Ashley has been an educator at Park High School, outside of St. Paul, MN, since 2012. Ashley is passionate in helping students develop the skills to choose a future based on opportunity rather than circumstance. During her career, Ashley discovered the power of infusing CLR to ensure that all students feel validated and heard. Within her classroom, Ashley has seen how this implementation can help students develop skills and assets that move beyond the classroom to find success. She also serves as a CLR leader within her school to help coach and provide professional development to support educators on their CLR journey. In addition to teaching, Ashley is a practitioner for CCRTL.

Sten has worked for 10 years in public schools in central New York; presently with Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES. In his career, he has assumed the roles of middle and high school science teacher, instructional technology integration specialist and instructional coach. Sten encountered the work of Dr. Hollie in 2018 and parlayed this knowledge and experience to support colleagues on mindset and skill set work through individual coaching cycles and PLC meetings. In March 2020, he collaborated on the development of the CLR in Online Learning training and has been affiliated with CCRTL ever since. Sten’s approach to teaching and his instructional practice was transformed when he began his journey to responsiveness.

Dr. Ian Buchanan currently serves as Founder and CEO of Nia Education Group,a leadership coaching and consulting firm dedicated to helping great leaders become their greatest leadership selves. Over a span of nearly three decades, Ian has served in a number of roles, including high school mathematics teacher, GED teacher, college admissions officer, National Science Foundation Fellow, school principal, and nonprofit executive. In his most recent district leadership role, Dr. Buchanan served as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction (Chief Academic Officer) for The School District of University City (a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri). He also played a pivotal role in the launching of The Memphis Lift, a “powerful parent organization,” committed to parent empowerment and engagement. Also, during his tenure in Memphis, Buchanan served as Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Achievement School District, a comprehensive, “turnaround” school district.

Kate Buhr has been an educator in Minnesota since 2010. After graduating from the University of Missouri - Columbia with degrees in International Business and German, she pursued her teaching license at Bemidji State University. She began her career in education teaching high school German and AVID. In order to best support her amazing scholars, Kate began the journey to cultural responsiveness in 2014. She will graduate with a Masters in Culturally Responsive Teaching from St. Mary’s University in 2022. In addition to teaching, Kate has served as her school's AVID Coordinator, Instructional Coach, and co-founder of the school’s Equity Team. Kate is inspired by the passionate educators that work for and with CCRTL and is energized by seeing incredible educators in the field validate and affirm every child every day.

Carrie Eicher is a Program Specialist with CCRTL. Carrie has been a member of VABB nation for almost 10 years and is honored to be able to serve students and partner with educators on their Journey to Responsiveness. As a Program Specialist for CCRTL, she is dedicated to partnering with other educators as they grow in both mindset and skillset of culturally and linguistically responsive teaching. Carrie has served in many roles in her 25 years in education including Teacher, Administrator, Dean of Academics, and Instructional Adviser, where she found her passion for partnering with adult learners in the areas of equity and cultural responsiveness. Carrie has also previously been an Academic Officer with Teacher Created Materials, where she supported district leaders and building administrators in creating professional development plans in CLR and educators through ongoing professional development focused on the skillset of CLR. Carrie has taught Kindergarten through 12th grade as both a classroom teacher and Instructional Specialist in Integrated Arts. Carrie is a contributing author in What the Science Says About Reading, Comprehension and Content Knowledge, where she explores the connection between culturally responsive text and reading comprehension.

Andrew Haaheim has been an educator in the Twin Cities since 2010. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Life Science Secondary Education and a minor in Music at Gustavus Adolphus College. He began his career teaching college-level biology as part of the International Baccalaureate Programme at Fridley High School. In addition to being a science educator, Andrew took a lead role in organizing artistic and theatrical events for the school district. His work as an instructional leader provided new avenues for sharing his passion of creating an inclusive and engaging classroom, including the opportunity to meet Dr. Sharroky Hollie. Andrew was trained as a CLR practitioner and, eventually, began his work as an instructional adviser for the CCRTL. In 2021, Andrew left his position as a science educator to begin working as a full-time Program Specialist for CCRTL, focusing on advising, facilitating professional learning, and creating media to help inform and instruct educators about culturally responsive practices.

