GeoCivics
Hello educators! We are so happy to have you join us! Please meet the team :)
Karen A.L. Guerrero, PhD, EdD
Principle Investigator
Karen Guerrero is an educator with 20 years of K-12 classroom experience, 16 years of teaching future educators at local colleges and universities, and 20 years of conducting teacher professional development. She has worked with a variety of students from inner-city children to urban adults. Her research focus is teaching STEM content to diverse learners. She is a National Geographic explorer with research on STEMSS teaching and learning and continually looks for opportunities to collaborate globally.
Dianne McKee, MEd
Project Director
Dianne McKee is an alumnus of ASU and brings over 20 years experience teaching in both formal and non-formal settings, directing federal and regional grants, developing courses and curricula, and designing and delivering both in-person and online professional development for K-12 teachers. She is a Teacher Consultant for the Arizona Geographic Alliance, and a Teacher Trainer for Engineering is Elementary, Makey Makey and Population Education. She has also authored numerous science, environmental, and geographic student publications, as well as developed a number of environmental programs, courses, and training guides for government agencies and non-profit organizations.
Dawn Lambson, EdD
Academic Coach
Dr. Dawn Lambson received her Bachelor's Degree from Arizona State University in Elementary Education and Special Education, Learning Disabilities, and taught in various capacities in elementary and middle school classrooms in the Phoenix area. She then received her Master's Degree from ASU in Teaching English as a Second Language (MTESL) and went on to receive her doctorate from ASU in Curriculum & Instruction/Language and Literacy, with an emphasis on Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). She then served as a lecturer in Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College and as a clinical assistant professor in the Department of English, teaching English language education courses to pre-service and in-service teachers. She also served as Program Coordinator for the BLE/ESL Initial Teacher Certification Program at Mary Lou Fulton Teacher’s College from 2008 to 2011.
Dr. Margarita Jimenez-Silva
External Evaluator
Dr. Margarita Jimenez-Silva is Associate Professor and Chair of Teacher Education at the University of California, Davis, and co-founder of Sisterhood for Equity Consulting. Prior to entering higher education, Professor Jimenez-Silva worked with newcomer students as a middle-school math and science. Her research focuses on preparing and supporting teachers to work with culturally and linguistically diverse learners. She has coordinated curriculum and programs addressing the needs of emergent bilinguals in the U.S. and internationally. Dr. Jimenez-Silva has evaluated numerous federally-funded projects. Her most recent work focuses on developing pipelines of future bilingual teachers in ways that honor and build on their cultural and linguistic capital. Her research has been published by journals such as Harvard Educational Review, Multicultural Perspectives, and the Journal of Research on Childhood Education.
Juan Mendoza
Business Operations Specialist
Juan is an ASU alumni, who got his bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis on sports and marketing. He’s a first generation Mexican-American, born in Los Angeles but grew up in the east valley of Phoenix for the majority of his life, so he would consider himself an Arizona native. He enjoys hiking, watching shows and movies, as well as playing pickleball, soccer and basketball (Go Suns!) with friends. For the last few years, Juan has had the opportunity to gain some experience in both warehouse operations and the logistics industry. The bulk of which was spent working as a Staffing Planner and admin for Amazon, then as a Carrier Sales Executive for a 3rd party logistics company, moving freight all over the country. He has a passion for event planning and coordinating, with the hope of pursuing a career in related fields at ASU or within Arizona.
Tawn Hauptli, EdD
MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES
Residential Faculty & Department Chair | Education Studies
Teacher | Mentor
Dr. Hauptli has been an educator in various grade levels and capacities for the past 31 years. She began her career as a preschool teacher, taught high school for 10 years and has been teaching community college preservice teacher education coursework at Mesa Community College since 2001. At MCC, she currently serves as the Chair of the Education Studies department. She is a product of and passionate advocate for public education and fervently believes in its promise to improve the lives of the children it serves. In her view, the purpose of education is to empower students by providing them with rigorous and engaging experiences that teach them how to think, not what to think. For future teachers, she offers this advice: “Teaching is not a job, it is a lifestyle. Remember that you are a role model and that the students and parents in your community look up to you. You are the magic in the classroom; it is your compassion, intelligence, and skill that allow the students you teach to reach their full potential. Don’t ever forget what a difference you make.”
Ashley Alarcon, MEd Pensar Academy | Mentor
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!
Elizabeth Fuiava, Saddleback Elementary MUSD | Mentor
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.
