2018 Grosvenor Teacher Fellows

Kristi Barnes teaches sixth grade world history at Seneca Middle School in Seneca, South Carolina. She is also the founder of and a mentor for The Bilingual Squad, a multicultural support group for bilingual students. Kristi is passionate about learning and teaching about cultures from around the world. As a Teacher for Global Classrooms fellow, she was able to travel to Brazil. Kristi is dedicated to inspiring her students to travel and be globally competent lifelong learners.

Parag Bhuva is a high school social studies teacher in Washington, D.C. He has a passion for integrating all subjects into his history classes to help students understand the forces that have shaped our world. As a human being and an educator, he seeks to empower himself and his students to never feel helpless in the face of the world's biggest problems by breaking them down into small but local and actionable steps to take.

Jordan Budisantoso is the founding computer science teacher at Washington Leadership Academy, a public charter school in Washington, D.C., that offers a four-year computer science and civic leadership education to all of its students. With computer science, Jordan encourages his students to connect computational solutions to real-world problems. He earned his B.S. in computer information systems from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and also serves as a captain in the United States Army Reserve.

Danielle Buggé teaches physics and environmental science in West Windsor, New Jersey. She is also a Ph.D. candidate in physics education. Danielle is curious and passionate about exploring the natural world. To encourage global citizenship, she empowers her students to develop this same curiosity and passion about acquiring new knowledge. You can frequently find her refereeing ice hockey games, camping, or taking photographs.

Casey Charles is a seventh and eighth grade science and physical education teacher at Westmount Public School in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. He is passionate about educating his students through experiential and environmental education activities. For the past two years, Casey has developed and taught in a Sports and Recreation Learning Academy, where all subjects are taught through community-connected experiential learning. He loves to get his class outdoors and exposed to the world around them.

Jennifer (Jen) Chavez-Miller teaches eighth graders at South Valley Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Through the humanities, she creates opportunities using literature, technology, and geography to connect students with the world through inquiry, communication, and collaboration. Jen loves that creative, critical space of presenting the challenges facing our world while instilling wonder, curiosity, adventure, and a sense of empowerment in her students so they become lifelong learners and engaged global citizens.

Jerry Citron is a biology teacher at Stuyvesant High School in New York City where he currently teaches biology and AP environmental science as well as two biology electives he designed himself, Human Infectious Diseases and Pathophysiology. Jerry strives to provide his students with a variety of problem-solving skills using hands-on approaches that they can apply to the different science disciplines and in their lives in general. He is a Fund for Teachers grant recipient and a Math for America fellow.

Sarah Compton teaches life science and environmental science at Austin Career Education Center, an alternative high school in Chicago. Using her passion for science, travel, and the outdoors, Sarah designs a relevant and engaging curriculum for her students. She focuses on creating authentic learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom to help students make meaningful connections. Through her work she hopes to foster the development of responsible global citizens and lifelong learners.

Melissa Cook, a National Board certified teacher, teaches second grade in Burien, Washington. She has traveled extensively in the United States and abroad, and draws from those experiences in her classroom whenever possible. Melissa’s passion is for her students to develop a lifelong love of learning. She integrates her students’ questions, curiosity, and insights into every lesson, and encourages students to discover answers for themselves through observation and meaningful discussion.

Kate Craven teaches technology and writing at Ashford School in northeastern Connecticut. A 2017 Fund for Teachers Fellow and a National Geographic Explorer-Educator Exchange Teacher, she uses real-world experiences to inspire student curiosity and engage them in project-based learning units. Kate seeks to equip her students with global citizenship and 21st-century skills, and empowers them to contribute to their world at a local, national, global, or even galactic level.

Julia DeMarines, an astrobiologist and educator, is a science instructor at Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, California, where she leads workshops for K-12 students on astrobiology, the planets, and climate change. Julia also works for Blue Marble Space where she produces “Space in Your Face!”—a comedic space variety show for young adults. She loves to use her science background in her educational efforts to inspire the next generation of explorers.

Jessika Dorcas teaches high school science at Pine Lake Preparatory in Mooresville, North Carolina. An enthusiastic traveler, she promotes global connectedness, sustainability, and a deep understanding of our roles as environmental and humanitarian ambassadors. She aims to inspire curiosity and ownership through science education, creating an inclusive environment for students of all backgrounds.

Nicole Eshelman is a global perspectives and AP/IB history teacher at Manheim Township High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. As an ambassador and trainer for the National Geographic Educator Certification Program, her goal in teaching is to foster a passion for learning and exploring, which she embodies by creating a wanderlust-inspired class. Nicole serves on the steering committee and is the outreach director for the Pennsylvania Alliance for Geographic Education and is a 2011 Transatlantic Outreach Program fellow.

