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Meet the 2022 GeoCivics Cohort! Congratulations!

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Greetings, my name is Elizabeth Fuiava and I have 24 years of experience in educating young minds through various capacities. I’ve taught for a combination of 19 years as a classroom teacher in American Samoa, Washington, and Arizona for levels K, 1st , 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. I earned my bachelor’s degree in elementary education through the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the fall of 2010 and a master’s in science for special education from Western Governors University in the fall of 2020. In 2017, I gained my Washington teacher residency certificate while working one year as a paraeducator, one year as a site director for the YMCA, and two years as a certified substitute teacher. I moved to Arizona in 2018 to help my husband start another church ministry branch for the First Samoan Full Gospel Pentecostal Church in which I’ve been actively involved in since 1996 as a leader for children’s choir and Bible ministry.

In a nutshell . . . I love teaching, am a life-long learner, and a self-proclaimed “geography fanatic.” My teaching career spans 34 years and has run the gamut from Pre-School to Elementary, Junior High, High School, and even Adult Education for Senior Citizens. The past six years, I have taught Pre-AP World History/Geography, Holocaust Studies, and AP Human Geography at Red Mountain HS in Mesa, Arizona. Beyond the classroom, I connect with students via campus clubs as the Model United Nations Sponsor, Native American Club Co-Sponsor and Cultural Ambassadors Club Co-Sponsor. Prior to teaching at RMHS, I taught junior high Social Studies (grades 7-8-9) for 23 years, including on-level and Honors classes. My undeniable passion is to convey to students the importance of examining US and world history, global issues, world cultures, and current events with a critical eye and an open mind. I have studied and traveled extensively in Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, and Indonesia enabling me to share authentic cultural experiences and history in the classroom. I am dedicated to helping students attain the critical 21st century skills and knowledge they will need to be responsible stewards of both our nation and planet. 

My name is Nedre White. I graduated from Arizona State University. I received my B.A. degree in Elementary Education and Master of Science in Educational leadership. I have taught English language development to students for many years. I am currently teaching students from grades K-12th. I wanted to take advantage of the GeoCivics program because learning and teaching is my passion. I am always looking for new ways to teach, so that I can enable each student to grow and have a successful experience learning English, and getting excited about learning. I am married and have four grown children. In my spare time I like to travel around the world.

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Ashley Alarcon

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Melissa Mercado

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I have been a dedicated, resourceful, and goal‐driven professional educator with a solid commitment to the social and academic growth and development of every child. I have been an educator for the past 10 years in the state of Florida. I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in Pre‐K/Primary Education from the Universidad del Este from Ana G. Mendez University System and have a graduate degree from Nova Southeastern University in Reading Education. I am an elementary teacher that has instructed from Kinder through fifth grade, at the moment I am teaching multi grades K‐3 in varying exceptionalities. I provide support facilitation to students who currently have an IEP through the district. I work at a Title I school. I am certified all the way through high school in ESOL, Reading, ESE. I currently hold a Gifted Endorsement and am working towards my Autism Endorsement. I am about to graduate this summer with an AA in Business Management with a Certificate in Cybersecurity. I was born in New York, raised in the Dominican Republic for a bit and came to live in Florida. I am fluent in both English and Spanish.

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Frances Coffey has taught social studies in Fairfax County Public School in Northern Virginia for thirteen years. She earned her master’s degrees in Education and International Studies. She has taught world history, psychology, and geography. She enjoys travelling and reading, and she’s excited to be part of the GeoCivics Summer Academy.

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Pedro is an educator with 15 years of experience. He has worked in various instructional contexts in New York City andPuerto Rico. Pedro is a doctoral candidate at the University of Puerto Rico. His research focuses on the impact ofeducational legislation on the development of the Social Studies curriculum of the island. He is constantly looking foropportunities leading to learning and professional growth.

Zena Lewis has been teaching for 24 years. As a geography teacher and reading specialist, she sees geo-literacy and grant writing as an essential tool in her classroom. Lewis was selected by National Geographic Society to participate in their Summer Geo-Inquiry Institute and collaborated with educators from around the world. Opportunities like this have allowed her to teach educators about National Geographic Educator Certification, the Geo-Inquiry Process, grant writing, along with geography and literacy strategies in the classroom. She is a National Geographic Certified Educator and an Oklahoma Alliance for Geographic Education (OKAGE) Teacher Consultant. She recently was funded to produce curriculum for National Geographic Society Covid Relief Fund for Educators. Mrs. Lewis has been named as a 2021 Innovative Educator by the K20 Center She has mentored fellow educators by leading sessions in professional development opportunities. Grant writing has consistently funded resources for her innovative classroom. Zena Lewis recently earned one of her greatest career accomplishments, achieving her National Board teacher certification. Lewis now mentors candidates going through the process of their National Board Certified Teacher certification. Mrs. Lewis is a 2022 Funds For Teachers Fellow and will travel this summer to engage in her proposed fellowship. She has been married to the love of her life for 33 years, has three daughters, one son-in-law, and two grand-babies who keep her busy and smiling.

