Category Archive

Maressa Alrich, MSW, has been leading trauma-engaged schools work in Alaska for eight years. She worked four years at the district level, where she learned firsthand the challenges and opportunities schools face when trying to create a relationship-centered learning environment. In 2022 she transitioned to her current role at the Association of Alaska School Boards, leading implementation of trauma-engaged schools …

Vitaliy Shyyan, PhD, is Assistant Director of Assessment Representation and Fairness at WIDA of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Vitaliy holds a PhD in educational policy and administration, an MA in educational policy and administration, and an MA in English language and literature. In his role at WIDA, Vitaliy helps lead efforts related to test development and the design and implementation …

Shannon Leigh Dodge is Unangan and was raised in Oregon.  Her family comes from the Aleut Community of St.Paul Island. Shannon is a certified teacher in grades pre-K–8 and is a third-generation educator.  She is also a Sealaska shareholder and did an internship at Sealaska Heritage Institute in 2004.  Shannon earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from Southern Oregon …

Mike Swanson is the Career and Technical Education Coordinator at Kenaitze Indian Tribe.  Most of his professional life has focused on secondary and post-secondary education within Indigenous communities.  Originally from Chicago, his career has provided the opportunity to live or work in over 50 communities off the road system in Alaska over the last 27 years.  His passion is helping …

Leonard “Lenny” A. Williams, MBA, is a TEDx speaker, author, leadership strategist, professor, and co-founder of Trill or Not Trill, an organization that has impacted more than 500,000 students, professionals, educators, executives, and athletes nationwide. With more than 15 years of experience in higher education, leadership development, and workforce readiness, Lenny has taught business in both the United States and …

Valerie Naucetaaq Svancara is non-Native (Czech and German) and grew up on the lands of the Hinono’eino (Arapaho), , Tsétsėhéstȧhese(Cheyenne), and Núuchiu (Ute) Peoples in Colorado and now lives on Dena’ina Ełnena  in Anchorage, Alaska. She spent over 13 years working in higher education, most recently at Native Student Services at University of Alaska Anchorage, and currently supports Elder-led Yugtun …

Paula Nasgauk Jones is from Kuinerraq, Alaska. While she currently lives on Dena’ina Ełnena, she maintains strong connection with her home community where most of her family still resides. She has worked with Native communities in higher education, social services, and behavioral health fields. She holds a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning with a professional concentration in Indigenizing …

Roberto German is a Dominican American author, poet, and spoken-word artist. He is the creator and host of the Our Classroom podcast, in which he explores educational journeys, unpacks books, speaks with authors, and thinks about how all of this is connected to education. A graduate of Merrimack College and Boston College, he’s been an educator and school leader for …

Valerie Casimir is a Lummi Nation community member and a member of the Class of 2026 at Whatcom Intergenerational High School. She is also Tsimshian and Tlingit and a Sealaska member. She serves as a 300-hour Americorps Team Leader with Whiteswan Environmental, supporting youth engagement through train-the-trainer and classroom-to-place-based learning programs. Through this work, Whiteswan Environmental supports her as she …

Marissa Naanaaruaq Vinberg lives and works on Dena’ina Ełnena in Anchorage, Alaska, where she serves as a curriculum specialist at Bristol Bay Foundation. She is Sugpiaq, Unangax^, and of mixed European ancestry and an enrolled member of the Tangirnaq Native Village. As a Sugt’stun (Sugpiaq/Alutiiq language) learner, speaker, and educator, her work focuses on Indigenous language revitalization, culturally sustaining pedagogy, …