Christine has worked in education for 20 years, as an elementary classroom teacher, an interventionist for struggling learners, and an art museum educator. She earned a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a Master’s degree in Art History from Williams College, and a Bachelor’s degree in Art and Spanish from Bowdoin College. She integrates her art practice and fluent Spanish with a commitment to social justice in her teaching. In her free time, she enjoys reading, yoga, getting outdoors, and keeping up with her two young children.

Tricia is currently an Academic Interventionist and was previously a 5th-grade general academics teacher. Tricia also served as an Assistant Cheerleading Coach and manager of the School Store. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Liberal Arts at Emmanuel College in Boston and her Masters of Arts in Teaching (MATL) at Mount Holyoke.  Tricia is a proud homegrown teacher, teaching in the same school system she attended K-12.

Karrisa holds a Masters in Library Science and Technology from Simmons University and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary and Special Education from Bay Path University. She has over 20 years of teaching and tutoring experience in grades PreK-12 with a focus on special education needs. She has expertise in both the traditional classroom setting and also with virtual remote schooling. In addition to certifications in Library K-12, Elementary K-6, Special education PreK-12, and a pending Instructional Technology certification, Karrisa is also certified through the Virtual High School Collaborative. Her extensive background in technology, research, and reference skills ensures that pedagogy keeps pace with new educational technologies and applications. When Karrisa is not trying to keep up with her two energetic boys, she likes to unwind with the latest Jodi Picoult book.

Cait is a graduate of Westfield State University’s Theatre program and has an MFA in English from Bay Path University. Cait spent her post-college years acting professionally in Washington DC. It was when she joined the cast of Shakespeare Alive and traveled to High Schools all over the East Coast teaching Shakespeare techniques, that she realized she had a passion for English education. She has spent the last 2 years teaching English as a Second Language (ELOS) to students from China. Cait also worked with international students pursuing the performing arts while living abroad in Spain and France. She loves integrating the arts into her lessons and always has fun keeping students active and thinking critically about the world around them!

Lisa currently teaches kindergarten in Connecticut. She teaches newcomers to the English language as well as English speaking students. Lisa has also taught kindergarten readiness skills for several summers. Lisa was awarded a 2016 Fund for Teachers Fellowship to study art in Paris as a means of enhancing the oral vocabulary development of EL and all students. She has been teaching for 33 years and has also taught special education and second grade. Lisa has a master’s degree in special education with a concentration in gifted and talented from the University of Connecticut. Lisa has also taken classes in therapeutic recreation, enjoys amateur photography, Impressionism, and travel.

Mx. Hammond is a spirited science teacher whose passion is to prime students for physical science. Newtonian motion, energy conservation, electricity, and modern physics, are just some of the topics that Mx. Hammond can clearly elucidate.  While Mx. Hammond’s background is primarily in high school physics, they also have experience teaching chemistry, engineering, electronics, environmental science, and middle school earth science. Mx. Hammond has their B.A. in Physics from Boston University and their M.A. in Teacher Leadership from Mount Holyoke; coupled with years of teaching experience, they have the expertise necessary to reach any student!

Leah Juelke, the 2018 North Dakota Teacher of the Year, is a high school English Language Arts teacher, K-12 ELL specialist, and literacy coach in Fargo, North Dakota. She is a decorated educator whose passion for global education, literacy, and creating a welcoming community for refugee and immigrant English Language Learners earned her a spot as one of the top 10 teachers in the world and a finalist for the Global Teacher Prize in 2020. ​Leah is a certified teacher and holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Education and ESL, a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and has started work on her Ph.D. in Reading, Literacy, and Assessment. She enjoys coaching debate and incorporating games and active learning into her classroom. She has worked with students in elementary, middle, and high school throughout her career and has taught and/or traveled in over 27 different countries.  Leah has a 9-year-old daughter, who loves to sing and perform, as well as a very busy 3-year-old dinosaur-loving son.

Melissa is passionate about educating the whole student. Her student-centered approach to education empowers her students to develop skills in critical thinking, creativity, teamwork, planning & time management, discourse, presenting information, self-advocacy, and confidence. Melissa holds an MEd in Educational Leadership, has over ten years of experience teaching high school science, and has developed student-centered high school and middle school curriculums. She cultivates her students’ love of science and learning by encouraging them to draw connections, develop a deeper understanding of content, and foster ownership in their learning.

Madonna has served children as a teacher in Hillsborough County, Florida, and as an ESOL teacher through VIPKID. She is a certified K-12 ESE/ESOL with over 20 years of experience in elementary education and as a school librarian.

Koki is a teacher for Hadley Public Schools and a children’s literature fanatic. A graduate from Mount Holyoke College, she has the following certifications and endorsements in the state of Massachusetts, as well as experience tutoring students Kindergarten through eighth grade:

Massachusetts Early Childhood (Pre-K-2) Initial License
Massachusetts Elementary (1-6) Initial License
Massachusetts Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) License
Massachusetts Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement

Natalie is an assistant principal at Lincoln Elementary School in Franklin, Ky. She taught 7th grade Math and Pre-Algebra at Franklin-Simpson Middle School in Simpson County for 15 years and is in her 16th year in education. She graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Middle Grades Education. In 2010, she obtained her Masters in Instructional Leadership in order to be a Principal. She obtained National Board Certification in Early Adolescence Mathematics in 2013. In 2015, she received the Ashland Teacher Achievement Award. Natalie has held various roles in education which includes being a member of teacher education organizations such as the National Education Association, Kentucky Education Association, and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Natalie was a Hope Street Group Kentucky Teacher Fellow and a NEA Great Public Schools Network online facilitator. Besides being involved in these organizations, Natalie has held other positions such as being a scorer for Pearson and serving as a math reviewer for EdReports.

Ann Neary is a National Board Certified Teacher, 16-year educator and teacher leader, currently teaching AP Literature, World Literature, Children’s Literature, Contemporary Literature, and Journalism while shaking up the book room and curriculum at Staples High School in Westport, CT and advocating for National Board teacher support across the state. When not in the classroom, she can be found riding, sailing, and managing her tree farm with her husband and six children.

​Nellie Taylor has been teaching Math and Computer Science in the Pioneer Valley of MA for the past 18 years. She has also traveled across MA teaching AP Calculus workshops to students since 2009. When she’s not teaching, she’s a Mom to a vibrant 8-year-old future paleontologist (for now). She spends time cooking, crocheting, getting plants to grow, and being outdoors in the woods or on two wheels. She also loves yoga and sunshine.

Genessa is a passionate educator with over 16 years of combined classroom teaching and instructional leadership experience at the K-6 elementary level. She has earned her B.A. in Anthropology from Mt. Holyoke College, M.S. in Elementary Education from Connecticut State University, and M.A. in Teacher Leadership from Mt. Holyoke College. She is a patient and compassionate teacher known for forming strong connections with her students and inspiring them to become life-long learners filled with curiosity, confidence and strong communication skills. With a decade of experience as a literacy coach, Genessa has extensive knowledge of effective literacy instructional practices. She enjoys inspiring a love of reading and writing in her students, and helping them set goals and take ownership of their learning. Her interests include mindfulness, hiking, photography, and gardening.