Stacy Gasteiger has taught elementary school for 11 years and currently teaches math, science, and social studies to fifth graders in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. Stacy is a Teachers for Global Classrooms Fellow and Keystone Technology Innovator. She is passionate about bringing global education and environmental awareness to her rural students.

Katherine (Kat) Golden is the sustainability education manager at the EarthWays Center, the sustainability division of the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Missouri. Kat is a longtime sustainability educator dedicated to building connections between people and places. She is passionate about using education as a way to nurture stewardship, creating citizens that are knowledgeable, empowered, and active players in solving the challenges facing our planet.

Ben Graves teaches high school science at Delta High School in rural western Colorado. As an educator, he strives to make visible the invisible parts of the world through student-driven inquiry and experimentation. His students collect data on air quality, monitor the local bark beetle epidemic, and develop authentic skills in the renewable energy field. Students in his Solar Energy Training Program are currently installing a solar array to power the science building.

Trevor Hance is the coordinator for Enrichment and the Environment at Laurel Mountain Elementary in Austin, Texas. Trevor’s day might include drafting research papers regarding the importance of living and learning in nature, taking photographs with first graders conducting a BioBlitz in the school’s nature preserve, supporting fifth graders’ skills with power tools as they design and construct birdhouses from recycled fences, or leading professional development in the school’s teaching kitchen regarding the process of nixtamalization in making hand-ground corn tortillas.

Educator, traveler, and nature lover, Paula Huddy-Zubkowski is also a grade two teacher in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. For the last 15 years this teacher-adventurer has explored our amazing Earth. Her passion for connecting with nature, through indigenous perspectives, motivates her students to be global citizens who understand how mapping and technology can be used to create action plans for more sustainable living on this little blue planet we call home.

Megan Jefferson is a special education teacher in Baltimore, Maryland, where she teaches students with autism in a Communication and Learning Support classroom. She is passionate about helping students understand their connection to the environment and communicating how extraordinary the world is through their eyes. Megan encourages students to celebrate each other and use their unique talents to find effective and enjoyable ways to change the world.

Justin Kaput teaches integrated and environmental science at Suffield High School in Suffield, Connecticut. Justin believes that by developing an understanding of local ecology and working to restore it we can inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. He is actively involved in the Next Generation Science Standards, runs the school's outing club, and is an avid mountain biker, climber, and guitar player. More than anything else, he hopes to inspire a sense of wonder and respect for the natural world in his students.

Daniel (Dan) Kinzer is co-director of the Luke Center for Public Service at Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he focuses on cultivating young explorers and changemakers. An avid traveler and adventurer, Dan is fascinated by the natural world and particularly the ocean. He is also committed to creating the conditions for wonder and community building, and finding opportunities to co-create curricula with his students. Dan is always looking for ways to support young people as they discover their own questions and journey towards a more peaceful and sustainable future.

Kathleen (Katie) Knecht is in her 10th year teaching special education to K-8 students in Ashford, Connecticut. Katie’s classroom includes students with unique educational needs. A 2016 Fund For Teachers fellow, Katie is passionate about incorporating learning into lessons bringing the real world to life in a way that is developmentally appropriate. Her goal is to empower students to explore the world and lead lives as independently as possible.

Abra Koch is a National Board certified spanish teacher at Loveland High School in Loveland, Ohio. She believes that cross-curricular learning that helps students view the world from different perspectives is the way to develop independent thinkers and learners. She uses themes like social justice and the environment to encourage students to see how they are connected to the rest of the world and to encourage them to make mindful decisions based on the knowledge that we are all interconnected.

Kelly Koller is a sixth grade teacher in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin. She develops an atmosphere of adventure in her classroom through her passion for ecology, project-based learning, and exploring the outdoors. For the past few years, she has integrated native habitat restoration and development into her curriculum. Kelly also works for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point as an outreach specialist, connecting colleagues to environmental education and outdoor learning resources.

Lindsay Lancaster is the program manager at Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids. She brings onsite seed-to-table vegetable gardening to Delaware elementary and middle schools to enhance the science curriculum. Lindsay is passionate about providing opportunities for student discovery through hands-on outdoor exploration. She aspires to instill appreciation for gardens and to empower students to preserve green spaces through environmental stewardship.

Christine McCartney teaches English at Excelsior Academy, a Pathways in Technology Early College High School in Newburgh, New York. A social justice educator, Fulbright Scholar, and co-founder of her district’s global service learning program, Christine is wedded to inviting students to empower themselves and rethink citizenship by rolling up their sleeves to work for positive social change at the local and global levels.

Logan McWilliams, affectionately known as Ms. Mac by her students, is a first grade teacher at Madison Park Primary Academy in Oakland, California. Following in the footsteps of her mentors, Mr. Feeny (Boy Meets World) and Ms. Frizzle (The Magic School Bus), Ms. Mac believes in the power of combining high expectations, exploration, and love to inspire her students to stretch beyond their circumstances. Through literacy she urges her students to take chances, make mistakes, and get messy.