Felicia received her Masters in Education from Harvard University, where she first developed her passion for equity and anti-racist education. She has taught secondary Language Arts for over 25 years and serves as a leader in the national AP English Language and Composition exam scoring. When she was staff development coordinator at Hopkins High School in Minnesota, she developed a CLR Sustainability Model (the CLR Swim Team) and inspired the creation of a CLR student group (HHS Responds). As an instructional adviser and professional learning facilitator for CCRTL, she is passionate about supporting other teachers in their CLR journey. When she is not working for the Center, she is still in the classroom, infusing CLR into her teaching of ELL co-taught English, Intermediate English, and AP English Language and Composition. She brings her daily classroom experience to her work at CCRTL.

Tim has been teaching International Baccalaureate Language and Literature and Theory of Knowledge at Fridley High School, just outside of Minneapolis, MN, since 2005. He received a BA in Literature from the University of MN and a MA in Teaching from the University of St. Thomas. In addition to teaching, he has served as an instructional adviser, both observing and advising teachers, as well as creating professional development. He is passionate about infusing CLR strategies into his classroom and into professional development to make sure that all students' and adult learners' cultural behaviors are validated and affirmed. Tim's continued journey to responsiveness deepens his commitment to empowering all learners by creating a classroom that values all voices, especially those that need outrageous love, in order to be heard. He is honored and humbled to work as an instructional adviser with CCRTL and relishes the opportunity to advise educators as they build their skillset and deepen their mindset.

Nicole Lusiani Elliott has been an educator for 25 years, earning her BA and teaching credential at Saint Mary’s College and her MA at California State University, Northridge. Nicole’s journey to responsiveness officially began with CCRTL in 2010 after training with Dr. Hollie as a classroom teacher, employing culturally and linguistically responsive teaching strategies with students in advanced high school classes. During that time she saw lights come on in the hearts and minds of students who had previously been largely underserved by the school and, specifically, advanced programs. She went on to spend several years as a teacher educator at Stanford University while also advising and facilitating professional learning for CCRTL. Nicole is now the Program Specialist for Curriculum and Instructional support, in addition to her continued work as CLR Practitioner and facilitator of professional learning.

Bethany received her Master’s in Education from the University of Wisconsin and has taught Language Arts for over 30 years, in every grade level from sixth to college. She serves as a teacher and peer adviser for the Hopkins School District in Minnesota and brings her continued CLR journey from her classroom to her advising. She has seen CLR make a significant difference in the lives of kindergarten to college students and she is passionate about the power of responsiveness. She is honored and grateful for the opportunity to validate, affirm, build, and bridge with colleagues who are dedicated to making education inclusive, equitable, and effective for all students. In addition to her continued role as a classroom teacher, Beth is an instructional adviser for CCRTL.

Dr. Daniel Russell entered the education profession through Teach for America (TFA) in 1994, teaching 3rd through 5th grade and served as a teacher-facilitator with the Academic English Mastery Program (AEMP). In 2002, his 5th-grade class was featured in a segment about African American Language (AAL) in the PBS documentary called Do You Speak American? Daniel went on to serve as a founding teacher at the Culture and Language Academy of Success (CLAS), as well as a Humanities teacher and Dean of Culture and Climate for a charter school in the South L.A. region, as a National Board Certified educator. Daniel earned his doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from USC’s Rossier School of Education; his dissertation was focused on the problem of the persistence of racial disproportionality in exclusionary discipline in schools, despite their implementation of the PBIS framework. Specifically, he examined how knowledge, motivation, and organizational factors influence the implementation of PBIS in a culturally responsive manner. Daniel credits his experience with and passion for CLR in attaining this capstone achievement. Currently, he serves as a Program Specialist for CCRTL, focusing on Research and Development, instructional advising, and professional learning.

