Inaugural 2022-2023 Teacher Fellows

In her eight years as an educator, Dorita Barr has worked in a variety of secondary education settings, including as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, and instructional coach. Presently, Dorita is teaching literacy through small-group literacy instruction to exceptional groups of 7th–12th grade students at Crossroads Preparatory Academy in Kansas City, MO. Additionally, Dorita coaches ELA teachers at her campus on best instructional practices to accelerate literacy and learning for students. Her goal is to ensure that all students have authentic and engaging learning experiences that foster a life-long love for learning. Dorita is a 2021 recipient of Teach For America’s The Green Fellowship, and she hopes to use everything she’s learned from this program to get more involved in education policy.

Anjuli Dyal is a K–1 self-contained teacher at P.S.121Q in Queens, NY. She is a reading interventionist through Reading Ready (in partnership with CUNY Research Foundation and GO Project) and a Master’s degree candidate at Brooklyn College for Childhood Education with a concentration in Mathematics. Anjuli has a passion for continuous growth in the field of education, with the dream of being an administrative member in a school setting. She loves to learn and put practice in place.

Jenifer Evans, currently in her eighth year of teaching, leads a third grade class of eager learners at Haha‘ione Elementary School, an International Baccalaureate World School. In her instruction, she focuses on developing students’ independence, collaboration, and other 21st-century skills through her innovative practices. Jenifer serves the Hawai‘i Department of Education as the Aloha Ambassador for Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani District on the island of O‘ahu and lectures on educational technology at the University of Hawai‘i - West O‘ahu, while mentoring four teacher candidates a year. She has been selected and nominated for several teaching awards, including the Central South Side Milken New Teacher of Promise award in 2016. She currently holds an advanced license with the Hawai‘i Department of Education’s Teacher Standards Board, a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Northcentral University, and continues to challenge herself by pursuing National Board certification.

Anna Hart has taught both fourth and fifth grade over the past six years. Currently, she teaches fifth grade at Monaview Elementary, a Title 1 school in Greenville, SC, and holds a Gifted and Talented Endorsement that certifies her to teach gifted and talented classes. Her goal as a teacher is to help children to realize their potential, to know they will always have someone who loves them, and to make learning as immersive as possible for them. Anna has served on a school mentor council and creates immersive learning opportunities for students. She has hosted several practicum students from local universities as cooperating teachers. Additionally, Anna is a Nearpod PioNear and is serving as an IXL Ambassador for the 2022–23 school year.

During her 18 year teaching career, Lisa A. Johnston has worked primarily with students in grades K–4. In the past three years, she has overseen a new transitional kindergarten program at the Brinnon School, in Brinnon, WA. Lisa has designed a curriculum and schedule to combine transitional kindergarten and kindergarten students, serving both in the same classroom. In her role as leader of the Movie Making Club, she encourages students to express their creativity through filmmaking. She recently made the switch to teaching part time in order to devote more energy to family and writing. The Brinnon School District created a job-share opportunity, which allows her the joy of working with students while pursuing her dream of becoming an author.

Jadah M. Jones is an Instructional Technology Resource Teacher for Norfolk Public Schools serving Mary Calcott and W. H. Taylor Elementary Schools in Norfolk, VA. She earned an Education Specialist degree and an Administration and Supervision license (PK–12) from Old Dominion University’s Educational Leadership program in 2022. She has held many leadership roles during her time in education, including classroom teacher and grade level chair, Family Engagement and Title 1 Compliance Specialist, virtual scholars academy building mentor/home school liaison, and educational consultant, among others. Dedicated to empowering every member in her building in a collective effort toward greatness, she is excited to join the world of her educational leadership constituents as a servant leader, educational access advocate, and equity activist. Motivated and action-oriented, she understands that every action or inaction can change the trajectory of a child’s future.

Christina Landburg is a fourth grade teacher at Carthage Intermediate Center in Carthage, MO, where she serves as the grade level co-chair and ELA curriculum team leader. She is also a member of the building guiding coalition team and works as the website administrator. In the past eight years, she has taught third, fourth, and fifth grades, creating lessons that engage students and spark a curiosity for learning. In 2017, she received the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Golden Apple Teacher of the Year. She recently finished an Educational Specialist degree in Curriculum Leadership and a second Master’s degree in Education in Teaching and Technology from William Woods University. She has been using the skills learned from these degrees to help her school district implement a multi-tiered support system, standards-based grading, and a model curriculum. Her goal is to provide all teachers in her building with the tools they need to create high-level, enriching lessons that benefit all students.

In his eight years as an educator, Andrew Laudel has worked with students from a range of backgrounds and experiences as a college writing teacher, middle school teacher, district-level instructional leader, and high school teacher and coach. Andrew has always centered equity and excellence in his work. He loves helping early adolescents develop their reasoning skills, as well as their ability to empathize with and build relationships across lines of difference, through the study of great literature. Currently, Andrew is the seventh grade English teacher at Brunswick School, an independent college preparatory day school for boys in Greenwich, CT. In December, he received his National Board for Professional Teaching Certification for Teaching English to Adolescents and Young Adults.

Annikah Moaratty has taught second, third, and fourth grade over the past six years. Annikah utilizes a variety of learning methods to empower students to reach their full potential and enjoys providing students opportunities for project-based learning activities and STEM exploration. In her current work as a teacher at Royal Academy of Excellence in San Antonio, TX, she enjoys helping other teachers become more confident with technology and a variety of learning resources. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in education and graduated with a BA in English from the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, MN. She is married to her high school sweetheart and has two sons who love to read and explore science with her.

Tierra Pitchford has been teaching for six years. She began her career as a third grade teacher at Caldwell Elementary School in Round Rock, TX, where she currently teaches first grade and is the grade level lead and English Language Arts Professional Learning Community Lead. She serves on the Instructional Leadership Team at her campus and is the campus representative on the District Academic Advisory Committee. She has a passion for teaching students how to learn and grow as readers. Tierra received her school’s Teacher of the Year Award in 2020–2021. Currently, she is working toward a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership with a principal certification at Texas State University.

Genelynn Pugliese's passion for teaching started at a very young age. In fact, in fourth grade, she dressed up as her teacher for Halloween! In the past ten years, Genelynn has worked with students from 2 to 6 years old. She is currently in her third year of teaching in ASCEND Elementary, a Title 1 public charter school, in East Oakland, CA. Here she discovered the impact of her voice and what it means to have representation in and out of the classroom. Her passion for creating an equitable classroom and education experience for all her students inspired her to join her school’s advisory board where she represents her students, families, and fellow teachers from transitional kindergarten through second grade. She continues to push herself to become a better educator, advocate, and teacher as she engages in Teach for America’s Rising Fellow Leadership program.

Throughout her career, Robin Simmons has worked with students and teachers in multiple TK–8 settings, including as a Read180 teacher, a classroom teacher, a classroom management coach, and, most recently, a district TOSA (teacher on special assignment) at Hillside Elementary School in Madera, CA. Robin's goal is to share her love of project-based learning with teachers and work together to create relevant educational experiences that help build global citizens who value learning. Robin has trained as a project-based learning coach, has her Master’s degree in Education from National University, and continually seeks personal and professional development opportunities to help her grow as a human educator.