2020-2021 Fellows
Jose Armendariz
John J. Pershing Elementary Jose Armendariz is currently a Kindergarten teacher at John J. Pershing Elementary and has been a teacher leader there for 17 years. During this time, he has taught in grades kindergarten through fourth. He has also participated in two Fellowships with Teaching Trust, Adult Leadership Cohort, and Instructional Leadership Cohort, with outstanding outcomes in his Campus Action Plans. He was selected to participate for two consecutive years at the North Texas Teacher Council to advocate for our students and education policy. He is also an active Cadre member that provides support to the Bilingual and ESL Department in Dallas ISD as a presenter or by recording instructional videos that are used in partnership with Univision and Dallas ISD. Recently, he’s helped to increase parent involvement at Pershing Elementary by collaborating and helping organize the protocols with parents, along with Texas Parent Teacher Association, to re-establish the Parent Teacher Association. He is a proud graduate student of the University of Texas at EL Paso where he received his M.B.A. Maria Banda
B.H. Macon Elementary School Maria Banda is a fifth-grade math teacher at B.H. Macon Elementary School. She taught preschool for ten years before deciding to take the next step and returning to serve the community that helped her achieve so much. She attended the University of North Texas at Dallas where she received her bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies and a master’s degree in STEM Education. She is dual certified in special and elementary education. She presently teaches at the same elementary school she attended from Pre-K to sixth grade. Maria is currently in her fifth year of teaching at the elementary level and is the Robotics Coach, UIL Number Sense Coach, and TMSCA Coach for her campus. During Maria’s first year as the Robotics Coach, her team qualified for the Texas State Regional Championship and the Create U.S. Open Robotics Championship. |
Rosario Becerra
Celestino M. Soto ES Rosario Becerra graduated from Texas Tech University from the 2+1 Dallas Cohort. After student teaching in Dallas ISD she was able to continue teaching in the district. She started her teaching career at Celestino Soto Elementary, as a first grade teacher. She has been teaching for three years and loves working with the younger students to help build their foundation in reading, math, and so much more. After working with the younger students, she appreciates their little minds and the opportunity to reach each student at their own level. Personalized Learning has been something she incorporates into her classroom each year. She hopes the Fellowship will continue to support her classroom innovation. |
Kaitlin Berry
Lenore Kirk Hall Elementary Kaitlin Berry is a second grade teacher at Hall Personalized Learning Academy at Oak Cliff. She grew up in Dallas, Texas and is a product of Dallas ISD. After earning her B.S in Fashion Merchandising and Business Administration at Texas State University, Kaitlin received her teaching certification through ACT Dallas. She began her teaching journey in Dallas ISD in 2017 and has taught Pre-K, first and second grade. She is passionate about Social Emotional Learning and Personalized Learning, and is committed to her scholars achievements. |
Erica Campos
Solar Preparatory School for Girls Erica Campos is a Gifted/Talented teacher at Solar Preparatory School for Girls. She is a proud DallasISD graduate. She began her teaching career in 2006 in Dallas, Texas with DallasISD where she taught second & third grade bilingual. She went on to obtain her Masters in Library Science for School Libraries from Texas Woman's University in 2018. During that time she joined Solar Preparatory Girls as the librarian and co-makerspace teacher. She passionate about encouraging young girls to live and lead with confidence and purpose and becoming life-longer learners. |
Albalicia Espino
Sidney Lanier Expressive Art Vanguard Albalicia Espino is a first-time art teacher at Sidney Lanier Vanguard for the Expressive Arts. She has taught for seven years, most of which were in Early Childhood while at Felix G. Botello Personalized Learning Elementary School. While Albalicia has a love for early childhood, her path has led her full circle back to the arts at Sidney Lanier. Sidney Lanier was where Albalicia first discovered the joy of creating as a student in art class. She continued her studies in the arts throughout high school while attending Booker T. Washington for the Performing and Visual Arts. She went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in photography and with a minor in art history. Albalicia believes that every child can be an artist and that creativity is an essential skill in achieving critical thinking and problem-solving skills. |
Laurie Gustafson
Woodrow Wilson High School Laurie Gustafson teaches English II and AVID I at Woodrow Wilson High School. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Scientific and Technical Communications. After 20 years in the environmental field as a communications professional, Laurie changed careers in 2015 to become an English teacher, earning her M.Ed. in secondary education from Texas A & M Commerce. She began her education career student teaching at J.L. Long Middle School then taught 8th grade English at Comstock Middle School. She's taught both on level and pre-AP courses. Currently, she serves on the AVID Site Team and as a supervisor for IB juniors and seniors writing extended essays. Additionally, she serves as the English department's representative on Woodrow's Site Based Decision Making Committee. |