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Gregory Holder (Lakota & Wichita Nations) is a science and math teacher for grades 9 - 12 at the Oneida Nation High School, in Oneida, Wisconsin. He has a B.A. in Geography with a Minor in Ethnic Studies from the University of Colorado – Denver and a M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. When he was pursuing his B.A. degree, Gregory served as a peer-advocate for Native, Hispanic, and other multi-cultural youth throughout the Denver area. His duties included tutoring high school and college freshman students in math and science subjects and advising students to attain their goals in higher education. In Wisconsin, while pursuing his M.S. degree, Gregory served as a substitute teacher and spec-ed/co-teacher for the Oneida Nation School System, and as a mentor and educator for the Green Bay Schools Title VI Indian Education Program. Presently, he serves the Oneida Nation community as a teacher, tutor, and support advocate for Wisconsin’s Native American/First Nations high school students that seek interest in math and science disciplines. Whether teaching in a classroom or outdoors, he delivers a holistic method that combines traditional Native environmental and societal principles with Westernize technological applications. In addition, Gregory is undergoing the first phenology trail for the Oneida Nation School System, which will be ceremoniously introduced in fall 2022.

Lori Lane is a 7th grade geography and science teacher at Owasso 7th Grade Center in Owasso, Oklahoma. For the past 6 years she was a paraprofessional working with 7th, 8th and 9th grade students at Greenwood Junior High School in Greenwood, Arkansas. She serves as a committee member for the National Junior Honor Society at O7GC. His passion is teaching high school students about the world we live in. She strives to empower students to become well-educated and active citizens who are capable of changing the world. Lori has been married to Chance for 27 years. She enjoys traveling with her husband, attending live sports events, and Cheer on your 6 children as they participate in a variety of extracurricular events. She also enjoys leading the preschool youth community to her local church.

Heather Holguin holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education, a Master’s degree in Teaching and has recently obtained her PreK-12 Administrative License for the state of NM. She has taught elementary classes the past 18 years. Shes has taught all grades except 3rd and have enjoyed them all. Her favorite part of teaching young learners is teaching them to read because reading opens the opportunities for students to go on so many adventures through text. Another one of her passions is to learn and teach about the people that came before us and set pathways for our lives today. To have this opportunity to learn about the Westward Expansion and how it impacted the Native Americans along with the pioneers. I will be excited to take the information I’ve learned and pass it in to my students for years to come! Her goals in education is to someday teach at the college level and better prepare future educators in the area of literacy. Heather lives in Cliff, NM with her husband, Daryl and 17 year old daughter, Hannah. As a family, they enjoy going on outdoor adventures, such as going on side-by-side rides, hunting, fishing, hiking and camping. They also enjoy traveling and visiting historical landmarks.

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Jewell Eva Burns holds a Bachelor's of Science in Elementary Education and is currently working on her Master's degree in the Teaching of Reading. She has been teaching for 22 years. She has taught grades Kindergarten through 6th grade. Her current position is teaching 3rd-grade teacher at Cliff Elementary, she is also the assistant varsity girls basketball coach, and track coach. She teaches reading, writing, math, geography, history, science, and social-emotional growth. Mrs. Burns has a passion for teaching reading to students as well as the History of the United States through hands-on activities. She is excited to have this opportunity and be able to share the knowledge that she gains with her students and colleagues. Jewell Eva Burns lives in the Burro Mountains of Southwest New Mexico with her husband, Shad. They have four grown children and three grandchildren who are scattered throughout New Mexico and Oklahoma. They enjoy spending time with their family, hunting, fishing, golfing, and working on their property in Reserve NM.

Yá'át'ééh! My name is Melissa Mercado and I am an Indigenous matriarch from the Diné (Navajo) Nation. I am a proud Arizona State University alumni, graduating with a degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Bilingual Education.Currently, I am at the end of my third year teaching at Cesar E.Chavez Leadership Academy in South Phoenix, Arizona, where I teach science to fifth and sixth graders. In the last seven years, I have had the opportunity to participate in various organizations that allowed me to present my experiences and knowledge at numerous local and national conferences, giving a voice to indigenous voices. As an indigenous person, I am constantly working to decolonize my way of life and advocate and create opportunities for indigenous youth to reclaim and sustain language and culture. For this reason, during the summer I host a day camp to provide space and learning for Diné kids to connect to their culture, language, and other kids. I find joy in dancing salsa, bachata, cha cha cha, and merengue, spending time with my siblings and family, learning Spanish and human anatomy and physiology, crafting, and sewing.

My name is Ashley Alarcon and I currently teach at Pensar Academy; a public, Project Based Learning school serving students in grades 4th -8th grade located in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona. Previously, I taught 6th grade and this will be my fourth year teaching 4th grade. I am an enrolled member of the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe: we are the southernmost branch of Southern Paiute. ​ I’m from a small town alongside the Colorado River called Parker, Arizona. I moved to the valley over a decade ago to attend Arizona State University, and then Grand Canyon University. I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Grand Canyon University. I am an active member of my school community and continue to seek opportunities to perfect my teaching craft and support my diverse learners. I am also a proud member of the Arizona Geographic Alliance. I was a part of the 2020 STEMSS Cohort and then became a Teacher Lead in the Summer of 2021. I am extremely passionate about multicultural education and representation in the classroom!

Juan Armijo is currently a social studies teacher at Mayfield High School in Las Cruces, New Mexico and previously was a social studies teacher at Camelback High School in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a graduate of New Mexico State University and Arizona State University and has completed programs for education endorsements at Lamar University and the University of Kentucky. At Mayfield High School he is a member of the leadership team and social studies department head, the district level (Las Cruces Public Schools) has served on social studies curriculum and textbook adoption teams. At the state level Juan has been involved in Social Studies End of Course Exam teams, AP Conference Presenter, on the team that wrote the newly developed New Mexico Social Studies Standards and the Instructional Scope.

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