBS literacy program, Read Write ROAR. She is a citizen of the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians.

Cultivating Community: Teacher Leadership & Advocacy

Teena Hine is the Director of Professional Learning at Out-Teach and oversees new and existing professional learning programs. She works with a team of coaches to guide outdoor professional learning and coaching experiences that empower and equip educators in elementary science. As a former Elementary Educator, and WV State Technology Coordinator, Teena is passionate about “balancing screen time with green time” and empowering teachers to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders with the real-life field work experiences that outdoor learning provides.

Reimagining: Teacher Leadership in Our Profession

Jayla Rose Hart (she/her) is a researcher, writer, and poet. Her dominant strand of work is at the intersection of social psychology, politics, and education and housing policy. Jayla holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociopolitical Psychology and a Masters of Public Policy from the University of Virginia.

Reflective Practitioner: Teaching & Leading in Diverse Communities

Teacher with more than 20 years of experience among Spain and the United States, 15 of these years working as a Bilingual teacher in AUSTIN ISD, in a title I school. She got her National Board Certification on 2019 in Literacy-Reading Language Arts, and recently submitted her portfolio to maintain it. She graduated from Grand Canyon University in 2011 with a Master’s Degree in TESOL. She serves on the Board of multiple Bilingual local and State organizations (AAABE and TABE), as well as on the Texas National Board Coalition for Teaching (TNBCT). She is a Mentor for all new teachers from Spain on her District, and new teachers in her school and District. Blanca is a Mom and a wife, and a proud educator.

Reimagining: Teacher Leadership in Our Profession

John Arthur is the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year and Top 4 Finalist for National Teacher of the Year. Now in his 10th year of teaching, his students have gained national recognition as champions for immigrants and children like them through the music videos and other content they create and share across platforms as 9thEvermore. John Arthur is a National Board Certified Teacher, Co-Director of the Utah Teacher Fellows, and an adjunct professor in the Graduate School of Education at Westminster College.

Reflective Practitioner: Teaching & Leading in Diverse Communities Suzanne served as the Director of the Kentucky Network to Transform Teaching (KyNT3), a grant project that innovated using the National Board resources for professional learning, from 2014 to 2018. In that role, Suzanne was the liaison with national, state, and local partners including the National Board to test and accelerate innovation. Suzanne is the Chief Academic Officer of the Danville Independent Schools. While a teacher, she was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching by the National Science Foundation and President Obama.

Reflective Practitioner: Teaching & Leading in Diverse Communities

Sebastian Cardenas is an East Las Vegas social studies teacher, community activist, small business owner, and DREAMer (DACA recipient). Growing up as an undocumented immigrant in East Las Vegas, Sebastian experienced firsthand the inequities faced by students and families in his community, which inspired him to start working in education at the age of 16. Since then, Sebastian has been dedicated to enhancing opportunities for BIPOC and immigrant students. His contributions include serving as a University Research Fellow, Director of a non-profit organization, Commissioner on Mentoring for the Nevada Department of Education, and Founder of the Pa’Lante Scholarship Program specifically designed for immigrant students.

Cultivating Community: Teacher Leadership & Advocacy

Whitney Aragaki (she/they) is an educator, parent, and learner from Hilo, Hawaiʻi. She supports students to learn through a lens of abundance that honors place, people and cultures. Her teaching focuses around conversations, practices and systems that sustain the intimate inter-relationship of public education, community and environment. Aragaki is the 2022 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year and National Teacher of the Year Finalist. She is a National Board Certified Teacher in Adolescence and Young Adulthood Mathematics.

Examining Equitable Practices for Special Education and ESL Students

Sandra Washington-Gayles is a 23 year veteran in the state of New Jersey. She is a National Board Certified Teacher Certified as an Early Childhood Generalist. Currently, she’s serves as an English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher with KIPP Newark.

How did you establish a safe, fair, equitable, and challenging learning environment for all children?

Juliana Urtubey, NBCT is the 2021 National Teacher of the Year. She advocates for a “joyous and just” education for all students. Known as “Ms. Earth” for her efforts to beautify schools and unify the community through murals and gardens, Juliana uses her experiences as a bilingual special education teacher to build holistically inclusive environments for all.

How did you establish a safe, fair, equitable, and challenging learning environment for all children?