Valeria Gutierrez
Leila P. Cowart Elementary Norma is a bilingual kindergarten teacher at Arturo Salazar Elementary School. Prior to pursuing a teaching career, she worked at a bank call center where she eventually began to train new hires. Her passion for teaching others grew and she decided to enter the world of education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies from Texas Tech University in 2016. Now, she is pursuing her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction with a Concentration in PL from Texas Tech University as well. Her goal is to become an instructional coach. |
Rochelle Hailey
Solar Preparatory School for Girls Rochelle Hailey, Sixth Grade Teacher, is entering her sixth year in Dallas ISD, serving alongside the trailblazing team of Solar Preparatory Schools for Girls! Rochelle believes that “Every child deserves an effective teacher, not by chance, but by design.” Therefore, life-long learning is what aids her effectiveness. After graduating from Detroit Public Schools, Rochelle earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics & Communication from Oakland University, a Post-Baccalaureate Degree in Elementary Education, as well as a Master’s Degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Spring Arbor University, Michigan. Being an alumnus of Teaching Trust Adult Leadership Cohort has helped her reach her greatest impact by influencing and leading other adults within the school community. Rochelle continues her quest for learning as a new member of Cohort 5 of the Innovation in Teaching Fellowship! |
Trinisha Hall
Thomas Marsalis Elementary Trinisha is a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend. She has been teaching for 16 years in the science and math content areas. Trinisha taught grades 3-5 in both Dallas ISD and Lancaster ISD. She serves on committees that promote STEM and computer science. She was also awarded teacher of year. She has a bachelor's degree from UT- Dallas and a Bio-Tech certificate from Collin College. She enjoys teaching math and science and helping her students discover the "scientist" in themselves! |
Leticia Hernandez-Pate
Jack Lowe Sr. Elementary Leticia Hernandez-Pate was born and raised in Mexico. She moved to Dallas speaking only a few words of English. When she was taking classes at Richland College, her counselor encouraged her to become a teacher. In 2006, she graduated from University of North Texas and began working at Jack Lowe Sr. Elementary, a personalized learning and Blue Ribbon school. Over the past 14 years, she has taught kindergarten, first, third, fourth, and fifth grades. Leticia is excited to be part of the Innovation in Teaching Fellowship. |
Maria Herrera
Larry G. Smith Elementary Maria Herrera is a 4th grade self-contained dual language teacher at Larry G. Smith Elementary School. Her teaching journey began in Dallas ISD as a long term substitute teacher, and she is currently going into her fourth year in education. During these years she has served as a 3rd and 4th grade dual language teacher. Maria is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She is in the process of completing her masters degree in Educational Leadership and Philosophy with principal certification and was recently accepted to participate in the Region 10 National Board Cohort. |
Leonna Kendrick
Lang Middle School Leonna Kendrick, is a sixth grade math and science teacher at Lang Middle School. After graduating high school in Seattle, WA she moved to Nashville, TN to attend Tennessee State University where she earned her BBA in Management. During her time in Tennessee she found her passion for children and education through substitute teaching, tutoring and teaching Sunday School. In 2016 she moved to Dallas, TX where she began her formal career in education. The last four years have been a rapid learning train for Leonna, she has earned her Master’s in Education, was appointed as a Blended Learning Coach, and attained a diverse amount of educational insight through professional developments and peer relationships. She continues to seek 360 learning experiences to share with her students. |
Jacelyn Kyle
Solar Preparatory School for Girls Jacelyn Kyle grew up in Dallas, TX, and attended schools in DISD. Kyle attended Stephen F. Austin, and following her family’s footsteps she earned both undergrad and graduate degrees in education. After obtaining her degree, she returned to the Pleasant Grove Community to start her teaching career. Since beginning her teaching career she has taken on a variety of leadership roles and during the 2016-2017 school year was named Teacher of the Year. Kyle is motivated to do research on innovative teaching practices and she makes learning a unique experience for students by providing them with challenges that stimulate their thoughts and process skills. She is currently a 6th-grade math teacher at Solar and continues to demonstrate innovative learning techniques through her passion for teaching. As an innovative educator in her 11th year, she embodies motivating students while teaching them to be intrinsically motivated problem solvers and life-learners. |
