2021-2022 Fellows
Isamar Bague Diaz
Stephen C. Foster Elementary Isamar Bagué is a kindergarten dual language teacher at Stephen C. Foster Elementary. She graduated from University of Puerto Rico with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education. Ms. Bagué began her teaching career in Puerto Rico where she worked for 5 years before coming to Texas to continue expanding her professional knowledge and contribution to education. For the past 8 years Ms. Bagué has been working as a bilingual teacher for Dallas ISD. During this time, she has been recognized as a Distinguished Teacher by the district and as the Early Childhood Teacher of the Year by my campus. She continuously serves as a mentor to new teachers in Alternative Teacher Academy of Dallas ISD. In 2019, Ms. Bagué Graduated from Lamar University and Salamanca University with a Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish. Emily Brokaw
Moise E. Molina High School Emily Brokaw is an on-level and OnRamps US History teacher at Molina High School. She currently serves as Social Studies Department Chair. She attended Dallas ISD schools for her entire primary and secondary education and went on to graduate from the University of Oklahoma. She began her journey in education at Molina High School where she completed her teacher residency from Dallas Teacher Residency and earned her Masters of Education in Teaching from Texas A&M University-Commerce. She completed her first year of teaching at Hillcrest High School and has taught at Molina since 2017. She has been lucky to serve as an Assessment for Learning pilot teacher and is excited to merge her Assessment for Learning practices with what she learns in the Fellowship to continually work towards creating a classroom that helps students develop agency over their learning and lives! Sophia Brown
Jack Lowe Sr. Elementary Sophia Brown is a descendant of the Gullah Geechee people from the Low Country area of South Carolina. Along with being an audacious educator is she a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. After graduating from Grambling State University, Sophia started her career with children as a Behavior Specialist. In 2017, Sophia made a change and became a certified teacher via iTeach Texas. She is now entering her 4th year in education. This year she will teach 4th grade English Language Arts and Reading at Jack Lowe Elementary School. She is on track to graduate in the Fall of 2022 with her Master’s in Education, Reading Specialist. |
Dr. Ona Calvo
B.H. Macon Elementary School Dr. Ona Calvo is a second grade math teacher at B.H. Macon Elementary School. She has been an educator inthe Dallas ISD for 37 years, 11 of which she has spent at Macon. She has served Macon as a TAG, fourth, fifth, and now second grade teacher. She currently serves the campus as Grade Level Chair, UIL Campus Activity Coordinator, and K-2 AVID Coordinator. She received her EdD from Nova Southeastern University. She has earned Recognized Status from the TEA and is a Distinguished Teacher in Dallas ISD. She began her teaching career in Chicago, where she was born and raised. She has a son, six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. |
Jacey Carr
Personalized Learning Academy at Highland Meadows School Jacey Carr is a fifth grade English Language Arts teacher at The Personalized Learning Academy at Highland Meadows. This will be her second year teaching and her second year in Dallas. She is originally born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelors in Elementary Education with a Reading Certificate. Ms. Carr fell in love with teaching at the Boys and Girls Club when she was a junior in high school. Her time at the University of Iowa she spent countless hours working at afterschool programs and teaching swimming lessons. She spent a summer in Japan teaching swimming lessons as well as summer in St. Lucia tutoring elementary students. Ms. Carr can't wait for what amazing opportunities cross her path next! |
April Castillo
William B. Travis Vanguard/Academy April Castillo is a fifth-grade ELA teacher at William B. Travis Vanguard/Academy for the Talented and Gifted. April is a proud alumni of Dallas ISD. She graduated from Mountain View College with an Associate in Teaching and received her Bachelor of Education from Texas Tech University in 2019. Currently, in her 3rd year of teaching, April has served as the lead mentor of her campus, as the data mentor, chair for racial equity, and is working on earning an Instructional Leadership Certificate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. |
Laurie Dewalt
CityLab High School April Castillo is a fifth-grade ELA teacher at William B. Travis Vanguard/Academy for the Talented and Gifted. April is a proud alumni of Dallas ISD. She graduated from Mountain View College with an Associate in Teaching and received her Bachelor of Education from Texas Tech University in 2019. Currently, in her 3rd year of teaching, April has served as the lead mentor of her campus, as the data mentor, chair for racial equity, and is working on earning an Instructional Leadership Certificate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. |
Susan Elizondo
Innovation Design Entrepreneurship Academy Susan Elizondo is a second-career and second-generation teacher who spent more than 20 years working for government and nonprofit organizations before diving into education. In addition to working in state and national government and politics, Susan was a leader at the American Heart Association for 15 years. She's been a teacher in DISD for five years, teaching Geography, AP Human Geography, U.S. History and AP U.S. History. She has founded several clubs, including the Newcomers Club, which matches a new student with a mentor in an upper grade. She's also coached e-sports teams for two years. Susan is a proud graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she earned Bachelor degrees in Journalism and later a second Bachelor degree in Political Science. She also earned a Master's in Education from Texas A&M Commerce. She is passionate about teaching and passionate about her students. She bringing her years of experience in the business arena to help students prepare for their next stage in life career and college readiness. She wants every student to find their passion in life. |