Matthew Yatsayte | Mentor
Originally from south of Gallup, New Mexico born August 15th, 1996. A rural community known as Chichiltah in the high desert. a member of the Pueblo of Zuni and Navajo Nation. Growing up around a rural area and small town kindled a love for small businesses and the relationship they had to the community. In 2015 I moved to Phoenix, AZ making that transition from rural living to city life. Always looking to meet new people, find new places and try what I can to support locally. I enjoy being outside especially in the rural areas out of the city, going on hikes to see new places. But while in town I enjoy cooking and trying new food places, weaving, and various other crafts utilizing desert plants.
Sam Stevens | Mentor
Sam Stevens grew up on the Navajo Nation in the community of Crystal, which is located in the Chuska Mountains in northwestern NM. He is one of seven children of Sam and Mary Stevens, all of whom have attended and graduated from university. Sam attended Mesa Community College in 1999, then transferred to Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology in 2004. Returning home after graduation, he spent several years teaching middle school physical education and life skills classes at Navajo Middle School and coaching basketball at Navajo Pine High School, where the Warriors reached the semi-finals of the 2005-06 New Mexico state basketball tournament. In the two years he coached there, they finished with a combined 49-9 record and several of those players went on to play college basketball.
Sam then attended graduate school at the University of California-Berkeley, where he received a master’s degree in Education in 2007. There he studied how students’ development and identity are impacted by relevant academic support, positive leadership, and engagement of critical social issues in higher education. His particular emphasis was studying cultural beliefs and ritual in sport and their impact on performance, persistence, graduation rates, and the development and evolution of students’ identities in academia.
After six years as an academic advisor at the College of Letters and Sciences & Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, he became a program advisor at Mesa Community College’s American Indian Institute in 2013. He works with the largest number of Native American students in the Maricopa Community College District, promoting academic performance, recruitment, outreach, maintenance and engagement of cultural identity in their higher educational journeys. He has also continued as an assistant women’s basketball coach at MCC where the Thunderbirds have been to the NJCAA Division 2 National Tournament 10 of the 18 years he has coached there. They have finished in the top 10 multiple times and even won the 2014 NJCAA Division 2 National Championship.
He is a supporter of greater equitable and inclusive visibility of Native students and people of color in colleges and universities, promoting real and truthful cultural history, perspectives, and awareness in an evolving social landscape to positively engage students and educators within academia.
Nedre White, school, Arizona Grade 4 teacher | Mentor
I was born in Lubbock, Texas, and raised in New Jersey. I have been a teacher for more than 30 years, most of which were in the primary grades working in reading, ESL, early childhood, and gifted programs. Teaching is my passion because I can help students grow and become lifelong learners. In my spare time, I like to travel around the world so I can learn new things to share with my students. The STEMSS project and Place Base Learning helped me develop my identity as a teacher of geography and guided my creation of lesson plans as well as skills in conducting workshops. I made sure the lessons included rich vocabulary, so my English Language Learner (ELL) students could use the vocabulary to comprehend what they learned. The lesson includes critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.
Melissa Mercado,
Cesar E.Chavez Leadership Academy |
Mentor
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.
Samuel D Francés Vázquez, Pensar Academy STEM Coach | Mentor
My name is Samuel D Francés Vázquez, son, brother, uncle, and proud teacher. For the past 7 years, I have worked as the STEM Director at Pensar Academy, but more importantly, I’ve taught STEM subjects to amazing students. I am a native of Puerto Rico where I was born, raised, and educated on the land once inhabited by my
ancestors the Taínos. True to my heritage, my ancestral DNA includes European, African, and Taínos markers that exemplify the history of colonialism, slavery, and survival of Puerto Ricans. I moved to Arizona 16 years ago to complete my Master in Education in Curriculum and Instruction in Secondary Education at Arizona State University supported by a fellowship from the National Science Foundation - Bridge to Teaching. I have called Arizona my second home ever since and I have built a chosen family who made me feel loved and that I belong. It is that sense of belonging and love that I strive to provide to students in my classroom. I want them to know that they belong and that they are worthy of a world-class education. As an educator and educational leader, I strive to provide students with opportunities to learn and pursue their dreams knowing they are capable and worthy. I want them to hear loud and clear "Si se puede/Yes we can." I am a Big with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Arizona in which I have had the distinct honor of mentoring a little for almost 2 years. I am always looking for opportunities to improve my professional and personal capacity and ultimately better impact my contribution to the lives of those I serve; the GeoCivics Academy seems like a great opportunity to improve my capacities!
Niccole Villa Cerveny, MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES | Mentor
Niccole Villa Cerveny is a professor of Geography and Sustainability at Mesa Community College (MCC) in Arizona. Her interests in GeoCivics center around the importance of GeoHeritage and methods for understanding how "Place" is integral to our deeper understanding of our shared human heritage. Teaching at MCC for over 20 years, her research interests are in Physical Geography, Rock Decay and Landform Evolution, Heritage Management, GeoHeritage, and Geoscience Education - including undergraduate research. She is also a member of the US National Committee on Geosciences.