Stephanie Macier
Seagoville Elementary Stephanie Macier is a born and raised Texan. Always seeking to expand her knowledge by reading and searching for better solutions led Stephanie to graduate a year early from Sam Rayburn High School in Pasadena. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from UT Arlington in 2005. She always felt a call to teach and when she answered that call she found her passion. She has been a teacher for 7 years in Dallas ISD, 5 of them at her current school Seagoville Elementary teaching the 2nd grade. She loves to spend her time with her husband and daughter at home with all 8 of her cats. At school she is known as a crazy cat lady because of her love for the animal. She even fostered kittens for a couple of years. She has a large capacity for caring and love for everyone. |
Iris Maldonado
B.H. Macon Elementary Iris is a fourth grade teacher at BH Macon Elementary Bilingual School. She is from Puerto Rico and has been teaching for 22 years, 5 of which have been at Macon. During this time, she served as a first, second, and fourth grade bilingual classroom teacher. She teaches reading, writing, social studies, science, and math. This last year her focus was on 4th grade reading and writing. One of the things that she loves about teaching and is a joy of her students' faces when they finally understand the lesson. That joy motivates her to continue in this work. Knowing that helping other human beings learn and grow is a blessing she can not describe. Iris also loves reading and writing because they are skills that let people discover the world and themselves. |
Julisa Martinez
Henry B. Gonzalez Personalized Learning Academy Julisa Martinez is a PreK-4 Bilingual teacher at Henry B. Gonzalez Personalized Learning Academy. She has been in education for 10 years since graduating from the University of North Texas at Dallas. Her focus and passion have always been in early childhood education where she possesses all of her experience, specifically Pre-K and Kinder. She enjoys learning and staying up to date with changes in education and new strategies and approaches to use in her classroom. |
Brynne Mattson
Foster Elementary 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. |
Edward McSweeney D.A. Hulcy STEAM Middle School Edward McSweeney has taught in Dallas ISD for the past nine years and is band director at D.A. Hulcy STEAM. He serves in the National Guard holds an undergraduate degree from University of North Texas, and a Master's in Education from Belhaven University. Edward started the 20-21 school year being deployed by the US ARMY to Pinevile, Louisiana to support Hurricane Laura relief efforts. Despite these challenges the D.A. Hulcy band program has continued to thrive, winning the band programs first ever band contest despite dealing with natural disasters and a pandemic. Mr. McSweeney would like to thank the Personalized Learning Department for training him on PBL, and Flipped Classroom learning methods which has allowed all the students at D.A. Hulcy Band program to thrive during these challenging times! |
Connie Meinhardt
GB Dealey Montessori and International Academy Connie Meinhardt is a seventh grade PreAP Math teacher at George B. Dealey Montessori and International Academy. Her journey into education began in Mesquite ISD as a first grade teacher. She has since taught self-contained kindergarten, second, and sixth grades. Connie has spent three years in Dallas ISD. During her two years living in Paris as an aupair, she discovered her love for English language learners while caring for four French children and being a second language learner of French herself. Connie is an alum of Oklahoma State University and is currently working towards her M.Ed in Educational Psychology at the University of Virginia. |
Ozziel Mendez Reinhardt Elementary Ozziel Mendez is one of a kind bilingual teacher on planet Earth. His teaching inclination started in third grade pretending to be a teacher with his friends. When he moved to Dallas, he just found his love for teaching. He has worked only at Reinhardt Elementary School, teaching second and third grades. He has been teacher of the year two times, and now he is a Distinguished Teacher at the Exemplary level two. He is very active and is also the soccer coach, making his school World Champions in 2019 (full season undefeated). Also, he has created a very successful guitar club, drama club, and math club. He is always involved in school activities like Home Visits, carnivals, CILT, PL team and Field Day. He likes to smile, inspire, question, create, laugh, play during recess, reason, and perform magic tricks. He has a master's degree in Spanish Language and Culture from the University of Salamanca in Spain. |
J. Anthony Newlin