Janese Gilyard
Eddie Bernice Johnson Elementary School Ms. Gilyard was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and a proud product of Dallas ISD education from elementary through high school. She completed her degree at Stephen F. Austin State University. This school year, she is thrilled to be a First Grade Reading teacher. Her students have experienced many changes adjusting to the “new normal” learning model, however, she is excited to provide consistency, build relationships, make connections, and most importantly, educate students for success. Gilyard does her best each day to provide children relevant knowledge, the courage to try new things, the curiosity to seek new answers, and the ability to be the best they can be. |
Jennifer Gonzalez
L.V. Stockard Middle School Jennifer Gonzalez is an eighth grade science teacher at LV Stockard Middle School. She has taught for three years and is currently serving as the Esports head coach, Attendance for Credit Committee member, and a mentor teacher for the New Teacher Academy on her campus. Jennifer has experience creating items for district assessments and has served on several leadership committees, including the Campus Needs Assessment - Demographics Team and the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Site Team. Her educational career includes a dual-credit Associate of Science degree from Trinidad Garza Early College High School/Dallas College and a Bachelor of Science degree in biology with secondary life science certification from Texas Wesleyan University. Jennifer's goal as a teacher is to provide innovative, engaging, and personalized learning opportunities for her students in the Oak Cliff community. |
Natalie Hernandez Ledesma
L.K. Hall Personalized Learning Academy Natalie is a bilingual teacher at Hall Personalized Learning Academy at Oak Cliff. She knew she wanted to be a teacher since she was just 5 years old. Playing teacher with her sister, Natalie being the teacher grading her sister’s work and giving her homework. In 2014 she graduated high school in Puerto Rico and got accepted in University in Puerto Rico in Bayamon in Early years and Elementary Education teaching all subjects. On her last year in university Dallas ISD was running a job fair where Natalie went with a hopeful mind and heart and got offered and Early Contract to be part of the Dallas ISD family. When she finally got her bachelors, she moved to Texas and pursued her dream. It wasn’t easy for her, since she had to leave everything she knew behind. Since then she’s been hungry to keep growing in her career and hoping she can reach the position of Principal or higher one day. |
Ingrid Lara Mara
Stephen C. Foster Elementary School Ingrid Lara is a Kindergarten dual language teacher. She earned her interdisciplinary B.S at the University of North Texas in 2019. With only three years teaching, Ingrid Lara received Teacher of the Year Award With outstanding work in her community and school. Ingrid is part of Lighthouse team and manages an action team who oversees making sure students become leaders and organizing events and other things throughout the school year. Is currently in two fellowships, one that helps students learn in different ways, and one that will help make sure students are doing it with love. Dedicated to her student’s growth. Open to new ideas. She was born in Colombia, and since she was little, she always wanted to become a teacher. To this day she keeps living her dream. |
Brittney Leroy-Monte
N.W. Harllee Early Childhood Campus Ms. Brittney Monte was raised in Irving, Texas. She graduated with her associate’s degree from North Lake Community College and was awarded her bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University with certifications in Gen-Ed and Special Needs. Ms. Monte worked with special needs students as an Inclusion Teacher and an FLS Teacher in DISD before coming to Harllee. Ms. Monte has a passion for developing the whole child by teaching empathy, resilience, safety and leadership skills. She is looking forward to building a strong foundation of academic, social and emotional learning in young children to create world leaders who make a positive impact in their communities. When Ms. Monte is not at school with her students or prepping for a lesson, she enjoys playing video games, relaxing with her cats, weekly boxing lessons and once it becomes safe again, traveling around the world to unfamiliar and exotic places. |
Lorena Moreno
Leila P. Cowart Elementary Lorena Moreno is a 5th grade bilingual teacher at Leila P. Cowart Elementary, where she currently teaches math and science. She began her work with kids at an afterschool program for low socioeconomic kids and refugees. She is an alumna of the University of North Texas. While attending the university she obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree focusing in Interdisciplinary Studies. She was born and raised in Dallas ISD and has been teaching at Dallas ISD for 8 years. She is part of the Personalized Learning Team at her school. Lorena is passionate about continuing to motivate students to be intrinsical problem solvers and life-learners. |
Stephanie Muzio