Jeannine Kuropatkin, Red Mountain High School | Mentor
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. As a professional, I am actively involved in Social Studies Education, taking on leadership roles as a Board Member of the Arizona Council for the Social Studies (ACSS) and as a Teacher Consultant for the Arizona Geographic Alliance (AzGA), as well as planning and presenting at workshops/conferences sponsored by both organizations. I am an avid curriculum writer with published Geography and History lessons on websites such as PBS Learning Media, Arizona Geographic Alliance, University of Arizona’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Fred T Korematsu Institute, and the educator journal, “The Geography Teacher.”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. As an individual who has chosen to be a teacher, I am fulfilled with a purpose and mission that will far outlast my life on this planet. I am inspired by the words of Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Brian DilleMARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES Content Expert / Guest Faculty
Brian Dille grew up in Southeastern Idaho where he tired of the constant snow and wind. After attending college at Brigham Young University in Utah, he attended graduate school at Arizona State University. There he received a Ph.D. in Political Science, emphasizing the political psychology of foreign policy decision making. He has taught political science at Mesa Community College since 1999. In addition to teaching courses in world politics and American government, he directs the Model United Nations program and hosts a high school MUN conference every February. He published a textbook for Model UN, Engaging the United Nations, designed to be used by high school and community college students.
Stephanie Nunez
Student Assistant
Stephanie is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences at Arizona State University. After graduation, she wants to continue her studies culminating in her master's degree in Microbiology, and continue her research of interest studying fungi and bacteria.
Abby Schmidt
Student Assistant
Abby is a second year student in the landscape architecture program at Arizona State University. While she is originally from Bismarck, North Dakota, she came to Arizona to pursue her passion of playing golf. She is currently on the ASU club golf team and plans to use her degree to design golf courses.
Sara Montes Delgadillo
Student Assistant
Sara is pursuing her bachelor's degree in animation at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University. After graduation, she wants to continue her studies by pursuing a Masters of Arts in character animation and animated filmmaking. She hopes her studies here at ASU will help her decide which branch of animation she wants to pursue whether it be character designing, storyboarding, or animating. She hopes to become a stop motion animator for LAIKA and immerse viewers through the art of storytelling.
Jenna Belknap
Student Assistant
Jenna is a United States Air Force veteran, now pursuing a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Arizona State University. Upon graduation Jenna plans to become a middle school social studies teacher. Further down the road she plans to earn a master’s degree in special education. Her goal is to be a great educator and make a difference in the lives of students.
Dr. Dille developed the Social Science portion of the ASU Fulton School of Education Teaching Foundations project (TFP). He co-directs the Arizona Civic Education Project with Katherine Douglas, which offers free teaching materials to Arizona educators. These resource are found at https://learn.maricopa.edu/courses/1102445/settings. He also published Arizona Voices, a digital textbook designed to supplement U.S. history and government high school courses with Arizona-specific content that meets the state Social Science Standards released in October 2018.
Kelsey Meador
Student Assistant
Kelsey is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education at Arizona State University. She is also earning a certificate in Environmental Education. Kelsey is planning on becoming an early elementary teacher upon graduation next year.
Sara LaPlanche, MPA Project Coordinator
Of Haitian American decent, Sara Cassandre Laplanche was born in Brooklyn, NY but raised in Haiti. She did her primary studies in Haiti and moved back to the US post the 2010 earthquake that happened in Haiti . She proceeded to complete her High School diploma in Brooklyn , Associate degree of science from Borough of Manhattan Community College in 2014 and attended St John Fisher University, Rochester NY in 2016 where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and minor in languages, specifically French and Spanish. She went ahead to pursue a Master in Public Administration from Long Island University Brooklyn campus in 2021. After the latest studies, she decided to broaden her horizons and moved to Arizona in December 2021. ASU Housing Department welcomed Sara among their ranks as an Occupancy manager and provided her with extensive managerial experience. Sara is thrilled to join the team as a program coordinator on this new adventure because she loves to travel, to discover new places, cultures and new challenges. She cannot wait to see what the future will bring with The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University (Geocivics Project) .
Diane Ripley, MAT Project Manager
Diane Ripley graduated from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and then found her first job in the state she calls home, Louisiana. She taught informal science for 20 years with a brief 12 year break to follow her dream of being a pastry chef. Diane enjoys creating STEM curriculum for K-12 teachers as well as teacher professional development on a wide range of science topics. Diane is also a teacher trainer for GLOBE and Makey Makey.
