2016-2017 Fellows
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Patricia Aguinaga
Casa View Elementary School 3rd grade, Math + Science Patricia was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Her family, however, is from Mexico. As a daughter to parents with little education because of limited opportunities, it was always important to her to receive an education and give back to the community in which she grew up in. It was that drive that led her to receive various scholarships so that she could become a proud alumna of The University of Texas at Arlington. At UTA, she received her B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with an EC-6 Bilingual Generalist Certification. She is currently in her fourth year teaching at Casa View Elementary School, the school she went to as a child. She previously taught 2nd grade and is now teaching 3rd Grade Math and Science. Being a lover of mathematics, she hopes to instill that same love for math in her students and get rid of the “fear” and “dislike” for math that many people possess. |
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Robin Bishop
Hawthorne Elementary School Pre K- 5th grade, Music |
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Sandra Byler
Hexter Elementary School 5th grade, Science + Social Studies Sandra is a 5th grade science and social studies teacher at Hexter Elementary. She earned a BA in Psychology and a BS in Elementary Education from the University of Oklahoma. Sandra began her teaching career as an 8th grade math and science teacher in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In 2003, a statewide reduction in force caused Sandra to relocate to Dallas where she accepted a 2nd grade teaching position at Sam Houston Elementary. Five years later, she accepted her current position at Hexter Elementary. Sandra’s desire to instill a lifelong love of science in her students is what drives her to be the best teacher she can be. |
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Angela Brown
Bush Elementary School 1st grade, Self-Contained Angela Brown is a 4th grade math teacher at George H.W. Bush Elementary in Addison. She is originally from Chicago, Illinois. Angela received her undergraduate degree in Business Management and went on to receive her Master's in Business Administration. She is currently in her third year of teaching elementary school but has already received numerous awards from her school as well as the district. She is currently in school at The University of Texas at Arlington, earning another Master's degree in Educational Policy and Leadership. |
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Jennifer Cass
Hexter Elementary School 2nd grade, Math |
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Roberto Correa
Casa View Elementary School 5th grade, English Language Arts + Social Studies |
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Veronica Hernandez
Larry Smith Elementary School 4th grade, Math |
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Danielle Hovde
Bayles Elementary School 3rd grade, English Language Arts + Reading |
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Cindy Johnson
Hexter Elementary School 4th grade, Spanish Language Arts, Science + Social Studies |
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Candice Scott- Jimoh
Hexter Elementary School 4th grade, Math |
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Amanda Martin
Bush Elementary School 4th grade, Math, Science, + English Language Arts Amanda is a fourth grade teacher at George H.W. Bush Elementary School. She began her teaching career in the public school setting but then went on to help teach GED classes to adults. Afterwards, Amanda moved to Japan where she taught English Language Arts to people of all ages, from babies to adult businessmen. After returning to the United States, Amanda started working with Dallas ISD. She is currently teaching math, science, and English language arts in the dual language program. She is EC-4 and ESL certified. She is a proud alumna of the University of Texas at Austin where she received her Bachelor's of Science in Applied Learning and Development and minored in ESL. |
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Natalie McCue
Stevens Park Elementary School 5th grade, English Language Arts & Reading + Social Studies |
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Katie Miller
Alex Sanger Elementary School 2nd grade, Self-Contained Katie is a self-contained second grade teacher at Alex Sanger Elementary in Dallas, Texas. She earned a B.A. in Family Studies from Abilene Christian University and holds an early childhood through sixth grade certification through an alternative teaching program. In 2012, Katie began her career in Texas. She has also taken her career abroad and spent a year teaching international students in South Korea. Currently in her fourth year teaching, Katie is ready to take on new challenges as a teacher through the Innovation in Teaching Fellowship. |
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Becky Miskel
Casa View Elementary School Pre-K- 5th grade, Media Specialist |
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Tasha Moore
Kiest Elementary School 4th grade, English Language Arts & Reading Tasha is a 4th grade Reading, Writing and Social Studies teacher at Edwin J. Kiest Elementary. Her unorthodox pathway through teaching took her from Main stream Corporate American through High School Physics then Elementary science; finally settling her in writing. She is passionate about the fair and ethical treatment of all students with an extreme passion for the inclusion of Special needs students. She oversees the school garden with hopes to create a Texas crops garden that will help students gain hands on knowledge of what Texas life was before they could go to the Mega Low Mart. Bearing fruits from seed to crop is a joy and pride that Texan held and one that she like to instill in her students. Tasha holds an A.A in Photography, a B.S in Criminal Justice, Project management and literary studies and a M.A in Early Childhood Education/Administration. Her passion for the written word can be seen in action on a daily basis in the wondrous Writing World of 4th grade. |
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Peter Morrissey
Alex Sanger Elementary School 1st grade, Self-Contained |
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Veronica Perez
Larry Smith Elementary School 1st grade, Self-Contained Veronica is currently a second grade bilingual teacher at Larry Smith Elementary School. Her journey into the world of education began in Mesquite, Texas as a bilingual teacher, where she taught kinder, first and fourth grades. She has been teaching for 8 years, 3 of which she has spent at Larry Smith Elementary teaching first and second grade. She works relentlessly to instill a love of learning in all her students and to prepare them for the future through the use of technology. Veronica is an innovator in collaboration with teachers, parents, and students and makes use of technology to collaborate with parents and colleges. She leads professional development at Larry G. Smith, and teachers seek her expertise with technology. She holds a B.S. in Interdisciplinary from the University of North Texas and a B.S. in Speech Therapy from Texas Woman’s University. She continues to grow as a lifelong learner and is in the process of pursuing a master's in speech therapy. |