Kelly began her career in education in 2000 as an English teacher in Romania for the United States Peace Corps. She has since worked as a reading and language arts teacher in charter, public, and private schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul. In addition to teaching middle and high school students full time at Hill-Murray School in St. Paul, Kelly is a CLR professional development coordinator and practitioner working with teachers on their journey to being culturally responsive.

Bianca Suglia has been an inquisitive, passionate, and culturally responsive educator, French Immersion teacher, and peer adviser in Edina Public Schools, MN, for the last 19 years. She graduated with a MA in British and American Studies from West University in Timisoara, Romania and a MA in Education from Hamline University, St Paul, before receiving her “Global Competence Certification” with a special focus on intercultural competence, from Columbia University. Her personal and professional experiences have confirmed that validating one’s cultural behaviors and experiences is a springboard to deep and relevant learning. She believes that a culturally and linguistically responsive approach to teaching and advising enhances everyone’s voice in the classroom. Bianca appreciates the opportunity to continue to positively impact our students’ educational experiences as an instructional adviser for CCRTL.

Dr. GeNita Williams (Dr. G) was born, raised, and educated in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Williams has been a teacher and school leader for 23 years, with five of those years being an urban middle school turnaround principal. Dr. Williams earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, her Master’s degree in Education Administration, and her Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership. Dr. Williams is also a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. for, now, 26 years! Dr. Williams is currently a practicing consultant in her own business, You+Me=WE Consulting Solutions, LLC. She is passionate about providing educational opportunity and access to children of color and believes the goal of every educator should be to ensure students are learning about themselves, as well as being educated in an environment that shows appreciation and respect for the diverse needs and capabilities of each student. She first became acquainted with CCRTL in 2011 when her middle school staff was trained in pedagogy, culturally responsive teaching, and learning. Today, Dr. Williams is a Project Specialist for CCRTL, focusing on leadership as well as instructional advising and professional learning.

Deanna Wuotila has been an educator for over 20 years. She earned her degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls and a Masters in Education from Hamline University. Currently she is working on her Educational Specialist degree at Concordia University. In addition to her middle and elementary classroom teaching experience, Deanna has supported teachers in an elementary instructional adviser role and has recently become a Dean of Students. Deanna had the opportunity to begin her CLR journey several years ago as a 5th grade teacher and, through the CLR advising experience, she witnessed an incredible classroom transformation; she learned then that the CLR journey goes beyond the classroom implementation, it is a way of being. Deanna works for the Center for Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning as an instructional adviser and also advisers, administrators, and other educational staff members at the CLR Summer Institutes.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Joseph Steinmetz is a lifelong resident of Frederick, MD, graduating from the University of Maryland – College Park with a B.S. in Psychology. In Joseph's former position he worked as the manager of day program services in Frederick county for Sheppard Pratt Health Systems, totaling 10 years in the field of mental health. There, he was devoted to making sure the highest quality of services were provided to the client base, ranging from daily meals, therapeutic groups, special programs, and mental health awareness outreach events in the local community.

As one of the newest members to the ever growing CCRTL team as our new Executive Assistant. Joseph takes his years of non-profit experience, professionalism, and passion for helping those struggling with mental health disorders, applying it to the work and values the CCRTL team is committed to delivering. He believes students everywhere deserve supportive, equal, and top-quality education to help them learn and grow for the world we live in today. During Joseph's free time, he enjoys spending it with friends, family, and his cat Radio.

FISCAL MANAGER

Gaby Zavala is a native to California, earning her Bachelor of Business Administration and Minor in Business Law from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She holds background experience in accounting and has formerly worked in the Real Estate and Development industries. As such she has brought over her financial knowledge and experience to the Center. As part of her career goals she is pursuing her CPA license.

ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR

Yang has been with the Center since 2015, she moved to the Los Angeles area from the Minnesota area. She had previously worked for Ascensus, who is one of the nation’s largest 401(k) Record-keeping companies. She earned her TEFL certificate and taught English as a Second Language in China for 3 years.

Yang has worked in various roles during her career path, such as office manager for a real estate company, customer service representative in a call center, and fulfillment coordinator in electronic forms. This is her first time working for a non-profit organization. She has brought her customer service and detailed organizational skills to the Center.