Autumn Rivera is a 6th-grade science teacher at Glenwood Springs Middle School in the Roaring Fork School District. She is the 2022 Colorado Teacher of the Year and a Finalist for National Teacher of the Year. She also teaches a Colorado Mountain College as an adjunct professor in their education program.

How did you establish a safe, fair, equitable, and challenging learning environment for all children?

Magdalena Mata, NBCT certified in Early Adolescence Social Studies/History in 2014 and submitted for MOC this past cycle. Mrs. Mata has been a middle school teacher for 15 years and recently transitioned to the role of Instructional Coach. She serves as the Administrative Liaison for the Texas National Board Coalition for Teaching, where she has supported the growth of National Board certification through partnerships, contracts, awareness, and advocacy across the state. She resides in Boerne, TX (outside San Antonio) with her 3 children and husband.

Damaris Gutierrez is a Texas educator that works with emergent bilingual/multilingual students from diverse backgrounds. She is an advocate that builds partnerships across her communities to meet the needs of students and families. She continues to grow in her teaching, leadership, and community building.

Examining Equitable Practices for Special Education and ESL Students

Holly B Gamble is a twice certified National Board Certified Teacher, most recently in 2022 as an Exceptional Needs Specialist. Currently, she serves a Supervisor of Pupil Personnel Services in Franklin Township, New Jersey. One of her passions is National Board Certification. See seeks to increase awareness of National Board Certification in New Jersey which ultimately will lead to more effective teaching and learning.

Reimagining: Teacher Leadership in Our Profession

John Arthur is the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year and Top 4 Finalist for National Teacher of the Year. Now in his 10th year of teaching, his students have gained national recognition as champions for immigrants and children like them through the music videos and other content they create and share across platforms as 9thEvermore. John Arthur is a National Board Certified Teacher, Co-Director of the Utah Teacher Fellows, and an adjunct professor in the Graduate School of Education at Westminster College.

Director, Policy National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

Beyond the Schoolhouse: Teacher Leadership in Policy & Advocacy

Jen Loescher is a 24-year veteran educator, having worked as a Coach, Data Coordinator, 6th grade math teacher, and 2nd grade teacher. In 2018, she joined the Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program team as a Math Coach and Trainer. Jen is a 2022-2023 Teach Plus Nevada Senior Policy Fellow, a Community Manager with Digital Promise’s Coach PLC, and was on the 2022 Digital Promise Learner Variability Navigator Practitioner Advisory Board. Jen is passionate about energy mindfulness and leveraging teacher leadership to impact student outcomes.

Federal Efforts to Triage the National Teacher Shortage

Dr. James Lane serves as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of the Elementary and Secondary Education delegated the duties and responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary at the US Department of Education. Prior to coming to ED, Dr. Lane served as a band director and teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, district superintendent, and was appointed by the Governor of Virginia to serve as Virginia’s 25th Superintendent of Public Instruction. Throughout his career he has received numerous awards, including being named the 2017 Superintendent of the Year in the Commonwealth of Virginia for his work in Goochland County

Beyond the Schoolhouse: Teacher Leadership in Policy & Advocacy

Tiffany Davis is a 2020-21 Teach Plus Mississippi Policy Fellow. She is a kindergarten teacher at Webb Kindergarten Preparatory School in Greenville, Mississippi. An educator for more than 25 years, she has served her hometown district as a classroom teacher, lead teacher, mentor, and administrator. She currently serves as a senior board member on the Teach Plus National Policy Advisory Board.

Senior Manager, Policy National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

Beyond the Schoolhouse: Teacher Leadership in Policy & Advocacy

Dillon Booker is a National Policy Advisory Board Member for Teach Plus and a Teach Plus Nevada 2022-2023 Policy Fellow. He is going into his 5th year teaching 9th-12th grade English and Government within the resource and co-taught environment. He serves as an English Curriculum Development Lead for resource education as well. Contextually, he brings into the teaching space 4-years of community organizing experience to garner collective student output, voice, and capacity within his classroom environments.

Rodrigo Rodríguez-Tovar is a Dual Language Instructional Coach for the Austin Independent School District. He is a National Board Certified Teacher in the area of Middle Childhood Generalist. He is a member of the Certification Council for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, NBPTS, and serves on the Board of Directors for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, NBPTS, the Network of Accomplished Minoritized Educators, NAME, and also for the Texas National Board Coalition for Teachers, TXNBCT.