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Jennifer Pleitgen
Lakewood Elementary School 1st grade, Self-Contained |
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Jesse Poff-Hancock
Casa View Elementary School 4th grade, Math + Science Jesse is currently a fourth grade teacher at Casa View Elementary School. She has been teaching for 7 years, 6 of which she has spent at Casa View. During this time, she has served as a fourth grade teacher and 4th and 5th grade baseball coach. She is certified for generalist EC-6, ESL, and SPED. Jesse holds a B.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas in Denton. |
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Kathleen Ramirez
Rosemont Middle School 7th/8th grade, Social Studies Kathy is a seventh and eighth grade dual language social studies teacher at Rosemont Middle School. She earned her M.S. in Reading from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and M.ED. in Administration from Concordia University at Austin. In 1991, Kathy began her career as a Title 1 Reading Specialist. She also was a Technology Coordinator, where she trained teachers to utilize technology in their classrooms. Kathy went on to teach first grade dual language at Rosemont Primary School. She was involved with pioneering the dual language program at Rosemont. Currently at Rosemont Middle School, she co-sponsors the Rosemont Middle School Student Council and technology training. Technology integration of computers and iPads led her students to discover their creativity by completing a vast number of projects like a presidential speech utilizing green screen technology. She also provides technology integration training for her fellow educators. |
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Eugenia Rodgers
Rosemont Elementary School 3rd-5th grade, Gifted and Talented Eugenia teaches Gifted and Talented at Rosemont Elementary and electives for the Middle School. She is active with the Texas Association for Gifted & Talented and serves on several committees. She has been involved with the Destination Imagination Program and is a Texas Association of Student Council Sponsor. Her career involves special education, general education, and gifted education. Rodgers also has a certification in Educational Leadership. |
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Vera Rubio Marmolejo
Caillet Elementary School 3rd grade, Math + Science Vera is a bilingual teacher at F. P. Caillet Elementary. She started her career in teaching in 2013 thru the Alternative Certification Program in Dallas ISD. She taught 2nd grade Math and Science for three consecutive years, and now is up for the challenge to teach Math and Science to 3rd grade kids. She is a hardworking teacher that believes her students can achieve anything they set their minds to do. With the help of two co-workers, Ms. Watts and Ms. Lancaster, in the 2015-2016 school year, they established the first robotics teams in F. P. Caillet, Robo-Tigers and Cyber Tigers. Both of the teams participated in competitions going all the way to state/regionals. Cyber-tigers had the opportunity to go all the way to Worlds Championship held in Louisville, KY in April 2016. |
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Lily Ruble
Bayles Elementary School 4th grade, Self-Contained Lily is a fourth grade teacher at Bayles Elementary. She earned her degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. She began her career in education teaching here in Dallas at K.B. Polk Vanguard Elementary, teaching preschool. She then went on to teach first grade and ended her time at Polk teaching writing to the fourth grade Vanguard students. Lily is currently in her fifth year of teaching and serves as the grade level chair and on the leadership team at Bayles. |
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Sara Taylor
Hexter Elementary School 3rd grade, English Language Arts & Reading + Social Studies Sara is a 3rd Grade Reading/Language Arts and Social Studies teacher at Hexter Elementary. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication at Samford University in Birmingham, AL, she returned to her home state of Texas and worked to earn her EC-4 teaching certification through Region 10. She taught in a combined grade-level classroom in a Garland charter school before taking a (ten-year!) break from education in pursuit of a Master’s degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. After pursuing jobs in the non-profit and church world, Sara returned to teaching 3 years ago when she joined the faculty at Herbert Marcus Elementary School as a 1st grade teacher where she also served one year as department chair. After two years at Marcus, Sara joined the staff at Hexter Elementary School in East Dallas where she continues to work as an ESL certified third-grade teacher. |
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Juliet Taylor
Alex Sanger Elementary School 2nd grade, Self-Contained Juliet is a gearing-up this summer to be a 2nd grade teacher in the Fall of 2016-2017 at Alex Sanger Elementary. She graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas with a Communications degree. After venturing into the marketing/advertising world, she realized her true passion was elsewhere, more specifically, working with children. She is in the process of receiving her EC-6th grade teaching certification through Texas Teachers and is ready and eager to start her first year with a classroom. This past year, she supported Alex Sanger Elementary as a Guest Teacher. Some of her assignments included website editing and design, yearbook management, small-group reading tutoring, and subbing. One day, she plans to go back to school to get a Master's in Early Childhood Education. |
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Sahil Trikha
Pinkston High School 9th/12th grade, Computer Science + Algebra 1 |
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Olivia Uribe
Solar Preparatory Kindergarten-2nd grade, Physical Education |
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Dayla VanSchaick
Hexter Elementary School Kindergarten Dayla was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Her teaching career began in Dallas ISD, but she later spent seven years living and teaching in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Dayla is currently a kindergarten teacher at Hexter Elementary. She has taught for 20+ years and has experience in pre-K, first grade, and special education as well as teacher preparation and child development courses at Eastfield College. Dayle earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of North Texas in Denton and a Master's in Early Childhood Education from Texas A&M Commerce. She is a lifelong learner who believes that you can always learn something new and hopes to instill this love of learning in her students. |
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Alma Vasquez
Kiest Elementary School 4th grade, English Language Arts + Reading |
