Sacramento, CA, November 14, 2022—Teach Plus, a national nonprofit that empowers teachers to lead improvements in educational policy and instructional practice, has selected a group of 24 demonstrably effective teachers from around California for its 2022-2023 Policy Fellowship cohort. The cohort will focus on a range of issues of importance to California’s teachers, students, and parents. Those issues include the creation of a culturally affirming and anti-racist school climate, educator well-being, strategies for ensuring an excellent, empowered, and diverse teaching force, and high quality cultural responsive instructional materials.
“If California is to transform our schools and ensure we are fostering the potential of all of our students to succeed, we must look to our best and brightest educators to lead that transformation,“ said Sarah Lillis, Teach Plus California Executive Director. “I have great confidence in our newest cohort of Policy Fellows to set a vision for California schools and lead the systems change to realize it. I am so excited to see what is ahead for this passionate and driven group of teacher leaders.”
“I am honored and humbled to start the Teach Plus California Educator Policy Fellowship. I love the opportunity to learn alongside so many amazing individuals who strive to deliver equity and justice for all students across California,” remarked incoming Policy Fellow Juan Resendez, who teaches in Irvine Unified School District.
The new Fellows hail from across the state, from Chula Vista in the south to Olympic Valley in the north, and many communities in between including San Diego, Los Angeles, La Quinta, Los Banos, Sacramento, and Richmond. Their teaching experience ranges from three to 23 years across traditional public and charter public schools, from elementary to high school.
Throughout the program, the Fellows are trained in policy, advocacy, research, and communications and develop the skills necessary to advocate for changes for California’s students. Each Fellow was chosen based on their strong commitment to the classroom and to equity, their ability to articulate the needs of their students, and their pursuit of excellence and innovation in their teaching.
“I am excited to join this group of educators ready to make change,” said incoming Policy Fellow Noaveyar Lee, a coordinator for K-12 School Counseling Services Support with the Orange County Department of Education.
The 2022-23 California Policy Fellows are:
- Julianna Ayala, Edwin Markham Middle School, Los Angeles Unified School District
- Justine Bernacet, KIPP Sol Academy, Los Angeles
- Heather David, Creekside Charter School, Olympic Valley
- Sergio de Alba, R. M. Miano Elementary, Los Baños Unified School District
- Lorena Ellis, Clifford D. Murray Elementary, Azusa Unified School District
- Adam Erkeneff, Capitol Collegiate Academy, Sacramento
- Jackie Gardner, North Mountain Middle School, San Jacinto Unified School District
- Ashley Gervin, Desert Sands Unified School District
- Lindsey Horowitz, Glenn Hammond Curtiss Middle School, Los Angeles Unified School District
- Noaveyar Lee, Orange County Office of Education
- Joy McCreary, George Washington Carver Middle School, Los Angeles Unified School District
- Allyn Olsen, Hilltop High School, Sweetwater Union High School District
- Juan Resendez, Portola High School, Irvine Unified School District
- Alex Robins, Terra Linda High School, San Rafael City Schools
- Manuel Rustin, John Muir High School, Pasadena Unified School District
- Renee Thomas, Marston Middle School, San Diego Unified School District
- Latiphony Wells, Making Waves Academy, Richmond
- Quantrell Willis, Val Verde Unified School District
- Allison Zamora, Bear Valley Middle School, Escondido Union School District
Senior Fellows
- Nikysha Gilliam, Susan Miller Dorsey Senior High School, Los Angeles Unified School District
- Jenna Hewitt King, San Leandro High School, San Leandro Unified School District
- Josh Salas, Alliance Renee & Meyer Luskin Academy High School, Los Angeles
- Jamie Schnablegger, Edwin Markham Middle School, Los Angeles Unified School District
- Wendy Threat, Felicita Elementary School, Escondido Union School District
About Teach Plus
The mission of Teach Plus is to empower excellent, experienced, and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that affect their students’ success. Since 2009, Teach Plus has developed thousands of teacher leaders across the country to exercise their leadership in shaping education policy and improving teaching and learning, to create an education system driven by access and excellence for all. teachplus.org
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Contact: Anya Grottel-Brown, agrottelbrown@teachplus.org, 917-902-5902