Exploring Maintenance of Certification

Mrs. Valdés-Bradner is an AP Spanish teacher and the 22-23 Teacher of the Year for Caroline County Public Schools in MD and an advocate for all students.

Exploring National Board Certification

Steph Sukow has been a high school English and speech teacher in the northwest suburbs of Chicago for 15 years. In addition to teaching, she has also served as an instructional coach passionate about using educational technology to enhance the student experience and promote engagement. Next school year, she will transition into administration as the Humanities Division Leader at Crystal Lake South. Recently, Steph started a podcast, Teach in Ten, with her colleague Cori Schwarzrock, designed to feature amazing teachers in CHSD 155. She is a National Board Certified Teacher, Pear Deck Coach, and Google Certified Trainer. She enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids while not teaching.

Exploring National Board Certification

Leah Pongratz has been an educator for the past 15 years in Washington County Public Schools, MD. She is an Apple Certified Learning Coach, Google Certified Trainer, and holds her National Board Certification in Early/Middle Childhood Literacy. Leah is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, focusing her research on digital equity in elementary classrooms.

Essential Tools for Your National Board Certification Journey

Danielle Minnis is in her eighteenth year of teaching. Certified in 2010 as an ECE Specialist and renewed in 2020, she began as a mentor and facilitator for the KEA (Kentucky Education Association) NBCT program. After moving to Texas, Danielle founded a pilot NBCT program with her district, KIPP Texas. Danielle is a recipient of the 2023 Harriet Ball Teaching in Excellence Award.

Exploring Maintenance of Certification

Michelle just finished her 23rd year teaching all at the high school level. Currently she teaches the Project Lead the Way Biomedical Science courses. In her free time she loves to ride horses and play with her grandson.

Exploring National Board Certification

I have been teaching for 15 years and hold National Board certification in Literacy: Reading Language Arts- Early and Middle Childhood. I currently work as a Professional Development Coach in my school district as well as support K-2 curriculum development, Project Based Learning, and Tech Integration.

Essential Tools for Your National Board Certification Journey

I have been teaching Social Studies for twenty-six years, primarily AP Psychology. I earned my National Board Certification in 2013 and completed my MOC this Spring. In addition to my teaching role I serve as Assistant Department Chairperson for our department.

Essential Tools for Your National Board Certification Journey

Dr. Leslie A. Birdon is an award-winning twice National Board-Certified educator and author with over 25 years of experience first certified in 2008. Leslie advocates at the school, district, and state level to implement standards and curriculum as a District Lead Science Teacher and State Science Teacher Leader Advisor for the Louisiana Department of Education for two years. In her community, Leslie is actively involved in educational advocacy through Louisiana Association of Educators as a presenter, working with Louisiana National Board Certification Leadership Team, past member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on ESSA as well as NEA Ambassador on the national level. Dr. Birdon has presented nationally on various topics related to scientific inquiry, reading literacy, and school improvement for such organizations as the National Science Teachers Association, and American Educational Research Association.

I am an educator from Kentucky. I’m going into my fourth year of teaching ELA. I love to read, spend time with my family, plan for a new school year, and thrift shopping!

This is My "Why"

I am an elementary school teacher who has taught for 23 years in Helena, Montana. I have a master’s degree in administration and am National Board Certified in Literacy. I have also participated in various leadership opportunities through MFPE, my state affiliate, and I am always looking for ways to grow personally and professionally.

Senior Manager, Candidate Experience National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

This is My "Why"

I have 10 years of experience teaching at the elementary school level. I have taught 2, 3 and 5th grade within this timeframe. I am currently teaching 5th grade. I have worked with a wide background of students ranging from students with learning disabilities (hearing impaired) to gifted and talented learners. I have also gained a diverse and culturally responsive perspective on teaching/learning from having taught in different countries such as Canada, the Caribbean and the United States of America. I have chosen teaching as a profession because I believe that every child has the capacity to learn when given the right conditions. I am passionate about making a positive mark in the lives of children.

Prioritizing Your Self Care

I teach reading and writing and skills in Hillsborough County Florida to 4th and 5th grade students with varying exceptionalities. I achieved National Board Certification in Literacy in 2015. In my spare time, I lead yoga classes for educators.

Senior Manager, Candidate Experience National Board for Professional Teaching Standards