Tama Nunnelley teaches geography and history in Guntersville, Alabama, where she encourages her students to be lifelong explorers and to push past fear to reach their goals. She empowers her students to find their voice and tell their story. Tama is a trainer for the National Geographic Educator Certification Program, a 2015 National Council for Geographic Education Distinguished Teacher, president of her state social studies council, and co-coordinator of her state geographic alliance.

Judith Painter teaches world geography to eighth grade students at Andrew Lewis Middle School in Salem, Virginia. She promotes global education and geographic literacy with her students using online mapping and hands-on learning. She has begun using personalized and problem-based learning to empower her students. Through her travels, Judith enhances the classroom and inspires her students to learn more about their world and their place in it.

Jessica Parra teaches first grade in Washington, D.C. She is an alumna of the Teachers for Global Classrooms program, where she traveled in Senegal, and the National Council for Geographic Education’s GeoCamp in Iceland. She believes in the transformative power of teaching primary grades about the world, cultures, and empathy. Jessica loves traveling and learning herself, and is committed to creating a sense of adventure and curiosity in her students.

Donnie Piercey works in a hybrid role as a fifth grade teacher and district technology integration specialist in Eminence, Kentucky. Currently in his 12th year of teaching, he is always looking for innovative ways to incorporate technology across the curriculum to increase learning and engagement. Through tools such as Google Earth and Google Maps Street View, Donnie helps his class learn about the larger world around them.

Kholood Qumei is a 10th and 11th grade ESL/social studies teacher at Manhattan International High School, teaching language through content to students from over 30 countries. She believes in creating content that is both accessible and challenging for English language learners. She teaches students to think critically to both understand and appreciate the interconnectedness of our world for their empowerment.

April Salas is a sixth grade social studies teacher at Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School in Santa Ana, California. She has a M.A. in reading and a B.A. in history. Through inquiry, exploration, collaboration, and technology, she creates opportunities for students to understand the world of the past and the present and their place within the larger global context. She helps students understand culture and society as well as politics, the economy, and religion through geographical inquiry.

Becky Schnekser is the Lower School science specialist at Cape Henry Collegiate in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Her passion for authentic, field-based science experiences for students runs deep, permeating all aspects of her curriculum. She believes learning does not just happen within four walls or six hours of the day, rather everywhere and at all times. She constantly pushes boundaries, proving the youngest of students are capable of big thinking and problem-solving in a complex and ever-changing world.

Julie Theim is an art teacher for grades K-6 at Rolling Hills Elementary in Mukwonago, Wisconsin. She is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of art education to explore cross-curricular learning through hands-on innovative experiences. She seeks to inspire students to learn through different lenses so they can build positive connections between the world and their lives. Her passions include photography, travel, and a love of animals and the wild world.

Erin Towns is a teacher at Edward Little High School in Auburn, Maine. Fiercely dedicated to global education, she uses her professional fellowship experiences in Japan, Kazakhstan, China, and Ethiopia to help Maine students investigate the world, examine cultural perspectives, and apply knowledge learned to take direct action on global contemporary issues introduced in her United Nations Sustainable Development class. Students create resources for authentic local, state, national, and international audiences to address social and environmental problems.

Alison Travis is an elementary educator, teacher mentor, and third culture kid. She currently teaches first grade at Prospect Ridge Academy in Broomfield, Colorado. Her goal is to create problem solvers who take part in inquiry and empathy on a global scale. By integrating new media and international exposure, she strives to build curious citizens and stewards of the world.

Amy Trenkle is an eighth grade U.S. history teacher and Model United Nations advisor at Alice Deal Middle School in Washington, D.C. She also serves as an adjunct professor of education at American University. Amy is a National Board certified teacher in early adolescence social studies/history, has a master’s degree in international education, and is finishing a second master’s in American history. She believes in experiential learning, primary source analysis, and object-based learning to make concrete connections for her students.

Kerri Westgard teaches eighth grade geography in Dilworth, Minnesota. She recently discovered the power of project-based learning, which empowers students to develop meaningful solutions for today’s global issues. Through her active involvement with the Minnesota Alliance for Geographic Education, Kerri has developed geography workshops for teachers and is a National Geographic Educator Certification ambassador. Kerri holds a Ph.D. in teaching and learning from the University of North Dakota.

Samra Zeweldi is a middle school science and music teacher at Mississauga Christian Academy in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. She strives to provide resources and skills to her students that invite them to question and challenge the ways in which they care for our world as global citizens. Samra’s passion for implementing culturally relevant pedagogy is largely inspired by the diverse population she serves, and it has taken her to places around the world such as Mexico, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.