Jack Lowe Sr. Elementary J. Anthony Newlin Visual Arts Teacher, at Jack Lowe Sr. Elementary School comes from a long line of teachers, Anthony is proud to have made education his career. He grew up and attended college in Illinois and moved to Texas right after graduation to begin teaching. Having double majored in art and elementary education, he found the perfect marriage of both studies as an art teacher. Not only does he educate his students about the elements and history of art, but also strives to foster and inspire his students’ creative process and provide them with the tools they need on their artistic journeys. He has been blessed to be enjoying “the work of art” alongside his young artists for the past twenty years and learns just as much from them as they do from him! Anthony lives in the Oaklawn area of Dallas, TX with his Scottish Terrier, Beatrice. |
Victoria Powell
Oran Roberts Elementary Victoria Powell is a third and fifth-grade ELAR teacher and personalized learning quarterback at Oran Roberts Elementary School. Through an alternative certification program, called Urban Teachers, Victoria received her master’s degree in elementary education from The Johns Hopkins University and received her license in elementary education, special education, and a supplemental ESL certificate. At the beginning of her teaching career, she taught for Uplift Education, where she was a first grade teacher and the K-1 reading academic chair. Victoria has also served as a graduate assistant for two introductory ELAR courses at The Johns Hopkins University. She is currently enrolled in the Aspiring Leaders Program at Southern Methodist University, where she will receive her M.Ed in urban education and leadership. |
Daydelisse Rodriguez-Irzarry
Leila P. Cowart Elementary Daydelisse Rodriguez is a Bilingual Teacher at Leila P. Cowart. She began developing her passion for teaching since she was in elementary school where she would “teach” her toys, and later tutor her classmates. She loves Science, so she decided to get her B.S. in Microbiology at the University of Puerto Rico. Following her desire to become a teacher, she moved to Dallas and got EC-6 Bilingual Teacher Certified through an Alternative Certification Program. Throughout her seven years at Cowart, she has taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade, and this year Daydelisse will join the Specials team, teaching Computer Science. During her journey, she has had the opportunity to create experiences for the students, sponsoring clubs such as: Dance, Drama, Spelling Bee, and UIL. As she continues growing in the profession, she obtained a M.A. in Spanish Language from Spain and currently serves as a mentor teacher and school PL representative. |
Selena Stone
Seagoville High School Selena Stone is currently an Instructional Lead Teacher at Seagoville High School. She has been teaching for 12 years with her experience spanning several cities and school districts, including NYC, DoE, and Dallas ISD. She is certified to teach English Language Arts and Reading and is currently working with the 10th-grade scholars at Seagoville. During her time at Dallas ISD, Selena has collaborated with other professionals as a Curriculum Writer, as a voluntary member of the textbook adoption committee, and as a speaker during this year’s Language, Literacy & Social Studies Fall Conference. In her current position, Selena continues to share her knowledge and skills beyond the walls of her classroom by supporting Seagoville High School’s ELAR, Reading, and ESOL teachers. She holds an M.S. in Adolescence Education, with a concentration in English Language Arts, from the College of St. Rose, in Albany, NY. |
Zarin Sultana
D.A. Hulcy STEAM Middle School Zarin Sultana is a 7th grade English Language Arts and Reading teacher at DA Hulcy STEAM Middle School. She holds a bachelor’s in Molecular and Cellular Biology with a minor in Anthropology and earned her Masters in Education from Johns Hopkins University. Sultana holds certifications for ELA, Special Education, and ESL. She began her career in education as a member of Urban Teachers where she worked as a resident at Billy Earl Dade Middle School. Most recently she was a sixth grade ELA teacher. Her goal is to provide all students with equitable education and critical thinking skills that will help them succeed. |
Katie Testut GB Dealey Montessori and International Academy Katie Testut is an Upper Elementary teacher at Dealey Montessori, teaching 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. After graduating from Virginia Tech with dual degrees in History and Political Science, she moved to Dallas to become an inaugural member of the Urban Teachers DFW cohort, through which she received a masters in Elementary Education from Johns Hopkins University. This will be her fifth year with Dallas ISD, she taught Kindergarten and 3rd grade math at John Q. Adams before transitioning to Montessori education at Dealey. |
Summer Westbrook Lenore Kirk Hall Elementary Summer Westbrook is a fifth grade self-contained teacher this year at L.K. HallElementary. This will be her second year of teaching. She first started attending college to become a nurse. As she was gathering all her documents to join the nursing program, she was asked if she ever considered teaching. This question changed her life, and teaching became her passion. She graduated from Richland College with her Associates of Science. She chose to attend Texas Tech University, joined the Personalized Learning Cohort, and was able to implement many of the PL strategies taught. |