Leila P. Cowart Elementary Stephanie Muzio is a fifth grade teacher at Leila P. Cowart Elementary School. Her journey into the world of education began when she was in elementary school. Her mom was a teacher, and always had Stephanie helping her with different projects and with her students. Stephanie fell in love with helping her mother’s students, she knew she was meant to end up in education when she grew up. She went on to earn a bachelor’s in EC-6 education and a masters in curriculum and instruction. She is going into her sixth year of teaching, but this is her first year at Cowart Elementary. |
Nancy Navarrette
Personalized Learning Academy at Highland Meadow Nancy Navarrete is a Math and Science teacher of third graders at Personalized Learning Academy at Highland Meadows Elementary School. Before becoming an elementary teacher, Nancy was a Registered Behavior Technician in Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy. She left her role as a Behavior Technician in May of 2019, and transitioned her newly learned skills to her role as a teacher. Nancy’s dream of becoming a teacher was fulfilled in July 2019, only a year after having received her Child and Adolescent Bachelor of Science Degree from California State University, Fullerton. Currently, Nancy is a graduate student working to obtain a Blended and Personalized Learning Certificate at Texas Tech. |
Kennedy Paris
Seagoville North Elementary School Kennedy (Ken) Paris is a graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, where they majored in Theatre Studies. Here they found a passion for creative drama, and arts integration into core curriculum. Ken joined Teach for America right out of college, and has been teaching elementary ages going on 3 years. They are currently pursuing their MEd at SMU. Pony up! |
Martha Rocio Villareal
Henry B. Gonzalez Personalized Learning Academy Martha Rocio Villarreal is a second grade dual language teacher at Gonzalez PLA Elementary School. After obtaining her teaching certification; she began her teaching career in South Texas, becoming a fourth grade dual language teacher in Leo Elementary. Where she taught Math, Reading language Arts, Science, and Social Studies in English and Spanish. After her fourth year of teaching she was ready to seek more opportunities to professionally grow and decided to move to Dallas. Immediately after her move, she became a proud dual language teacher in Dallas ISD. She is a graduate of University of Monterrey where she majored in International Marketing. She is currently working on her Personalized learning Certificate, which she is very passionate about, and is seeking to start her masters degree very soon. |
Maria Sierra
Personalized Learning Academy at Highland Meadows Brynne Mattson started her teaching career in Mesquite ISD teaching third and fourth grade bilingual students. She then spent several years piloting a two-way dual language immersion program in Gwinnett County, Georgia, where she was awarded Teacher of the Year in 2019. Always a Texan at heart, she later returned back home to Dallas where she now teaches third grade bilingual math and science. Brynne holds a Bachelors of Science in Bilingual Education from Texas A&M University and a Masters in Bilingual/ESL Education. |
Michelle Smith
Bryan Adams High School Leadership Academy Michelle Smith is currently the Pre-AP English II Teacher in the Early College Program at Bryan Adams High School Leadership Academy. After graduating from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science, she went on to teach in Houston, Texas, finish her Master of Education in Instructional Technology, and then move to Boston to design and develop Savio Preparatory Academy’s first networked computer lab and technology training course. This is where she developed her love of professional development and training teachers. For 18 years Michelle has taught 8th through 12th grade in both private and public schools and has served as a Sophomore Team Leader, Mentor Teacher, Technology Lab Coordinator, and Instructional Technology Specialist. Michelle’s next goal is to complete her Graduate Certification in School Librarianship. |
Diana Topel
Stephen C. Foster Elementary School Diana Topel Sully is a 4th grade Math & Science teacher at Stephen C. Foster Elementary. She graduated from Universidad Catolica Andres Bello in Caracas, Venezuela with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Spanish Linguistics. Active in volunteer work since an early age, Ms. Topel began her teaching career in barrio Antimano, where she worked as a volunteer teaching unschooled children and 7th grade Reading in some of the most underprivileged areas in Caracas. Before pursuing alternative certification to become a teacher in Texas, Ms. Topel was a manager at her family's low cost K-12 private school for more than 10 years. Always interested in innovation, including school management software and blockchain technology, her NFT project DNARITY earned spots in startup accelerators Wayra Venezuela and Startup Chile. Diana is currently in her third year of teaching in Texas. She serves as LPAC chair and grade level chair at Foster. |
Courtney Wade
Bryan Adams Leadership Academy High School Courtney Wade is currently an English II and Research and Technical Writing teacher at Bryan Adams Leadership Academy High School. She has been teaching for 9 years, 7 of which she spent teaching in public and private schools in North Louisiana. During this time, she has served as an 8th-12th ELA teacher, a French I-II teacher, AP Language and Composition teacher, and an OnRamps Rhetoric teacher. Courtney briefly attended Law School, decided that it wasn’t for her, and began teaching at a small private school in West Monroe, Louisiana. She earned her M.S. in secondary education and started teaching 8th grade at Choudrant High School in Choudrant, Louisiana. During her 5 years at Choudrant High School, her students consistently grew multiple achievement levels on the LEAP 2025 (the standardized test Louisiana’s 8th grade students take). |